Seasons of the Ukulele

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

SOTU 724 – What's New?

potmo

Happy 2025-2026 Seasonistas!

It is my honor to both close 2025 and open 2026!

This week's theme is about anything new or renewed. Birth, rebirth, new attitude, new shoes, born again, etc. etc.

Option 2: Any song with "new" in the title

Option 3: Any song with "year", "years" , "yearly" or mentions a specific year like 1999 or '49.

BONUS NEW YEARS EVE SPECIAL!!
Submit what you believe is your favorite performance/ song of 2025! I am going to put these all in a separate playlist, but they will also be included in the regular season playlist.

BONUS NEW YEARS DAY SPECIAL
Mulligans! Submit the song that you either regret not doing during a certain season, or resubmit a new arrangement of a song you did previously.

A special twofer would be if you do a new version of your favorite song!

Song limit: 26
Multitrack: Go crazy, but keep in mind that your host prefers that the Uke and vocals be highlighted.
Originals: Old originals fitting the theme or new originals on any thing you want. I would prefer that new songs not fit the theme so as not to stifle your creative juices but if a song about newness came to you, by all means go for it. Fit the song you want to do to the theme not the other way around.

As per tradition, if you believe your song is consistent with the above outlined theme, that's good enough for me. You, not I will be the judge. All I ask is for an explanation, however lame as to why you feel it belongs.

Let's see... if you are new, welcome! Here are some FAQs.

Season begins Sun Dec 28 at midnight Hawaii time (10 am UTC) and ends at midnight Hawaii time on Sun Jan 4.

And if you are reading this and it is still Saturday the 27th or Sunday the 28th don't forget De Griff's Hairy Christmas Season is still happening.

UkeCan1

Well, I was going to post an old version of this as my 723 "blast from the past" - but it's too good of a twofer, so I did it anew.

It's the story of a new haircut ... and a new character ... and it contains the word "year", as well as taking place in a specific year, which, though not mentioned by name, I infer to be both 1964 and 1946. (Which explains why it wasn't mentioned by number!)

"Moe" by George Wurzbach

Just for funsies, I added subtitles in YouTube Studio.

UkeFoote

I put close to one hundred work hours into arranging, practicing, and recording my Big Medley of Songs from 1975. It's probably the best thing I did in 2025. I was disappointed it got so few views : (

Thanks for hosting, David!

AlanDP

"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" by Frank Loesser, 1947.

Nearsighted-Lemon-McKay

Here is that classic tale of being reborn… well, at least a chance at being reborn. Some people feel they were born right the first time.

potmo

Little Ramona (Gone Hillbilly Nuts)

My twofer: It is also a double-dip, Little Ramona has gone through a transition from a punk rocker to a hillbilly music gal, the year 1979 is also mentioned.

potmo

UkeFoote

Yes this is tremendous and I remember this. I was certainly one of your few viewers. One thing though, I guess I didn't make it clear enough, but I was hoping that the "best of 2025" would be submitted on New Year's Eve. Obviously it is fine, but in general that is my hope. I imagine there are some new things and years too, but I am assuming this is your "best of" submission.

potmo

We are off to a great start! I am so blown away by the 43 song medley, OMG. I even like some of the songs. But your versions are all good. And the whole arrangement is great too. I also love the K tel shirt heheh. Ukecan and nearsighted Lemon cracked me up. And Alan brought in the New Years sprit with a very nice New Years song.

UkeCan1

I've been thinking about this one all last week, and it's a great twofer, in which Ensign Nellie Forbush proclaims a change in her relationship status. Her resolve doesn't even last till the end of the song - while she's still singing and drying off, Emile shows up to propose, they sing "Some Enchanted Evening" together, and suddenly her relationship status is even more new than she planned.

(Sorry - spoiler alert on a 75-year-old musical?)

"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" from South Pacific

bobjking

Hey, everybody!

It's been a while…my apologies for my absence. I won't bore you with the details, let's just say it's been an eventful time…

Anyhoo, here's a song by Joan Shelley, who I very much admire, from her latest album. So it's a pretty new song. Also, it has 'new' in the title.

As an aside, I also have a new hat.

potmo

UkeCan1 Well it certainly is in line with New Year's and resolutions not being kept. Outstanding twofer and a model defense of the song's topicality! You have a costume and everything!

potmo

Stay Up Late – Talking Heads

Nothing newer than a screaming shit machine - er baby.

DelGriff

Thanks for hosting, David! :-)

I’ve always had a soft spot for Roger Whittaker’s music - one of my dad’s favourites. And I think most of us would welcome a new world in the morning just now!

Just baritone uke and some vocal additions here.

New World In The Morning - Roger Whittaker cover (SOTU 724)

UkeCan1

potmo UkeCan1 Well it certainly is in line with New Year's and resolutions not being kept. Outstanding twofer and a model defense of the song's topicality! You have a costume and everything!

In the show and movie "South Pacific", Nellie actually washes her hair on the beach while singing this song. I was trying to be as authentic as possible, including filming outdoors with my tropical background, despite the absurd amount of neighbourhood noise ensuing in my environs at the time. 😆

UkeCan1

I think this one hits all three options - I've forgotten what we named that.

The singer and his audience are experiencing a rather dire new life situation
"New" in the title
Specific year - 1941

The Bee Gees' first hit, "New York Mining Disaster 1941"

Barbablanca

Here is my contribution to the Season. Though I may get a moment to do the favourite video challenge…

My narrator is getting on and is considering a major change in his circumstances, but is aware of consequences.
Decisions, decisions!

I hope you like "New Tricks"

YorkSteve

Here's a "born" song. The lyrics were written by Don Black, and the melody by the great John Barry, born just a few miles down the road from where I sit.

Edwin

Hello! Well this is definitely new, because it's a song that didn't exist this morning. It's about us, I suppose. Some of us more than others.

Hoagie Carmichael and Mitchell Parish wrote a song called "Stardust" almost 100 years ago. I don't think the similarity extends beyond the title.

CanadaJim

A song with a date - Woody Guthrie's 1913 Massacre

Great topic David - Thanks

potmo

Hey everyone! Great job! I took a brief hiatus and came back to find a nice wave of tunes from some OGs, with two originals and a couple of classics. Apologies for the delay.

Let me know if you are not on the playlist as I am under the impression that I am now caught up.

Remember – No more than 26 posts!