As well as winning the always fiercely contested ‘French Girl I’ve Got The Biggest Crush On of the Year’ award, her debut release Not Sokute was the best EP of the year. The lead song from the EP I’ll Kill Her should have been massive everywhere. As it happens, it was only a hit in Denmark and Australia.

Rather than write up I’ll Kill Her, I’ve gone with The Dandy Cowboys which suits the ukulele much more. The chords are fairly simple and it’s a fun track to play (and to listen to). So much fun it makes up for her choosing music over making films full of girl-on-girl snogging.

The only slight problem is that everything is tuned slightly sharp (about a quarter of a fret). So, if you want to play along with the record, you’ll have to tune to the song itself. The best way to do that is tune up the C string while listening to the song (since the song is in the key of C, it’ll sound right most of the time when it’s in tune). When it’s in tune, stop listening to the record and tune the rest of the strings from the C string: the G string is the same as the C string played at the 7th fret, the E string is the same as the C string played at the 4th fret and the A string is the same as the G string played at the 2nd fret.

Paula Fuga – Lilikoi (Live)(mp3)
Paula Fuga – Loloiwi (Live)(mp3)
Paula Fuga – Queen (Live)(mp3) via Paula Fuga Music.

Female Hawaiian singers are something of an acquired taste. The traditional yodelling and vocal ululations aren’t the most commercial sounds in the world. But Paula Fuga has a voice that is set to do for female Hawaiian performers what Israel Kamakawiwo’ole did for the guys.

Rather than the traditional style, her voice is deep, rich and soulful voice similar to the likes of Erykah Badu and Jill Scott.

After a thankfully unsuccessful shot at American Idol, she joined up with Hawaiian reggae band Dubkonscious before releasing her debut solo album Lilikoi. She’s attracted the attention of some big hitters; collaborating with Jack Johnson (you can hear the song on her MySpace) and has impressed the likes of India.Arie and Jason Mraz.

The album gets a bit too Jawaiian for my tastes, but this acoustic session for KTUH blew me away. She blends her Southern Soul vocals with Hawaiian and Jamaican sounds without sounding like self-conscious fusion. She slips between singing in English and Hawaiian so naturally you’d barely notice. And the minimal accompaniment showcases her magnificent voice.

The standout track of both the album and session is Lilikoi (named after a type of passion fruit)). The song throws a little flamenco into the mix with this nifty little intro:

Lilikoi Intro (midi)

The chords are Em and B7 throughout.

I can’t wait until she records a whole album acoustically (fingers crossed).

I thought I’d kick of 2008 with a series of posts on a random selection of my favourite things and notable events from 2007.

My viewing habits would suggest that Heroes was my favourite TV show of last year. I got insanely addicted to it; I became a Heroes junkie. As soon as the first series finished over here, I had to start torrenting the second series to get my fix. Since the writers strike killed off the second series and left me with nothing to watch but dead babies crawling across the ceiling, I’ve found myself in the worrying position of agreeing with Margaret Thatcher’s opinions on strike breaking. But I’m not sure I even like the show. It’s overacted, the dialogue is overblown (and often hilariously expositional) and there are gaping plot-holes all over the place. Still, can’t wait for Volume 3.

Much more satisfying was Flight of the Conchords. Who needs GCI when you’ve got a floating David Bowie? As well as being understated, lovable and hilarious, there was a ukulele connection.

I’ve already tabbed out the show’s uke song Mermaids, so here’s Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros.

What’s your favourite ukulele video of 2007?

Next Saturday I’ll be launching a vote for the best online ukulele video. Here’s your chance to nominate up to five for consideration for the final vote. The ones with the most nominations will go forward to the big vote (if there are no clear leaders, I’ll make an arbitrary decision).

Rules:

– Only videos recorded specifically for online viewing are eligible. No DVD/TV rips. No live gigs.
– The ukulele must be the primary instrument.
– Videos must have been recorded and uploaded in 2007.
– Videos must be publicly available online.
– Maximum of five nominations per person.
– Post your nominations in the comments.
– Nominations close midnight Friday 11th January (Hawaii time).

Here are my five:

Jeremy Warmsley’s Ukulele Session (Le Soir)
Waitswatcher – Hoist That Rag (YouTube)
Hailey Wojcik – Bad Modern Art (MUD)
Bosko & Honey’s Fingerpickin’ Love In (YouTube)
Sweetafton23 – Toxic (YouTube)

Man, it was difficult narrowing it down to five. I have to give honorable mentions to Mark Occhionero’s demonstrations and Aldrine Guerrero’s Iamhawaii videos.

Get nominating.

Buy Ukulele now has a blog reviewing various ukulele products.

The Ukulizer is a ukulele chord site with some nifty gubbins allowing to switch from D to C tuning or transpose at the click of a button.

The end of Eilidh’s Daily Ukulele Ceilidh got plenty of press coverage. Most of it pedestrian and some of it moronic. By far this best was the interview in the Daily Record.

Julia Nunes wins Bushman World Video Contest. Really?

Vote for Jen Kwok in Famecast. And here. Vote early, vote often.
Aldrine Guerrero‘s Christmas Eve Eve show.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall smashes Jamie Oliver’s ukulele.

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain gig on German TV.

Jake Shimabukuro does his best orgasm-face at the tee-off of the 2008 PGA tour.

I got an email from mrfifty6 saying, “gus and fin are NOT the most punk ukulele players on youtube, i am.” Check out his YouTube page if you think you can handle the punk. Watch your backs GUGUG.

