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Uke is Uks biggest seller |
cheekytiki Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 09, 2004 Posts: 1088 From: The Haole Hut, London, UK
| Posted: 2007-08-31 02:04 am  Permalink
This was an article in last weeks Sunday Times
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article1940449.ece
Could a new generation of Ukelele players on their way?
 
 
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Bongo Bungalow Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2007 Posts: 1226 From: Indiana
| Posted: 2007-08-31 03:14 am  Permalink
You bet Cheeky. We are currently in the third wave of ukulele popularity. The first got going in 1915 and ran through the '20's, the second in the '50's with George Formby in the UK and Arthur Godfrey on TV in the states, and, of course, the tourist industry developed in Hawaii.
Tiki culture is helping this third wave, certainly, but there's a whole lot of music being played on ukes that is not island related. Jake Shimabukuro's version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", which has been all over the internet, is an example.
[ This Message was edited by: Bongo Bungalow 2007-08-31 03:59 ]
 
 
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virani Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 17, 2003 Posts: 1434 From: Volcanic area of France
| Posted: 2007-08-31 03:23 am  Permalink
ukulele is huge in France, very big, even on tv, and every player don't know anythng about tiki...
 
 
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Bongo Bungalow Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2007 Posts: 1226 From: Indiana
| Posted: 2007-08-31 04:08 am  Permalink
I've been told it's big in Japan, also.
There are many manufacturers this time around. While the Chinese are producing low-end ukes, there are quite a few craftsmen in the states turning from guitars to ukuleles.
A plastic backed uke, The Flea, and it's bigger sibling, The Fluke, are good quality ukes and quite popular. They are sold through http://www.fleamarketmusic.com (No connection to yours truly.)
[ This Message was edited by: Bongo Bungalow 2007-08-31 04:09 ]
 
 
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pablus Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 23, 2003 Posts: 2146 From: www.crazedmugs.com
| Posted: 2007-08-31 07:18 am  Permalink
Spongebob.
No kidding.
Uke will be huge when the Spongebob generation hits the buying age for instruments.
That's why I'm writing uke music as fast as I can so I can take all of their money and spend it on my life long ambition... a uke made out of diamonds and gold that never goes out of tune. Yeahhh. That'd be awesome.
 
 
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The Mayor Of Exotica Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 09, 2005 Posts: 392 From: Boston
| Posted: 2007-08-31 1:58 pm  Permalink
Yeah, baby, the Liberace of Uke! How do you play those little frets with those huge rocks on your fingers? Then, there's the cape. How do you keep it from hiding the uke altogether?
If there's anyone who has a solution to these issues, it would be you, my friend!
_________________ Let it not be said that I ran for Mayor of Exotica on a platform of lower taxes and less corruption. My platform is lower rum prices, less reality TV and more rights for Pandas!
 
 
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Bongo Bungalow Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2007 Posts: 1226 From: Indiana
| Posted: 2007-08-31 2:16 pm  Permalink
Teeth! I play with my teeth! With only four strings, four good teeth is all you need and I've got five!
 
 
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