ukulele video – Page 4

Video: Pecker, doing “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”

So, I spent the whole weekend pretty much ignoring my computer and living in the backyard (when it was nice) and the movie theatre (when it was crappy out). So, as a result, I didn't see a tweet from @gotanda until just a few minutes ago. That's a shame because it means I could have watched the Youtube video he sent me a few more dozen times. Heh.

The video is by someone known simply, as Pecker. Yup. Pecker. I did a "D-" amount of research and I believe he's something like the Barcelona version of Gunther only with more (or is it less, I can never tell) ironic value. If you wanna check out his site, you can find it at http://www.pecker.es/.

Anyway, the video is just Pecker and a ukulele (is it a Mahalo maybe?) covering The Ramones song "I wanna be your boyfriend". That's one of my favorite Ramones songs and my son and I actually cover that ourselves when we are transformed into our Ramones cover band (we are called "Second verse, same as the first").

Anyway, the video is fun and I like his accent. I'm especially glad that it's not faked (the accent, I mean).

We are the World (Ukulele Style)

Well, this wouldn't be much of a Ukulele blog if I didn't talk about this Ukulele version of We Are The World. It's 33 Ukulele players from all over the world playing We Are The World and it's be edited into one video. Apparently there are ukulele players from Australia, Canada, Germany, Hawaii, Italy, Malaysia, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.

I like the concept of this (it remind me of that great Stand By Me youtube video), I just sort of wish they picked a different song. Sure, I grew up in the 80s, but I pretty much can't stand this song. But, it's nice to see all the great ukes and players and hear everyone's style on this, regardless of the tune.

If you want to see more of a particular player, check out all of the following links. They are the Youtube pages for everyone who is in the video. You're going to have to do a little guesswork, though, if your favorite is in the middle of the video. Either that or be a really great counter.

Missoula, Montana… and BEER!

Andy Smetanka posted a link to a video today that I figured I could get away with re-posting here. For one, I just need to start posting again (stupid real life getting in the way of my blogging) and for another, I'm actually playing Ukulele in the music of this video.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Andy is a long-time friend and full-time Renaissance man. I met him around 1997 or so when he was fronting Humpy, a great Missoula hardcore band. If you've seen any Volumen videos, then you've seen his work before. He made videos for Sexy Astronaut, Snakes and Lost in the Baltics. Heck, he's even made videos for The Decemberists. Heck, he even officiated my wedding, if you can believe that.

This particular video was made for Big Sky Brewing, a local Missoula Brewery. However, the music that's featured in the video was recorded, I think, for another project. I think he was making a Tolkien-inspired video for Le Force. This music was supposed to be for the Hobbit's merry-making and whatnot, I think? Anyway, besides me on the Ukulele, Al Pils is on the jawharp and I think Bryan Ramirez and a few other folks (Andy as well) are stomping, snapping, etc. I'm actually a little surprised that there is no musical saw in this song because Andy is also the king of musical saw, if you can believe that.

Oh, hang on! I just found a link for the Le Force video as well. I'm probably stretching it by including this video here, but hay, it does have some ukulele in the beginning. 😉 Besides, the video is freaking RAD!

Another Magical Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Moment

So, this morning I hopped on the ole computer feeling a little bit groggy (I'm not a morning person). I headed over to twitter to see if I had missed anything, and I notice that @valcam1 has tweeted a Youtube link at me. The morning is starting to look up. So, I made my way over to Youtube to see a Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain video that I've never seen before. Huzzah! Now, I don't know if I'm just slightly emotional today, or maybe slightly hungover, or what, but when they all come in together at the end, I definitely teared up a little bit. Yeah, I'm a sap, I'll admit it. Enjoy!

Video: When I’m Cleaning Windows (with Kala Pocket Uke)

I finally got a few free minutes during lunch to make a video showing off the Kala pocket ukulele.
I think that the powers that be must have known I only had a few minutes, though because they kept effing with me. I'd play the song perfectly and the cat would run by and mess it up. Or, the shot was great and my brain turned off. It seemed like it was something every time, so finally, I just decided that I was going to do one more and that was it. Of course my freaking knee was covering the pocket uke the whole time though. Doh!

Next time I'll be more careful to let you see the uke while I'm playing it. Anyway, this song is one of my favorites to play (even if I can't always remember all the words) and my son Simon really loves it as well. He usually sings the chorus with me if he's anywhere near while I play it. So, that's pretty fun. He and I have a Ramones cover band also, (we're called "Second Verse, Same as the First") so maybe I can convince him to make some videos with me of that action.

Anyway, if you have ever watched George Formby play this on Youtube then you'll notice that he uses different chords. I learned it this way and I guess it just stuck so there's no undoing it now.