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Ralph's Blog

Ralph Shaw, our Illustrious Leader, writes:

My purpose in starting this uke-log of the meetings and activities of the Vancouver Ukulele Circle is to give those people who are unable to be at the a meetings a chance to get a flavour of what they missed. I can tell you now that not all the information will be entirely accurate. As I sit down to update this uke-log in the days after any given meeting I will be sure to have forgotten some key moments and one or two worthy performances and I hope that feelings won't be hurt. I will do my best but if you notice any omissions or major inaccuracies please feel free to email them to Wendy Cutler so that corrections can be made.

Note from Wendy: Ralph has been keeping this blog since the very first meeting in September, 2000. The full set of previous years' entries is available in the 
Blog Archives.

Vancouver Ukulele Circle Meeting - Tuesday March 16, 2010

Hello dear friends,

Nice to see a packed house full of cheerful and smiling ukuleleists once again. Hey!!! Did you see the article in the Vancouver Courier last week? In it I mention the ukulele circle. Here is a link to it in case you missed it.

You guys amaze me more every time. So many unusual and original songs are popping up at performance time. 4 performers who were new to the Our Town stage meant that there were 4 standing ovations. It felt like we were on our feet all night!!

Many thanks to Tom for a) helping out with leading some songs and b) reminding me that Ron (the bass) wasn't around to set up the sound gear. It was a bit different without the bass but we pulled through OK.

Performances began with Sidney (only started playing on New Years Eve) who sang Safe & Sound by Hawksley Workman, Rock took us back to the days of drive-in movies and McCarthyism with Earth Angel, Robin did the lovely Pete Seeger singalong: Where Have all the Flowers Gone. Els did a song by Carmaig deForest called Coldwater Park. I heard Carmaig sing that song in New York a few years ago when he and I performed at The Global Ukulele Summit which is a very overblown name for a ukulele gig in a pub. It was a good night. Funnily enough at that same concert there were 2 guys who covered Hendrix's; And the Wind Cries Mary which Tom did an amazing performance of tonight. And those 2 guys (called Sonic Uke btw.) host ukulele gatherings on the stoop of their NY apartment building which, interestingly, happens to be where The Almanac Singers would gather in 1941. They included Woody Guthrie and the aforementioned Pete Seeger.

Trevor had a wonderful song called The Drinking Man's Diet - all about the beneficial health giving qualities of booze. A special ditty for St Patrick's Day indeed.

Jill, what can I say. It was the last time she'll be with us for a year. Oh no!! And I never got to say goodbye. However - she left us with an unforgettable song about Not Being the Ideal Woman. That is not unless your dream date farts, burps and is more than a little crazy with a small touch of paranoia built in. Actually Jill, all those things really turn me on so maybe it is good that you're leaving town for a while ;-D

Chris #1 sang I'm My Own Grandpaw. Clever song - I wonder if anyone actually is their own grandpaw? There should be a group for them - The Shaughnessy I'm My Own Grandpaw Circle. Hmm.

Chris #2 sang New York City lately covered by They might be Giants who covered it from the Vancouver (all girl) band Cub. Interestingly I happen to be friends with the original drummer of that band and I enjoyed dinner with her and her husband just last night. Small world. Is this too much information? I hope you're enjoying all this.

Paul did a beachified palm tree wafted ultra cool version of Summer Breeze. Ross, the last 1st timer sang I Always Have to Steal My Kisses from You which got everyone singing along. Then Ralph (ahem - that's me) sang the George Formby hit (banned in the 1930s) With My Little Ukulele in My Hand.

All's swell that ends swell. See you next time folks!!

