Jake Shimabukuro plays "Don't Stop Believin'" for Boing Boing

[Video Link] A couple of weeks ago, we ran a poll to see which song you wanted ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro to play. "Don't Stop Believin'" was the overwhelming top pick (followed by "I Shot the Sheriff.") And above, here's Jake playing the song especially for us. Thanks, Jake!

• [space2k]

  Ironic Journey love must be stopped.

  • [Jim Saul]

    It’s hard to watch his obvious joy and call it ironic.

    Though, I bet Tareq Salahi shares your feelings :-0

  • [sincarne]

    The number of people current loving on that song who could ever tell you who Journey are is approaching zero.

  • [yupgiboy]

    What must be stopped is the use of the word ‘ironic’ when you’re: a) too embarrassed about admitting you like something or b) when you’re apologizing for someone else’s tastes. It’s simple. You like things or you don’t. Period. There is no irony in enjoying something. If you’re so pathetic that you have to use terms like ‘ironic’ or ‘guilty pleasure’ because you’re too insecure to have strong personal tastes, then you should probably just wither away and die. You can’t spend your life choosing your likes and dislikes based upon the acceptance of others. “Don’t Stop Believing” is a great song and it sounds great on ukulele. Great job, Jake!

• [Blinde Schildpad]

  Nice! Can’t count the times I played this one drunk and weepy at 3 a.m., though.

• [Guest]

  I loved it, all the more so because ‘Bad Romance’ didn’t win (so tired of that earworm).

• [bonzie]

  &wadsworth=1

• [MollyMaguire]

  Nice, that’s the first time I have ever enjoyed that song.

• [Walter Sims]

  Really?

  Slow day for steampunk papercraft occupy make 8-bit projects?

  • [Mark_Frauenfelder]

    What are you trying to say here, Walter?

    • [Wagner James Au]

      I think Walter’s saying there’s a uke-shaped hole in his heart.

  • [TheMudshark]

    You must really be into unicorn chasers.

• [David Pescovitz]

  Wow, the fun he’s having is really infectious. What a cool guy.

• [Jamie Brause]

  I saw him performing in Norfolk, CT this past Sunday. He played this song as a medley with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”  I’m always impressed by how sincere and genuine he is in his love for music and performing, a real class act.

• [CH]

  Absolutely delightful!!! Yay!!!!

  I love how he plays the ukulele. Such skill, and such joy! He is one of the reasons I bought me and my daughter an ukulele. He sure brings out how fun an intstrument it is. (Which reminds me, I really need to dust them off again… ooops.)

• [Amelia_G]

  Beautiful! Those grace notes…

• [SamSam]

  Wow, he has great fun with that! If you didn’t watch it the whole way through, at least watch the last 30 seconds. His joy is infectious!

• [siloxane]

  This is pretty cool. Thanks Jake!

• [bardfinn]

  Hooray!

• [RJ]

  Nicely done, Mr. Shimabukuro! Before playing the video, I had a really hard time imagining this song in ukulele format. Surprisingly, it works pretty well on that instrument.

  Now let’s get some bongos in the background and find somebody to sing it for us. I’m thinking Liko Martin or Bobby Holcomb.

• [bbonyx]

  That’s awesome. Playing Journey’s one and only hit! I can’t get enough of that song for the last 3 years!

  >:|

  • [yupgiboy]

    Lights
    Wheel in the Sky
    Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
    Any Way You Want It
    Who’s Cryin’ Now
    Don’t Stop Believin’
    Open Arms
    Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
    Faithfully
    Send Her My Love
    After the Fall

    All high profile songs by Journey that anyone who’s ever listened to a Classic Rock station has heard and is familiar with. Cool it with the rage. Gives you ulcers.

• [siloxane]

  Playing Journey’s one and only hit!

  You sound British.

• [bibulb]

  Whether or not I liked the song, his performance is, as par for his course, more than just a little awesome.