The Christmas Song

Merry Christmas from Ukulele Babylon! Here are the Ukulele Bros singing a most awesome rendition of The Christmas Song. Enjoy!



Next: You Sexy Thing

Fur Elise

The snow has changed over to freezing rain. This is causing the now wet and heavy snow to slide off of our sharply pitched metal roof and thump down onto the back deck outside my office window. The dogs find this development to be most disturbing. Not to worry, though. I have a wonderful piece of music to share which should calm them right down. It is a very beautiful rendition of Beethoven's, Fur Elise, arranged for ukulele and performed skillfully by a fellow who goes only by the username, iCrooner. Enjoy!



Next: The Christmas Song

Santa Rides a Hog

Here is a ukulele video I made a couple years ago of a little Christmas song I wrote called, Santa Rides a Hog. Happy Holidays!



Next: Fur Elise

Bad Things

Have you ever seen the HBO series, True Blood? If yes, then you no doubt have grooved out to the cool and atmospheric theme song, Bad Things. Here is BaronK69's soulful, ukulele, cover of the song. Enjoy!



Next: Santa Rides a Hog

I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire

Wow. A day off of work. Cool. Well let me take the opportunity to bring you a long overdue ukulele video. I really dig this uke cover of the Ink Spots' classic, I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire. It's performed very sweetly by the lovely and talented, Najmah, from Singapore. I hope it charms you as much as it did me. Enjoy!



Next: Bad Things

Baby

What a treat! I just happened to stumble upon this video of The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan playing the ukulele. The song is called, Baby. Enjoy!



Next: I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire

Mad World

Just finished my first week back working full time. It's great to be working again. It just doesn't leave me nearly as much blog time as I had when I was unemployed. But don't worry. I'm not giving the blog up. I still plan to post a new uke vid every chance I get. Today's vid is a really cool ukulele cover of the Tears for Fears song, Mad World. It's performed by John, aka Keonepax. Enjoy!



Next: Baby

My Heart Will Go On

I'm back to working full time, which is a big relief. Unfortunately, it leaves me with a lot less time to devote to Ukulele Babylon. So far I have been successful at posting a new ukulele video every day. I may have to cut that back a little bit soon. But I'm not going to break my perfect streak today. So here is Olu143, aka Sam from Oahu, performing a very lovely instrumental interpretation of the theme from Titanic, My Heart Will Go On. Enjoy!



Next: Mad World

Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?

Happy Monday! Today's Uke Bab Vid of the Day features DeLonde Bell doing a great little cover of the 80's, Culture Club hit, Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? Enjoy!



Next: My Heart Will Go On

Science Fiction Double Feature

It's Halloween, and it seems like The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been in the air, what with the Glee Rocky Horror episode and all. So today you get me playing the ukulele. It's a video from a couple years back of me covering Science Fiction Double Feature. Happy Halloween!!!

P.S. Hope you don't think I'm getting a big head...



Next: Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?

Psycho Killer

On this snowy, rainy Saturday morning, I asked my wife what song she would like to hear performed on the ukulele. She said that she would like to hear something by The Talking Heads. Well, it just so happens that The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain do an outstanding cover of the song, Psycho Killer. So that is your Uke Bab Video of the Day. Enjoy!



Next: Science Fiction Double Feature

Don't Think Twice It's All Right

And another weekend is nearly here! Yay!!! And how shall we celebrate this Friday afternoon? With a very lovely cover of Bob Dylan's, Don't Think Twice It's All Right, by Sophie Madeleine. Have a great weekend!



Next: Psycho Killer

Who Will Save Your Soul

Selecting ukulele videos can, at times, be quite a challenge. It's amazing how many otherwise great videos are ruined because the volume is way to low or else the artist decides to go on a long, rambling monologue before ever getting around to playing the song. It's a shame because a lot of those videos might otherwise have made the cut. Today, I've weeded through a ton of such videos. So it was with great relief that I stumbled upon today's Video of the Day. I hope you enjoy Cassandra from California doing an amazing job with Jewel's, Who Will Save Your Soul. Happy Thursday!