Ralph
The Ukulele Entertainer!!
www.RalphShaw.ca

Learn ukulele and get a free ukulele chord chart when you subscribe to my newsletter!
Newsletter archive at: http://theukuleleentertainer.blogspot.com/

Vancouver Ukulele Circle Meeting - Tuesday February 16, 2010

This was all Ron's idea - and it was totally inspired. One of the best
nights ever. There were so many fun bits. I don't know how much I'll be
able to remember but here's a run down of the evening:

Firstly the room was decorated with a flag and a giant paper pineapple
and some other hawaiian knick-knacks that Ron got from Bazaar and Novelty.

Opening Ceremonies: While we sang Singing in the Rain the "Torch" was
passed around. (Torch = glowing flashlight duct-taped to a coconut uke)
I thought this would be a quick and simple matter but nearly everyone
wanted their moment with the torch and stood up to pose with it and many
had their pictures taken. It took forever!!! Gary finally grabbed it and
lit the "Cauldron" (= green lava lamp). We then sang O Canada with the
word changes: We Strum Our Ukes for Thee.

Opening ceremonies continued with songs by KD Lang, Nelly Furtado and
Bryan Adams. Actually, no, it was Tom, Gary and myself - but close
enough eh!

The official Games began after the break starting with: Tamara and
Alisha competing in the category of best duet by 2 sisters living in a
basement.

Steve competing in the category of loudest song and longest sustained
note. It was a Pat Benetar song and should actually have been in the
category of longest friggin time to get song started.

Gary - competing for best song in Swahili

Josh - sang Super Skier in the category of best winter sports themed
song.

Don - Best newly composed traditional appalachian song performed with a
broken fingernail

Wendy - Most Appalachian song (not to be confused with the above
category)

Peter: Best Sesame Street Song

Jordan at only 13 years of age was the youngest competitor and performed
in the highly dangerous Luge-alele

Jill - Best Original Nerd song. A ditty about video game addiction that
also took the record for the longest song of the evening!

Tom - competing in the category of most sugary-sweet-sentimental-mushy-
lovey-dovey-song in the male over 200cm tall category. The Carpenters;
Why do Birds suddenly Appear and everyone went, "aaaah' in all the right
places.

Malcolm and Andrea (in movie-star shades) - in the category of strangest
song adapted for ukulele. Awesome song about something to do with
paparazzi - sorry I forgot to ask for more details.

Anne - Best ex-lesbian country anthem. We wanted her to take her shoes
off and sing it like KD Lang but if you saw the state of the Our Town
stage you'd know why she didn't. It had the catchy chorus, 'I spent my
last $10 on birth control and beer'

Martin competed in the unusual category of most antique smelling
ukulele. And those who put their noses to the sound-hole of that
particular instrument will know exactly what he means.

Chris - in the category of best security related song by someone from
Langley (Every Breath you Take by The Police)

Ralph - Competed in the fastest version of The Tide Is High category. He
(I) played it in a remarkable and record setting time of 33.91 seconds

Janet told the story of her Banjo-uke in 'The best antique uke story'
competition

Ken finished off with an instrumental take on how the Olympics (the real
olympics) broke many of the laws that protect our rights in the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He did this by taking the document and
then playing any letter that was between A and G. The serendipitous
result was quite beautiful and strangely haunting.

Polly was given the unenviable task of presenting the 'Star' emblazoned
wrist-sweatband, that MarieGold had knitted, to the overall winner of
the evening. She loved everybody's performance but, being the political
creature she is, she felt moved to present it to Ken for bringing
attention to the removal of Canadian rights for a mere Sporting Event!
Makes you think - what will they do if something vaguely serious
happens? I shudder to think. Anyway the main thing is that Ron let loose
his party popper and made a big mess of confetti hearts all over the
aforementioned Our Town stage which we dutifully swept clean at the end.

Mariegold is knitting me my own woolly dolly and I can't wait to get it.

Everyone was a winner (just like in Kindergarten) and all competitors
took home a blue 1st prize ribbon and a cookie shaped like the Inukshuk
statue at English Bay.

It was an amazing evening and only 4 years to wait till the next one!