Shattered Satellite has an mp3 of Florence and the Machine covering Beirut’s Postcards from Italy.

Uke Thingy pointed me towards the definition of uke attitude. One guy who definitely has the uke attitude is the writer of Ukulele Lesson. The site is full of ukulele poetry. My favourite is, “The ukulele sound won’t interrupt the talking of business or the whisper of lovers.”

There’s a ukulele on The Beach Boys’ Help Me, Rhonda says Lost and Sound. My first reaction was, “Like chuff there is.” But, I was listening to the single version. Take a listen to the backing track for the album version and there’s definite uke action.

In: Sharon Jones, Mrs Kucinich and the ukulele. Heartily agreed on all counts. (via Ukulelia)

Ukuleles or bananas?

Happy 2008 everyone. I hope you enjoyed the holiday season and got plenty of ukulele practice in.

Over the hols I’ve been busy writing a guide to reading ukulele tab. A few people have asked me about it and I’ve had to direct them elsewhere which isn’t ideal as I don’t think there’s a really comprehensive guide around.

So, while everyone was quaffing egg-nog and kissing under the mistletoe (possibly at the same time), I was writing about ukulele tab. If you want to make up for my kissless Christmas, feel free to snog my face off in gratitude.

It ended up being 15 pages long, so I’ve divided into parts and the first is after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Uke Hunt is going on its Christmas holibobs and it’ll be back in the New Year. If you want to make sure you’re the first to know when it’s back, subscribe by RSS or by email.

A big thanks to everyone who has read, subscribed, commented, emailed and contributed. It’s been great that so many people have got involved. I’ve got some big plans for next year so have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mele Kalikimaka (midi)

You’re still looking on the net for Christmas presents this late? You are screwed. Unless…

The big advantage with ebooks is that they’re delivered straight away (unless you pay be echeck – slogan: “Do you miss the hassle of real-world checks?”) and you can send them to anyone, anywhere instantly.

In my opinion, the best ukulele ebooks around are those available at How To Play Ukulele. Of course, I might be slightly biased in that opinion since I wrote them. If you want a more even handed view, here’s what other people are saying.

How to Play Ukulele Chord Progressions

“This is the first time someone’s explained basic chord formation and scales and transposition in a way that makes sense to me”
Mike Dickison of Mike’s Ukulele Page

I started using the book – it’s great!!! This is really a helpful and friendly guide.
Jen Kwok

I am really glad I bought your chord progression theory book. You did just a great job! I am taking piano from my daughter’s classical teacher. He is great but somewhat hardcore classical. He tried to explain some of the theory to me, but I think that your book is way more accessible and directly applicable. And this comes from me, someone who has taken theory classes in the past!
Carol Seigal

“Your ‘How to play ukulele chord progressions’ is excellent. It cleared up a number of things for me. I’m just getting into music theory and having something that relates directly to the ukulele was very useful.”
Chris Double

The “How to Play Ukulele Chord Progressions” was great. I got a better sense of hamonized chords, and their fretboard relationship. The feelings the sounds generate for different chords, and how the tension is built and released really made sense.

This ebook is key to understanding chord relationships, and I can take my music to whole new levels.
Terry Truhart

How To Play Christmas Ukulele

An excellent selection of tabs and playing tips… I highly recommend picking it up.
Chris of The UkeCast.

Just have to say again that your “How to Play Christmas Ukulele” is really terrific. There is a fair amount of ukulele Christmas music out there but very little as good as your arrangements. All of your music is very easy to play as well a lot of fun to play.
Art Crocker

The selection of songs is great. There are popular favorites, along with some that I’d never heard of before. All are arranged for beginner to intermediate. I’m definitely in the beginner camp, but have been able to play a few bars of each… Priced at $7.00, this eBook is a bargain.
Ukulele Review

The week’s best ukulele videos after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

Friend of Uke Hunt, IanB has set up a new ukulele site Uke Thingy. There’s a pleasing variety of tab there already stretching from YES to The Road to Eldorado via Van Morrison and Frampton.

WeePOP! are my new favourite record label after sending me a Christmas card with a ukulele-playing snowman. I wouldn’t have thought the entire back catalogue of Stax records could be overturned by a small card, but it just goes to show what a cheap date I am. I can heartily recommend The Darlings’ Photo EP which contains a ukulele cover of AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long – judging by the number I got, there’s less than 60 copies left – so get your skates on. Also, if you haven’t already, check out the Not Quite Rocket Science Ukulele Podcast I mentioned earlier in the year (done by the folks who run weePOP!).

Aldrine Guerrero, Danyo Cummings and pals will be doing a live web performance on Sunday 23rd at 10pm (I think that’s 8am Christmas Eve in the UK). You can watch it here.

GUGUG have recorded a CD: This is the Ukulele New Wave.

Ukulele Tonya has an impressively in depth article on humidity and your ukulele.

Google Patent Search (still in beta) has some weird and wonderful ukulele inventions. It has the original patent for the Swagerty Treholipee as well as less successful inventions such as the world’s most overcomplicated ukulele tuner (requiring three dense pages of expositional text) and a sort of banjo-ukulele-sanshin concoction.

How do you make the most special day of your life that little more special? Ukulele duet – obviously.

The Guardian Music Blog loves the ukulele and Pete Paphides in The Times reckons UOGB is, “the only ukulele-based covers band in Europe.”

Barak Obama Caucus Carol.

Great-great granddaughter of ukulele making legend Manuel Nunes posts a photo of him on Flickr.

“My ukulele has been signed by all four members of Motley Crue and Marky Ramone; I consider it to be an artifact because of this.”