Next: Don't Think Twice It's All Right

The Galaxy Song

Have you ever seen the old Monty Python movie, The Meaning of Life? If you answered yes, then you will likely recall The Galaxy Song. It's one of Eric Idle's great little ditties, performed very nicely here today on ukulele by a man who's known only as, This Penguin. Enjoy!



Next: Who Will Save Your Soul

We Close Our Eyes

Oingo Boingo is one of those bands. I know the name. I know that some people really love them. But somehow I've never gotten around to checking them out. This ukulele video may change that. I stumbled upon it quite by accident and was very pleasantly surprised. I don't know what I was expecting an Oingo Boingo song to sound like. Maybe like rubber bands and pogo sticks. But, We Close Our Eyes, is a very sweet, melancholy song. And Theresa does a great job with it. Enjoy!



Next: The Galaxy Song

White Rabbit

Happy Monday. Damn, I need a shower. Stinky stinky. But before I do that I must give you your Uke Bab Vid of the Day. This one is from Swedish artist, Elvira Bira. It's a loud, energetic, ukulele cover of the Jefferson Airplane song, White Rabbit. Unfortunately, the sound quality is not too good. They must have been playing pretty loudly and it was too much for the little video camera condenser microphone. But even with the distortion, I like this video a lot. It really kicks ass.



Next: We Close Our Eyes

Star Wars Main Theme

Today I am feeling a bit Star Wars-ish. So today's Uke Bab Vid of the day is Anna from the UK, playing a rousing rendition of the Star Wars Main Theme on ukulele(s). Enjoy!



Next: White Rabbit

Yellow

So I can be kind of "out-of-touch" with what's going on sometimes. Take for example, the band, Coldplay. I've heard the name. I know that they are very popular. But I could not name a song or tell you what the guys look like. So today, I just did a search on "ukulele" and "Coldplay, just to see what would come up. What a found was a really nice video of recent UCAL Irving grad, Victor Kim, performing a Coldplay song called, Yellow. I think he does a really great job with it. How about you?



Next: Star Wars Main Theme

D'Yer Mak'er

You knew it was just a matter of time before I posted a uke cover of a Led Zeppelin song. You were right. Here is 1buckridge performing a great little multitrack version of Led Zep's, D'Yer Mak'er. Okay, so he does have a guitar in the mix for the bass notes. But he has three ukulele tracks so we can forgive him his six string transgression ...this time.



Next: Yellow

On the Road Again

Heading out early today for a road trip to Maine. Here are The Peel River Drifters covering Willie Nelson's, On the Road Again. Enjoy!



Next: D'Yer Mak'er

Tainted Love

I must be in some sort of 80's rut this week. "Take on Me" yesterday and now, "Tainted Love" today. I honestly didn't plan it this way. I was just doing my daily, random, viewing of uke vids, when all of a sudden I found myself sitting there with a big stupid grin on my face. On the screen was a video, by a couple of guys who call themselves The Re-entrants, playing the 80's techno dance hit, Tainted Love, on ukuleles. How could I not make it the video of the day? The song was a big hit for the band, Soft Cell. However it was written by Ed Cobb and originally recorded by Gloria Jones. I'm sure now that this ukulele rendition will be widely regarded as the definitive version of the tune. Have fun!



Next: On the Road Again

Take on Me

Are you old enough to remember that old MTV video for the song, Take on Me, by the band, A-Ha? Don't worry. You don't have to admit it out loud if you are. But if you do remember that video then you will likely appreciate this sweet, ukulele take on the song. And even if you've never heard of the song or the band, I think you will enjoy it. For those of you anticipating those impossible high notes at the end of the chorus, well, just send me a video of you successfully hitting those notes before you give Shiny and The Spoon too much of a hard time over changing the arrangement just a tad. ;-)



Next: Tainted Love

Time

Had a prodigious To-Do List for today. Lots of errands to run. But the fates had other plans. No heat or hot water. So rather than bop about, getting things done, I'm here at home waiting for the furnace guy to show. But that's okay. More time to watch ukulele videos, like this melancholy cover of Tom Waits', Time, performed by Mr. George Welch from the UK.



