Jake Shimabukuro: which song should he play on ukulele for Boing Boing?

You might know that I'm a big fan of Jake Shimabukuro, who is probably the greatest living ukulele player. His latest album, Peace Love Ukulele features his standing-ovation cover of Bohemian Rhapsody that he performed at TED last year.

I interviewed Jake at TED and asked him to play on old Hawaiian song for me. He is a great musician and a very nice person. So I'm happy to announce that Jake has agreed to allow Boing Boing's readers to select a song for him to perform on Boing Boing. Choose a song from the list below (after the jump) and at the end of the week, I'll tally the results and let Jake know which song to cover. He'll make a video especially for Boing Boing. Thanks, Jake!

Mark Frauenfelder is the founder of Boing Boing and the editor-in-chief of MAKE and Cool Tools. Twitter: @frauenfelder. Come and hear Mark speak at the ALA conference in Chicago on July 1.

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Blazeldude

I’m for anything that isn’t by Journey *shudder*.
thivai

I saw Jake play in a bar in Santa Cruz a couple of months ago. When I saw the uke come out, I told my partner to get ready to leave, but as soon as Jake started playing, we were both really impressed. Definitely worth the time and trouble to catch him at a show.
Matt_B

Uke? Then 4’33″.
scifijazznik

“Heart of the Sunrise” by Yes.
scifijazznik

*sigh* Are you people gonna make me do this?

FREEEEEBUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- JhmL
  
  In Finland, similar type answer would be ‘Paranoid’. So, that.
call_me_ishmael

Too bad write-in candidates aren’t allowed. I’d recommend Sinister Minister by Bela Fleck. Seems appropriate for a uke.
http://www.facebook.com/mack.reed Mack Reed

Genesis – Supper’s Ready. I think we need a ukulele tune in 9/8time.
WaylonWillie

JAKE: NOT WONDERFUL TONIGHT! If BB selects that song, don’t play it! It will taint your uke, and then you will have to go get another one!!!
Jamie Lumsden

you should hear him play while my guitar gently weeps.
- elricky
  
  Even better: “While My Cigar Box Guitar Gently Weeps.”
dagfooyo

I’d like to vote _against_ I Shot the Sherriff, Bad Romance, and Don’t Stop Believin’. Except that leaves me with a choice between Autumn Leaves and Wonderful Tonight. Can I just vote against all of ‘em?

How about a _good_ Bob Marley song instead? You know, Three Little Birds, No Woman No Cry, Stir it Up.
dagfooyo

Or how about something really intricate and challenging, like Mississippi John Hurt or Aphex Twin?
- http://twitter.com/zenbaboon Sebastian Adanko
  
  Sanfordandsong did a wicked version of “Flim” by Aphex Twin on Ukulele, look it up on YouTube.
http://twitter.com/zenbaboon Sebastian Adanko

After the Brett Domino Trio version of Bad Romance, that song should be left in peace.
http://twitter.com/criminalcrafts Miss Demeanor

to hear Jake uke out on They Might Be Giants-” Why does the sun shine”, would be SO boingboing maybe that could happen or Jesus Built my Hot Rod
bibulb

write-in :
Nick Lowe’s 1994 version of “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?”, please.
bardfinn

As someone who collects versions of “Don’t Stop Believin’” , I must go with the Journey cover.

Anything that Jake plays will be welcomed With Open Arms. As sure as the Wheel in the Sky keeps on turnin’, Jake’s Sweet and Simple arrangements Faithfully render the songs he covers. It’s easy to Stay Awhile and Escape into his ukelele playing.
Any Way You Want It, after you listen to Jake Shimabukuro, That’s the way you’ll need it.
Paul Renault

I say either Koyaanisqatsi’s The Grid, Thick as a Brick, or Inna Gada Davida.
- Soliloquy
  
  I’ll second some “Thick as a Brick”. Love it.
  - Paul Renault
    
    I’d be really impressed if Jake performed James Tenney’s For Ann (rising). I suspect that the transcriptions are a little difficult to find – but the whole piece should fit on one page.
    
    Seriously, Jake could do Jarrett Köln Concert. It’s been transcribed for classical guitar.
    or for a great and fun piece, Steve MacKey’s Physical Property (which I’ve always felt was music for dance). He would need a quartet to back him up, though. Does he live near a music school?
    
    Kronos Quartet playing Physical Property:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjinrDhiLiQ
http://twitter.com/onecooldana onefrostydana

I want to hear some Jazz standards! The Ukulele, especially with Jake’s tuning, gets quite a nice tonal range and I’d like to see that utilized.
irksome

“Never Gonna Give You Up…”
Shibi_SF

I love Jake! Anything he plays for BB will be pretty awesome. Even (nods to Irksome) Rick Astley!
http://profiles.google.com/mcgodmonster Mike Campbell

“Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo
http://twitter.com/Ng_Dave David Ng

Somethings wrong with my computer: I can’t seem to see the sixth choice which, of course, would be the Imperial March from the Star Wars soundtrack.
William George

“Forgot About Dre”
https://twitter.com/misterjayem MrJM

“Smokestack Lightning” by Howlin’ Wolf
http://www.theblacklaser.net/ Joe The Wizard

I voted for “Bad Romance” but what I really want is Slayer’s “Raining Blood”. That would be pretty freaking awesome.
http://www.facebook.com/Hamlet.Au Wagner James Au

I went with “Bad Romance” not because it’s my favorite on that list (though it’s pretty good) but because that cover has the best chance to go the most viral, thereby expanding JAKE’S SOCIAL MEDIA EMPIRE.
anharmyenone

“Pineapple Princess” should have been an option.
GoGo Vicmorrow

“Big lizard in my backyard! Can’t afford to feed him anymore.”
http://ok-cleek.com/blogs cleek

Eruption, or Battery.
Giant Steps would also be acceptable.
Genre Slur

Autumn Leaves. Or Bud Powell’s excellent Cleopatra’s Dream.
Joe Holt

Cage’s 4’33″
http://twitter.com/twichy twichy

BOC: Godzilla!
http://germanwotd.com Amelia_G

Dueling banjos!
TheMudshark

ALL the songs.

Alternatively: Man of Constant Sorrow by the Soggy Bottom Boys
Alan

You 4’33″ guys – you’ve obviously never heard Shimabukuro play before. Even my teenage kids love him – my daughter especially!

That said, I vote for Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five”.
Bobsyeruncle

Hm. I don’t see “Never Gonna Give You Up” anywhere. :(