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Chris Higgins
Ladies Playing Ukuleles
by Chris Higgins - February 9, 2009 - 2:38 PM

The web is great for lots of things: videos of pets doing unusual things, breaking news about something Christian Bale said a long time ago, and even, you know, news and learning and stuff. But I think its most important function is to bring us videos of ladies playing ukuleles. Today, I’ve gathered up a few of my favorite ladies-playing-ukuleles videos to prove my point.

Charley in the Bathtub

Charley, singer/ukuleleist for Portland band Bird Announced Land invites her friends over for a song in the bathtub. And what a song it is! If you haven’t heard Charley’s voice, you’re in for a treat.

Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright

Molly is best known by her YouTube handle, sweetafton23. She has been covering various songs on YouTube for years now, along with some originals. She’s also been spotted opening for Jonathan Coulton at recent gigs! Here’s Molly’s ukulele version of Dylan’s classic “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”:

See also: Molly’s internet-famous cover of Britney Spears’s “Toxic.”

Taimane Gardner’s Surf-Rock Uke

Here’s a street recording (from Waikiki) of Taimane Gardner shredding her way through the surf classic “Wipe Out” on a six-string ukulele. Hardcore:

See also: Taimane performing a “Wipe Out”/”Johnny B. Goode” medley; and a blistering live performance of “Wipe Out” by the Ventures.

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

If Tamaine’s ukulele chops weren’t hardcore enough, check out Brittni Paiva’s virtuoso performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on solo ukulele:

See also: The Sweetest Song Ever.

What are your favorite ukulele recordings? They don’t even have to be from ladies…share them in the comments! (You can post links as long as you leave off the ‘http://’ bit.)

Comments (28)
  1. One of my favorites is Julia Nunes and Danny Tieger singing Sunburnt Hand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXPlhNIjq3g

  2. How could you forget Petty Booka, arguably the world’s most famous lady uke players?

  3. What about Kate Micucci? Shes awesome and kinda hot

  4. Kate Micucci featured on last weeks episode of Scrubs has some great songs out there – ‘Dear deer’ among them. She’s also part of the duet “Garfunkel and Oates” with some great songs as well.

  5. Check out Maureen Andari
    watch?v=UAsFfKdeLuU

  6. Nellie McKay!!!!

  7. Nellie McKay

    Femenists Dont Have A Sense Of Humor

    http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/nellie_mckay_sings_feminists_and_if_i_had_you.html

  8. Ukelele Orchestra or Great Britain doing their rendition of “Shaft”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfK-UzQ48JE

  9. Steve (and Joe) I had been trying to figure out the name of the ukulele player from Scrubs last week – thank you!

  10. I love Molly!

    Also, Julia Nunes is pretty cool. I’ve even met her.

  11. The very charming Natalie from CommunityChannel did a uke video:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJSgy1d7xIk

    Maybe not the greatest rendition, but she makes very sweet, funny & intelligent videos.

  12. Danielle ate the Sandwich, from YouTube, is my personal favorite player of the ukelele…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuFD4IKz6bk
    and other videos here:
    http://www.youtube.com/user/daniellesmagic

  13. Molly’s take on JoCo’s Mr Fancy Pants is fantastic.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m4DDkMfol0

  14. “Good Company” by Queen

  15. Has no one heard of Folk Uke?

  16. What? No Victoria Jackson?

  17. I just got a uke for my birthday. I can’t wait to learn how to play!!!

    Thanks for a great post!

  18. What?! No Amanda Palmer?! Her cover of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ is a classic.

    (no link as I’m at work currently)

  19. Janet Klein. Cute and talented! Her website is simply her name . . . (no links allowed?)

  20. Who was the guy a couple of years ago that did “while my guitar gently weeps?” THAT gave me chills!!!!!

  21. Tsuji Ayano!!!

    Look for the acoustic version of “Kaze ni naru” on YouTube!

  22. Alison Young, FTW!

    ukuleledisco.com/satellite

    I heart Alison

  23. Zee Avi

    This gal just signed onto Jack Johnson’s label. AMAZING voice.

  24. Emilyn Brodsky is my favorite uke gal.

  25. check out julia nunes, my fav. female uke. player

  26. Amanda Palmer covering Creep on the uke. Super-fantastic.

    http://www.ateaseweb.com/2009/01/10/amanda-palmer-plays-creep-on-ukelele/

  27. http://www.ukulele.co.nz. The Wellington Ukulele Orchestra are brilliant.

  28. My favorite is daniellesmagic on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=7SfQVoMGxfw

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