The ukulele may not be the biggest or the most dynamic of musical instruments out there, but when eight of them, and their pluckers, gathered in a small semi-circle upon the stage of London's majestic Royal Albert Hall two nights ago, six thousand promenaders and thousands more radio listeners were totally enthralled.And when it came to the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain's rendition of 'Anarchy in the U.K.' they damn near blew the roof off.
So the jumping flea made the big time.
And what a gig it was!
Promenaders were encouraged to take their own ukes along for a participatory number.
And when over a thousand ukes play Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' with the other five thousand promenaders clapping along it truly is a joy to behold.
Warms the very cockles...
But of course the collective's real strength lies in their genre subversion.
Bowie, The Beatles, The Stones, Shirley Bassey, The Who, Talking Heads, Robbie Williams, Hot Chocolate and more all get the subversive uke treatment.
The segue of 'Ride of the Valkyries' into Hawkwind's 'Silver Machine' is just pure bloody genius.
And if you haven't heard their version of Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights', well, that is well worth the download alone.
So, no matter where you are, what you're doing or what you're into; this is guaranteed to place a right big grin across your chops.
And let's face it, we could all do with a bit of cheering up, right!
And believe me, you'll be humming 'Puffin' Billy' for ever.
If you don't already...
Now pass me that ukulele...
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great BritainProm 45: Royal Albert Hall (18/8/09)
Puffin' Billy
Anarchy in the U.K.
Ride of the Valkyries/Silver Machine
Life on Mars medley
Thunderball
Teenage Dirtbag
Danse Macabre
And Did Those Feet
Psycho Killer
Ode to Joy (Extract Beethoven's 9th: Choral)
Pinball Wizard
Dam Busters March
Sympathy for the Devil medley
Wuthering Heights
Immaculate Rip direct from digital broadcast.
Gorgeous quality.
If burning remove pauses for best effect.
Gain Uke gratification here
