Ukulele

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Dr. Goodword
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Ukulele

Postby Dr. Goodword » Sat Dec 03, 2022 10:27 pm

• ukulele •


Pronunciation: yu-kê-lay-lee • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: A small, four-stringed guitar closely associated with Hawaii

Notes: Ukulele presents only one spelling problem, the U in the middle of it. Since it is pronounced [ê] (uh), we don't know what letter represents it. Any letter may be pronounced [ê] in English: imitation [imêtashên], Bermuda [bêrmudê], and ukulele [yukêlaylee]. Remember that it is a U in today's Good Word. This word is a lexical orphan—no related words—and a very young one. Poor thing.

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In Play: The ukulele is not held in high esteem by musicians and connoisseurs of music: "Amanda Lynn was on her way to play her ukulele at a party. Along the way she decided to stop for a bite to eat. Then she remembered she had left her ukulele in an unlocked car and rushed back to the parking lot. She was too late: someone had put another ukulele on the back seat."

Word History: Today's Good Word comes from that palm-lined archipelago, Hawaii. The instrument was introduced by the Portuguese, who brought a diminutive, four-stringed guitar called the "machete" along with them. One day the vice-chamberlain of King Kalakaua's court asked to be taught to play it. He learned quickly. The Hawaiians were soon calling him ukulele "leaping flea", because his lively plunking suggested a leaping flea (uku "flea" + lele "jumping"). Soon the instrument itself was being called a "jumping flea". (A tip of the hat and a strum on the old ukulele to Jeremy Busch for suggesting this Good Word from the 50th state.)
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George Kovac
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Re: Ukulele

Postby George Kovac » Sun Dec 04, 2022 10:01 am

I recently returned from a visit to Hawaii, where the presence of the ukulele is ubiquitous. George Harrison maintained a home in Hawaii and became an accomplished player. However, unlike his ventures into the sitar (and Indian music in general) in the late 1960s, he failed to elicit wider popular appeal for the instrument.These days Paul McCartney plays a charming cover of “Something” on the ukulele as an homage to his late band mate. The public also has responded enthusiastically to Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s dreamy, ukulele-based version of “Over the Rainbow” and other songs.
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David Myer
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Re: Ukulele

Postby David Myer » Wed Dec 07, 2022 7:26 am

And powerful stuff it is too, the Israel K version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2S ... CompanyInc

Especially the scenes at his funeral that ends the video.


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