Next: Take on Me

These Boots Are Made for Walking

Have we had an Australian uke vid yet? I don't think we have, and I would say that it is high time we did. So let's enjoy Hayley's most excellent cover of Nancy Sinatra's, These Boots Are Made for Walking. Have a great Sunday, mate!



Next: Time

Highway to Hell

I love hearing songs played on a ukulele that you would not expect to hear played on a ukulele. Rainer's cover of AC/DC's, Highway to Hell, is exactly what I'm talking about. It's a pretty kick ass, rockin' version of the song too. So straight from Germany, to your computer screen, I give you Rainer's cover of Highway to Hell!



Next: These Boots Are Made for Walking

I Kissed a Girl

I know. It seems like lately you cannot escape the ubiquitous Katy Perry. So why should "here" be any different? Truth be told, I watched a lot of videos this morning. Nothing grabbed me until this video of three friends having fun with a ukulele and Katy Perry's, I Kissed a Girl. So if you're not a Katy Perry fan, well... I think you'll get over the trauma of having to hear one more Katy Perry song. If you are a Katy Perry fan, then it's your lucky day.



Next: Highway to Hell

You Are My Sunshine

It's a nice fall morning in Stowe, Vermont. The sun is out and I wanted today's video to be something upbeat and inspiring. I knew I had found the right video as soon as I stumbled across this one. Today's Uke Bab Video of the Day features Lance, a 4-year-old boy from the Philippines, performing a truly adorable rendition of, You Are My Sunshine. Have a nice day!



Next: I Kissed a Girl

Paparazzi

This video is just plain fun. Ali, clearly put a lot of work into it. I really like the fact that she took the time to do multiple tracks and video layers. It gives her video a great dynamic feel. Great harmonies too! So here is Ali performing Lady Gaga's, Paparazzi!



Next: You Are My Sunshine

Bohemian Rhapsody

Sometimes it's fun to watch ukulele videos where you can sit back and think, "Wow! That's cool. I'm going to try to learn that song next." Other times, it's nice to see a real virtuoso play something so mindblowing that all you can do is gape. Were this a Charlie Daniel's-style competition, I have no doubt that the devil would have to lay his golden ukulele down at Jake Shimabukuro's feet. So here is Hawaiian ukulele master, Jake Shimabukuro, performing Queen's, Bohemian Rhapsody.



Next: Paparazzi

Bed Intruder Song

By now you probably know who Antoine Dodson is and you've probably heard the, Bed Intruder Song. If not, here's the deal. Antoine Dodson is a guy who's sister was attacked in their apartment by a would-be rapist. Antoine came to his sister's rescue and scared the intruder off. The next day, Antoine gave a very animated interview to the media. A clip of that interview made it onto YouTube and spread like wildfire. Here is the original clip. Shortly thereafter, Antoine was approached by a YouTube comedy group called, Auto-Tune the News. They asked Antoine for permission to make a song and music video out of the interview clip. Antoine agreed and the result was the Bed Intruder Song. You can see it here. The video of the Bed Intruder Song went mega-viral and has been see by tens of millions of people. Many people have now recorded their own cover versions of the Bed Intruder Song. It was only a matter of time before some ukulele players got in on the craze. I've seen a few ukulele covers of the song, but the one I've chosen as today's Uke Bab Vid of the Day is my favorite. It really captures the spirit of the original and perhaps even takes it further. So here is Tony Lucca and Ernie Halter's most excellent cover of the Bed Intruder Song. Enjoy!




