Videos by two good ukulelists

Here are a couple of good ukulelists I've come across recently.

Seeso performs "Blackbird."

Clara Belle performs "Run."

[#1 posted by TheVoBRX , June 3, 2008 4:42 PM]

I think I'm in love with Clara Belle.

[#2 posted by Angry Sam , June 3, 2008 4:46 PM]

Yeah, get in line.

[#3 posted by koek , June 3, 2008 4:54 PM]

I have a friend who plays really well.
not as good looking though...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x59OH_uR7M

[#4 posted by dacian , June 3, 2008 5:00 PM]

you should also check out these guys: http://www.youtube.com/user/GUGUG
:)

[#5 posted by cthulhu u2 , June 3, 2008 5:04 PM]

also check out Jake Shimabukuro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k

[#6 posted by Kesim , June 3, 2008 5:10 PM]

:( I created an account just to point out the utter lack of Jake Shimabukuro.

In addition to the video already posted, check out Jake playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps with Tommy Emmanuel on Australian TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5qakFIecBU

[#7 posted by ROSSINDETROIT , June 3, 2008 5:20 PM]

Oh Nooooo!
I had to look on YouTube and found about 20 videos of The Fabulous Heftones, a ukulele based band. Mostly old-timey stuff but very well played. Oh no because the singer/bassist is my ex wife and it was a bit of a shock.

Bye Bye Blues - The Fabulous Heftones

[#8 posted by joanna , June 3, 2008 5:25 PM]

I'm a big fan of this guy, whose tagline is "ukulele revolution"

http://www.myspace.com/moistbamboo

[#9 posted by BadKittyM , June 3, 2008 5:29 PM]

Clara Bell is friggin' gorgeous...and talented? Win.

[#10 posted by artbot , June 3, 2008 5:44 PM]

Yes, Clara Belle is...um, does she own a lightbulb?

[#11 posted by artbot , June 3, 2008 5:52 PM]

Oops, I meant to add a personal uke fave, Petty Booka:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1ufBkSnmRk&feature=related

[#12 posted by Ernunnos , June 3, 2008 5:53 PM]

Dead Flowers is a perfect uke song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFIeHrVbdiA

[#13 posted by Boba Fett Diop , June 3, 2008 6:27 PM]

After the fucking ridiculous day I've had, that was just marvelous.

[#14 posted by Boba Fett Diop , June 3, 2008 6:29 PM]

Oh, and Magnetic Fields:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjwLL6tzxb4

[#15 posted by fnc , June 3, 2008 6:47 PM]

Is this where the line for people who love Clara Belle forms? Good.

[#16 posted by ZombieReagan , June 3, 2008 7:28 PM]

Yes. Account Created. Clara Belle. SO in love. It's like she's singing it just for you. SWOOOOON

[#17 posted by Gloria , June 3, 2008 7:28 PM]

Sesso closes his eyes when he sings! I love that.

Clare Belle has a beautiful voice and her song is incredibly pretty. Thanks, BB.

[#18 posted by Ben Morris , June 3, 2008 7:48 PM]

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain's versions of the main theme from The Good the Bad and the Ugly and the theme from Shaft are both great.

[#19 posted by Narfig_Agar , June 3, 2008 8:01 PM]

Wow, Clara Belle is pretty awesome and gets extra points for playing a five string Ukulele. A little guidance would go a long way for her career! (if she is so inclined)

Such a sweet inexpensive instrument the Ukulele is! Nice.

[#20 posted by eustace , June 3, 2008 8:08 PM]

I sent a Jake Shimabukuro link to a friend about a year ago, a professional guitarist/violist/dance fiddler named David James, who replied that he had seen Jake perform at NAM the past year (big pro music convention). As Jake performed for a crowd seated at tables, the area went completely silent to listen to him - the only time Dave recalls ever witnessing that happen there. An honor from one of the toughest crowds there is - other pros.

[#21 posted by Takuan , June 3, 2008 8:13 PM]

Uke and voice of power:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A2Jt4WOxN8

[#22 posted by realisateur , June 3, 2008 8:32 PM]

I rather enjoy Dent May and his Magical Ukelele:

http://dentmay.tumblr.com/

Clara Belle is pretty alright. And you know what, Seeso's got his own thing goin' too. Hooray for pretty people who are good at things!

[#23 posted by Bwentman , June 3, 2008 8:45 PM]

Clara Bell + Ukelele = Shwing.

[#24 posted by Takuan , June 3, 2008 8:58 PM]

that's "Schwing". Schwing, BTW

[#25 posted by uato carabau , June 3, 2008 10:44 PM]

check out taimane gardner. i saw her play at an event in maui in april and she was amazing. i have never seen anyone jam like that on the uke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpBUkN77zrI

[#26 posted by benhammondmusic , June 4, 2008 12:23 AM]

I have to mention my favorite ukulele band, SISTER SUVI (Indie Rock Noise Vocal Crazy Group out of Montreal). Check out their myspace. Full disclosure: their drummer Nico is also the drummer for my band and a great friend, but if you are into quirky rock stuff with ripping dissonant jazzy ukulele take a listen.

[#27 posted by jtegnell , June 4, 2008 2:17 AM]

Clara's nice to look at, but her playing is certainly nothing to write home about.

[#28 posted by Tale , June 4, 2008 4:04 AM]

Full of nerdy goodness: Guacamole Ukulele Song

[#29 posted by Manny , June 4, 2008 5:06 AM]

I like Seeso's original material.

