Thanks to “Carzand” from the Yirmumah forums for linking me to this–

This music is unusual for Japan. The singer and songwriter is Japanese. Her name is Ayano Tsuji. What makes her unusual is the instrument she’s playing. It’s a ukulele. We’d wager that Ayano Tsuji is the first Japanese ukelele player you’ve heard in a while. Let’s listen some more. Here’s Robert Rand and today’s global hit.

Ayano Tsuji says it all began in high school, about ten years ago. She desperately wanted to play the folk guitar but her hands were too small. She couldn’t wrap her fingers around the guitar’s neck. So out of necessity — she downsized: she picked up a ukulele…found that her hands could handle the instrument perfectly…loved the sweet, melancholy sound…and has been playing it ever since.

READ FULL ARTICLE

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I wanted to share this song I play when friends or acquantices of mine pass away. I usually play it in private when no one else is around, because, well, I sing terribly. In light of Sunday being September 11th, and all the tragic losses from Hurricane Katrina, I’ve been playing it a lot lately.

The original version of this song from the 40’s, the lyrics are much different. See here. I discovered the song, only after Ukulele Eck, (Joel Eckhaus), sang it at a radio station and I caught some MP3s online—- The version presented here, is only what I tabbed out myself, who knows, it’s probably not even right, but it plays fine to me and it’s a simplified pattern for just playing along. — To help, I put up a mpg video clip of me playing this, WARNING again, I sing terribly but here you go:

http://yirmumah.net/video/ukulele.html

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One of the most interesting uke players I’ve come across in a while is Ukulele Lloyd. He’s featured in the new episode of Midnight Ukulele Disco– see him playing “Angels gave me roofies” in quicktime movie format

Another video I saw once, he looked exactly like Jimmy Falon. Odd.

Rock on, Ukulele Lloyd. Rock on.

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Been a good while since I posted an actual uke comic– enjoy!

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Jack Johnson loves the ukulele. He once performed with Ed Vedder on SOON FORGET, one of my favorites. So it was no surprise to find UKE in some of his lyrics–

“But just maybe, hala ka ukulele
Mama made a baby
I really don’t mind the practice
Because you’re my little lady
Lady, lady love me
Because I love to lay here lazy
We could close the curtains ”

Find it in the song, Banana Pancakes, by Jack Johnson.

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from their site: “Bixby is the first band to utilize an ukulele within the context of mainstream acoustic rock-and-roll. Accompanied by a comprehensive band backbone (guitar, bass, drums, and piano/organ), a rich 3-part harmony, and one of the most versatile lead singers in years, if you don’t already know who Bixby is– you will soon.”

You can listen to four or five complete songs on their main page. Really neat ukulele picking throughout. Nice sound. BIXBY MUSIC

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Love those old ukulele photos….

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Surfing around the net, looking for links about our beloved UKULELE I noticed this song by ROy Janik… “When you’re dead” –

Roy says on his new blog, it’s the first time he’s ever written a uke song, and the chords are pretty darn easy if you’d like a little ditty to play. — C|C|C|C7|F|F|C|C|F|F|C|C|C|G7|C

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I forgot to post this the other day, it was on BoingBoing— but there’s now a uke you can plugin to your USB port and record. If anyone knows how to actually GET one, please tell UKE-CLUB.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

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Another uke diva, Amy G– from the good ol’ Midnight Ukulele Disco show— singing “Fly me to Iraq” with some interesting lyrics. Quicktime Video here.

And HOT DAMN. Check out that flaming Tululele she’s got there. Made by the one and only, Joel Eckhaus, (ukulele eck) — who also made a custom uke for Ed Vedder of Pearl Jam. LINK

I want one of those.

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