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Hello friends! 😊
I know there are so many amazing entries already, I haven’t gotten to listen to all of them, but fully plan to go back and comment in a “mega post” before the full flood of entries come in, lol (though I’ve gotten to read a lot of what people said and Andrew’s lovely feedback).
Oh my, Lacrimosa. This was quite insightful to relearn. I have so many thoughts and mixed feelings about this. I went through the stages of grief relearning this (fittingly). 😂😅 I felt so confident at first but turns out it was hubris. 😂
Well, I’ll write my thoughts out in a list:
– Relearning this helped me realize that I have a way of playing that I’m now most comfortable with and Steven’s style of playing is very, very different from mine now (also he’s an incredible musician, so there’s that 😂). One thing is playing melody notes with h/o’s and p/o’s on low G. Being 99% a high G player now, I’ve grown accustomed to avoid playing melody notes that way (and instead finding them on separate strings) because I do not enjoy that technique (though Steven plays that way so beautifully). 😂 Nonetheless, I did better with them this time around than the first, I think.
– This helped me realize that so much of playing has to do with confidence… and practice (I didn’t start relearning this a week or so ago or anything…). There are times when I’m so comfortable with a song that I feel extremely confident and times like this that I still feel overwhelmed and like I’m back to square one with my anxiety with recording (as this took about 25 takes to get – and this one still had a “false start” which I left in on purpose). Everyone has moments where they get inside their head and get stuck in a negativity spiral. That’s what happened with this for sure. Still, I’m so happy I relearned this and will try to remember this one this time and get it even smoother. 😊
– Also, this arr. is still incredibly difficult in places, that hasn’t changed, but I do think I smoothed out the second half a lot more than the first time.That wasn’t even a list, still really rambling, oh well. 😂 Here ’tis:
Thank you for this amazing challenge, Andrew! 😊
@janaq1, thank you so much! She truly is purrfect, I got so lucky adopting the sweetest little friend! 😻 She was half an outdoor cat so the fact that she’s adapting pretty well to being inside is such a good thing! It’s only been a few days so hopefully she’ll only continue to feel more and more comfy here! Although I have been devising plans to take her outside, perhaps on a leash or in a cat stroller, I don’t even care anymore “if” I look crazy! 😂 But actually I’ve definitely seen other people around here walking their cats, anyway. Thank you, I’m sure she’ll be making cameos pretty often, even if it’s with her melodic chirps! 😉😂😻
SooooooooooooOooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOoooo excited to hear everyone’s entries this month and what happens with the Back To the Future Takes of all these songs! Such a crazy wide array of songs that people have chosen! 😊
I am nervous about Lacrimosa because that was so tricky the first time around, but hopefully it’ll be easier this time!! Surely it will be…! 😂😳
Looking forward to seeing how this challenge unfolds! 😊
Oh my, I am flippin’ pumped for this challenge! I really love this idear a lot!! 🥰
I also find it kind of funny that I accidentally did this exact thing for February with Aura Lee. That was the first RC101 song I learned, but that’s not what I’m doing for this challenge.
This month I think I’ll revisit Steven’s arr. of Lacrimosa (on my electric uke that I won from here)! 😁😯
I hope I can improve how fluently I play it and remove the pauses that I struggled with the first time I played it. And add more dynamics than the first time. I feel like I should be able to do those things now with a lot more experience through learning songs here. 😊
Here’s my original take:
I’m so excited! I’ve been wanting to revisit this song anyway, but what a great excuse!
