Dave Dobbyn and 'Loyal'

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Video for Dave Dobbyn's 'Loyal'

'Call me loyal'

Dave Dobbyn is one of the most significant New Zealand musicians of the past 30 years. He's enjoyed success as a solo artist and as a member of the bands Th'Dudes and DD Smash. Dobbyn has won more awards for songwriting than any other New Zealander, and in 2001 he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). The terms 'icon' and 'national treasure' have been used in reference to Dobbyn; some of his songs have achieved a similar status.

'Loyal' (1998) is one of these. In 2001 APRA members voted it the third-best New Zealand song of the 20th century.

Team New Zealand chose it in 2002 to front its campaign to defend the America's Cup yachting trophy. The song's anthem-like qualities were seen as ideal, and its lyrics and sentiments seemingly captured the mood of the campaign.

By the time Russell Coutts and the Swiss had sailed away with what some believed to be New Zealand's cup, there was a feeling that 'Loyal' had also lost something. Some people were unhappy about its association with a nationalistic campaign to drum up support for Team New Zealand. For others, it was a case of the song suffering from overexposure.

Once the seas had settled in the wake of the America's Cup defeat, New Zealanders reaffirmed their loyalty. In 2006 an online survey of 3000 people chose 'Loyal' as New Zealand's greatest song ever.