I’ve spent the last few hours in darkened room with only a rubber thimble for company counting votes for Ukulele Video of the Year and can announce the official winner: Sophie Madeleine, Jocelyn Mackenzie & Emily Hope Price’s cover of Bei Mir Bist Du Schön.

And the chords are here if you want to play along at home.

Sophie was kind enough to join me and chat about Will Smith, the awesomeness of Pearl and the Beard and where the hell she’s been.

Congratulations on winning! Compared to videos like Rhythm You Started and Oil and Gold, this one is really simple. What do you think it is about it that connected with people?

Thank you! It’s so wonderful to have won, I can’t believe it! The PatB girls and I feel very honoured!

I think the fact that it was a live performance made all the difference compared with the other videos you’ve mentioned. Especially because it was a tight three-part harmony involving two incredibly talented and beautiful ladies – Emily Hope Price and Jocelyn Mackenzie. It’s so much fun singing with them, we’re all great friends, and I think that really came through in our performance.

How did you meet up with Pearl and the Beard?

I discovered them through their Will Smith Medley a few years ago. It was whilst I was making plans for a trip to New York to do some shows, and it just so happened that I was looking for people to play in my band so I emailed Emily (cellist) to see if she would be interested. To my surprise she agreed! Since then we’ve become close friends — I spent thanksgiving at Jocelyn’s house this year, and I now live in Brooklyn not far from Emily’s house.

We’ve also done a few other collaborations since I’ve been living in Brooklyn. This video was something we did just for fun. For the longest time Jocelyn kept saying she wanted to start an all-girl group called “Hello Heartbreak”, (that is what our unofficial name is in this video — and by the way I think she’s probably registered, trademarked, and patented that name already – so no stealing!) so we got together and picked a song. We all love The Andrews Sisters, so Emily suggested her favourite of theirs Bei Mir Bist Du Shein. They are exactly as sweet and warm and fun as they seem, by the way.

What’s your favourite musical moment of 2012? Do you have a favourite ukulele video of last year?

I hate to seem as though I am making this into one giant advert for Pearl and the Beard, but really and truly my most special ukulele moments for 2012 included them. I guested on a release of their extended single Prodigal Daughter — more specifically one of the B sides entitled Yawning. It’s Jocelyn’s song, we part recorded it in my house and I play ukulele and sing backing vocals on it. It’s such a sweet song and I felt incredibly honoured to be involved in one of their projects.

Secondly, there’s a song they play called Apple. Emily plays it on baritone ukulele and it’s a song she co-wrote with Lady Lamb The Beekeeper (whose album was just released by the way, and it is phenomenal). They play it every show and often go out into the audience to sing it acoustically, involving the whole crowd in singing the rousing chorus. It’s one of those crazy and uplifting moments. But last year they had a show in Brooklyn where Lady Lamb was actually there and joined them on stage, and it was ridiculously magical.

As for videos, I don’t think I have a favourite. I admit I have neglected YouTube a little this year, and I am thoroughly ashamed of myself. Plus, all of the other nominees this year were so brilliant. It’s so hard to choose!

It seems like we haven’t heard much from you the last few months. What have you been up to?

I know, I’ve become a bit of a recluse! Like I said, I moved to Brooklyn last year. Whilst I’ve been here I’ve been touring, and I also had to promote the US release of my album The Rhythm You Started. I’ve also been writing the new album which is now ready to be recorded. We’re just trying to find the right producer, and the right label. It’s going to be quite a big departure from my previous albums. That’s all I’m going to say about it!

What can we expect from you this year?

The new album! We’re hoping it will be out in June/July. There is also a release happening of one of my side projects — “The Runaway Orchestra”. It’s a covers album I made many moons ago with some friends, and it’s now finally being released. I think that’s out in April.

Links

SophieMadeleine.com
PearlAndTheBeard.com
Learn to play the song
See the previous winners and runners up.

Votes are pouring in for the Ukulele Video of the Year. A big early lead for Sophie Madeleine but the others are slowly catching up. Make sure you cast your vote before the deadline.