GOLDEN TICKET from Drewmpa Loompa Town, here we come!! 😉😂
@Andrew, thank you so much! Your support and encouragement means so much to me. And all the inspiration I’ve found through the things you create and in this community. It’s been one of the most special things as far as my creative ventures in my life to know and learn from everyone here. 😊🥰
@lhamilton, that makes perf sense! I know that Canada gets hit pretty hard with snow, too, of course! It’s just up Nort’ you can expect a winter wonderland all the way into May sometimes! 😂🌨️❄️
@dianna, thank you so much, my friend! 😊🥰 Haha!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s actually two cats. That image came from a different video I created for these challenges a while ago. I’ll have to find it. It was the Friends theme, but about cats. 😅😅😂 Very annoyingly, your video wouldn’t load for me so I’ll have to listen to it later!! I’m sure it’s amazing! 😂🥺❤️I apologize in advance for this gargantuan post! Please enjoy! I thought of creating a separate thread for the “snow” topic because as a Midwesterner in particular, talking about snow and frosty weather is one of our favorite pastimes. 😂😂 But I replied to a few of the entries after my rambling about that (and I just made it worse with this prelude. Why am I this way?). I’ve gotten in trouble at my jobs over the years for talking too much, not even kidding, but no one is surprised by that…
@leb397 Thank you for your kind words. Yes I’ve seen the weather across the country and you are getting battered. Where we are there are a lot from WI, MN and MI. I always wonder if anyone is left home because it is filled with the white haired snowbird brigade. 😁 I can certainly relate to the tuna tundra (ha) When I did our January challenge the weather was so gloomy. I kinda wrote a song I’ll post some day, … maybe. but I knew the brighter days were ahead with our annual migration. 🦅🚗🌞. The feeling of being trapped with a box of almost empty box cereal, piece of bread and maybe some dated milk…. 😩 Well we all have RC101 !!!!
Great entries. I could have practiced a bit more to smooth parts but wasn’t sure about internet and ability to record all the time. ThanksThat was a very crazy week of weather! We basically had a blizzard, around a foot of snow, then the temperatures plummeted to the single digits and one day was -30F with windchill. Hooray! Well, part of me enjoys the cold and the snow, but the lack of sunlight takes its toll after a while and I struggle a lot with that, already being predisposed to … my brain not wanting to work. I think I actually was technically frozen for a week or two. 😂 I am starting to feel better now. Sometimes your soul can also be start to freeze and you don’t realize it at first. Hahaha! Yes, a lot of people from the Midwest migrate to Florida and warmer areas. I’ve heard of that a lot. I enjoy the cold and the snow, but that day was pretty rough; thankfully, I did have food, so that was good! The crazy thing is, today it was in the 50’s and felt so warm and beautiful, but not HOT. That’s the thing I really dislike (though I know I’m a freak and most people love that crud! 😂). That’s how I am with recording, too. Once I start, I just go with what the result is that day because it’s hard to know if you’ll get another chance. I still to this day get anxious about it, but I definitely have come a long way with it. Please share your song if you are up for it, I, and I’m sure others, would love to hear it!! 🥰
@grannieannie Are you still frozen in? We beat our record of being snowbound this year, going twelve days without being able to get down our driveway. Our area doesn’t get that many snowfalls a season, so it’s hopelessly ill-prepared to handle one when it happens. And our road is last on the priority grid, so by the time they get to us, the road is a solid sheet of ice (winding down a hill, with a lake at the bottom).
No, I am thawed out now! 😂 Oh my word, that is crazy! 12 days is insane to be snowbound. Oh my yes, in the Midwest, it’s a joke when you see a steep driveway and say, “that’d be horrible in the winter!” You have to think that way. But in areas like yours (though I’m not sure where you are – I know how that goes), it can be very, very dangerous when a lot of unexpected snow/ ice happens. I hope you also had power and supplies that you needed. It seems like you are finally free now, since you escaped to the liberry? You’re so brave to do that, to record there. 😂
Speaking of that, your entry of Blue Skies was so very pretty! I agree with @Andrew ‘s assessment of it. Such a sweet sound. Even though you weren’t intentionally adding dynamics, the beautiful feeling still came across. Adding dynamics is tricky. It’s my favorite thing about playing music, though, when you can start conveying how the music makes you feel. I hope that makes sense. Very beautifully played, though! 😊
Okay, and now some other replies:
@misterbones, that tune sounded even more magical on the banjolele! Really it’s perfect for that! Perfectly played, as yewsh (usual)! 😊
@katazumiri, also so magical! A very different and cool take on that one! I agree that it definitely seems like it could be played at a variety show / circus! Perfect! 🥰
@lhamilton, very beautifully played on that one, too! That sounded perfect to me! 😊 It’s really hard when you start feeling nervous, though, to push through that. I understand that for sure. Still, beautifully played!
@keeevo, also a very beautiful take! Very soft and smooth performance!
