Seasons of the Ukulele

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

Season 722 - 'Tis the Season

UkeCan1

Welcome to the last full week before Christmas and our Seasons year-end celebration PARTY! I'm so glad you're here!

This week traditionally has a set theme of "festive songs", which I understand to mean primarily:

Seasonal holiday songs (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, solstice, Festivus, New Year, etc)
Songs of the season (winter for most of you, summer for a few of us)

Given my utter inability to leave well enough alone, I'll broaden this out to include:

Songs of celebration generally
Songs about parties, gatherings, festivals, seasonal celebration events, gifts, decorating, creating, celebratory or seasonal food and drink, etc
Gifts of song - whatever that means to you - to friends, family, and/or fellow Seasonistas
Reflections on the year that's been, especially, but not limited to, the up side - gratitudes, accomplishments, joys, wins, etc
Visions, intentions, hopes, plans, and wishes for the coming year
ADDED: If you're not feeling the party spirit, bring something that expresses what you are feeling. "Bah, humbug!" is a valid expression. Bring on the "Bah, humbug!" songs … or whatever is there for you!
Also, we own this place now (the Seasons forum). There's a lot going on in the world. If you're feeling some kind of way about that, bring it.

If you are wondering if your song fits the theme, the answer is YES. It's a party! Bring whatever you like.

The Thornton Rule for this week is dressed up as the "It's My Party" rule - it's my party and I'll play what I want to!

Major bonus points for festive costuming and decorating, original songs, mashups, parodies, and making me laugh.

Even bigger bonus points for involving others in your video - friends and family, especially distant ones you're gathering with, and collabs with fellow Seasonistas near and far.

Super Duper Bonus Points for new Seasonistas joining us for the first time. Play anything you wish ... we welcome you to the party!

Season 722 starts at 12:00:01am Hawaii time Sunday, December 14, and ends 8 days later, at 11:59:59pm Hawaii time Sunday, Dec 21.

Joo's wonderful Season is still happening over at 721 for another 40 hours or so, so keep on playing there too!

Let's party!

PLAYLIST

PS, this is the second time I've recorded a parody of "It's My Party" as host of a Season. The previous time was 55 weeks ago, when we lost our original forum home on the last day of Season 666 (and first day of Andy's Season 667). That was a sad parody version. This is a happy one. A year on, we're thriving in our new home, a win worth celebrating! 🌟🥂🎉

potmo

UkeCan1

This is too narrow.
I would respectfully suggest, though, that this is the penultimate full week of the year (most citizens of the world consider the week from 12/21- 12/28 to also be a full week of this year.

I am so grateful for this week's season that I am graciously eschewing the temptaion to do Twelve Days of Christmas for a twofer. I don't want to show anyone up! Thanks for hosting!

ps I am hopeful that smiley emoticons are unnecessary. I am practicing my deadpan.

UkeCan1

potmo I would respectfully suggest, though, that this is the penultimate full week of the year (most citizens of the world consider the week from 12/21- 12/28 to also be a full week of this year.

Oh, duh - you're right. I meant the last full week before Christmas, not year end. I'll fix it.

LimousinLil

Great to see you hosting, Wendy … and it's good to have some additions to the normal Christmas/Holiday theme. At the moment, I have to admit, I can't think of anything about the last year which is worthy of celebration. I shall do my best to be upbeat, though … and who put those BLOOMING BALLS up?!?

DelGriff

LimousinLil … and who put those BLOOMING BALLS up?!?

Err - do you mean the wonderfully festive descending snowflakes, Val? 🤔

LimousinLil

DelGriff Er … obviously! I think I must be having a "Bah Humbug" moment … please forgive me!

UkeFoote

I’ll likely be sitting out this season (though I’ll lurk and comment).

But here’s an oldie that I figured is due for a reboot:

Hard to believe we’ve been putting up with his crap for ten years.

LimousinLil

Couldn't agree more, Brian!!! Anyway, having cast around for a song that is celebratory, I remembered this one, which is incredibly cheerful! I'm not at all a "Country" fan - the category that the Mavericks apparently fit into - but I love this group and in particular, Raul Malo! And I have just found out that Raul died only a few days ago of cancer at the age of 60 … very sad! (At the risk of being political, I would dedicate this to any Latin Americans who have the misfortune to be living in the States at the moment.)

AlanDP

Here's a parody that I started working on about a week ago. Lyrics in the YouTube description.

Edwin

This is tenuously a Christmas song, but definitely a party song. I wrote it yesterday about how much I enjoyed my work Christmas party this year.

UkeCan1

UkeCan1

ADDED: If you're not feeling the party spirit, bring something that expresses what you are feeling. "Bah, humbug!" is a valid expression. Bring on the "Bah, humbug!" songs … or whatever is there for you!

