#the ukulele anthem

[syn0vial]

before he left, my brother gifted me a small travel ukulele he 3D-printed and assembled himself, and i love it so much. i've only had it for a week and i can already play a couple of songs! it's really nice to have a means of creative expression that's just for me alone. like, i love sharing my writing and art with other people, but there's just something about learning songs just for myself without an intent of ever performing them for someone else that is so comforting :)

[not-the-coffee-machine4]

The musical whiplash of A Night at the Opera should be studied. In order, that album goes:

diss track hate letter

guy who just sang said diss track hate letter is now just a little guy, going about life having a good time la dee da… 🤗

A G G R E S S I V E F E E L I N G S F O R O N E’ S V E H I C L E

I love my wife 🥰

Sci-fi mini story that will hit you harder than most novels

You Call Me Sweet Like I’m Some Kind of Cheese 😃

Once again, a lil’ guy having a great time. This time in French (fake kazoo noises)

A song that will alter your soul and brain chemsitry

Beautiful love song

Ukulele 😃😃😃

Song that will alter your soul and brain chemistry

British national anthem because yes we do have the audacity

[librarycards]

I have never loved my mother more than I have when she was willing to show me her full humanity. If it's my job to set an example for my kids – and I believe it is – then part of that example is modeling humanity without shame. This idea that children shouldn’t see their parents as vulnerable/human/constantly growing is bullshit. There is a difference between venting to one’s children and sharing with them, unloading on them and allowing them to witness you as a person who is having a very human experience just like they are. People have a hard time differentiating the two and subscribe to this very antiquated notion that it is our job as parents to be robotic and inhuman as not to traumatize – or worse – try to relate—to our children.

Back in January my now 14-year-old daughter and I went through break-ups 48 hours apart. I was devastated but kept my breakup to myself because I didn’t want to overshadow hers. Of course I could only hide it from her for so long so when she caught me breaking down in the kitchen and was like… “Mom? What happened” I told her. An hour later, she invited me to a concert in her room. She had taught herself all these break-up anthems on ukulele and told me, upon entering to sit down, this one’s for you. We spent that entire week making each other break-up mixes and watching shitty rom coms together in my bed. It was a defining moment in our relationship. A real ‘I got your back, thank you for having mine’ moment which I think a lot of people would frown upon because I AM HER MOTHER. HOW DARE I RELATE TO MY CHILD.

But I did. And sometimes I do relate to my kids. And/or they relate to me. Because we’re all humans. And I love that for us.

A human experience is a human experience regardless of age. And I believe that I have the kind of relationship I do with my kids because I have always treated them like people who just happen to be my children and not the other way around.

Rebecca Woolf, in conversation with Amanda Motei.

[hellokiki1717]

*.•. Marissa .•.*

🩷Currently playing🩷:

💫✨📺Anthems for a seventeen year-old girl📺✨💫

💖Hi! I’m Marissa!!!💖

•.* Feel Free To Send Doodle requests! I’ll do any of the fandoms listed below!<3

•.* 18/yrs

•.* she/her

•.* bisexual-sapphic, cisgender

•.* autism, ADHD, OCD, and MDS

•.* Artist!

•.* Furry

•.* I HAVE A GF HISSSS GET AWAY👁️👅👁️🫀

*.•. Fandoms .•.* *.•.(SFW).•.*

*.• MLP

*.• FiveNightsOfFlirting (I STILL LOVE FRITZ)

*.• GAVRIL

*.• Rebornica! (Don’t support creator) /I LOVE FRITZ)

*.• METAL FAMILY!!!🎶 (17+)

*.• Mushroom Oasis!🍄

*.• The Phobia Project (Mortisfox)

*.• FNAF

*.• PURPLE «Director’s Cut» (17+)

*.• Vocaloid

*.• LPS!!!

