Ukulele Hunt » YouTube

Lulu and the Lampshades, White Hinterland: UkeTube

Woodshed — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:00:58 +0000

The good news is that, judging by the very nice video, someone is putting money into the very talented Lulu and the Lampshades. Also this week is a song from White Hinterland which probably won’t be to a few people’s taste (you can hear them doing something more traditional here) and a glorious tune from I Am Autumn along with old faves like BAS, Sweetafton and the Re-entrants (it’s well worth watching all the videos Ian uploaded on Thursday).

Lulu and the Lampshades – Feet to the Sky

Boulder Acoustic Society – Ruben’s Train

I Am Autumn – Happy Hour of the Living Dead

White Hinterland – No Logic

Ian Emmerson – Douce Ambiance

Phil Doleman – Nevertheless (I’m in Love with You

Amelia Robinson – Horizontal Vertigo

Molly Lewis and Dr Noise – Instanbul (Not Constantinople)

Keston Cobblers’ Club, Erin Lang: UkeTube

Woodshed — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:00:01 +0000

I just about managed to drag myself away from watching OK Go videos long enough to put together a UkeTube. Credit this week goes to the Lummy Days ukulele podcast for alerting me to Keston Cobblers’ Club’s rather lovely You-Go.

Keston Cobblers’ Club – You-Go

Erin Lang & The Foundlings – Good Years

Helen Keller’s Ukulele – Mockingbird

Wilfried Welti – Carolan’s Dream

Little6ster – Before You’re My King

Christiaan Van Vuuren – F’ You, I’m a Ukulele

Ukulele Video of the Year: Winners and Runners Up

Woodshed — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:00:33 +0000

Each year on the blog I run a contest to find readers’ favourite ukulele video of the year. Here are the winners and other popular entries.

2009 Winner: U900 Diamond Head

Who? Adorable Japanese knitted pair with a love of the Ventures.

Why is it popular? The characterful pair and wonderful animation proved a big hit amoungst ukulele players and kitch lovers across the net – making a big splash on Boing Boing.

Want to hear more? U900 – Ukulele Ventures

Read their winners’ interview

Learn to play it Diamond Head tab

2008 Winner: Rod Thomas – Same Old Lines

Who? Welsh indie-popster with a talent for tunes.

Why is it popular? A killer tune matched with a nostalgic kids’ TV and an adorable beard. Irresistible to ukulele players.

Want to hear more? Rod Thomas – Until Something Fits

Read The winner’s interview (and grab an MP3 of a ukulele version of Your Love is a Tease).

Learn to play it Same Old Lines Chords

2007 Winner: Molly Lewis (Sweetafton23) – Tom Cruise Crazy

Who? Tousle-haired UkeTube sensation.

Why is it popular? Jonathan Coulton and ukulele players have a strong and mutual love thanks to a combination of irreverance, tunefulness and a cheery disposition. He invited Molly to join him live for this song and has employed the uke talents of Kristen Shirts and John Hodgman.

Want to hear more? Molly Lewis – I Made You a CD but I Eated It.

Learn to play it Tom Cruise Crazy Chords

2009 Runner-Up: Ukulelezo – Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun

Who? Canadian girl in glasses and playing ukulele (GIGAPUS)

Why is it popular? Many cover versions are lacking in originality and personality. Two things you could never say about this version. It does what all good covers should do – bring a whole new dimension to the song and make it completely fresh.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to Zoe’s YouTube Channel

Read Ukulelezo interview

2008 Runner-Up: Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra – It’s a Heartache

Who? Multi-headed New Zealand orchestra.

Why is it popular? Wonderful ukulele arrangement from a band packed with talent.

Want to hear more? WIUO – The Heartache EP

Read WIUO interview.

Learn to play it It’s A Heartache Tabs and Chords

2007 Runner-Up: GUGUG – Blitzkrieg Bop

Who? Glaswegian punkulele duo.

Why is it popular? Punk energy on the ukulele.

Want to hear more? GUGUG’s YouTube Channel

Read Gus Raucous interview

Learn to play it Blitzkreig Bop Chords

Ukulele Videos: Most Popular

Woodshed — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:00:47 +0000

More than any site (yes, even this one) YouTube has been the place been have first encountered the ukulele and had an urge to pick one up. Here are the most popular ukulele videos on the site.

Tiny McItchyFace (uke3453) – I’m Yours

Why is it popular? The unbearable cuteness of this video spread across the net and was picked up by weblebrities Perez Hilton, the Huffington Post and Jason Mraz himself.

Want to hear more? See more videos on his YouTube channel.

