While I do love the Ukrainians in my life (see Olgurt and I on the cover of the Harris Grill menu for proof), this post is dedicated to my new favorite instrument, the Ukulele! Mine's now been all over the world, assembled in hawaii, shipped to china for some reason, then to New Haven, through the rainforest of Costa Rica, and who know where next. Here are three great songs, I've been learning that highlight how awesome something so tiny can be.
Up first a classic from the classic troubadour of ukes, accordions, and french horns is Beirut with Postcards from Italy. I like this song because its relatively easy to play but the ukulele is really prominent. By the middle when your attention is lured away by the snare and horn, Zach Condon has written a brilliant bridge and unexpected key change to bring your attention back to the uke. A simple, eastern European inspired song that is the audible embodiment of melancholia.
Next up is a fantastic rendition by someone who has about as much experience as me. In an incredibly unexpected recording I stumbled upon, we have the Dresden Doll's Amanda Palmer, playing Radiohead's Creep, on... a... ukulele. Aside from the initial genre whiplash, this thing really works. It makes me want to be under palms in 1996 on some mildly run down english dreary beach. It sounds strange, it is strange, but strange is good.
Amanda Palmer - Creep (Radiohead Cover)
Finally we have a uke tour de force. After Vicky and about 30 other people asked me to play this song I figured it was about time to learn it. It's infectiously catchy. It may have singlehandedly (ok a bottle of wine helped too) made helen buy a uke. It's simple, just singing and the uke. It's duet. Helen and I are going to do it up. Take a listen at the soon to be second best version of this song:
right click save as, as always.