Next: Bohemian Rhapsody

Love Will Keep Us Together

Okay. So, today is 10-10-10. October 10, 2010. So I thought it might be fun to play a video of a song that is somehow related to the number 10. In my search, I somehow stumbled upon this video of a guy named, Matt, from Hawaii. Matt is doing a cover of Captain & Tenille's 1970's pop hit, Love Will Keep Us Together. If you were around in the 70's then you know there was a period of time when you could not turn on the radio without hearing this song. I remember, as a kid, walking around for days with the damn thing stuck in my head. But I must admit that it is rather entertaining to watch a grown man sing the song. How does it relate to 10-10-10, you ask? It's Captain & Ten-ille isn't it?



Next: Bed Intruder Song

Just Like Starting Over

Were he still alive, today would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. It seems a lot of folks are taking this time to reflect on his life and musical legacy. So I thought it would be nice to post a ukulele cover of a John Lennon song today. The video I've chosen is a really sweet, heartfelt, rendition of John's, Just Like Starting Over, by a Japanese gentleman who goes by the username, ukuleleone. Happy Birthday, John!



Next: Love Will Keep Us Together

This Woman's Work

I am a major Kate Bush fan. And I think that the song, This Woman's Work, is one of her very loveliest. I was quite surprised when I stumbled upon this ukulele cover of the song because Kate's vocals can be very challenging. However, I was very impressed with the job that Lisa from Philadelphia did on this song. Her finger picking style works well and she does a really good job with the vocals too. I hope you enjoy it. And happy weekend, everyone!



Next: Just Like Starting Over

Wonderwall

It's kind of funny. I go out in search of a new ukulele video of the day, and I usually have some general idea of what I'm looking for. I rarely seem to find what I had in mind though, and inevitably I seem to stumble across something cool and special that's completely unrelated, and at the same time, perfect. That's what happened today. I was looking for a ukulele cover of Depeche Mode's, Enjoy the Silence, partly because I have been trying to figure it out without a lot of success. I watched several videos of other ukers doing their own renditions. But nothing really stood out and grabbed me. In the midst of all this I came across this very sweet performance of Oasis's, Wonderwall, by a young woman in the UK. I don't know her real name. But her Youtube username is Puffin312. I hope you like it too.



Next: This Woman's Work

We are the Champions

I remember when the 45 record of Queen's, We Are the Champions, came out. My sister, Christine, and I were just kids and we played the hell out of that thing, singing along at the top of our lungs. Today's Uke Bab Vid of the Day is a beautiful instrumental version of the song, performed by a gentleman from Germany who only lists his name as, WS64.



Next: Wonderwall

Early Morning Moon

Boy, do I have a treat for you today! In my never ending quest to find you great ukulele videos, I stumbled across a young lady from Canada, Kate Sloan, performing a beautiful, original song on the ukulele, called, Early Morning Moon. She has a truly, lovely voice and style. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!



Next: We Are the Champions

Ain't She Sweet

Here are some English blokes having a go at the old classic song, Ain't She Sweet, composed by Milton Ager (music) and Jack Yellen (lyrics). I can't shake the strange feeling that I've seen these three before, but I cannot for the life of me remember when. Gosh, they look familiar...



Next: Early Morning Moon

Gangsta's Paradise

Well this is something you don't see everyday, rap music on the ukulele. At least I've never seen it before. Ronin is a Canadian ukulele player who got a couple friends together for this very cool and unique cover of Coolio's, Gangsta's Paradise.



Next: Ain't She Sweet

Norwegian Wood

Today we are having two cords of wood delivered to our house here in Vermont, and there will be much stacking going on soon. So in honor of this yearly ritual I've selected The Beatles', Norwegian Wood, as today's Uke Bab Vid of the Day, performed very nicely by Nigel a Canadian uker.



Next: Gangsta's Paradise

Singing in the Rain

Another day of heavy rain in Vermont. But that's okay. We are overdue. And how can you be down about rain when you hear John, an American expatriate living in Japan, happily singing in the rain with his ukulele. Have a great weekend, everyone!



