tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post3294267018166398634..comments2024-03-26T17:50:42.904+00:00Comments on GOT A UKULELE - Ukulele reviews and beginners tips: The Ukulele and the Hawaiian AssumptionBarry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-89825857953725356532022-08-25T11:35:54.745+01:002022-08-25T11:35:54.745+01:00I checked back over your Japanese listings and I f...I checked back over your Japanese listings and I found you wrote this about Jake in 2011, " Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, ( fifth generation Japanese American).." Please accept my apologies, you already knew!westgatenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-72912597506485258982022-08-25T10:09:21.880+01:002022-08-25T10:09:21.880+01:00Hello Barry, many thanks for your blog. I love rea...Hello Barry, many thanks for your blog. I love reading your comments and reviews. I am Japanese and as I am sure you know the Hawaiian-Japanese ukulele connection runs very deep. The Kiwaya brand being (alongside Martin and Kamaka)one of the oldest ukulele builders still thriving as a business. The major cities here are full of ukulele stores that do tend towards Hawaiian themes in their decor. There are also a lot of master builders commanding master prices for their beautiful ukuleles.I just wanted to point out that you said," When arguably the most famous player of the instrument today is Jake Shimabukuro, a Hawaiian, " at the start of your article. Actually he is a Japanese American from Hawaii (nikke gosei amerika jin- fifth generation Japanese American, his surname Shimabukuro probably coming from our southern Island of Okinawa. A lot of Japanese from Okinawa emigrated to Hawaii from the early 1900's, and worked on sugar cane and pineapple plantations there. ( I have a Famous brand pineapple long neck soprano-I love long neck soprano ukuleles ). A Hawaiian is a native of Hawaii, much like the Maori of New Zealand. I totally agree about your assessment of Jake's fame as a ukulele player and yesterday I bought tickets to go see him play live on his upcoming Autumn tour here.!Westgatenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-37151579424690502272017-08-27T20:50:27.048+01:002017-08-27T20:50:27.048+01:00I totally agree with you Barry, I got into playing...I totally agree with you Barry, I got into playing the ukulele because my dad had played Hawaiian Lapsteel guitar since the 1940s and I always loved the ukulele backing sound to his recordings (His band the Hawaiian Echos had the full ensemble of Hawaiian shirts, lei's and hula girls ... but it was the 1970s!) and many of the old Hawaiian recordings he used to play. I'm deeply interested in the history of Hawaiian music especially the 'Hapa Haole' side of things and I'm currently researching info for writing a book on a well known (English) Hawaiian dance band from the 1930-50s ... I love to play originals,modern covers and Hawaiian 'Hapa' songs at open mic ... and not a Lei in sight (lol).. I do feel that as I'm not Hawaiian or in Hawaii that it's not really appropriate or feel the need to do that ... I let the music do the talking. I like to enjoy the instrument for what it is .. a musical box that suits all types of music. Just nice to keep one eye on it's heritage now and then. Keep up the great work - LeighAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539123602421243370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-26453272057904058472017-05-24T20:07:20.370+01:002017-05-24T20:07:20.370+01:00Thanks for this. I'm a recent convert to uke f...Thanks for this. I'm a recent convert to uke from guitar, and I have to say I've always found the whole faux Hawaiian thing cringeworthy. The ukulele is a musical instrument, one with widespread appeal and great potential. I'm happy with that.Jim Scullionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652113803434029198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-45610284007604732016-12-31T09:04:59.855+00:002016-12-31T09:04:59.855+00:00I know I am late to this page, but I have thought ...I know I am late to this page, but I have thought along the same lines for years. I also play the piano, but I don't dress up as Mozart and speak in German when I'm banging out Edgar Winters' 'Frankenstein' on it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07119628258912704397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-91852769051381368832016-06-09T21:27:10.368+01:002016-06-09T21:27:10.368+01:00Oh thank God I'm not the only one playing (or ...Oh thank God I'm not the only one playing (or at least trying and starting to) the uke without having been to Hawaii. I just happened to have friends that play uke and do have some roots in Hawaii. Hung out at their house and tried picking up their uke and looked up chords to a song and