Tales of the Uke – Part 21

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The last song I performed on YouTube was French. This time out everything is quite British. I write “everything” because it’s a medley of five songs from the Fab Four with a fun 10-track mixed reprise of one of the songs at the end. Woo Hoo! A Beatles hit from each year between 1964 and 1968.

This is not a songbook medley. I actually picked the tunes I wanted from sheet music and then did the basic arrangement of the parts I wanted to play, the transitions, and the sequencing. The last song was a free-for-all of ideas, and during the summer I recorded a couple different audio-only versions for testing purposes. So, you have to stick around until the end to hear and see how things turn out! I’m not giving away the names of the songs. The fun is in the recognition:

On a random note, it’s coincidence but interesting that this project is finished right before the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II at a time when the United Kingdom has been the focus of news for the last week.

Up next, it’s a love song and jazz standard made famous by Frank Sinatra.

Tales of the Uke – Part 20

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The last non-holiday piece I recorded was in the fall! I get asked, are you still taking ukulele lessons? Yes, I am. I just haven’t been recording everything and now there is a backlog. Today, I start clearing that out.

Let’s go to post-World War II France. La Vie en Rose was written in 1945 by É dith Piaf, Louiguy, and Marguerite Monnot. Piaf’s recording (this was her signature song) was released in 1947 and has been covered by many artists. In English, the title is Life in Pink. It is also loosely translated as meaning life in rose-colored glasses or life in happy hues. It’s a sweet love song.

I play two verses here. The first is arranged for ukulele and is more traditional in its approach. The second verse uses the same arrangement but in a style I heard played on guitar. I wrote a simple C scale to G7 chord bridge to join the two verses:

I have a big project on the way next!

The Joy Jar 2021

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If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you’re likely aware of the joy jar tradition Lisa and I have practiced every New Year’s Eve since 2016. The Mason jar was a little less full this year, as it was hijacked for one of Aria’s school projects, and we ran out of slips of paper to stuff inside. Yes, these are terribly lame excuses. However, there were still plenty of great things that happened during another difficult pandemic year. Here are a few of the highlights we did track:

  • The joyful look on Aria’s face as she rode her scooter with aplomb.
  • Working on Lisa’s “Brighten Your Day” podcast.
  • Getting back to Kauai for the first time since 2013, following COVID-19 delays.
  • Aria figuring out how to ride her bike without training wheels.
  • The Portland Timbers back in the MLS Cup Championship…and at home!
  • Pana-Sea-Ah with Lisa for my birthday.
  • Meeting Lisa Walz from Capital Community Media Radio.

I want to specifically address the last two notes on this list. The trip to our favorite bed and breakfast, Pana-Sea-Ah, became especially important when we learned a few months later that the innkeepers had sold their home and were retiring. The new owners declined to keep it in operation as an inn, so we have visited for the final time. We will miss Kim and Lori, the proprietors, and their beautiful home, but we have found another place for our winter respite trips to the Oregon Coast.

The final note to address is even more monumental. Specifically, that note in the jar read: “Had a fantastic meeting with Lisa Walz at CC:Media Radio. I think my future could be here…”  The note was dated March 11. Exactly seven months later, October 11, was my first day at CC:Media as the organization’s first multimedia content manager. I oversee content our staff produces on our three cable television channels and on our radio station. I love working there, I really like the people, and we are going to do great things in Salem, Oregon. It’s very exciting, and getting the job was the biggest joy for the whole family this year. I’m happier, my commute is 100 miles shorter each day, and I’m able to spend more time with Lisa and Aria.

This year, of course, will have its challenges and opportunities, so we are renewing our commitment to the joy jar for 2022. (We need to get some paper!) Happy New Year!