Uke Virtuoso
March 15, 2011 2:35 PM Subscribe
Taimane's Toccata. Via
Also
Her website.
Background articles:
* How hard is it to define Taimane Gardner? Don't try.
* Taimane Gardner — a Samoan gem
* Diamond Glow
Also
Her website.
Background articles:
* How hard is it to define Taimane Gardner? Don't try.
* Taimane Gardner — a Samoan gem
* Diamond Glow
Good stuff, nice post.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:39 PM on March 15, 2011
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:39 PM on March 15, 2011
Holy fuck that's good stuff. She's amazing! Although for the ukelele experts: what kind of ukelele is that? I've never seen one so relatively large and guitar-shaped (much less electric and effect-pedaled).
posted by hincandenza at 3:14 PM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by hincandenza at 3:14 PM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
hincandenza, it's a custom-made "8-string Kamaka Tenor ("Liliu VIII") strung with only 6 strings. It's tuned GCEA, with the G and C strings doubled. The extra space surrounding the E and A strings gives her more room for solo work."
That post links to this video. :)
posted by zarq at 3:22 PM on March 15, 2011
That post links to this video. :)
posted by zarq at 3:22 PM on March 15, 2011
Except.... having watched the video again, the one she's playing in the main link looks like it only has four strings.
posted by zarq at 3:42 PM on March 15, 2011
posted by zarq at 3:42 PM on March 15, 2011
Tico Tico, the first video of her's that I came across, is still my favorite.
posted by StickyCarpet at 3:50 PM on March 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by StickyCarpet at 3:50 PM on March 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Someone likes being looked at, I think. I can't fault her for enjoying being an entertainer, but she strikes me as more narcissistic than I enjoy watching. Even in stickcarpet's video of her practicing she looks longingly into the camera, as if seeing her own image.
posted by ianhattwick at 4:30 PM on March 15, 2011
posted by ianhattwick at 4:30 PM on March 15, 2011
Someone likes being looked at, I think.
Unlike, I dunno, every male rock star on earth. Heaven forbid that a woman who is nice to look at should also be good at something.
posted by Faze at 4:34 PM on March 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
Unlike, I dunno, every male rock star on earth. Heaven forbid that a woman who is nice to look at should also be good at something.
posted by Faze at 4:34 PM on March 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
Wow, and to me she just looked like someone who was enjoying making her fingers dance. If I could make music like that, you wouldn't be able to wipe the grin off my face. Ever.
posted by e to the pi i at 5:37 PM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by e to the pi i at 5:37 PM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
She seems to be having fun here. I'm guessing the barefoot thing most likely precludes shows here in NYC.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:25 PM on March 15, 2011
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:25 PM on March 15, 2011
she strikes me as more narcissistic than I enjoy watching. Even in stickcarpet's video of her practicing she looks longingly into the camera, as if seeing her own image
On the contrary, my heart leapt with joy at the sight of her rock star confidence radiating through the camera lens.
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:16 PM on March 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
On the contrary, my heart leapt with joy at the sight of her rock star confidence radiating through the camera lens.
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:16 PM on March 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I really can't wait for her to go on tour stateside. Circus Freak is a brilliant metaphor to accompany the way she has mastered the ukulele, and I know a lot of circus freaks. This will end well.
posted by piedrasyluz at 7:39 PM on March 15, 2011
posted by piedrasyluz at 7:39 PM on March 15, 2011
Taimane was one of my five classmates when I went to Honolulu to build a ukulele in 2006. (I kept a pretty decent blog of the experience, which I posted to Projects, and she gets a mention or two.) She was a high school student building her uke as her senior project.
She's a class act. Her whole family is.
posted by etc. at 8:26 PM on March 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
She's a class act. Her whole family is.
posted by etc. at 8:26 PM on March 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
She's brilliant. Thanks for posting this.
posted by homunculus at 8:55 PM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 8:55 PM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Except.... having watched the video again, the one she's playing in the main link looks like it only has four strings.
I count five. (The bass string is definitely doubled, the other three don't look to be.)
she strikes me as more narcissistic than I enjoy watching. Even in stickcarpet's video of her practicing she looks longingly into the camera, as if seeing her own image
On the contrary, my heart leapt with joy at the sight of her rock star confidence radiating through the camera lens.
She's definitely got some rock star stage moves. I thought the outfit looked kinda odd, though. Like it kept reminding me of this.
posted by arto at 10:26 PM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I count five. (The bass string is definitely doubled, the other three don't look to be.)
she strikes me as more narcissistic than I enjoy watching. Even in stickcarpet's video of her practicing she looks longingly into the camera, as if seeing her own image
On the contrary, my heart leapt with joy at the sight of her rock star confidence radiating through the camera lens.
She's definitely got some rock star stage moves. I thought the outfit looked kinda odd, though. Like it kept reminding me of this.
posted by arto at 10:26 PM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
i can't seem to quit you, italics
posted by arto at 10:27 PM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by arto at 10:27 PM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
she strikes me as more narcissistic than I enjoy watching. (ianhattwick)
Everyone's taste is different, but I hope you at least put Mick Jagger and Prince in the same category.
posted by ocherdraco at 5:09 AM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Everyone's taste is different, but I hope you at least put Mick Jagger and Prince in the same category.
posted by ocherdraco at 5:09 AM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
I just saw The Mighty Uke at my local film festival, which I'd recommend to any ukulele lover.
posted by MtDewd at 6:01 AM on March 21, 2011
posted by MtDewd at 6:01 AM on March 21, 2011
I find much contemporary music to be a thin, safe simulacrum of better music. There is therefore something depressingly appropriate that this thin, safe simulacrum of a better musical instrument seems to be enjoying such annoying and unmerited popularity these days.
I really hate the ukulele. Being a virtuoso on a ukulele strikes me as about as inherently ridiculous as being an expert Morris dancer or champion Lego modeller.
posted by Decani at 6:47 AM on March 21, 2011
I really hate the ukulele. Being a virtuoso on a ukulele strikes me as about as inherently ridiculous as being an expert Morris dancer or champion Lego modeller.
posted by Decani at 6:47 AM on March 21, 2011
That is the most condescending thing I have ever read.
posted by Nothing at 7:04 AM on March 21, 2011
posted by Nothing at 7:04 AM on March 21, 2011
Decani: " I really hate the ukulele. Being a virtuoso on a ukulele strikes me as about as inherently ridiculous as being an expert Morris dancer or champion Lego modeller."
And yet, a few talented folks have produced marvelous work on the instrument, including John King, whose Bach Prelude and Bouree from the Partita no. 3 are simply sublime. Mr. King passed away in 2009. Here's his MeFi obit post.
posted by zarq at 9:28 AM on March 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
And yet, a few talented folks have produced marvelous work on the instrument, including John King, whose Bach Prelude and Bouree from the Partita no. 3 are simply sublime. Mr. King passed away in 2009. Here's his MeFi obit post.
posted by zarq at 9:28 AM on March 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
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posted by zarq at 2:37 PM on March 15, 2011