Learn to play it I’m Yours tabs and chords

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Why is it popular? The laid-back, uplifting vibe of Iz’s version of the song has lead to it being the most used piece of ukulele music in films and TV. It’s cropped up in Fifty First Dates, Scrubs, Meet Joe Black and, acccording to IMDB, Snakes on a Plane along with many others.

Want to hear more? Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Facing Future

Learn to play it Somewhere Over the Rainbow chords

Jake Shimabukuro – While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Why is it popular? Jake’s bravura performance of this tune for Midnight Ukulele Disco has become the video for demonstrating the possibilities of the ukulele. It has been the number one video for changing perceptions of what the ukulele can do.

Want to hear more? Jake Shimabukuro – Gently Weeps

Learn to play it Make your own version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Pockets – Kazookeylele: The Final Countdown

Why is it popular? The unbeatable giggle value of seeing a mash-up of a toy piano, ukulele and kazoo.

Want to hear more? Download Pockets MP3s

Learn to play it Final Countdown tab

Julia Nunes – Bulid Me Up Buttercup

Why is it popular? Julia Nunes became a smash on YouTube after being featured there and has since launched a million bedroom ukulele players.

Want to hear more? Julia Nunes – I Wrote These

Learn to play it Build Me Up Buttercup Chords

Les Poupées Gonflées, Anna Ash, Williwaw: UkeTube

Woodshed — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:00:57 +0000

Ukulele & accordion is fast becoming the new ukulele & kazoo. This week’s contribution to the combo comes from Les Poupées Gonflées (literal translation = The Swollen Dolls – that has to be a French euphemism).

Also this week, Seeso has moved all his covers to a new channel and has bravely reupped his cover of the Red Hot Chunky Puppies (it’s now illegal to use their name on the internet). Other performers in this week’s selection include gentle-folkie Anna Ash, noise-merchant Williwaw and The Polyjesters with a song about Mrs Nahasapeemapetilon.

Les Poupées Gonflées – Carlito

Anna Ash and the Family Tree

Seeso – Give It Away

krabbers – The Tower

Williwaw – A Hymn for Billy Hayes

Little6ster – Ain’t It Heavy

Hello Jodi – The Good Life

The Polyjesters – Manjula

Cosmo Jarvis, Operation Aloha: UkeTube

Woodshed — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:00:44 +0000

Favourite find this week is Cosmo Jarvis’s catchy, King-Blues like, bros-before-hoes anthem She’s Got You. Also this week (thanks to Oren) is super(ish) group Operation Aloha hewn from members of Gomez (it’s Ian Ball on uke), Maroon 5, Phantom Planet and others who met up on Hawaii and, inevitably, end up using a uke.

Familiar friends this week include Phredd, Craig Robertson and Katzenjammer.

Cosmo Jarvis – She’s Got You

Phredd – Zoo in Space

Katzenjammer – Tea with Cinnamon

Operation Aloha – Blue Eyed Son

Harper Phillips – Wading

Craig Robertson – If I Could Be With You

Oh, Be Clever – TiK ToK

Ukulele Video of the Year 2009: U900 – Diamond Head

Woodshed — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:00:35 +0000

The uke community obviously has a big love for woolen puppets. Last year it was Rod Thomas’s sock puppets and this year’s winner is the adorable Japanese duo U900.

It’s a deserving winner and I caught up with U900’s human representative Yosuke Kihara to learn more about them.

What’s the history of U900?

Rabbit U was knocked out by The Ventures guitar sound and wanted to be a guitar hero. But guitars were too big for his body and he had to give up his dream.

Then he started making a trip to find what he wants to be. On its way in Hawaii, he found a ukulele and decided to play this instrument.

After coming back to Japan he’s got a fateful encounter
—- one day in a park of Tokyo he met a guy playing the ukulele
—- it was Bear 900 who also picked up a ukulele for the same reason.

The two guys have got good vibes each other and started a ukulele band U900.

Usagi-no U (Rabbit U)
- Lead vocal & Ukulele
- Character: Cheerful and like to be eye-catchy. Quite indifferent about things but easily moved to tears on the other hand.
- Favorites: latest hit pops (a fan of Beyonce nowadays), carrot juice, dancing, playing tricks.

Kuma-no Kulele (Bear 900)
-Vocal, keyboards & others
-Character: not talkative and looks absent-minded, but well organized in fact.
Good at caring people and making things.
-Favorites: progressive rock & fusion, toast with honey, practicing instruments, taking a nap.

Who is it playing the ukulele on the tracks?

U900 themselves are playing as you see on the video.
(Like other people such as Micky Mouse plays instruments!)

What is it about the Ventures that appeals to you so much?