*.• Undertale (horrortale too)

*.• PINKY AND PEPPER FOREVER!!! (18+)

*.• Marble Hornets!!!💞

*.• MouthWashing!💊

*.• MHA

*.• Foxes!!!🦊

*.• Creepypasta

*.• Eddsworld

*.• TMNT! (2012/Rise)

*.• Visual Novels

*.• Cinnamoroll!

*.• The Sims 4!

*.• John Doe (Mortisfox)

*.• panty and stocking🫢🌸 (18+)

*.• Cosplay!

*.• Gorillaz!

*.• ANIMATION MEMES

*.• TINR💧❤️‍🩹 (sigh…Sid🤤)

*.•. Fandoms .•.* *.•.(NSFW).•.*

DNI WITH THESE FANDOMS IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 (that goes for things I repost/post from those fandoms)

°.~Main Hyperfixations:

*.• BTD-BTD2-TPOF-YKMET (REN HANA MY BBG»»»)

*.• TheKidAtTheBack (UGHHH I LOVE JERICHO ICHABOD HELPPP🌙✨💜)

*.• BROKEN COLORS>> (DG AND GUNTHER ARE YUMMY)

*.• The Groom Of Gallagher Mansion (TAYLOR POTTS🌻😃)

*.• SunnyDayJack!!! (SHAUNNNN DURAND COFER AHHHH🦇🐈‍⬛)

°.~Other Fandoms I’m in:

*.• Monster x Mediator

*.• Frostbite❤️

*.• Enough Pie For Us (Szarlotka my beloved)

*.• LittleFox (UNDERATED CHECK IT OUT IN ICHI.IO)

*.• DatchaBoPet

*.• Yandere Simulator(I DONT SUPPORT YANDERE DEV YUCKY)

*.• LurkingForLove

*.• MyDearHatchetMan

*.• YourBoyfriend (I don’t support fuboo/pirate the game y’all)

*.•The Loverman Killer!!!

*.•. Music .•.*

*•. Mitski

*•. MARETU!!!🖖👁️🪽

*•. Jazmin Bean

*•. Anrianne Lenkar

*•. Alex G

*•. Asteria

*•. Baby Bugs

*•. Chappell Roan

*•. Get Scared

*•. Girlfriends Mourning💞🌸

*•. Gorillaz

*•. Rebzyyx

*•. Lumi Athena

*•. MARINA

*•. Måneskin

*•. Mother Mother

*•. Odetari

*•. SUICIDAL-IDOL💖

*•. The Living Tombstone

*•. The weeknd

*•. Toby Fox

*•. ThxSoMch

*•. Vylet Pony

*•. Wowaka

*•. Yaelokre

*•. LADY GAGA🙀🫶

*.•. YouTubers .•.*

•*. ESPOIS DU VIDE MY BELOVED!!!

•*. Danny Gonzalez

•*. Jay From TheKubzScouts!!!

•*. Memeulous

•*. Cam Kirkham

•*. KURTIS CONNER

•*. Drew gooden!!!

•*. Jarvis Johnson!!!

•*. MINDPULP🗣️🗣️

•*. Daz Games

•*. Vanoss

•*. UhYeah

•*. GenerationDefenders!!!

(UNDERRATED QUEEN)

*.•. Interests .•.*

.•* Figurine collector!!! (vocaloid mainly but some funko pops! And blind boxes!)

.•* LPS Collector!!! (New and old>)

.•* Pin/Button collector!!!

.•* Bracelet making!!! (Pony beads/Kandi)

.•* Art Print Collector!!!

.•* PLUSHIE collector!!!

.•* ART (ALL FORMS OF ART>>>)

.•* Keychain collector/maker!!!

.•* Guys…I might be a bit of a Collector girlie…🪽🪽

.•* CRAFTING!!! (Making cosplay props and making all my cosplay:3)

.•* keyboard and ukulele🎹 (don’t know how to play professional)

.•* OC Making

.•* playing project sekai (I don’t know any of the story, I just play on expert/master at 10.7😔)

.•* Mincraft

.•* ROBLOX🙂‍↕️😏

.•* ANIMAL JAM (I own a corsac fox🤩)

.•* Writing!