Next: Norwegian Wood

Enter Sandman

I decided that I was in the mood for some heavy metal ukulele today. And it turns out that the video I chose features another German uker. This guy's name is... Guy (aka UKUFROMHELL) and he does quite a shred-tastic version of Metallica's, Enter Sandman, on his electric ukes. Ukes? That's right. He plays two ukes in this video, or more accurately, he plays the same uke twice and overlaps them using the marvels of modern technology. It's quite a treat. So I hope you enjoy today's Uke Bab Vid of the Day, and don't forget to bang your head!



Next: Singing in the Rain

Wake Me Up When September Ends

Out in the western US, they're having record heat, 113 degrees in LA on Monday. Here in Vermont, things seem more seasonable. But no matter how it may feel where you are, September is nearly over. Summer has given way to fall in the northern hemisphere. Today's Uke Bab Vid of the Day is of Robin, a young man from Germany, covering the melancholy, Green Day song, Wake Me Up When September Ends.



Next: Enter Sandman

King Bee

Okay. Here is something you don't see everyday, a half-naked beekeeper, playing his ukulele, amidst a swarm of bees. This is Hoosierhiver, aka Mike. Mike also runs his own ukulele business called, Mainland Ukuleles, in Nashville, Indiana and is great guy too. You can check out Mainland Ukes HERE and Mike's YouTube page HERE. And now, without further ado, a man playing his ukulele amidst a swarm of bees.



Next: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Build Me Up, Buttercup

Yeah, it's Monday already. But that's okay. Another day means another Uke Bab Video of the Day. And today we have a nice little upbeat ditty for you. Julia Nunes is quite a popular YouTube musician, and her weapon of choice is most often a ukulele. This video of Julia performing the Foundations' hit, "Build Me Up, Buttercup", has been viewed nearly 2 million times on YouTube. And today, it's being viewed by you!



Next: King Bee

Everyday is Like Sunday

It's a cloudy Sunday afternoon here in Stowe, Vermont. Kind of puts me in a mood where I'd like to hear some Morrissey. Or better yet, a guy from the UK named Ian, covering Morrissey on his ukulele. So here's your Uke Bab Vid of the Day. Ian performing, Everyday is Like Sunday. Enjoy!



Next: Build Me Up, Buttercup

The Final Countdown

Sometimes when you watch a ukulele video, it just leaves you speechless, with your mouth hanging open, unsure what it is exactly, that you just witnessed. That was more or less the response I had when I first saw Stuart, a uke player from Edinburgh, UK perform Europe's, The Final Countdown. I love this vid and it is my pleasure to share it with you.



Next: Everyday is Like Sunday

Do You Wanna Dance?

One of the first ukers I met online was Max, The Ukulele Punk. He is a great guy with a lot of talent and enthusiasm for the ukulele. Today's video is of Max doing a great, energetic, cover of Bobby Freeman's "Do You Wanna Dance" with fellow Japanese uke punk, Sumakichan. They really got creative with this video. I hope you enjoy it and it helps kick off a great weekend for you. Enjoy!



Next: The Final Countdown

Hey Ya

It's Thursday. Not quite Friday. But we're getting there. Your Uke Bab Vid of the Day is of The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra performing Outkast's bouncy ditty, Hey Ya.



Next: Do You Wanna Dance?

Ukulele Babylon... The Show!

At some point I decided that it might be fun to put on a ukulele show. I was working at Borders Books in Los Gatos, CA at the time and we had our first ukulele concert there out on the deck. We had four or five ukulele acts perform and the crowd really loved it.

The success of that show inspired me to put together a much bigger show at The Brookdale Lodge in Brookdale, CA. It was to be a huge ukulele extravaganza. I wanted to give the show a name that would convey that this was going to be wild and edgy, not your grandparents ukulele show. That's when I came up with the name, "Ukulele Babylon".

That show was more succesful than my wildest dreams. Completely sold out, standing room only.The acts included Ian Whitcomb, Tippy Canoe, Oliver Brown, Tiki King and The Idol Pleasures, The UkeAholics, and myself (going by the stage name, "Beau Vine"). We started the whole thing off with a screening of the movie, Rock That Uke.

