...all u have to do is sing hey soul sister after having lessons for four years....
Well, if "u" had lessons for four years, I'm impressed. I would suspect the vast majority of fellow players here learn on their own, or came to the ukulele from another instrument - probably guitar and self-taught. After four years of lessons, I would expect "u" have at least a modicum of skill.
I don't consider anyone a "prodigy" simply because he or she plays a song well - perhaps "u" do (or should that be "du"? "u du"? "oo doo"? voodoo? who do?). To me, that's merely showing skill and talent, and I can laud their efforts without the hyperbole. Prodigy suggests something extraordinary or exceptional and is usually applied to young people, like the child Mozart. Strumming a pop song seldom highlights a prodigy, unless it is some three- or four-year-old child.
...people say u r really good...
Anyone who doesn't play an instrument is usually impressed by those who can. Are "u" able to judge the skill level of a shakuhachi player? A cumbus player? A guqin player? Would "u" be able to judge adequately their skill level? Why do "u" expect non-ukulele players to judge yours (or is that "urs"?) ?
What expectations do "u" have of koto playing and players? Or kalimba players? None, I suspect. Why do "u" think others have expectations of the ukulele and its players? Can "u" listen and appreciate them when they are played, enjoy the efforts of the musicians, like the song? Those are not expectations. Expectations come from preconceived standards of performance and previous experience in listening to it being played. I have expectations when I hear someone play Bach on the piano, because I have listened to Glenn Gould and others perform Bach on piano for many, many years. I have some expectations for the shakuhachi because I attempted to learn it and spent many hours listening to others play it. I have few expectations for the oud, and none at all for the umuduri. All I can do is listen.
"Everyone" does not have a low expectation of the ukulele. I don't, for one. That means it's everyone minus one, so it's not everyone. Add a few thousand people here on this forum, and your generalization proves false. Perhaps you mean everyone "u" know, or everyone "u" have played for, or "everyone in "ur" family. Even so, I suspect there would be those among that group who have no expectations of the ukulele.
"U" should try to play in front of a more learned crowd - say guitarists or other musicians. They would, at least, have a better technical appreciation of what "u" are playing and how difficult or accomplished it is. They may not be so polite when "u" are finished.
The people "u" describe may also simply be being polite: a civil social attitude of encouragement, rather than attempting to be critical and discouraging. "U" should respect their support, rather than show disdain for it. "U" should be polite in return and thank them for their praise, albeit with enough humility to show "u" recognize your own limitations.
Me, I never play "hey soul sister" or even Hey Soul Sister because I've never heard of it. I don't know "jason maraz" although I have heard musician Jason Mraz play a song of that name, but frankly his song doesn't move me to want to learn it. Perhaps if I was 40 years younger it might.