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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, 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.
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.”
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.
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.)
One of my favorites is Julia Nunes and Danny Tieger singing Sunburnt Hand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXPlhNIjq3g
posted by Gayle on 2-9-2009 at 2:54 pm
How could you forget Petty Booka, arguably the world’s most famous lady uke players?
posted by LP on 2-9-2009 at 2:57 pm
What about Kate Micucci? Shes awesome and kinda hot
posted by joe on 2-9-2009 at 3:03 pm
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.
posted by Steve on 2-9-2009 at 3:14 pm
Check out Maureen Andari
watch?v=UAsFfKdeLuU
posted by Jeremiah on 2-9-2009 at 3:20 pm
Nellie McKay!!!!
posted by deej on 2-9-2009 at 3:28 pm
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
posted by deej on 2-9-2009 at 3:40 pm
Ukelele Orchestra or Great Britain doing their rendition of “Shaft”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfK-UzQ48JE
posted by Walter on 2-9-2009 at 3:48 pm
Steve (and Joe) I had been trying to figure out the name of the ukulele player from Scrubs last week – thank you!
posted by Cameron on 2-9-2009 at 3:59 pm
I love Molly!
Also, Julia Nunes is pretty cool. I’ve even met her.
posted by KC on 2-9-2009 at 4:07 pm
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.
posted by M on 2-9-2009 at 4:35 pm
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
posted by Chris on 2-9-2009 at 4:45 pm
Molly’s take on JoCo’s Mr Fancy Pants is fantastic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m4DDkMfol0
posted by Norkio on 2-9-2009 at 5:44 pm
“Good Company” by Queen
posted by Barbara on 2-9-2009 at 6:11 pm
Has no one heard of Folk Uke?
posted by matt on 2-9-2009 at 6:41 pm
What? No Victoria Jackson?
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 2-9-2009 at 7:03 pm
I just got a uke for my birthday. I can’t wait to learn how to play!!!
Thanks for a great post!
posted by Will on 2-9-2009 at 7:50 pm
What?! No Amanda Palmer?! Her cover of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ is a classic.
(no link as I’m at work currently)
posted by Kelsey on 2-9-2009 at 8:16 pm
Janet Klein. Cute and talented! Her website is simply her name . . . (no links allowed?)
posted by Kate on 2-9-2009 at 8:49 pm
Who was the guy a couple of years ago that did “while my guitar gently weeps?” THAT gave me chills!!!!!
posted by Mr. Kris on 2-9-2009 at 9:40 pm
Tsuji Ayano!!!
Look for the acoustic version of “Kaze ni naru” on YouTube!
posted by Scotty A on 2-9-2009 at 9:50 pm
Alison Young, FTW!
ukuleledisco.com/satellite
I heart Alison
posted by floydigus on 2-10-2009 at 2:20 am
Zee Avi
This gal just signed onto Jack Johnson’s label. AMAZING voice.
posted by JK Bagoose on 2-10-2009 at 1:05 pm
Emilyn Brodsky is my favorite uke gal.
posted by Keb on 2-10-2009 at 1:11 pm
check out julia nunes, my fav. female uke. player
posted by lovaaaa on 2-10-2009 at 2:05 pm
Amanda Palmer covering Creep on the uke. Super-fantastic.
http://www.ateaseweb.com/2009/01/10/amanda-palmer-plays-creep-on-ukelele/
posted by Andrew on 2-10-2009 at 10:29 pm
http://www.ukulele.co.nz. The Wellington Ukulele Orchestra are brilliant.
posted by Stu on 2-10-2009 at 10:33 pm
My favorite is daniellesmagic on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=7SfQVoMGxfw
posted by Adeah on 2-14-2009 at 3:19 pm