Friday, January 05, 2007

I didn't want to get spit all over me

I've had silly musical plans for my significant other for a long time. When I was younger, I wanted to give this person a harp for the obvious implication AND because harps are cool. But harps are also expensive and require a lot of room for storage, so that hasn't happened.

I also asked my wife if she would do me the honor of singing "These boots were made for walkin'" with us if I was ever to get a band together. But she just said she didn't have the singing range for that song. And then Jessica Simpson redid the song for the Duke Boy movie and that was pretty much that.

But last night I received a ukulele as a Christmas present from my brother-in-law. When I opened it up, I became very happy and looked to my wife. The first thing I said was, "NOW, we can sing that song together just like they do in "The Jerk." This has also been a longstanding musical fantasy of mine. I haven't talked to her about learning the trumpet solo yet... maybe after I learn the ukulele part myself.

I found out how to tune a ukulele (very strange, 3rd string, 2nd string, 4th string, 1st string) and learned some basic chords. I have a natural impulse to go all Greenday on the thing and I continuously have to repeat to myself, "Think Hawaii." I don't think there is any such thing as a power chord for a ukulele but I'm sure one could be invented.

I was thinking my son could learn to play the ukulele but the chords are a little tough. The C and D major are the same finger pattern as the ever-dreaded F chord that causes so many people to give up the guitar.

But it is my goal to learn the song "Tonight you belong to me." Coincidentally, another blogger I read recently posted the bit from The Jerk on his site. So it makes me feel like I'm stealing but I don't care, because as much as he may like the movie, I know the song still means more to me and I would like for you all to see it. It doesn't appear that Steve Martin is actually playing (though, given his banjo skills, I'm sure he could) but Bernadette Peters performance is a bit more convincing.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Too bad it cuts off just before he reveals that he has "a special purpose."