Different countries,
Different cultures
one common language... the ukulele.
I have been trying to find ukulele videos from the Baltic states lately. I was therefore very glad when I found a Lithuanian ukulele player in this video where a Lithuanian band called The Rhythm Junkies perform together with a Swedish band called Too Dumb To Die at the Herräng Dance Camp.
Ugnius, the…
Today I’m inviting you to a world tour of fingerstyle ukulele players from 9 different countries. You’ll be able to hear different styles of music interpreted by players from different horizons, showing the versatility of the ukulele.
1. United-States
Tim, from the United States is playing a version of Larry O’Gaff. The parts where the video is in color are from John King‘s version, and those where the video is in black and white are adapted from James Hill‘s version.
Herman Vandecauter from Belgium is primarily a pro classical guitarist and mandolinist, but he took up the ukulele in January 2009 and quickly found out how to get the best sound out of it.
Before I ask him a few questions, let’s hear a video of him playing Courante by German lutenist Sylvius Leopold Weiss. I find this piece really soothing after a stressful day.
Quite a few non-French natives have taken up the challenge to sing in French as you will see in today’s selection.
Haagendazs34 from the United States is singing a medley of three rather recent French songs : Ma soeur/Femme like U (Donne moi ton corps)/La lettre. I believe she really loves French because it is hard enough to sing one song in another language but a meddley of three, that’s adding to the difficulty!
My world tour of ukulele videos of French songs by non-natives goes on.
Today you can decide whether you feel rather Belgian, Singaporean, American, Japanese or Australian, based on different ukulele performances of “Les Champs Élysées” by Joe Dassin (who recorded songs in no less than 7 languages : English, French, Italian, German, Greek, Russian and Spanish).
So what’s your vote ?
© Ukulele & Languages
