Opetaia Foa'i Receives Billions Award for 'Moana' Ballad 'We Know The Way'
The songwriter was honored in Sydney for the 2016 track's achievement of one billion streams, a milestone celebrated as a historic moment for Polynesian storytelling.
Songwriter Opetaia Foa'i has been honored with a Billions Award for his work on the Disney hit 'Moana,' according to Billboard. He received the accolade for the ballad 'We Know The Way.'
Foa’I was on hand Thursday night, July 23 at APRA AMCOS's Sydney headquarters for the award presentation, according to Billboard. The track, released in 2016, blends languages of Tokelau and Sāmoa and spent two weeks on the Billboard Top 100.
What is the Billions Award?
The Billions Award from APRA AMCOS acknowledges a songwriter's achievement of one billion streams across platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. It is said to be the first award of its kind to celebrate a songwriter's streaming achievement.
Why is this award significant?
In a statement, Ant Healey, head of APRA AMCOS NZ, called the song's success "an incredible achievement." He noted it reflects "the power of authenticity – bringing Polynesian languages, culture and storytelling to global audiences." The organization highlighted it as an "historic moment for Pacific peoples." Foa'i, alongside his band Te Vaka, played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural identity of the Moana soundtrack. He continued this legacy in the franchise with Moana 2 (2024) and the recently-released live action Moana remake.
Full Winners List
- WinnerOpetaia Foa'i — We Know The Way (from Moana)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who else has won a Billions Award?
Previous inductees for reaching one billion streams include Tame Impala's Kevin Parker for "The Less I Know The Better," Flume for "Never Be Like You," and Tones And I for "Dance Monkey."
Who co-wrote 'We Know The Way' with Opetaia Foa'i?
The song was written alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mark Mancina.
What other 'Moana' projects has Opetaia Foa'i worked on?
According to the report, Foa'i continued his involvement with the franchise by contributing to Moana 2 in 2024 and the recently released live-action Moana remake.
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