Also, we own this place now (the Seasons forum). There's a lot going on in the world. If you're feeling some kind of way about that, bring it.

I'm looking forward to watching all your wonderful contributions in a bit.

In the meantime, let me add, "Bah, humbug!" is a perfectly valid sentiment. Bring on the "Bah, humbug!" songs!

Or whatever else this week brings up for you.

My opening post was intended to say, whatever you think fits, fits!

It doesn't have to be cheerful, or celebratory, or anything in particular. Bring your real honest true expressive self and whatever you're feeling.

The last thing I ever want to do is suppress anyone! Please, say what there is to be said. This is a space for love, full self expression, and where needed, catharsis and healing.

There are many rooms at this party. If you want to go in a room by yourself or with a close friend and cry, or complain, or scream, or just be, we are here for you.

There's a lot going on in the world right now, and a lot of thoughts and feelings. Sharing is caring. You're among friends here. 🥰

PS:

I added two more items to the list of suggested topics to make this clear. (See quote above)

UkeCan1

Also, I was originally going to name this Season "'Tis the Season", but ended up going with "Festive Songs Holiday Party", because it was more descriptive of the set theme I was handed to host.

I've renamed it the way I originally intended. I've retitled the thread and the playlist.

'Tis the Season for whatever season it is for YOU. We're here for all of it.

potmo

Big River - Johnny Cash

Well don't hate on me Wendy, but even though this really only fits the week, thanks to the Thornton loophole and every song is automatically a twofer, and further, it is the opposite of cheerful, which I know was your indicated preference. Nonetheless,

I put it in the "Cry if I want to" category
I feel compelled to honor the twofer godess with a twofer.
I expect a potential need for some bah humbug balance, in the event of too many overly syrupy sweet happy songs.
I am also sorry that I really don't have any costumes/ decorations.

Cheers and thanks for hosting!
Seriously though, if you feel this ruins the spirit of the season I will not be offended if you exclude it

joo

thanks for hosting, Wendy!

I have a twofer!

UkeCan1 Visions, intentions, hopes, plans, and wishes for the coming year

This homemade song is inspired by my obsession with (budget) cameras. My plan is NOT TO buy another camera. This video is made up of some clips I took of birds. No AI.

It all started with a pretty bird on a tree

The bird is very small, and the tree is very tall

So I got myself a superzoom camera.

Now I can take photos of her pretty feathers

Then I saw the bird preening her pretty feathers

And I found my videos don’t look so good

So I got myself another zoom camera

Now I can capture her full glory in 4K videos

The bird starts to sing the most beautiful song

But the camera’s built-in mic does not do justice to her melody

So I got another camera with a microphone jack

And I got myself a microphone and a dead cat

(which isn’t a dead cat but a wind noise cancelling furry thing)

Yeah photography is a complicated hobby Yeah photography is a complicated hobby

Then the rainy season begins

And my camera has no weather sealing

So I got another camera that is waterproof, takes 4K videos and has a microphone jack

And I think I am happy…

Then I saw another camera that has a longer zoom

It takes 4K videos, has a mic jack and is waterproof

So I bought myself another camera

But I think I am starting to feel a little sad

Because I saw the pretty bird hiding in the shadows singing a song

And even my 4K videos and high res photos don’t look so great

Compared to those taken by another camera with a much much larger sensor

So I bought another camera they call it the DSLR

With a large sensor and interchangeable lenses

And I got myself one of those telephoto lenses that weigh like bricks

And managed to turn birdwatching into a burden Oh birdwatching has become a burden

Barbablanca

Oh I won't write another Bah Humbug song, but here is the definitive one I wrote on the subject quite a few Xmases back:

UkeCan1

I've taken a few minutes out from hosting to bring a twofer while there's still time.

The inimitable Dick Van Dyke turned 100 this week. He's still with us! I wanted to celebrate him and all the laughter and joy he's brought us for longer than I've been alive.

I did "Chim Chim Cher-ee" very recently, so here's "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".

722 theme fit: celebration (plus I've always thought of CCBB as a Christmas movie … even though it isn't 🤷‍♀️).

721 theme fit: I am actively wishing and working to get my own heroic car, Chloe, flying again.

Now back to my hosting duties and commenting on all your delightful submissions so far. Keep 'em coming!

joo

Hi everyone, Season 721's wrap video is up! Have a look. You will find yourself in there somewhere.

AlanDP

This is more of a winter song than a holiday song, although the Christmas tree is mentioned at one point. But this song is mostly about finding a warm place to sit and do some smooching when it's cold outside and all manner of precipitation is coming down. From 1906.

Xamar25

Hanukkah in Santa Monica by Tom Lehrer

Thanks so much for hosting!!

I remember when I first heard Tom Lehrer I couldn’t believe it was possible to be so funny.

Happy 2nd or 3rd night, depending where you are. I claim a 2-fer since this is also a list..