Btw..Both Jill and myself (and the Langley Ukulele Ensemble) will be
performing on March 5th at 3238 Fleming St. in an all-ukulele
In-the-House concert starting at 7pm. www.inthehousefestival.com
or call 604-874-9325 to reserve tickets. Seating is limited.

See you all in March - keep strumming!

Ralph

Vancouver Ukulele Circle Meeting - Tuesday January 19, 2010

Yes that’s right I have more Zombie news from the Vancouver Uke Circle this month…but first!!!! Next month – Feb 16th we will be hosting the Vancouver Ukulele Olympic Games. We have: an organizing committee (VANUGOC), a Logo (featuring 5 ukuleles instead of 5 rings) and some kind of a plan to use a burning ukulele as an olympic torch to start the whole thing off. If nothing else we’ll set the smoke alarms off.

Here’s how it works: The games will be in lieu of the usual performance time. Before they begin you need to get in touch with Ron (our trusty and beloved bass player) and tell him your name and the event that you want to be entered for. If the event doesn’t exist yet then make one up! That way you have a better chance of winning. Email Ron at ron@usher.ca More details to come.

January used to be a time of hunkering down and quietly getting through the winter. This year doesn’t feel like that at all. One can just feel the crazy energy in this city building as the big event looms ever closer. Roads are being closed one by one. And dignitaries and stars and media attention is coming in from all over the world. Who would have thought our Ukulele Games would cause such a stir!

Performances tonight began with: Els who sang Elizabeth Cotton’s pawnshop song - Shake Sugaree (that’s also the lady who wrote Freight Train). Btw. It was Els’ dad Ron who played piano with us towards the end (he’s here from New York), Shira (of the egg shaker) sang with Peter the Beatles song All My Lovin’, Bert did the Tennessee Waltz and had a few verses that I ain’t done never heard before (I wrote that last bit in a Tennessee accent – good eh).

Super Jill and Mythical Man (he’s the one with the euphonium) sang a quaint follow up to their Zombie Love Song. Zombie Separation. A sad but true ballad of a Zombie lover who goes around eating other girl’s brains. Apparently they tried Zombie counselling but he ate the counsellor too. In the end their relationship fell apart…like the rest of him really.

Wendy did a lovely old-timey clawhammer number called I Wish I Had My Time Again. Paul and Louisa did a very Island sounding Brown Eyed Girl. Chris made his uke circle debut with the Arrogant Worms’ song Pear Juice is Murder. There were people singing along. Did I miss something?

Ken brought out his yellow Mahalo once again. This time a Disney song which he once played for his 3 year old niece who responded with, “I like LOUD music”. The song was from 1937 Some Day My Prince Will Come. A real nice jazzy version too. Hey Ken you tell that rock-fan, head-banging niece of yours she should go and grab some taste out of the cookie jar. We think you’re good even if you aren’t LOUD.

Cynthia played her smooth Bossa Nova stylings to A Certain Smile. Rock sang I Love You Less Today Than I will Tomorrow. Cumbersome title if that’s what it’s called. Maybe its called something else hmmm.

Steve and Band (Jill and Martin) Sang Spinal Tap’s Gimme Some Money. What a groove. It had me clicking my pen in time. Dan (first time) sang Crazy and I did the Elvis song: If I Can Dream. This was written shortly after Martin Luther King’s death and contains bits from his speeches. Yesterday was Martin Luther King day. It was Edmund Burke who said: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." But, in my opinion, there is far too much 'doing' being done all round. Therefore let's concentrate on getting the bad men to do nothing too and then we can all strum our ukuleles in peace. See you at the Games!!!

Ralph Luther King (of the ukulele)  

The Ukulele Entertainer!!
www.RalphShaw.ca  

Learn ukulele and get a free ukulele chord chart when you subscribe to my newsletter! Newsletter archive at: http://theukuleleentertainer.blogspot.com/

The full set of previous years' entries is available in the Blog Archives.