Below is an email sent to me by a friend who had just listened to my song Apple Cider Blues featuring a tenor ukulele:
“I believe that the UKE is the most inherently subversive musical instrument out there. Most folks come to the Uke’s music with a preconceived idea of what they’re getting and that idea is usually derived from someone plunking around on a cheap souvenir model. That is why, in my opinion, when it is played with passion and emotion it can have a great effect as it is unexpected.
The UKE is also inherently subversive due to its light and welcoming sound. One could do covers of even metal or rap and folks who would not normally give those songs the time of day would give it a listen.
Finally, given the inherent accessibility of the instrument, the topic range of the lyrics is wide open. Crass becomes charming, preachy becomes whimsical. For your Apple Cider Blues song, it takes what is typically a slow paced metered and flat noted genre and tilts it into what would be referenced as an uplifting gospel song.”
-Tom Shannon, Hammond, Oregon
Yes, what Tom says about the ukulele is in my experience very true. When played with passion a charming little ukulele can move mountains. Just think for example, the power of IZ (Israel Kamakawiwoole) who played on his tiny uke moving millions of hearts around the world while fueling the grass root movement for social change in Hawaii.
To listen to my song “Apple Cider Blues” just click the YouTube icon below or go to https://www.youtube.com/c/jerryoneill.
For a wonderful in-depth resource about the ukulele look up The Ukulele~ A History written by Jim Tranquada and John King, University of Hawaii Press 2012.