@brettboy, your performances are always so magical and fun to watch! To me it seems like you have total control over your playing, which is pretty amazing (since I definitely don’t always feel like I have that). I like how your uke flew away at the end! 😂 Beautifully played! 😊
@terryfallon3, really great work! That song, for me, I consider actually impossible to play (again, for me), and you did an amazing job with it! Love how it sounds! 😊Sorry that I didn’t get to reply to everyone, but this is already a megapost! I loved listening to all of them and, as always, amazing work by all! 🥰
Oh my gosh, one more thing. I did try to re-record my take on Aura Lee. I think overall I smoothed it out / sped it up, but I did keep forgetting a few little things and there were a few pauses there, but here it be! I used my favorite image from a previous video here for the thumbnail. 😂😂
(Again, so sorry this is so long, I am the worst… 😂)
@janaq1, that sounds so amazing! Boy would I love to go on that retreat, on multiple levels. One of these times I really hope to go to a gathering like that to meet some ukulele friends, but probs not for that one. Hope you enjoy it! 😊
@shmu88, I’d say that was *much* more than okay and very magical! 😊 Very beautifully played, so impressive! The runs at the end of that song are crazy and you played them perfectly! 😊
@willw18, I couldn’t get your entry to play, sadly. 😕
@leb397, so, so beautiful friend! You captured the feeling behind that perfectly. So glad you’re having some warmer, sunnier days – that you “played about” in that song. 🥰 It’s the opposite here. I think I mentioned we had a blizzard over the weekend in Wisconsin. I won’t lie – that was pretty brutal because it’s like I was “trapped” in Valentine’s Day (S.A.D.) and had to work extra hard to find distractions. 😂 Sorry that was a bit of a tangent… Thank you so much for your encouragement with that! It means so much to me. The tremolo is still really challenging but I’ll keep working on it. And nothing will replace my love of clawhammer. 😂😅 Thank you so much, I love everyone in this group, too, and am so inspired by the incredible talent and creativity of everyone here. Along with the support that has meant so much to me. Ha well, in the North of the Midwest it’s still pretty much the frozen tuna… tundra. 😂😂😅 I let autocorrect have its way for a minute. We are kind of frozen tuna here. 😉😂 But I hope by the time you travel it’s warmed up a bit where you are! Thank you again!! 🥰@karenj, really amazing performance of that! So smooth and perfect clarity with each note. That one looks so tricky and complicated, but you play it so seamlessly, really impressive performance! 🥰
@dianna, thank you so much, friend! 🥰 That really means a lot that you say that. I think it’s pretty special how we can all inspire each other here. 😊 You have inspired and encouraged me so many times. I appreciate that so much. I feel like if I have any strengths on uke it’s kind of reinventing already good 😂 existing material, though I think I am (crushingly slowly) getting better at creating my own versions of songs. I think it’s because theory is my greatest weakness with music, so in some ways that does hold me back, maybe. Anyway, thank you again! Looking forward to your entry! 😊🥰
@gi_gi_ thank you so much, my friend!! Haha!! We are actually out of control with the nicknames now. 😂😅 Triple B! 😂😅😂 I know, it’s so crazy how much things can change in a pretty short time. So much has happened since then that I never imagined possible because of this sweet little instrument and the friends I’ve made through it. I’m gonna cry, man! 😂 Thank you so much, I can’t even say how much you’ve inspired and encouraged me to do things I never would’ve ever done before, like the open mic. We have another side quest now with that!! 😂🥰
@grannieannie, I just had to “go rogue” again with that song! Thank you, now I’m trying to apply the tremolo to everything, eventually I’ll get better at it that way! 😂 You play very beautifully from what I’ve gotten to hear, I know you’ll only get better and better, too! 🥰This is how I’m spending my “love day” 😂 (in part) because the pleasantly distracting plans I had today fell through because of snow (the plans were playing scary video games with my bro and sis which we do semi-quarterly), but I have a lot of love for everyone here, so it works out! 😊🥰
Also maybe can make some progress on Aura Lee today but no update yet. 😉😂
@grannieannie, thank you so much for that! I will try to post another take of that one with the tremolo once I smooth it out a bit more. 😊
I found it, my first entry here:
Ha! I think the main thing I notice is just how awkward, rigid, and hesitant my movements / hand positions seem to be then, compared to now. Still awkward now, but that was interesting / emotional to look back on. Also, my orange uke didn’t have eyes back then (also, maybe I should do my hair like that again…?). 😂 That was also the entry that I won my electric uke with! Good times, all around! 😊