.•* singing:3 (I’m not the best but who gives a shit huh???😝🙌)

.•* PLAYING MY DS AND 3DS>>>

I think that’s it lol, sorry to yap HAHAHWJEHD

I’ll post my stuff one day when I’m not busy🙂‍↕️

Anyways that’s it

•*. BYE LOVIES .*•

•.°»«*•.°.:💫🎶💬 🤍 💬🎶💫:.°.•*»«°.•

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

My Last Landlady • The Rhyme Maidens • The Day The Saucers Came • Feminine Endings • The Winter Gardens • In Relig Odhrain • The View From The Cheap Seats • I Will Write In Words Of Fire • The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury • Making A Chair • 100 Words • Margaret Cho Introduces the Show • Makin’ Whoopee • (Introduction To The Problem With Saints) • The Problem With Saints • Jump (For Jeremy Geidt) • Ask Neil And Amanda • (Introduction To Broken Heart Stew) • Broken Heart Stew • Poem for Amanda • Poem for Neil • Electric Blanket (A Duet) • Psycho • (Introduction To I Google You) • I Google You • I Want You, But I Don't Need You • (Introduction To Dear Old House) • Dear Old House • (Introduction To Gaga, Palmer, Madonna; A Polemic) • Gaga, Palmer, Madonna; A Polemic • (Introduction To Judy Blume) • Judy Blume • I Don't Care Much • Map of Tasmania • (Introduction To Do You Swear To Tell The Truth, The Whole Truth & Nothing But The Truth So Help Your Black Ass) • Do You Swear To Tell The Truth, The Whole Truth & Nothing But The Truth So Help Your Black Ass • (Introduction To I Will Follow You Into The Dark) • I Will Follow You Into The Dark • Look Mummy, No Hands • Ukulele Anthem

Apple Music ♪ Bandcamp ♪ YouTube

[girlballz]

I'm so pinnable!!!

Figured I should actually do this so here we are! Heya, I'm Gabi and I.m a nonbiney transfemme who makes music! My solo project is called Girl Ballz (a.k.a. ClodGod) and can be streamed on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, and a plethora of others. I also make music in several local projects, such as Glitt, Cryptid Soup, and offer lessons and repair tech services. I am primarily a bass player but I also frequently can be seen touting anything from a guitar, to a saxophone, to a synthesizer, to my baritone ukulele. I make a rather wide range of sonic palettes but I generally prefer to either make the saddest punk/emo sounds you have ever heard, euphoric EDM, or massive shimmering ambient shoegaze/post-rock anthems. I also do stuff and things with the Fourth Strike Music Collective.

(⚪︎◝ ‿‿ ◜⚪︎)| >>-•_^-< | ❥｟◦● ‿‿ ●◦ ｠

[tsenvs3000f24]

Blog Post 7

When we are asked questions like “Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?” These questions bring to light the beautiful and almost entangled connection between the natural world and the music we create. When we really think about it, music seems to be everywhere in nature whether it’s the rustling of leaves in the wind, the crash of ocean waves that occur so rhythmically, or the birds singing throughout the day. These sounds are nature's way of communicating, a kind of music that we often don’t appreciate. It’s unforced, free-flowing, and has a rhythm of its own. Nature itself is like a great composer, crafting music that soothes and inspires us without us even realizing it.

Music often mimics or is inspired by nature. There are many songs that have been written about landscapes, the sea, or even the changing of the seasons. Think about how many tunes have lyrics describing rivers, mountains, or the sky. Even when lyrics aren’t involved, musicians use the sounds of nature like the calling of a bird or the rumble of thunder in their compositions to evoke a particular feeling or atmosphere. 

This connection between the two is more than just superficial. There’s a certain power that both music and nature provide that's so healing. Walking in a forest or hearing your favorite song can reduce stress and bring a sense of peace. There’s something about both that makes us feel more secure and more connected to something bigger than ourselves.

