#9 - Come On Up to the House

Song - Come On Up to the House
Artist - Tom Waits (This version is based off of the cover by Sarah Jarosz)

A friend of mine posted this video today, such an amazing and moving song. Searching for versions of it lead me to Sarah Jarosz and an great cover she did of it that was a lot more ukulele friendly. This song has so many damn words though! It took me about 6 times to get it almost right, and I STILL didn't nail the last verse. Ah well, close enough!

#8 - These Boots are Made for Walkin'

Song - These Boots are Made for Walkin'
Artist - Nancy Sinatra

If you haven't seen the video for this song, check it out because it's amazing. So much turtle neck and leotard action you won't know what to do with yourself.

Songs like this make me realize that I really am afraid of finger picking. I've never understood how some people can just find the melody and run with it, making things up as they go along. I read music as a kid and I'm kind of a follow the rules kind of gal, so when there are no rules, what's a girl to do? So I'm going to try to find more songs that will let me ease my way into playing more "lead" ukulele parts (is that even what you would call it?) I found some tabs for "Bang Bang" and if I take it slow maybe I'll be able to do it by Christmas or something!

#7 - Walkin' After Midnight

Song - Walkin' After Midnight
Artist - Patsy Cline

Sorry for the poor quality of this video, looks like it's time for me to stop using my phone to record everything.

#6 - I Think We're Alone Now

Song - I Think We're Alone Now
Artist - Tiffany (originally Tommy James and the Shondells)

First time recording a video with someone else in the house, I'm pretty nervous! I wasn't sure exactly how to end it, so it seems I did it in the most awkward way possible.

#5 - I'm Gonna Mail Myself to You

Song - I'm Gonna Mail Myself to You
Artist - Woody Gurthie

I spent last night with my folks out near the coast where it is SO much cooler than in Portland! My mom gave my dad and me a song book called Rise Up Singing, which lead to us playing music for about 3 hours. It was really wonderful and a great opportunity to "jam" with my dad who is so knowledgeable about music, instruments, and all things interesting about old songs.

We first learned this song (me on the auto-harp and I think my dad on the mandolin) when I was around 13 and we were a production called "A Tribute to Woody Guthrie". It was a lot of fun that we both remembered it and could play it on some new instruments.

#4 - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

Song - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
Artist - Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King originally sung by The Shirelles

I really love these doo-wop style songs and would like to try more of them on the ukulele. Anyone want to volunteer to do backup vocals on them? Mr. Postman just wouldn't be the same without them!

Ukulele/Banjo lovin'

I'm headed out to the coast today which is generally out of range to upload anything but hopefully I'll record something with my Pop and get it up here tomorrow (maybe I'll put up a previously recorded video though, just to stay in the habit) . My Dad is the reason music is a big part of my life and has really encouraged me to keep up with this ukulele business.

The day my Pop presented me with the gift of my firefly banjo ukulele boingboing.net ran an piece on the very same instrument.

Here is the article

If you haven't played on before, I would recommend picking one up and plunking around on it . A ukulele itself has a fun sound, but you can't help but smile when you play a banjo/ukulele.

#3 - Big Rock Candy Mountain

Song - Big Rock Candy Mountain
Artist - Harry McClintock

I recorded this song on my lunch from work in my car (I promise I'm not stuck in traffic or something). While the Subaru Loyal is a really great car, it's acoustics aren't that great. I apologize that the sound of the ukulele/banjo is a little blown out, maybe I should only use the Mahalo in the car....or you know, not record with my phone all the time.

I love this song! According to wiki "Big Rock Candy Mountain, first recorded by Harry McClintock in 1928, is a song about a hobo's idea of paradise. McClintock claims to have written the song in 1895 based on tales from his misspent youth hoboing through the United States, but some believe the song, or at least aspects of it, have existed for far longer."

I think I first heard it on the sound track to O Brother Where Art Thou? which played on loop at the cafe I worked at when I first graduated from high school. That CD was on ALL THE TIME yet I managed not to get sick of the songs. The movie recently celebrated the 10 year anniversary of its release (thanks NPR for that tidbit of info) which lead me to go through some of the songs again.

This one is for my buddy Joe, who I'm pretty sure was the king of all the hobos in another life!

#2 - I Want to Grow Old With You

Song - I Want to Grow Old With You
Artist - Adam Sandler

The Wedding Singer has to be one of Adam Sandler's best movies ever and this song showed that he can actually sing when he wants to. The best part of the movie is during this song though, "Don't you talk to Billy Idol that way!".
I recorded this song for my sweetie on his birthday, happy birthday Felix!

#1 - My first ukulele video

Song - Such Great Heights
Artist - Iron and Wine (Originally by The Postal Service)

This was the first video I recorded on my Mahalo. A beautiful song that my brother and I lovingly referred to as a panty dropper, Such Great Heights was one of the first songs I learned to play when I got my uke.