An early contender for my nomination for the 2013 list from Catey Shaw with a song that’s been run, run, running through my head all week. Also up is Steven Tyler doing an Aerosmith classic with Halemanu, Da Ukulele Boyz rip it up, Jim Boggia covers one of the most covered songs ever and plenty more.

Full Playlist

Read the rest of this entry »

Did you forget about Valentine’s Day? The only way to make it up is with a Kanilea Ku’Uipo with a heart shaped soundhole.

Jack Johnson and Pepe Romero signed cigarbox ukulele in aid of the Kokua Hawaii Foundation.

The Todd Rose ukulele both looks and sounds very interesting (via Phredd).

Gretsch guitarlele.

Pictures: 1960s girl group (if anyone recognises them please leave a comment), Henry James Soulen’s The Ukulele Player

The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that the site has been updated. Two big differences: UkeToob is now properly integrated with the rest of the site and the site should now be more usable on your phone. If you come across anything acting funky, please do let me know.

Along with that, I’ve started using a new service for email subscriptions. Feedburner, which I’ve been using so far, seems to be slowly dying and the new one looks much better and is more reliable. So if you want the new one, sign up in the sidebar and unsubscribe from the old one (click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of the old, ugly emails).

Will Grove White of the UOGB does Gangnam Style ukulele style.

Gibson sues SpongeBob SquarePants over flying V ukuleles.

New Releases:
– Kelli Rae Powell has just released a live record, if you haven’t heard her stuff before it’s the perfect jumping off point. Listen and buy on her website.
– Covers EP from Allo Darlin’.
– Debut album from Da Ukulele Boyz.

Pictures:
– Joe Strummer with uke (one I haven’t seen before).
– Aero Uke ad.

Videos:
– Nicholas Abersold’s ukulele strumming machine.
– Take Elvis to the fair (via Ukulele Brasil).
– Ukulele on Bunheads.

If I go to prison can I bring my ukulele?

I’m hoping the silver lining to the cloud of shitty comedy in the UK will be plenty more memorable theme tunes. Most shows seem to take themselves far too seriously to have a theme tune capable of being hummed or played on the ukulele.

But you couldn’t accuse the Dad’s Army theme of taking itself too seriously. It’s a pastiche of the already self-mocking music hall wartime song. The even recruited WWII crooner Bud Flanagan of Flanagan and Allan. Although I would say the cover by Billy Childish is the superior version.

My version is a mish-mash of strumming and picking. The simplest way to play it is to set up your right hand the one-finger-per-string way with:

Thumb – g
Index – C
Middle – E
Ring – A

Once you’re confident doing that you can throw in strums where you see fit.

Links

Buy Music from Dad’s Army

The nominees for the 2012 video of the year are in. Cast your vote in the doodad below. If you’re reading by email or feed reader and can’t see it click here to be taken to be taken to the blog.

You can only vote once and polling closes at midnight Hawaii time on 24th February. I’d encourage you to watch any you’re not familiar with but other than that, go wild. Vote for whoever you like for whatever reason you like (who wins isn’t as important as getting some exposure for excellent videos). And, contrary to what an idiot told you yesterday, WOTE are nominated.

Result

Sophie Madeleine – Bei Mir Bist Du Schön: 400 40%
John Bianchi – The Dumber They Come: 205 21%
Walk Off the Earth – Summer Vibe: 150 15%
Laura Marling – Not Done Travelling: 130 13%
Keston Cobblers’ Club – For, Words: 93 9%
Julia Nunes – When I Fall In Love: 17 2%

Playlist of Nominations

The vote for Ukulele Video of the Year starts tomorrow. You’ll have to wait until then to see the nominees. One thing I will reveal: Walk off the Earth didn’t make the cut. A surprise to me given how huge a year they had last year. In order to console this huge blow to their career, here’s WOTE’s Sarah Blackwood and her Big Muff covering Weezer’s Say It Ain’t So.

