Down Up Dick
Well-known member
What's most important (interesting?) to you Ukers who like to sing: The song (music)? Or the Words? Or the accompaniment?
For me, however appealing the tune, the words have to be a fit. At my age playing "Good Morning Little School Girl" would hardly seem appropriate. On the other hand Delbert McClinton's "Been Around A Long time" could be a good fit.
What's most important (interesting?) to you Ukers who like to sing: The song (music)? Or the Words? Or the accompaniment?
The words then the music. Hey DUD take those sappy songs and make up different lyrics for them. I do it and it's really fun and you can come up with some great stuff. I can't put music to words but I do seem to be able to put words to music.
I like to learn the words first, then the lyrics.
Yes, one of my favorite songs, A Horse With No Name. Dm and Am7. Just back and forth, back and forth. If you have a range of three notes, you can sing it. But the lyrics are so goofy, "in the desert you can remember your name, cause there ain't no one to give you no pain". How do you sing something like that in front of other people? Dumb question I guess, because I sang it three times for my voice coach last week.I mostly like to sing (when I do) folk music, but lots of the words in the songs are pretty hokey. I like lyrics to be like poetry where one stanza follows another 'til the song is done. Sometime the stanzas don't relate to each other at all.
I really don't like to sing ballads; they go on and on and on.
I find it difficult to get a song all together. I usually know the tune and the chords aren't always bad. Then the words . . . ld:
I like the songs of my parents' era (30's, 40's 50's mostly). I was in High School in the early to mid-60's,
then went off to Bible School with lots of Hymns!
I have a reputation in the song circles that know me of being one who has a big 'hole' in my music recognition.
I really don't know many Beatle's songs, couldn't identify Dylan or any other singer/groups I don't know. (sorry)
I did have a Peter, Paul & Mary LP, grew up listening to Annie Get Your Gun and Oklahoma!
For me it's the sentiment of a song (combo of music and lyrics), mostly romantic (Nevertheless, The Nearness of You,
Moonlight Becomes You, Amapola, Slow Boat to China, etc. I like songs with interesting chord progressions (Dr Uke's
Old Cape Cod, Puttin' on the Ritz, Misty - Dr Uke has great chording! ).
There are songs I really enjoy playing... but I do give a 'disclaimer' before I begin (I Feel Pretty!, I Enjoy Being a Girl)!
RE: adjusting lyrics to some songs... we recently provided an alternative to Folsom Prison's (I shot a man in Reno, just
to watch him die... to I pinched a man in Reno, just to watch him cry - when I hear that whistle blowin', I hang my head
and sigh)... just for fun. We (STRUM - Seattle's Totally Relaxed Ukulele Musicians) also adjusted Jumbalaya's (swap my
mon' to buy Yvonne what she need-o... to swap my mon' to buy Yvonne a brand new Speedo!
getting back to the original question - again, for me, it's the sentiment of the song. If it doesn't make sense to me, I choose
not to sing/play it. Sorry folks, but being a Tee-Totaler (non-drinker) I play along but don't sing Margaritaville.
If I can't get 'into' a song, I pass. I don't encourage others NOT to play, sing, or enjoy the song, I simply refrain and wait
for one I can really get into
Some songs seem to be particularly solo/performer-oriented and not best for song circle singing... Oh well....
just some of my thoughts
keep uke'in',
What can I say Uncle Rod? You are the one who gave me my start. Your opinion is gospel. I might say though, that I am not a tea totaler. In fact, I am anything but. Margaritaville is at the top of my list. It is the very first song I learned when I ventured out from Ukulele Bootcamp. I don't know how you feel about it, but you launched me on the course to learn enough drinking songs to get me through an hour or so of playing and singing.I like the songs of my parents' era (30's, 40's 50's mostly). I was in High School in the early to mid-60's,
then went off to Bible School with lots of Hymns!
I have a reputation in the song circles that know me of being one who has a big 'hole' in my music recognition.
I really don't know many Beatle's songs, couldn't identify Dylan or any other singer/groups I don't know. (sorry)
I did have a Peter, Paul & Mary LP, grew up listening to Annie Get Your Gun and Oklahoma!
For me it's the sentiment of a song (combo of music and lyrics), mostly romantic (Nevertheless, The Nearness of You,
Moonlight Becomes You, Amapola, Slow Boat to China, etc. I like songs with interesting chord progressions (Dr Uke's
Old Cape Cod, Puttin' on the Ritz, Misty - Dr Uke has great chording! ).
There are songs I really enjoy playing... but I do give a 'disclaimer' before I begin (I Feel Pretty!, I Enjoy Being a Girl)!
RE: adjusting lyrics to some songs... we recently provided an alternative to Folsom Prison's (I shot a man in Reno, just
to watch him die... to I pinched a man in Reno, just to watch him cry - when I hear that whistle blowin', I hang my head
and sigh)... just for fun. We (STRUM - Seattle's Totally Relaxed Ukulele Musicians) also adjusted Jumbalaya's (swap my
mon' to buy Yvonne what she need-o... to swap my mon' to buy Yvonne a brand new Speedo!
getting back to the original question - again, for me, it's the sentiment of the song. If it doesn't make sense to me, I choose
not to sing/play it. Sorry folks, but being a Tee-Totaler (non-drinker) I play along but don't sing Margaritaville.
If I can't get 'into' a song, I pass. I don't encourage others NOT to play, sing, or enjoy the song, I simply refrain and wait
for one I can really get into
Some songs seem to be particularly solo/performer-oriented and not best for song circle singing... Oh well....
just some of my thoughts
keep uke'in',