@emiliano, thank you so much for that! If only you knew the depth of my struggle with that, with finishing things. 😂 It takes me sooooooo long to finish things. I’m so glad you saw that, thank you! 😀 I finished that arrangement quite a while ago (I just checked, it was in December!) then didn’t create the tabs for probably a month after that (Matt actually helped me by checking them in a private lesson … earlier this week? But he in general has helped me in lessons with how to write out my own tabs and I also have learned so much just by learning his songs and the songs here, though I still struggle a lot with writing out rhythm). Then, I created a video of it and there were issues with that video, so I took it down, then like two weeks later (tonight) I finally got around to re-filming it, editing it, and all. 😂 I am not “fast” or “organized” with creating things. This makes it all the more mind-blowing how Andrew and Friends create videos every single week, or even month, of the highest caliber (and also not total nonsense like my videos). Every week is a really impressive goal indeed! But the things you create are also really amazing and deserve proper equipment (I’ve accepted my current “sound issues plight” for now, but I may get a new little mic soon). Ha… Ukebert knows a few other Spanish words, but most of them relate to food because he thinks about food 24/7. 😂😂
Sorry for that block paragraph of doom but I think I’m getting tired, so the rambles really set in then. 😂 And thank you so much! I might want to share some of the new songs I am working on here sometimes because I think only a few people here follow my YouTube channel, understandably. 😉
@Andrew, thank you so much for that! It always means a lot when you like changes like that. It’s so exciting when you can apply a technique to a song and it actually works out magically. 😂 I also did play through the arrangement without the changes (as I always do before modifying), the song is very beautiful that way, as well. Thank you, though, I’m so happy you liked it! 😊
@gutoguedes, very lovely playing! I agree with @Andrew that it’s cool how you incorporated strumming and finger picking to fit the theme extra well! 😊
@dhruv123, very beautiful performance of that one! Lovely to listen to! 😊
@marianne, good golly that was stunning! You brought out the feel so, so beautifully. That really couldn’t be more perfect. 💕
@gi_gi_ glad you’ll still pop in to see all the entries! 😉 💕
@emiliano, holy crud, that was amazing! Wow! Really, really amazing. I find it funny how keen Andrew’s ears are, of course, to notice the change in rhythm. Meanwhile, my mouth is hanging open like a big derp watching that because it’s so impressive. 😉
@joe150, that was very, very pretty! Lovely work! 😊Okay, here is my Aura Lee entry so far:
I kind of explain in the video a bit already, but while I still messed up (because I kept forgetting what came next), looking at the tab, I remember being overwhelmed when I first learned that one (even though I think even back then I modified it for no reason). But now the music itself seems pretty straightforward to me, now I do look at it with new perspective, kind of like what you were talking about @emiliano. I definitely haven’t taken as crazy leaps in skill as you have (probably because I spend so much time goofin’ around) but I feel like I have learned so much through this community, along with the support that has affected me so much, including with my own creative pursuits. Thank you for that. 😊💕
@emiliano, so true! Songs can have very different interpretations based on your experiences in life and with music. Thank you so much for the encouragement with that! Just you asking about the Beatles song is helpful because I do have a big time issue finishing things. Sometimes, I literally just forget that I was doing something. My focus is very, very sharp, lol. I’ll have to do that, it may take a little bit, but when it’s done, I’ll share it here. 🙂
Quite an intriguing topic! 😊
I have a somewhat biased opinion on this as I’ve never played a ukulele that even costs a fraction of that price, but I feel like even if a ukulele like that *is* objectively better quality than others (which I’m sure they are excellently crafted with high quality materials) what makes a ukulele “better” is very subjective.
For me, and others I’ve talked to, there is something beautiful and charming about cheap things. I actually prefer cheaper things – older, “well loved” things – because then I am more likely to use them without worrying about hurting them. Also, if I can’t glue things to my ukulele or smash it on a car door or feed it soup – or use it to fight off velociraptors – it’s probably not the uke for me. 😂😅