I’ve tabbed up this version. But if you want to play it in the same key as Weezer play the same chords with a capo on the third fret.

Suggested Strumming

Intro

The intro combines chords and a bit of picking like this:

Verse

In the verse you’re strumming on the off-beats. Also, rest your hand on the string afterwards so they should short.

– d – d

For the F and the C at the end of the verse do the same as at the end of the intro: d u x on F then one up strum for C.

Together they sound like this:

Verse Strum

Chorus

Do this once each for Am and E:

d u x x

Once each for Am and E.

Then for F: d u x
Then C: u – u d u

Notice you’re coming in on the C on the up-strum; slightly earlier than the down strum you come in on the other chords. At the end of the intro/chorus just hold the first up-strum on the C.

Together they sound like this:

Chorus Strum

Twiddly Bits

There’s little bit of picking at the end of the verses:

And the big solo goes like this:

Links

Buy the cover
Buy the original

Don’t forget to make your nominations for your favourite videos of 2012.

This is part two of the holiday roundup, so a few of these are eligible for nominations including Blue Dean Carcione doing a track from his new album and Dennis Schütze’s playing of Handel. Other’s you’ll have to make a note for like The Seattle Castaway’s debut video and Sarah Maisel’s wonderful version of In a Sentimental Mood.

Full Playlist

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It’s tough trying to sell ukuleles in 2013. The selection of ukuleles gets more bloated every year. Recent new entrants include Eastman, Godin and Lâg Guitars, Moku and AmiAmi.

Looking at Ukeeku and Ukulele Underground‘s coverage of the music trade show NAMM it’s clear it’s too late to put out a well-made, sweet-sounding ukulele and expect anyone to give a shit.

Here’s your complete guide to ukulele selling tactics of 2013:

Get them endorsed by a dead guy:
– Bill Tapia ukuleles (Ukeeku was particularly scathing about these in his NAMM roundup).
– Martin’s IZ tribute ukulele.
– Peavey’s Jack Daniel’s ukulele.

Hire musicians that can make any uke sound great:
– Benny Chong and Byron Yasui for Kamaka
– James Hill and Bakithi Kumalo for Kala
– Yuna playing for Taylor
– Sarah Maisel for DaSilva.
– Gerald Ross and Ken Middleton for Ohana.

Make it gaudy:
– The route one of making your ukulele stand out. This has been a successful tactic for Luna so they’re stepping up their game with mermaids, fairies and dragons.
– The Mahalo “art series” goes with skulls, hearts, spiders and signs of the zodiac.
– Collings go with flowers, spaceships and snakes.
– Even the tuners are getting in on the act with Swiff’s cartoon tuners featuring aliens, batman and a reindeers.

Banjoleles and Resonators:
– Magic Fluke’s new banjoleles (one designed by Janet Klein)
– Kala’s banjolele and resonator ukuleles.
– Guitar resonator specialists Beard has introduced Beard ukuleles (no match for the moustache ukulele of course)

Outdated selling techniques:
– Mahalo go with cultural appropriation, sex and dancing Gangnam style. Knock it off, Mahalo.

Shapes and sizes
– Eleuke’s peanut shape
– Kala have made their pocket uke even tinier. One day it really will fit in your pocket just like a pocket chord dictionary.

A couple of years ago Patsy Monteleone set himself the task of covering 100 songs from the Great American Song book on ukulele. He’s been recording consistently great stuff and he’s final reached 100 (and done a bonus). You can listen and download them on his website (in the Box on the sidebar) for free. I highly recommend grabbing some.

If you’ve watched TV at all in the last two years, you’ll have noticed that ukuleles are used in 73% of ads. So no surprise that the 2013 award for Music in Advertising went to a uke-featuring ad: OK Go’s bit for Chevy. Their prize? A bunch of ukuleles.

Pictures: Ukulele Photoshop Contest, Formby doodles, Bruno Mars custom KoAloha.

Ukulele dominoes. If dominoes isn’t challenge enough for you try the board game for virtuosos.