[#30 posted by zymeck , June 4, 2008 5:09 AM]

Q. How many ukulelists does it take to play ‘while my guitar gently weeps’?

A. All of them, apparently!

[#31 posted by Tgg161 , June 4, 2008 6:11 AM]

I play ukulele, and fellow ukulele players are among the nicest people I've ever met.

Here's a youtube favorite of mine. Some sexy banjolele!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pwUmSNHUgY

[#32 posted by Stu Mark , June 4, 2008 6:22 AM]

Party Till Ya Uke!!

[#33 posted by sciencemike , June 4, 2008 6:28 AM]

My daddy plays the ukulele is the cutest uke song ever.

That is followed by some great satire played on the world's most satirical instrument.

http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=kazootv&p=v

[#34 posted by pepsi_max2k , June 4, 2008 7:15 AM]

Oh comeon, SweetAfton23 pwns all!
http://www.youtube.com/user/sweetafton23

[#35 posted by SarahFenix , June 4, 2008 7:34 AM]

This is a pretty noisy video, but check out Priscilla Ahn on the uke....
My favorite uke song to date: http://youtube.com/watch?v=YORR6KohtFU

[#36 posted by JohnnyHazard , June 4, 2008 7:44 AM]

Ok, I will toss my proverbial two cents in to the mix. Ladies and gentlemen, I present theGentleSurprise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yccwitZhn8

Uke covers are a dime a dozen but he does a great job both on the strings and vocally but also in capturing the feel of the original tune. Cracks me up.

[#37 posted by jonathan_v , June 4, 2008 8:05 AM]

the front page of viddler a few weeks ago was a video from 'ukelele underground' where they teach how to play the cure's Love Song on a ukelele. its rad.

Love Song:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/ukeunderground/videos/2/

The Site
www.ukuleleunderground.com

[#38 posted by SamSam , June 4, 2008 8:07 AM]

Hey, I even went to YouTube to find Jim Shimabukur playing, only to find that at least three people have already posted the links!

Good stuff anyway.

[#39 posted by macisaguy , June 4, 2008 8:25 AM]

i fell in love with seeso's version of blackbird. and i fell in love with clara belle.

wow.

[#40 posted by paddysat , June 4, 2008 8:42 AM]

I did a week of Uke posts on my blog last month and found some gems (including GUGUG and SweetAfton23 mentioned above). My other favorites include two by James Hill: Ode to a Frozen Boot and a spot on rendition of the Super Mario Theme. I also liked Bosko & Honey. (Here is "Samidare")

[#41 posted by mightymightymatze , June 4, 2008 8:43 AM]

here's a guy from munich, germany, who covers morrissey and smiths songs only, and only on ukulele. oh, and he translates the mozzer's words into german. relentlessly.
http://youtube.com/user/perrecy07

[#42 posted by MrsBug , June 4, 2008 10:14 AM]

@#21,
All hail the King! I love that version of that song. Next in line is Jane Monheit's version here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=cm7xueB0buk

[#43 posted by so1omon , June 4, 2008 12:05 PM]

Well then, since everyone else is doing it... here's The Bittersweet Way, a ukulele based pop act from AZ. I suppose I should mention that it's MY ukulele based pop act...

http://myspace.com/thebittersweetway

[#44 posted by dougrogers , June 4, 2008 12:29 PM]

Wow. Thanks for the Jake Shimabakuro.... and somehow the link to Magnetic Fields and thence to a whole bunch of MF vids and Cat Power ... an afternoon of chasing links on the internet.... Oh and Moist Bamboo is very good too.

[#45 posted by w000t , June 4, 2008 12:48 PM]

Favorited for all these great links and to get in the in love with Clara Belle line. I also loves Seeso's cover of Blackbird, one of my favorite songs.

[#46 posted by w000t , June 4, 2008 1:05 PM]

Also, don't miss Mario Theme on Balalaika. This is marginally more impressive as the balalaika has one less string than a ukelele. I believe that's a prima he's playing in the video.

[#47 posted by Agent 86 , June 4, 2008 2:15 PM]

I'm going to third Jake Shimabukuro. I owned a CD of him, but then someone stole my truck. Not how I would have liked to share his music, but I like to think there is a happy car-thief out there, somewhere, listening at this very moment.

[#48 posted by theMage , June 4, 2008 2:53 PM]

No question Jake is the best.

If you want another catchy tune with a duo:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=l9R4vZhPVaw

[#49 posted by seeso , June 4, 2008 9:08 PM]

Mark, I'm glad you enjoyed my stuff enough to share it with the boing boing community.

Thanks to everyone that enjoyed "Blackbird," and took the time to subscribe to my videos.

I was also smitten by the Clara Belle love bug not too long ago.

For those that want a daily dose of ukulele bloggery, I recommend ukulelehunt.com.

[#50 posted by manicbassman , June 20, 2008 9:34 AM]

better still, buy a Ukulele and get playing yourself... don't get a real cheapy though, splash out a little more to get one with proper tuning machines as opposed to tuning pegs... the geared versions hold tune far better and are far easier to tune...

[#51 posted by Felix Mitchell , June 20, 2008 12:07 PM]

Clara Belle has awful, awful lyrics.

[#52 posted by Takuan , June 20, 2008 12:21 PM]

might I point out the huge body of good, popular music with lyrics that don't say much? Sometimes you just need to hear something that makes you feel good for no good reason.