Saturday 3 September 2011

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain – Sex, Drugs and Sausage Rolls!

So, tell me, when was the last time you were enjoying a musical performance so much, that you just didn’t want it ever to end?  Every song left you wanting more.  Every round of applause was a welcome accompaniment to your eager anticipation of the next number.  And when it wasn’t the one you’d been looking forward to, it didn’t matter because it was something equally impressive.
 
I had one of those evenings last night at Worthing Pavilion with the ever talented Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.  I laughed, I clapped, and I even found myself singing along to Wheatus’ poignant tale of adolescent passion, ‘Teenage Dirtbag’.  Their note perfect ‘Only You’ took me magically back to ‘American Graffiti’ and beyond.  Ennio Morricone would have been proud of their ‘Good, the Bad and the Ugly’.  I haven’t heard such great whistling since Roger Whittaker was king. 

What’s so great about them?  Unlike the Spaghetti Western Orchestra, whose recreations of, well, Spaghetti Western Music were excellent, they keep the balance of humour and Music just right.  Also, they’re funny.  Not only can they play but they can sing, often at the same time!  The Who’s ‘Pinball Wizard’ is testament to their clear and exacting harmonies.

Even if you’re not that crazy about the ukulele, it doesn’t matter.  It’s not really about the instrument, it’s about the Music.  It’s about having good taste in Music and imaginative arranging.  It’s also to do with not taking yourself too seriously, but at the same time, performing well, with passion and with a sense of fun.

If you’ve got half an ear and an ounce of taste, give up an evening of the usual to catch the unusual.  It’s an act you simply can’t help but enjoy.  Like Tommy Cooper, if you don’t enjoy the evening, there’s probably something the matter with you. 



Watch this Video of The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

No comments:

Post a Comment