rionaleonhart: final fantasy x-2: the sun is rising, yuna looks to the future. (WHY WHY WHY)
Riona ([personal profile] rionaleonhart) wrote2009-08-19 12:20 pm

The More Stars You Have, The Winner You Are.

We may eventually be on a DVD of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain's performance at the Proms! I went along with my brother and his friends, and some people working with the Orchestra came up to us in the queue, presumably intrigued by the fact that no fewer than six of us were carrying ukuleles (they are like an infectious disease; with the arrival of some more of Joseph's friends this number increased to eight), and had us all play 'Ode to Joy' whilst they filmed it.

So, yes! Should they use the footage, that's our moment of fame. I'll be the brown-haired girl on the parapet.

(We were queuing for three hours, and we spent the whole time playing the ukulele and singing. It was the best queue ever.)

The Orchestra themselves were fabulous, of course, and all the ukulele-owners in the Hall - and there were probably over a thousand of them - held their ukuleles aloft and waved them in time to the music during the encore. It was so much fun, and there is something inexpressibly delightful about being surrounded by so many ukuleles. They are such happy instruments!

(Joseph started playing his ukulele behind his head during the audience-participation rendition of 'Ode to Joy', rather to the amusement of those standing around us.)

If anyone in the UK wishes to listen to the prom, it is available on iPlayer for the next seven days here.


On the way home from the Orchestra, I was carrying two ukuleles, having lent one to one of our company for the prom.

Upon returning it to me, he observed that I looked like some sort of bizarre Tekken character.

How awesome would a fighting-game character dual-wielding ukuleles be? A soprano ukulele for quick jabs! A concert ukulele for blocking and for slower, more powerful attacks! Amazing!


In conclusion: you all need a ukulele.
fera_festiva: Mavis Cruet from Willo The Wisp cartoon with caption "splendid" (ukulele boy)

[personal profile] fera_festiva 2009-08-19 12:09 pm (UTC)(link)
*squee* I didn't know you played the uke! It is the best instrument ever, y/y?
fera_festiva: Mavis Cruet from Willo The Wisp cartoon with caption "splendid" (ramones)

[personal profile] fera_festiva 2009-08-19 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"Play" implies skill. I hit the strings with my fingers and sometimes something resembling music comes out. XD I want to form a ukulele-based punk band, ideally.
fera_festiva: Mavis Cruet from Willo The Wisp cartoon with caption "splendid" (faye YAY)

[personal profile] fera_festiva 2009-08-20 08:25 am (UTC)(link)
This! :P There's something especially satisfying about playing songs by, like, the Misfits on a ukulele and hearing them transformed into bouncy happy little ditties (about murder).

[identity profile] nonsensical.livejournal.com 2009-08-19 12:35 pm (UTC)(link)
i still can't play anything more than puff the magic dragon on mine, and i can't even do that particularly well haha!
fera_festiva: Mavis Cruet from Willo The Wisp cartoon with caption "splendid" (ling-ling seizures)

[personal profile] fera_festiva 2009-08-20 08:25 am (UTC)(link)
ALSO OMG STEALING THESE CHORDS

[identity profile] thrennion.livejournal.com 2009-09-08 10:58 am (UTC)(link)
STEALING THOSE CHORDS LIKE A MOFO. ILU.

[identity profile] dancesontrains.livejournal.com 2009-08-19 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Give me the money for it, and I'll get one :D?

[identity profile] vzg.livejournal.com 2009-08-19 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
You do make a very convincing argument for a ukulele purchase!

[identity profile] vzg.livejournal.com 2009-08-20 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Kind of! I was looking them up, but the issue is that I'm thinking, "Do I really want to spend over fifty dollars on an instrument I've never played before?" and though there are some cheaper ones I don't want to get a bad one...

[identity profile] hurricanine.livejournal.com 2009-08-19 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
The ukulele is a ridiculously happy instrument. :D

[identity profile] hurricanine.livejournal.com 2009-08-19 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
This one chick (http://www.youtube.com/user/sweetafton23) on YouTube has some amazing original uku songs. This one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avxpn_MsPYs) is my favorite. :D

[identity profile] saaski-moql.livejournal.com 2009-08-20 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
I...I just really enjoy knowing you and I wanted to say that.