voila! Decided to buy my own and start learning to play. Music is music and at the end of the day it's all about getting immersed in the experience. It transcends culture and speaks a higher language than our own pettiness. Ferdinand V. Magathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13388524238743978571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-49455892929736861812016-04-21T11:03:31.356+01:002016-04-21T11:03:31.356+01:00I wonder what the state of music would be right no...I wonder what the state of music would be right now if we only adhered to a musical instrument's heritage. It's all a bit of fuss over nothing really, play what you like, play it how you like, as long as you're enjoying it, it's all good.Davehttp://www.ukulelego.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-14496630705766430972016-04-21T07:07:21.595+01:002016-04-21T07:07:21.595+01:00Yep. We live in a world where everybody gets their...Yep. We live in a world where everybody gets their feelings hurt over petty things. If people don't like what this blog has to say, THEN DON'T READ IT... sheesh. The Ukulele represents a culture to some, fine music to others, and even "toy instruments" to a few ignorant. Enjoy it for what it means to you, but dont expect everybody else to jump on your train. <br />Good read, good blog, thanks for the honesty and keep doing what you're doing. <br />D SmithAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04444772737017192743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-28514044872813826272016-04-20T23:36:16.068+01:002016-04-20T23:36:16.068+01:00Really, it's lovely to have any excuse to wear...Really, it's lovely to have any excuse to wear a baggy cotton shirt!!!!Lindanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-51352752943012943012016-04-19T23:40:01.432+01:002016-04-19T23:40:01.432+01:00Loved the rant, as always, even picked up a new wo...Loved the rant, as always, even picked up a new word (cosplay). <br />I don't like Hawaiian shirts, does that make me a bad person? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00392372802818141968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-50796510440055461042016-04-19T22:15:35.113+01:002016-04-19T22:15:35.113+01:00I totally agree actually - As Barry 'the guy w...I totally agree actually - As Barry 'the guy who happens to play the ukulele' - totally agree - 99% of my rants are stuff that just doesn't really matter. But as Barry 'the website author' I try to use the site for Op Ed pieces as a bellweather for what is going on in the ukulele world at large. And this is something I see as prevalent. It's totally nuts of course!Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-82677795686572942612016-04-19T22:06:27.979+01:002016-04-19T22:06:27.979+01:00Personally I really couldn't give a monkeys ha...Personally I really couldn't give a monkeys handbag what the origins of the uke or any other instrument is, I just love playing it in whatever style and whatever way I feel suits the particular song I am singing. Yes, I am interested in tge history of music and therefor what type of instrument a particular genre is played on, but first and formost it is simply a way of making music and self expression, and long may it live! ��drahcirospherehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02095248277189009957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-38154745553582771062016-04-19T21:17:15.749+01:002016-04-19T21:17:15.749+01:00(But the whole rant section of this site is always...(But the whole rant section of this site is always being accused of that - the 'why mention it if you want it to go away' thing. It's a blog. I only do the rant posts in the hope that some people do actually come away a little wiser. Last year I had some nasty comments from someone who claimed my website name was 'wrong' gramatically')Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-88520892252476229302016-04-19T21:11:17.956+01:002016-04-19T21:11:17.956+01:00Not me making a 'hoo har' , more just a po...Not me making a 'hoo har' , more just a post about what I see in the social ukulele channels. A reflection on that really. (Although I did genuinely get emails recently claiming I hated Hawaiians so relevant for that reason as well!)<br /><br />Knowing a few Hawaiians I agree with your comment about the tacky - actually do think that those who get angry about this are not actually Hawaiian - rather just people who like to say 'mahalo' and 'aloha' to each other without having knowing why..Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-52073463590123449362016-04-19T20:47:54.987+01:002016-04-19T20:47:54.987+01:00Not sure why you'd make a big hoo-ha about som...Not sure why you'd make a big hoo-ha about something that you seem to wish would be water under the bridge. I can't think of a single person I know here (in Hawai'i) who would rather you wear Hawaiian shirts and plastic lei to "honor the instrument." That's not honor. That's tacky.