flight of the conchords

Video and Tabs: Livin’ Thing – ELO (Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra)

I got an e-mail from a "Joe" about 9:31 this morning. He turned me onto this video of the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra doing "Livin' Thing" by ELO. Check it out, it's pretty damn great, plus it's got Bret from Flight of the Conchords in there!

Joe asked if I could post tabs for this song. I typically try not to disappoint, so here ya go. The chords repeat the same pattern on the 2nd and 3rd verses. Sorry I didn't write them out, but I'm technically supposed to be working right now. Shh.... don't tell my boss.

Livin' thing
Electric Light Orchestra
C   - 0003
Am  - 2000
Ab  - 5343
Fm  - 1013
Em  - 4432
Dm  - 2210
F   - 2010
G   - 0232
D7  - 2223
G+  - 0332
Bbm - 3111
   C	                                           Am
   Sailin' away on the crest of a wave, it's like magic
   Ab	                                            Fm
   Rollin' and ridin' and slippin' & slidin', it's magic
    Em	                    Dm
And you, and your sweet desire,
         Em     Dm  Em	       F	   G
You took me, oh-oh, higher and higher, baby   

 	C C C        Am           F 
 	      It's a livin' thing,
        D7      G+       C
It's a terrible thing to lose
       Am         F       
It's a given thing
       D7       G+       C 
What a terrible thing to lose.

 	Bbm             F              G
 	(Taking a dive) (halt the slide)  	 

Making believe this is what you've conceived
From your worst day,
Moving in line then you look back in time
To your first day

Takin' a dive 'cos you can't halt the slide
Floating downstream,
So let her go don't start spoiling the show
It's a bad dream

Video: The “Screw You” song, from Scrubs

So, first off, sorry I've been gone for so long (assuming you noticed). My work schedule has ramped up into insanity mode. But, no excuses. Anyway, I'm not sure how I found this video because I haven't watched Scrubs in several years and even then I barely watched it to begin with. I think it aired right before or after something I did want to watch but I have no idea what that even was anymore. I don't even have cable these days, so it's hard to remember what life used to be like when I had to watch commercials and shows I really didn't give a rat's ass about just to watch the ones I did.

Anyway, apparently there's something to be said for watching shows accidentally because if I was still sitting through Scrubs I would have seen this super charming video. I think I remember the bald guy as the defeated hospital lawyer, but I don't recall the girl character at all. Maybe she was later or something. Anyway, watch the video and then you can learn more about her.

See. Wasn't that rad? Anyway, using my super sleuth skills, I was able to determine that cute ukulele-playing girl's identity. She is Kate "Oates" Micucci. Oates, you say? Yup, more on that later. But, first, you probably want to know how to play that song right? Yeah, me too. So I started transcribing it and then I had the brilliant thought to search first and see if anyone else has already cracked that egg. Well, of course, Woodshed over at UkuleleHunt.com has done it already. If you wanna see why I have a real man-crush on him, check out his post where he has the tabs for the Scrubs Screw You song.

Anyway, back to this "Oates" business. Yeah, so apparently Kate is in some sort of non-New Zealand folk/parody comedy duo with Riki "Garfunkel" Lindhome. You know, like Flight of the Conchords only the American lady version. Yup, they call themselves Garfunkel and Oates and I might have as much of a crush on them as I do Jemaine of the Conchords.

So, apparently the Screw You song is one of theirs, only their version is called "Fuck You" and it has a kazoo. Can't go wrong with a kazoo and extra swearing, I always say. See, take a peak.

Yup. Adorable, right? Anyway, I expect I'll be posting more Garfunkel and Oates in the coming days, assuming my work load lets up.

New Flight of the Conchords – Oct 20th

Once again, I'm posting a news item that isn't 100% ukulele-related, but I can almost guarantee that there will be a ukulele track on this record. I can say this with confidence because Brett McKenzie, from Flight of the Conchords, is co-founder of the Wellington Ukulele Orchestra in New Zealand. The new record is called "I Told You I was Freaky" and it's coming out on October 20th. However you can already pre-order it on Amazon. Woo hoo! Now I can get my dance moves ready for "Sugar Lumps".

Flight of the Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky

Bret, from Flight of the Conchords?!

Oh to live in New Zealand! The beautiful countryside, the fat American LOTR fans that surely litter the aforementioned landscape these days, Flight of the Conchords and the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra. Yup, and to put syrup on the whole deal, Bret McKenzie, from Flight of the Conchords, performs in the orchestra and co-founded it. Listen to this,

"Classic songs by Prince, Johnny Cash, Kings of Leon and others will be heard when the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra rocks the Lake Wanaka Centre on Sunday and Monday nights." -- Otago Daily Times

I think I would literally kill for this. Well, I guess I'll settle for the next best thing. Playing "Leggy Blonde" on my ukulele and crying myself to sleep.