For me, one song that always brings me back to nature is Israel Kamakawiwo'ole’s version of "Over the Rainbow." Every time I hear it, I’m transported to wide-open landscapes whether it’s the memory of driving with my brother through scenic routes, windows down, the sky a blend of pinks and oranges, or simply the feeling of being close to the ocean. The soft ukulele and Israel's gentle, heartfelt voice create an image in my mind of a peaceful beach, the waves lapping at the shore in perfect harmony with the music.

It’s not just the melody that brings me back to nature but it’s the feeling the song evokes. It’s that sense of calm, of being in the moment, that connects the music to the natural world. Whether we were on a road trip or just hanging out, the song became a kind of anthem for those peaceful moments shared with my brother. It’s one of those songs where you can close your eyes and feel like you’re surrounded by nature, whether you're driving through the most scenic routes or sitting around a campfire.

Ultimately, music and nature are connected in ways that go beyond just sound. They both evoke emotions, memories, and a sense of connection to the world around us. And in both, we find something that brings us back to ourselves whether it’s the sound of waves, the strumming of a guitar, or a song that reminds us of home. 

[penroseparticle]

Penrose Song of the Day, Day 36: Lazy Bone by Greg Aram

Alright, let's get into the DJ set/Phish Jam/Lost Media/Media Preservation episode. It's not anything you haven't heard before but like. I hope this is a gentle, kind reminder to you to find ways to preserve the things you love. Or they will die.

Greg Aram made a relaxed, lo-fi, island time, chill jam, bad boyfriend anthem. When girls are like "BUT I LOVE HIM" I picture the guy singing this song, but like, in sweatpants, and he's still on NFTs even though annoying people are well into AI by now.

And like. I know that this song is trash ok. It is perfect confection but there is no substance. It's well produced for how small it is, it's got the big fuzzy synths in the back of the soundscape propping up the, frankly, bizarre duo of ukulele loop and trap drums. This song is absolutely 5 tracks in LMMS titled "Uke1.ogg", "TrapDrumLoop1", "Synthline", "Backvocal(1)(FINAL)", and "Mainvocal". Maybe an additional snare, and the synthline is split in two. Maximum.

But it's kinda slay? Somehow the song features every single cheat code to make me like something that is not actually that great. The sadsack boyfriend. The whistling as part of the song. The phone number gag. The "Kiss you through the phone" gag once again vindicating Soulja Boy (And don't even get me started on the yassification that Megan Thee Stallion gave Anime Swag. Soulja Boy vindicated big time, Megan Thee Stallion did THAT for the weebs, we stan).

This song was on heavy rotation in my spotify for a long, long time. It was just easy to listen to, easy to loop, easy to be the lazy bone and relax. And then about 4 years ago? Longer? It vanished. Gone from Spotify. The single was up on youtube, so I thought perhaps it was a license dispute? Smaller artists especially don't always keep their music on streaming because they're making peanuts. It's enough to get on spotify, get a bit of exposure, and do the rest off of local gigs, merch, etc. For every Still Woozy making music in his garage and getting enough exposure to play at Coachella, there's like 500 The Excellent Man From Minneapolis-es. Making music for like. 5000 people tops. Which is still huge! That's not a knock. But people don't make it to mega stardom and they pack it in.

But then the youtube song went down too? And I was left with this ghost of an idea of what this song was. I listened to it a LOT. It literally, no joke, helped shape my tastes (Spotify algorithm ignoring a song on your wrapped? Yeah right). And not only is it gone but I had no idea where to find it.

Greg Aram sold CDs!!! He was on bandcamp! I could have downloaded this song a billion times over, but it was just one song, and it was on Spotify, and I could find it anytime I wanted it. Until I couldn't.

