Ukulele full of hate

March 30, 2007 3:54 PM

Catchy bitter ukulele break-up songby Duncan Pflaster. Video with song. Simple and excellent. Found via Cat and Girl.
posted by LobsterMitten (27 comments total)

Oh...it's a Mountain Goats song, actually. I think? Pretty sure?
posted by 235w103 at 4:02 PM on March 30, 2007

Performed by Duncan Pflaster. The song is actually a cover of the Mountain Goats song by the same name.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 4:03 PM on March 30, 2007

Other good stuff on the site too.

In other news, I love cat and girl.
posted by jeffamaphone at 4:05 PM on March 30, 2007

Oops - sorry. thank you for the correction. Big ups to the Mountain Goats - I like their song a lot.

Also from the first verses I was expecting it to be about the US's foreign policy, not a breakup - so, double funny to me.
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:05 PM on March 30, 2007

Linkage for the Mountain Goats, just for good measure:
Muontain Goats fan site
Mountain Goats official site
Mountain Goats Wikipedia entry
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:11 PM on March 30, 2007

Being familiar with the original version, it's strange to hear the audience laughing. The lyrics are melodramatic and over the top, sure, but I've always thought of it as a very sad song. Something about how Darnielle's voice never quite winks at us, to acknowledge that it's a joke.
posted by flod at 4:15 PM on March 30, 2007

John Darnielle does it better. That being said, ukuleles are awesome.
posted by eunoia at 4:30 PM on March 30, 2007

I think what's even more interesting is hearing everyone in an audience sing, "And I hope you die. I hope we both die." as loud as they can along with Darnielle.

I guess I never thought of it as a sad song since the alpha couple cycle seems to be more in the vein of A. M. Homes works, but it is interesting that it's the delivery of the original that makes you feel that way. Anyway, thanks for posting this LobsterMitten. I liked this version quite a bit.
posted by sleepy pete at 4:37 PM on March 30, 2007

Also in the vein of strangely funny very sad Mountain Goats songs... The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton (previously referenced in a metafilter post here).
posted by pokermonk at 4:44 PM on March 30, 2007

I think this is my favorite Smiths cover, it's "there is a light that never goes out" played on the ukelele.
posted by subtle-t at 4:54 PM on March 30, 2007

You favorite song sucks is pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.
posted by LarryC at 4:54 PM on March 30, 2007

Hey, they're both playing Flukes. That's what I play, too. I knew the uke was starting to make a geek comeback, but I had no idea things had gotten along so far. I guess I'd better record a video and album, and cash in while I still can.

Sadly, I can't hear either video on this computer. I'll check when I get home.

Note to self: yes, davejay, you DO look this geeky playing your ukulele. Sigh.
posted by davejay at 4:57 PM on March 30, 2007

This reminds me the greatest ukulele band ever - Ed's Redeeming Qualities (which I was surprised to find had a myspace page).

Thanks for the link.
posted by Staggering Jack at 5:04 PM on March 30, 2007

Just one data point for: that wasn't very good or excellent. I like ukulele as much as the next guy, but this wasn't especially interesting music.
posted by qwip at 5:15 PM on March 30, 2007

Cute song. And never can enough good things be said about Cat and Girl; Dorothy is awesome.
posted by cortex at 5:44 PM on March 30, 2007

qwip: ok, maybe not musically interesting. Just pleasing; to my taste.
posted by LobsterMitten at 5:50 PM on March 30, 2007

He even sounds like the guy from Mountain Goats. Well, kinda.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 5:52 PM on March 30, 2007

LobsterMitten: Yep, not saying others won't find it good or nice, but the consensus was very positive and that got me to click the link and then, meh. Just thought I'd add the data point for anyone else who reads the comments first. Glad you and others are able to enjoy it. Wish there was something there I could find enjoyable too!
posted by qwip at 5:57 PM on March 30, 2007

I personally prefer the Kiki and Herb version of this song.
posted by apollonia6 at 6:36 PM on March 30, 2007

More ukulele!
posted by Roger Dodger at 9:01 PM on March 30, 2007

Check out the episode archive 23 (32?) entitled Uke Masters. Lots of Jake and Steve Evans. Awesome.
posted by Roger Dodger at 9:03 PM on March 30, 2007

Something about how Darnielle's voice never quite winks at us, to acknowledge that it's a joke.

I don't know... he never really breaks his character in the song, but I do sort of get the feeling he knows exactly how funny it is. And, God, it is.

More ukulele!

Well, if you demand it: the best worst version of Like a Prayer ever recorded, by Junkie Brewster.
posted by moss at 10:28 PM on March 30, 2007

Funny. I ran into the Fluke people in LA a few months ago and loved playing their stuff. Inspired me to suggest an ad slogan for them:

If it's good, it's a Fluke!

Though I bet they've heard that a bunch already.
posted by sourwookie at 12:17 AM on March 31, 2007

Check out the episode archive 23 (32?) entitled Uke Masters. Lots of Jake and Steve Evans. Awesome.
posted by Roger Dodger at 5:03 AM on March 31

while my guitar gently wheeps is awesome!
posted by kolophon at 2:44 AM on March 31, 2007

In case anyone else is curious about those Mountain Goats and their version, I found links to their performance of it here:

http://www.3hive.com/2004/03/the_mountain_go.php
posted by barnacles at 3:27 AM on March 31, 2007

I found the audience laughter a bit disconcerting, too. I mean, I always thought of it as a blackly humorous song, but too near-knuckle to be laugh out loud funny.
posted by RokkitNite at 4:49 AM on March 31, 2007

I think the way Darnielle sings, particularly live, is so full of emotion - you can see his neck muscles straining - that it's hard to actually laugh at the lyrics, usually. But of course there's something just funny about the ukulele. But then Stephin Merrit gets away with just occasional giggles at his lyrics, which are not really that much funnier than the Mountain Goats', and he plays nothing but ukulele live (Swinging London).
posted by featherboa at 1:11 PM on March 31, 2007