'We are Samoa' Gala - the story behind the song

When Fa'anana Jerome Grey's children first came up with the idea of celebrating the 75th birthday of their father, they knew that it would have to be done in a big way so that everyone could share in this milestone year. They threw out several ideas of what they could call this momentous occasion.

After bouncing a few ideas back and forth between the siblings, nothing seemed to feel right, but they always came right back to the song “We Are Sāmoa”.

In this video, eldest son Tinifuloa Grey shares why this song hit their dad and Sāmoa like lightning when the country of Sāmoa called upon him to travel with the Manu Sāmoa rugby team to represent Samoa across Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

There are many amazing songs that come from Sāmoa, but what they are proud of is that 'We Are Sāmoa' is the only patriotic song that’s sung both in English and Sāmoan, that Sāmoans around the world can sing with pride and it be that moment that unites us all.

The 'We are Samoa' gala event will be a night of non-stop musical entertainment, award-winning dance performances, a red carpet deserving of Met Gala-type glam entry, mouth-watering cuisine with a Sāmoan fusion, open bar, surprise guest appearances, a few celebrity sightings, a special tribute show to Fa’anānā Jerome Grey, and a night of fundraising to make an impact on the Pacific community in the US.