He's still doing music, btw. Greg Aram is doing fine- arguably better than ever. He's in a group called Junior Varsity, which is doing less... shall we say polished, and definitely much more interesting things, with production. It's like he did his minimalist experiment of "How little do you need for a good pop song" and then immediately abandoned it for more fun projects. And good for him! His music is getting further than silly sunny Greg Aram's did, with a lot more critical attention. And the shiny slick single I love doesn't really fit the whole schtick they go for now, so I guess it was a purge for like, brand reasons? Sucks but I get that too. But what a bummer to have something I thought I had ripped away from me because I streamed it and didn't own it.

We have heard the physical media argument over and over and over. Unfortunately, it's still true, and we still have to eat our vegetables and get good rest and exercise. If you want to own something, own it. Buy it and make sure you're not renting it. The CD is not dead no matter what anyone says. Vinyl has survived decades at this point. And it's not quite as good, but absolutely buying your MP3 is much, much better than just streaming on Spotify, no matter how convenient it is.

The song that sparked this was Bip Ling's Bip Burger though. Arguably a better song, arguably a more interesting song, arguably a much, much stupider song. The song Bip Burger is quintessential "End of the night, let's get burgers before we uber home". It is messy, it's a little trashed, but it's that drunk girl in the mirror saying she loves you so much. It's Blingee if Blingee was a song.

It is also no longer on Spotify. Bipping is on Spotify though too, give that a listen "YOU HAVE A BLOG???" Classic.

The reason I don't include Bip Burger as today's song is simple- Bip Burger, by the very nature of the song, is more resilient to being lost forever. Because it's a DJ set song. It was created for and by people who handle songs more as ingredients, and are thus more likely to preserve them- It's literally made for remixing and bootlegging and soundclouding and hearing... drunk at the club. Just. Fucking look: https://soundcloud.com/search?q=bip%20ling

There are a BILLION versions of this song. You can find it if you want it. You can even still probably find the original.

This is something that always brings me back to a good friend of mine and his relationship with Phish. For those of you who aren't up on every bad, fear not, I know the barest, baseline version of Phish. Phish is a jam band! The play really long, meandering, ever changing sets where they jam out on stage and it's different every time. Like Jazz! Sometimes they cover other artists too. A lot of people will record Phish sets, especially back in the day, and would trade them around like rare pokemon cards. Make rerecordings of it to give to other Phish fans when they all met up and, idk, got high tailgating, presumably (No judgement that sounds fucking awesome actually)

Now Phish is not the only band that a. did this, or that b. has a thriving bootleg economy based on the fact that they did this, but it IS the one I'm most familiar with. What matters is that these guys. LOVE this band. They love this music. They love it to the point of preservation. Each Phish set is ephemera, right? It's a one time event that somehow can be preserved now. And so many people want to preserve those moments.

I kind of had a point meandering around in there. But I think what I want to leave you with is pretty simple.

You could be dead right now. Go listen to something that you love. And if you love it... maybe consider owning it? Just a thought.

[l56895]

For the Spotify wrapped fic game:

How about 24 (for maths reasons - it's a favourite of mine😄), or 42 (for Douglas Adams reasons, obvs).

You pick which - or both if you really fancy! 💚

We’ll try for both!

24. Screams Heartstopper for me

LOL that’s okay!!!

Something in Nick’s own reply tugs at something else deep inside. It doesn’t feel like enough, not really, when his friend has just spilled his pain out in bite size chunks. Nick bites his lip as he types out another.

If he ever comes near you again I’ll kick his ass

That feels better- like something he’s supposed to say. The sour guilt that arranged itself in the pit of his stomach when he finally begged Charlie to never speak to Ben again… it’s disappearing now. But not entirely gone. Gnawing. Like he’s asking for something he doesn’t have the right to.

But they’re friends, right? And friends ask for stuff. They banter, like kick-ass jokes, and they do stuff for one another, like never speaking to a crush again because it makes you feel funny. Not jealous… but wrong.

Maybe friends send heart icons to one another too. Kisses. Charlie seems to do that. Nick kind of likes it.