<br /><br />Just FYI, Jake is Japanese, born in Hawai'i. Only the indigenous kanaka maoli are "Hawaiian."Live 'Ukulelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12671695980796041453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-81629087953096545912016-04-19T20:08:12.381+01:002016-04-19T20:08:12.381+01:00Oh bugger !!! cheap Hawaiian shirt anyone ? never ...Oh bugger !!! cheap Hawaiian shirt anyone ? never worn - honestAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08749913984779065344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-34277778394887499612016-04-19T19:26:21.175+01:002016-04-19T19:26:21.175+01:00I recently saw this video on 'cultural appropr...I recently saw this video on 'cultural appropriation' and tattoos; of course, it got me thinking on this very subject and I was inwardly planning out a post for my blog. Thank you for beating me to it. Now I can let you take the heat. :-)<br /><br />Seriously though, the ukulele was appropriated or adopted if you prefer. Although it seems the 'jumping flee' translation gets all the press, Queen Liliuokalani prefered the translation of 'the gift that came,' offering up a respect to the origin of the instrument. If one is grateful for the ukulele, as I am, I think it is more than enough to acknowledge that this is a gift that came to us.M. Ryan Taylorhttp://ukuleleplay.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-41322684147150734902016-04-19T18:56:31.932+01:002016-04-19T18:56:31.932+01:00I think the best way to "show reverence"...I think the best way to "show reverence" to the Hawaiian culture in regard to the ukulele is to promote this wonderful instrument so that more people will play it and share it's music and the spirit of corporate music making and enjoying the company of others that it invokes. And I think that sites like yours do just that. Personally, I enjoy wearing Hawaiian shirts because they're bright and colorful, but I have been wearing them for years (way before I started playing the ukulele). One has nothing to do with the other. Even Hawaiians wear other clothes and play other genres of music. Whoever says that a person doesn't "revere" Hawaii just because of what they wear is just plain narrow-minded.musicmkr59https://www.blogger.com/profile/04866197391138605069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-11451923546678923902016-04-19T18:52:29.387+01:002016-04-19T18:52:29.387+01:00I'll keep a balloon on a stick in the car...I'll keep a balloon on a stick in the car...<br />Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-78965614932779830322016-04-19T18:51:19.983+01:002016-04-19T18:51:19.983+01:00Very disappointed that you don't wear Morris g...Very disappointed that you don't wear Morris garb at least one day a week, Barry. Perhaps you'll commit to waving a hanky around now and then, just to keep up appearances? Big Jack Brasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12685412912767965560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-63954197978591278922016-04-19T18:50:16.108+01:002016-04-19T18:50:16.108+01:00Very true Al!Very true Al!Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-47204349093517005172016-04-19T18:47:54.889+01:002016-04-19T18:47:54.889+01:00Ha ha - and a plate of grilled sardines...
It'...Ha ha - and a plate of grilled sardines...<br /><br />It's odd this blog at times. I have had people say I court controversy - that really isn't the point - I just read a lot about the ukulele and write what I feel with the intention of making people think rather than just being sheep and following the received wisdom. Then again, I've been accused of 'courting controversy' by 'deliberately reviewing ukes badly' too, so I can't win!<br />Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-5862637546034569842016-04-19T18:46:01.469+01:002016-04-19T18:46:01.469+01:00A fair few of these "respect Hawaii" peo...A fair few of these "respect Hawaii" people are also the ones who adorn everything with gross, sexualised depictions of Hawaiian women and sing songs like Ukulele Lady. I think if you want to show respect actually considering the people is a better way to go than dressing the part.Alhttp://ukulelehunt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-86918593749907326392016-04-19T18:43:17.573+01:002016-04-19T18:43:17.573+01:00I totally agree, you're not courting controver...I totally agree, you're not courting controversy as far as I'm concerned ....what about celebrating the instrument's Portuguese origins ? (perhaps we should celebrate our chosen instrument with a schooner of sherry ?)Webmuppethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10117490677774527727noreply@blogger.com