Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Uke Wars

I think it was Plato who admonished us to never discuss religion, politics, or ukuleles at a party. My friend Uke Forever and Uke Jackson, whom I don't know personally, are a case in point. Over the last 8 months, since I first introduced Uke Forever to the pleasures of Uke, There has been a slowly bubbling fued that recently came to another head, just when we all thought they had made peace and had become friends. This all took place at 4th Peg, a ukulele website.

Their first row came during a discussion about the Iraqui War. Understandable. The argument got a little hot and, well, I don't want to take sides because I would like to keep peace in the ukulele community.

Uke Forever remedied the situation by writing a song called "Uke Jackson hates Me," which got everybody laughing, even Uke Jackson. Pax Ukulelea ensued.

Then they got into a difference of opinion concerning, first, note-bending on the ukulele. Then, their argument spilled over into a Nylgut discussion. Ironically, they both are Nylgut fans. Some name-calling, a few winky-faced smiley icons, and soon the felt picks were flying.

Some day, I hope to meet Uke Jackson. Some day, I hope to make Uke Forever learn that winky-faced smiley icons shouldn't be used carelessly.

3 comments:

Howlin' Hobbit said...

Sometimes UJ goes a bit overboard. I'm not sneaking around saying this, I'd say it "to his face" (and I have, as much as one can online).

But that doesn't forgive the constant pick-pick-pick from UF.

Jaysus! What does it take? The proverbial clue-by-four?

Still, like you, I don't want to "take sides". I have my own pet peeves, y'know?

It's good to see another entry in Uke Millennium. You're in my RSS aggregator so I check daily.

ciao for now...

Howlin' Hobbit (www.howlinhobbit.com)
Got Uke?
Snake Suspenderz (www.snakesuspenderz.com)
Hot Jass, Hokum and Novelty Music... with a bite!

Donita Curioso said...

All that misplaced passion. Send 'em to Florida, maybe they can save Terri Schiavo.

Fer cryin' out loud!

Brother Atom Bomb of Reflection said...

I hope I don't sound patronizing to any of the parties involved here-but, HH, I think to understand what makes UF (who comments below as RiveDrumDave) tick is that, for him, the ukulele represents the re-awakening of a former passion for music that was dormant for awhile. Playing music lost it's charm. Then, the ukulele became his musical viagra (by the way, if one finds oneself playing his ukulele for four hours or more, he should contact his physician).

As someone who teaches with with him, I also know that, whereas I usually have to think long and hard about what I write, he writes very well and some posts and responses to posts take him little time at all. That, plus I think he may havce taken one too many philosophy and/or literary cristicism classes in college.

By the way, I did find more authentic arangements to both Over the Rainbow and Never Neverland at tha Guitar Guy website.

I am practicing Neverland by itself. I might go back to the medly idea, but, for now, it seems too derivative and either song stands on its own. I think you might be a little younger than me, so I wonder if you know of Never Neverland. It's a song I grew up on. Mary Martin sang it on Broadway in Peter Pan. I only ask because, whenever I bring it up, only a few people seem to have heard of it.

It might be a song right up Snake Suspenderz tinpan alley.

What's an RSS aggregator? Is it a reptile?