Seasons of the Ukulele

A weekly song challenge for ukulele players - all welcome. Find out more here

Season 715 : Songs In The Key Of Stevie!

OneManAndHisPGUke

Welcome Seasonistas, new and old. Excuse this slightly early posting of the new Season, but I might not get the chance later.

Anyway, I have been checking ALL the previous Seasons, and crazy as it seems, we have never, as far as I can tell, had a Season given over to a true giant of contemporary music, so with that in mind, this week can you please bring me…

any song recorded or written, whether solo or collaboration, by the great Stevie Wonder.
Stevie was known as Little Stevie Wonder for a while at the start of his career, so please bring songs by other “Littles”, eg, Little Eva, Little Steven, Little Bob Storey etc…. Lil’s are also fine by me.
Songs by other Stevies, or Steves/ Stephens.
Songs that mention Wonder/ Wonderful in the title or lyrics.
Songwriters, can you take Wonder/Wonderful as your starter for 10, and take that where you will.
You can also post a Halloween themed song by anyone, or yourself if you want to write one…..but only this Friday 31st.

So, there you have it. This is a uke forum so let’s see, or hear, those ukes front and centre. Otherwise, present in whichever way you choose, simple straight to phone, or multitracked and harmonised. Collaborations are of course welcome.

Anyone looking in who hasn’t posted a video before, don’t be shy, join us….also if this is your first ever Season, you have dispensation to do a song that doesn’t match the theme, although of course you can. I’m hoping we get plenty of Stevie Wonder songs this week, I think it’s about time he had a Season don’t you?

Usual Seasons Ts and Cs apply. No song limit.

Please don’t forget there is still more than a day left of Nearsighted Lemon’s Factual Joe season.

Playlist: Songs In The Key Of Stevie

Of course, the most important thing is…..ENJOY!!!!!

OneManAndHisPGUke

Thanks Del 👍

OneManAndHisPGUke

Just a heads up, that the Dr Uke site, a fantastic resource for anyone looking for songs, not just for this, but any Season, has a good few Stevie songs listed….

https://www.doctoruke.com/songs.html

If you just put “Stevie” in the site’s search, you’ll get a bunch of them. There are other uke sites with Stevie chords too if you Google or Duck Duck Go them

UkeCan1

I picked this for a twofer, because until tonight, for nearly half a century, I would have bet you money that line was "Friday night I got m-tears in my eyes". It's not. It's "Ridin' high". But it sure oughta be "Friday night", and I sang it that way and plan to continue for the rest of the century.

Also, I can't believe I've never done this one.

Steve Miller Band - "Jet Airliner"

johnpoole

Thanks for hosting Northern John! Here's a favourite pop song of mine from the 70's. "Make me smile (come up and see me". From Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel.

YorkSteve

It's not his most cheerful song, but this delicate little thing has always appealed to me.

OneManAndHisPGUke

Yay! Wonder birds are GO!!!!! ( See what I did there?) With the Southern contingent, in the shape of Wendy and John, getting away from the starting blocks quicker that Rees Walsh at Wembley! Then the Northern contingent, ie Sir Steve of York, getting in an early Stevie Wonder song, which is much appreciated. I will get a proper look and listen this evening folks, but thanks you three amigos for getting the ball rolling.

UkeFoote

"Too High", by Stevie Wonder, for concert ukulele with singing, with an overdub of Ashbory Ubass.

Thanks for hosting, John!

potmo

California Queen – John Mayer

A Threefer and a five out of seven!

OK I had to do this because it works on 5 of the 7 Seasons I have participated and one can almost argue that it works for the other two seasons too!

709 Trains and Boats... – "I booked a plane ..."

710 Royalty (Queen)

711 Half a century away (the song references several 70's artists and references Dylan's, "If you see her say hello" which was released in 1975. But this is one of the two that I didn't count.

712 That's Wild. I would have to change a word to wild for this one to work. I have seen similar shenannigans (looking at UkeCan1). There is the word "strange".

713 Rhyming Green

714 Just the Facts (California)

715 Songs in the Key of Stevie ("Hello wonder what's your name")

The song is pretty good and fairly easy as a bonus. Unfortunately, I botched it. But I had to get my twofer submission in. Now it's 11:30 pm. Maybe, I will try another take later this week.

YorkSteve

Songs with Wonderful in the title? That gives me a good excuse to play a song by one of the great under-rated bands of the 80s, The Icicle Works.

OneManAndHisPGUke

Morning Seasonistas, and thank you Brian for bringing a great jazzy cut off Stevie’s Innervisions elpee. Then Potmo brought a great John Mayer song that mentions Wonder, and finally Steve brought a classic bit of 80s jangly pop from Ian McNabb’s Icicle Works. Keep them coming folks. Especially hoping to hear your take on more Stevie Wonder songs 👍

OneManAndHisPGUke

Talking of which, here’s my take on another great Stevie song from Innervisions….

Crikey, we all know one or two of these don’t we?

Bystander

Nearsighted-Lemon-McKay

I intended this to be a 2fer, (it mentions a "speed cop") but I just ran out of time yesterday to get it posted for both seasons. Here is "Little" Jimmy Dickens' massive 1965 hit, May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose

AlanDP

A "wonder" song with lyrics by and apologies to Irving Berlin for making up new music. I recorded this as written (it's on my channel), but it's a very staid waltz and I thought it could do with some rowdier music.

johnpoole

Stephen Sondheim's " Send in the Clowns". The sound you hear may be Mr S. spinning in his grave at the gratuitous use of blues harp on his lovely tune. I found really nice sounding easy chords online by a guy from Morristown Uke Jam. I did play his tenor shapes on a baritone for "better' vocal.

OneManAndHisPGUke

Good morning Seasonistas from a lovely sunny Yorkshire. Since I last spoke to you I have added my own Stevie Wonder song, Graham chipped in with his fine cover of Elton John, Nearsighted Lemon McKay brought Little Jimmy Dickens, no relation to Charles as far as I know, Alan brought an Irving Berlin song about a disastrous first date and Southern John gave us some classic Stephen Sondheim. Great stuff, keep them coming lovely people 👍

LimousinLil

Good morning, John! Hoping to be able to do something later this week, but, meanwhile, I just came across this delight, which is obviously required viewing for this week's theme ..

P.S. The sun is NOT shining here, but, at least it's not raining for the first time in over a week!

YorkSteve

That's just typical isn't it? John chooses "wonder" as the theme, the very same week that my white & gold jumpsuit is at the dry cleaners. What the heck, I'll do this one anyway.