🖋✒️🖋✒️🖋✒️🖋✒️🖋

42. Got to be Schitt’s Creek!

“Come on, David. You can learn this.”

“I could, but should I? Do you really want this-“ He gestures up and down the sweater he has pulled on this morning, black in somehow four different ways, “-trying to produce any sort of music? You’ve heard my mother’s attempts to get me to sing at Christmas.”

“I swear, I could teach you in two hours. Tops. And then you can join in on open mic nights, it could be fun!”

“That is not the way to convince me, I can assure you,” he mutters sardonically, but prises the ukulele from Patrick’s grip regardless. He holds it the wrong way, and the strings ping dully under his touch, but it’s a start. There is an awkward, grimacing moment where man and ukulele battle for the last laugh, but then David is holding it in some vague semblance of upright.

“Okay,” Patrick laughs as he adjusts his elbows around the instrument. “First thing’s first, chords…”

[nordarknessdimsthesky]

@mxmollusca tagged me to share five songs with very little guidance other than “something that is simultaneously quintessential to your personality while also being something that others might be unfamiliar with.” This was a tough brief for me because y’all know that I’ve discussed my music taste extensively on my blog. I challenged myself to collect five songs and not include any from The Oh Hellos, The Mountain Goats, The Crane Wives, or any songs I’ve previously mentioned through ask games or playlists. If you listen to these at all, I'd be very curious to hear your impressions 👀

I Follow Rivers -- Lykke Li | spotify | youtube

Setting Sun -- Lord Huron | spotify | youtube

Ukulele Anthem -- Amanda Palmer | spotify | youtube

Things That Make It Warm -- Cavetown | spotify | youtube

海女 (Lady of the Ocean) -- 漂流出口 (Outlet Drift) | spotify | youtube

No pressure tagging @chromoluminary @lupinuslepidus @mightyisthepen @playing-for-keeps @xray-vex and anyone else who wants to share their deep cuts

[laughingsquid]

A Tiny Ukulele Cover of the Buzzcocks Anthem 'Ever Fallen in Love With Someone'

[songsofprotestpeacerevolution]

Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - Ukulele Anthem (Lyric Video)

[twistedeuphoria]

“The spring came suddenly; the rains stopped, the days grew noticeably longer, and the afternoon light felt powdery, as if it might blow away.”

Hair: DOUX - Nomi Hairstyle Clothing: ISON - melissa puff sleeve

Pose: Ana Poses - Sisterhood II

Scene: Apple Fall New Gatekeepers' Lodge dust bunny . wisteria bar cart . natural (New! @ anthem) ..::THOR::.. Weekend Brunch Tray (New! @ Access) ..::THOR::.. Weekend Cooler Bag (New! @ Access)

New! @ kustom9 Apple Fall Cedar Lattice Gate - Double White Apple Fall Lush Boxwood Hedge ..::THOR::.. Picnic Basket ..::THOR::.. Boho Ukulele ..::THOR::.. Rolled Blanket ..::THOR::.. Picnic Blanket ..::THOR::.. Wicker Pouf - bonus -Garden- by anc "Perdita" lavender field

[petrichorvoices]

several years ago Mim and i made an agreement that i don't remember the details of, but it means that every single time Ukulele Anthem by Amanda Palmer comes on he has to play and sing along in the innerworld. we remember nothing about the agreement except that it means he has to do that, and we're both too stubborn to go back on our word, so to this day he still does it but glares at me the entire time

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 14th September

Whew! Getting into autumn properly, now. And surprise, surprise, the menfolk keep finding new ways to disappoint our female singers. Not Lonnie Donegan, though - he's off on a world tour, this week.

Paper Roses - The Kaye Sisters (peaked at Number 7)

Ooh, okay. We've got a strong start, with a harp that sounds like the beginning of a dream sequence in a rather cliché film. I'm expecting a dreamy sort of sound - and indeed, as the Kaye Sisters begin to sing, they do have a lovely bit of harmony going on. Plus, lots of quasi-angelic ooooh backing. Just the sort of sound you could drift along to quite nicely.

