Uke Topper

Several times over the last few months, some of my Facebook friends have exchanged YouTube links to videos of people playing the ukulele. It's amusing and amazing what some people will transcribe to the uke. I've posted some of these links to Mazurland. The players are usually decent, and their covers of many pop tunes are fun to watch. But, not all uke players are in it for the novelty. I've posted in the past a link to the wonderful natural talent of the late Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole. Though his strumming was never more than a vehicle for the tune, his soulful high tenor carried it in such a beautiful way.

For technical and interpretive brilliance on the instrument itself, it's hard to beat Jake Shimabukuro. Here he is giving his rendition of While My Guitar Gently Weeps. He's truly a uke virtuoso. And, unlike the many mirthful cover artists, he has reverence for the song he's playing. It shows in his rendition of the National Anthem. (It's a little showy for my taste, but embellishment seems to be what people want these days. Hey. He didn't scratch himself.)

Comments

[Chris]

He's good. He makes the Ukelele enjoyable.

Now if you can just find someone who can do that for the bagpipes.....

[Marty]

Impossible. Bagpipes were designed to make an opposing army shit their pants when they heard that sound coming through the fog.

[Valerie Longfellow]

Another 'agree to disagree' subject in my Kij/Mazur venn diagram. I lurve the bagpipes. My husband even bought me a practice chanter.

[Marty]

My wife's part Scottish. I've taken her to see a touring bagpipe extravaganza from the UK. It damn near kilt me.

[Valerie Longfellow]

Substitute pun for profanity and I'm inclined to think you suffer from some sort of Tourette's. Consider seeing a neurologist. There are meds you can take so we (I mean YOU) wouldn't have to suffer from this.

[hank]

Good Rendition. As Sean Connery said in "The Longest Day", Aye, it takes an Irishman to play the pipes