The Ventures is the first musician who turned us on and lead us to music. But of course we like many of other overseas artists & music.

Your obviously a very talented animator, what’s your background?

I’m a professional illustrator & animator and creating characters and those animations for books, TV programs, etc. And I make video games, too, like this : RIBBIT KING

And of course I make amigurumi (soft toys) by knitting !

Will you be releasing your stuff in the US and Europe? Will we be able to get it on iTunes in the future?

We’d love to introduce U900 and if any one is interested in releasing their album please contact our Japanese label, Pony Canyon.

What can we expect to see and hear from U900 in the future?

U900 has released 2 CDs so far and another album will be out thie year. And new video for Web like YouTube is under planning. I’m pleasing that U900 wins The Ukulele Video Of The Year!

Hope our music will be reached people all over the world.

Visit U900 on MySpace. Buy Ukulele Ventures on Amazon. Find tab for Diamond Head here.

SoftSpot, Laura Jansen: Sunday UkeTube

Woodshed — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:00:30 +0000

Ever since the Blue Peter/Cookie scandel, I haven’t been able to hear the word ‘cookie’ without sniggering. It certainly makes the Cookie Monster about a million times more funnier. But Laura Jansen does such a good job of playing her Cookie Monster cover straight, I was quite moved by it.

But the most exciting video this week comes from Sarah Kinlaw. I’ve featured a few of her videos before but she hadn’t posted in a long time. It was worth the wait. She’s back with a friend. a cate band name (SoftSpot), a beautiful video and an incredible sound. There’s not a great deal of uke in, but enough for me to justify posting something this jaw-dropping.

Also this week Benny Chong and Byron Yasui duetting, a cover of an obscene Zappa song, an experimental ‘tone-poem’ from James Hill and plenty more.

SoftSpot – Half a House

Laura Jansen – If Moon Was Cookie

Benny Chong and Byron Yasui – Holiday for the Strings

Irving Aaronson and his Commanders – Give Me a Ukulele and a Ukulele Baby

Mark Occhionero – You’re a Lucky Guy

Ukulollo – Enjoy the Silence

Østre Vestrum Ukulelelag – Bobby Brown (Goes Down) – NSFW

Jodi and Dan – Way You Look Tonight

James Hill and Anne Davison – Ukulele Torture Chamber

BaronK – Sweet Home Chicago

Evelyn Evelyn, Annie Bacon: UkeTub

Woodshed — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:00:20 +0000

My favourite video this week comes from, Amanda Palmer’s conjoined twin side project, Evelyn Evelyn with a glorious animated video (which is NSFW if you work someone that frowns upon cartoon copulation and foul language – and if you do, what the hell are you doing working there?). Even if you haven’t been impressed with Amanda Palmer’s ukulele efforts so far, you should still check this out. You can read more about the project on Pitchfork – including rumours that the album features Frances Bean Cobain.

Also up are highlights from Annie Bacon’s The Folk Opera – which I am now eager (and very unlikely) to see.

Don’t forget to cast your vote for the Ukulele Video of the Year.

Evelyn Evelyn (Amanda Palmer) – Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn

Jumpin’ Diz, Rockin’ Rose & the Ukrane Ukuleles – De Kasper Köhler Klaagzang (enige echte)

As well as being fantastic singers and fine songwriters, they can shred on the uke as well. Watch them cutting up some Bach.

Herman Vandecauter – Fantasie nr 9

Annie Bacon – Highlights from The Folk Opera

Lauren Zettler – King of Wishful Thinking

James Hill & Melanie Doane – Avalon

Les Poupées Gonflées – Où est-il?

Via Ukulelia.

live2tivo – Slushie Skeptic

Jake Wildwood – Give Up the Ghost

Dewey Dunnington

Ukulele Video of the Year 2009: Vote

Woodshed — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:00:53 +0000

UPDATE: The poll is now closed.

After totting up the nominations, here are the 10 nominees for this year’s award:

Ukulollo – Ravel’s Bolero
Ukulelezo – Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun
uke3453 – ma-i-na-ku-ma-na
U900 – Diamond Head
tUnE-YaRdS – Hatari
Dent May – Love Song 2009
Sophie Madeleine – Take Your Love With Me
John King and James Hill – Larry O’Gaff
Todd Baio (doogey9) – I’m a Uke-aholic
Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer – Chap Hop History

You only get one vote, so use it wisely. I still haven’t made my mind up – although I have safely eliminated one of them.

Vote here (you’ll have to visit the blog if you’re reading this by email or in a feed reader).

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Voting ends Tuesday 9th February (midnight Hawaii time).