Unfortunately, the lyrics are about a relationship that's anything but dreamy. In fact, they're quite savage - that much is clear from the start, as the sisters sing about paper roses, paper roses / Like your imitation love for me. You see, the sister's man has been sending her real roses, but unless he sharpens his act up, she's having none of it, instead bidding him to take away the flowers that you gave me / And send the kind that you remind me of. She built him up as a perfect man, but like a big red rose that's made of paper / There isn't any sweetness in your heart. Yeowch! Talk about a take-down!

Unfortunately, I think the lyrics are the best thing about this song. They're gloriously catty, and I can see them doing well, in another artist's hands - heck, I know that Marie Osmond took it and made it a big country hit, a decade or so later. But the Kaye Sisters seem to be aiming squarely for "blandly pleasant" with their delivery, no anger or fire at all, and not even much in the way of sadness, which would be the other way you could spin this one. I'd respect a take on this that was either spitting mad or clearly heartbroken, but the Kaye Sisters just sound kind of mildly disappointed. And so the song plods along, in a rather pedestrian clip-clop fashion, and I wonder what's up next, because Paper Roses, sadly, is not doing it for me. Sorry, Kaye Sisters!

Everybody's Somebody's Fool - Connie Francis (5)

Okay, Connie's pretty reliable, at least. I think I've gone on record saying that Connie Francis has been one of my favourite discoveries so far, in this project, and she doesn't disappoint here. She does best when given something a bit sassy, of course - I think she could have sung the heck out of Paper Roses, actually - but this is her at her smitten best, and it's almost as good.

We don't start with Connie, right off, though - instead, we get an intro that sounds like it was played on a Wurlitzer organ? I don't know exactly what it is, and it creates a very strange effect, especially once Connie's voice comes in, with an echo that sounds like she's singing in a wide, empty room. There's ukulele, or possibly banjo, too - it's a very eclectic sound. I kind of like it, though. It gives the whole track a sort of bluesy country-pop vibe, with Connie really leaning into the blues notes in the verses.

The song's about a love interest treating Connie badly, and how much she loves them anyway. Though you only lead me on and hurt me, she sings, I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye. Everybody's a fool for somebody, you see, and for Connie, this is just a love she can't escape, instead recognising that darlin' I'd be twice as blue without you / It hurts, but I'd come running back for more. I don't love that, lyrically - it's far too close to last week's domestic abuse anthem As Long as He Needs Me, except without the excuse of being about a fictional character - but there is a redeeming twist, which is the final verse, in which Connie tells her love that someday they'll fall in love, and their love will treat them like they've treated Connie. You'll cry for her the way I cried for you, Connie sings, sounding vindicated, and there's a real sense of catharsis, just a hint of the savagery of songs like Who's Crying Now? It's not much, but it's enough to tentatively sell me on the song, despite how lame Connie comes off for most of it. Still not my favourite Connie song, but hey, not every song can be a favourite. It's fine, and Connie's singing is, as ever, exceptional.

Interestingly, there was a German version of the song that apparently came out at the same time, Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel ("Love is a strange game"), recorded by Connie herself, after her record label discovered that her English-language lyrics were a barrier to sales in Germany, specifically. She'd already done an Italian album, and was also - mind-bogglingly - planning albums in Spanish, Hebrew and Yiddish. But looking at the much higher sales being made by artists like Freddy Quinn, a vintage German-language rock and roller who'd represented Germany on Eurovision and was apparently quite the hot commodity in 1960, German quickly got bumped up the list, with Connie in particular insisting that she do her own German version. This is the kind of thing you don't really see in Western pop music today - I know a bunch of K-pop groups put out Chinese or Japanese releases, but I can't think of many English-speaking acts who put out translations of their songs, nowadays. It's a shame, really, though I can kind of see why it doesn't happen as much - it seems like quite a lot of effort, and I suspect that tastes in Europe have swung away from translating English-language songs. A pity. Respect to Connie for singing her own translated stuff, though.