As a matter-of-fact, you can see some great pictures and a review of the show by clicking HERE.

Unfortunately, I have no video from that show in 2005. But please enjoy this clip of Tippy Canoe performing her song, Mass Transmissions, in Connecticut last year.



Next: Hey Ya

Sheena is a Punk Rocker

I quickly learned that I was not the only one who enjoyed playing songs on the uke that you wouldn't expect to hear on the uke, and also that this uke obsession really was a world wide phenomenon. Here is a great cover of the Ramones' song, Sheena is a Punk Rocker, played and sung by a couple talented Scotsmen who go by the name, Gugug. Enjoy!



Next: Ukulele Babylon... The Show!

UkeAholics

Then, one day, I stumbled across The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz and I began to realize just how powerful the call of this little musical instrument could be. I showed up early with my cow-colored, electric Fluke, aka my Mookulele. There were a few other friendly-looking folks wandering and chatting and showing off their ukes. Then a few more came in. Then a few more. Then a lot more. By the time the meeting officially got started there had to be close to one hundred ukulele fans filling the room. Easy-to-read, tablature-style, ukulele sheet music was handed out and this large group of people, old and young, male and female, all began strumming and singing together in happy unison. Wow!

I met a lot of great, fun people at The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz. One really talented group of guys called themselves The UkeAholics. Here is a video clip of them struttin' their stuff.



Next: Sheena is a Punk Rocker

Skulls

That first uke I had purchased was a cheap one and the bridge kept popping off. But by then I had been bitten by the ukulele bug. I just loved the charm, portability, and coolness of this tiny instrument. I also loved the absurdly humorous results of playing edgy, hardcore, and decadent songs on such an innocent-seeming device. I replaced my cheap, broken uke with a nifty, electric, Fluke, as seen in the video below.



Next UkeAholics

White Sandy Beach of Hawaii

Time passed, I grew up, and life got busy. It wasn't until years later that the ukulele came back into my life with a vengeance. I was on a trip to Hawaii with the company I worked for. I wanted to bring back a souvenir of my trip. I remembered my Grampa and Abba Dabba Honeymoon and I decided that I needed to bring home a ukulele. I didn't know it yet, but my life was about to change as a result of that fateful decision.

So in honor of the role Hawaii played in reintroducing me to the ukulele, today's video is a cover of the song, "White Sandy Beach of Hawaii", played with enthusiasm by a young, Japanese, ukulele fan.



Next: Skulls

Abba Dabba Honeymoon

My own first exposure to the ukulele came when I was just a small child. My grandfather was a musician, a band leader of The Kearney Kallander Orchestra. He always had musical instruments laying around the house and he frequently played music for us kids. Usually, he would play his guitar and sing. Less frequently, he would pull out his clarinet. But once in a blue moon, he would bring out the ukulele. We LOVED it when he played the uke. And the song that I remember him playing most was a fun little ditty called, "Abba Dabba Honeymoon". The song was written and published byArthur Fields and Walter Donovan in 1914. Unfortunately, there are no videos in existence of my Grampa playing the ukulele. But I did find a a very charming rendition of Abba Dabba Honeymoon performed by a YouTube Uker who goes by the handle, Mercedezzz. Enjoy!



Next: White Sandy Beach of Hawaii

Welcome to Uke Bab!!!

Hey Gang! Welcome to my new uke blog, Ukulele Babylon! Uke Bab, for short. My plan is to post a new ukulele vid here everyday, to introduce you to the wide world of the ukulele and to the many cool folks who love the instrument. For the first video, I am posting my own rendition of the Carl Perkins classic, Blue Suede Shoes. Why this particular vid? Because my dog, Elvis, steals the show and I thought it would be a fun way to get this ball rolling. So without further ado, I give you Elvis, the singing dog.



Next: Abba Dabba Honeymoon