Lorelei - Lonnie Donegan (10)

Okay, a completely different vibe for our final song - we're off on a world tour, this time. Specifically, a world tour of all the places where Lonnie's kissed the local girls. This feels like another of those songs born from National Service, and men travelling round the world to all sorts of "exotic" destinations where Britain still had a vague stake, geopolitically. With trips back to Blightly regularly interspersed throughout, of course. Hence lines about how I kissed a girl in Burma, in a town they called Rangoon, how I kissed a girl in Africa, right on the Ivory Coast, how I kissed a girl in London town, right underneath Big Ben, and finally how I kissed a girl in the Holy Land in the Sea of Galilee. A veritable almanac of mid-century naval postings, right there.

All these kisses, according to Lonnie, were quite adventurous affairs, and not necessarily entirely pleasant or gentle - they're spicy as a curry, deep as an ocean, lasting from April to July. Heck, his final conquest kissed me till my sunburnt lips were parched and dry. But none were quite as dramatic or passionate as one particular kiss: I never knew what kissing was till I kissed Lorelei. At this point I'm wondering if Lorelei is the mythical Rhine mermaid - it would fit with the whole "sailor's tall tales" vibe that the song has - and indeed, the final line does, predictably, reveal that Lorelei's a mermaid, half a woman, half a fish. So yeah. Lonnie's been out there epic smooching with a mermaid, and he wants you to know about it.

Running alongside all this, a banjo beat that just doesn't give up, keeping a punishing pace throughout, and brass heralding at least one rather abrupt key change. Plus there's a lot of yodelling, mostly of Lorelei's name. It gives the whole thing a frenetic vibe, without ever quite tripping over the line into feeling silly or comedic, despite the subject matter, which is actually quite impressive. It's also a Lonnie Donegan original, as far as I can tell, but if you'd told me it was a song that had been passed to him by some old mariner, I wouldn't not believe you. It just feels folksy, somehow, evoking a byegone age of uncomplicatedly sexy adventures in foreign parts, and of sailors' tall tales. A fiction, but an evocative one, to be sure.

Well, I solidly didn't mind any of this week's songs. Didn't love them, either, but didn't mind them, either. I am a little tired of songs where women just moan about men being terrible and then promise to go back to them, though. Give me a properly angry break-up song, any day. Or failing that, a song about kissing a mermaid, apparently.

Favourite song of the bunch: Lorelei

[independentartistbuzz]

Montreal Solo Folk/Punk Artist Jessie James Releases Her Debut Single ‘Rise and Shine’

Multidisciplinary and self-taught artist, Jessie James is passionate about music. Having studied visual arts, she has always had one foot in the artistic world.

Stream the new single "Rise and Shine" here: https://bfan.link/JJ-rise-and-shine

Originally from Montreal, she draws from a wide range of musical influences. Open to almost every genre, she retains a special attachment to the punk rock sounds of her adolescence.

Bands such as No Use for a Name, Face to Face, MXPX, and especially Tony Sly, have shaped her style and musical sensitivity.

A mother of four, she learned the ukulele, feeling the need to express her emotions. In a more challenging time in her life, her connection to music solidified, with the ukulele becoming her closest ally. Her first composition, filled with sincerity and emotion, speaks of lived experiences, love, resilience, and hope.

Jessie James invites us on an intimate journey where each note is an echo of her journey, her struggles and her victories.

“Rise and Shine” is an anthem of resilience and self-empowerment. It captures the journey of overcoming inner battles and finding the strength to rise above. With lyrics that speak of letting go of anxiety, embracing peace, and standing strong in the face of adversity, this song inspires listeners to redefine their own paths and fight for what feels right. It’s a powerful reminder that, no matter the struggle, the light is always within reach—one step at a time.