Seasons of the Ukulele

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

SOTU 734 Vague, Vega, Vegas.

johnpoole

A few options this week

OPTION 1 VAGUE.

This is a broad option. Basically I’m looking for songs that have lyrics that are not straightforward. They may be lyrics that have you wondering “What does that mean?” The whole song may be like that..or even just a phrase. I’m looking at you “ Pompatus of Love”.

Lyrics may be ambiguous, confusing, surreal, overtly poetic, obtuse, strangely symbolic, deeply allegorical . A line that seems to be a non sequitur etc .Parts of the narrative may be left unsaid.

OPTION 2 VEGA.

Any song written, recorded or covered by singer songwriter Suzanne Vega.

OPTION 3 VEGAS

Any song recorded by an artist who has had a concert residency in Las Vegas. Starting back with The Rat Pack there have been a few good artists amongst the dross.

OPTION 4 V

Any song that has a title with the first word in the title starting with the letter “V”.

Of course “ The Golden Ticket” would be a Suzanne Vega song with vague lyrics, title starting with letter V, covered by a Vegas artist. I doubt such a beast exists.

Songwriters welcome to weave around any of these options however they please.

Please nominate which option you are choosing when you post.

All the usual rules apply refer previous seasons if unsure.

Don’t post till it’s Sunday 8^th March in Hawaii.

Plenty of time still left for Andy’s Indy Inspirations.

Playlist to follow.

PLAYLIST

LimousinLil

That's really clever, John! And, of course … V for Valerie! (Or, alternatively, I'm very good at being "vague".)

johnpoole

LimousinLil I believe those cheeky Monkees wrote a song about you Val.

uke4ia

LimousinLil But do you have a knapsack on your back?

LimousinLil

uke4ia OH … THAT SONG!!!

johnpoole

Here's an Option 1. Ross Ryan was an Australian singer song writer who had a couple of hits in the 70's. This was one. Although the narrative of a man's liaison with an exotic dancer is evident there is a cloak of mystery about it. ' Blue Chevrolet Ballerina'

LimousinLil

Ye gods … I can't be first; where's Wendy?!? Hello, John, and thanks for hosting! This song was an absolute bugger to do, but it was the first one I thought of when it came to indecipherable lyrics - Option 1. And it's a song I've always loved, despite not making any sense of it. Apparently, it was written by Jimmy Webb as part of a Cantata. He offered it to The Association, but they turned it down. The version here is the one sung by Donna Summer, which is the part with all the daftest lyrics. I hadn't realised until today that the Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett versions were of the "Interlude" … the more sensible part - so that they didn't have to contend with melting icing and losing cake recipes.

AlanDP

Option 3: Vegas. This song was recorded by Sinatra, although I must admit I'm much more familiar with Bing Crosby's version.

johnpoole

And we're off! Val has left the cake out in the rain. Be wary when she offers you some Tarte Tartin and a cup of tea. Could be a bit soggy.

Alan has renewed his association with The Rat Pack. He has always been known as The High Rollin' Texan.

LimousinLil

johnpoole My tarte tatin is NEVER soggy … how very dare you!

UkeCan1

LimousinLil Ye gods … I can't be first; where's Wendy?!?

Hey, I gotta give someone else a chance once in a while, hey? Great choice for "vague", Val! BTW, there's at least one more "Valerie" song not yet mentioned. It is a bar band / open mic standard in these parts.

Anyway, here's my twofer:

The range of artists who've played both the Noise Pop Festival and a residency in Vegas is narrow. This was the best-known song I could find from that intersection.

"Mr. Brightside" by The Killers

dr_mitch

Here's a vague song. And as a bonus, spokem with a bad German accent, it begins with the letter V. Whiter Shade of Pale.

dr_mitch

Sorry for double posting, but I couldn't resist another option 1 song - This Wheel's on Fire, from the Band (and Bob Dylan).

DelGriff

MORE HOSTS NEEDED PLEASE!

Getting a bit desperate now, folks!

To check upcoming Seasons and dates click here please! Then claim your week by posting at the end of that thread.

Thanks! :-)

AlanDP

Another option 3. Sammy David Jr.'s signature song.

johnpoole

Wendy comes in with an unexpected but clever twofer.

Paul reaches into his uke arsenal for a couple of classic vagaries.

Alan nails the Candy Man…with added classy whistling.

How about a Suzanne Vega? Who'll be the first?

Mezcalero

Thanks for hosting John! Very interesting theme. Love Suzanne Vega, and look forward to hearing covers of her songs. I went with this Rod Stewart song I recently decided to learn. Just the live take with a little mandolin on the outro. Cheers ~

UkeCan1

Yesterday David @potmo revealed Camper Van Beethoven (a band founded by two Davids) hiding in the 733 Noise Pop Festival performers list. I was saddened to have missed the opportunity to do their big hit. Then I realized it's a canonical "vague lyrics" song!

In 1983, David Lowery wrote a song called "Take the Skinheads Bowling".

A year or so ago, he wrote a song called "I Wrote a Song Called Take the Skinheads Bowling".

The song called "Take the Skinheads Bowling" is about nothing and has very vague lyrics.

The song called "I Wrote a Song Called Take the Skinheads Bowling" is a song about writing the song called "Take the Skinheads Bowling" and has very concrete lyrics, including about how the song called "Take the Skinheads Bowling" is a song about nothing.

I didn't write the song called "Take the Skinheads Bowling", and I didn't write the song called "I Wrote a Song Called Take the Skinheads Bowling", but I sang you the song called "Take the Skinheads Bowling", followed by the song called "I Wrote a Song Called Take the Skinheads Bowling".

They're both very short and fun.

PS, it only yesterday dawned on me, after 4+ decades of wondering "Why 'Camper'?", that the band name is a portmanteau of "camper van" + "(Ludwig) Van Beethoven". D'oh.

joo

Hi John!

Thanks for hosting! Cool theme! Here's a Suzanne Vega one you did not too long ago! Wendy has recorded it too!

As I am writing this, YouTube is still running checks on any restrictions that they might want to add to the video. I will wait for them to finish their check before I make it Public. Oh…halfway through the video, the uke decided to slip off my hand. But I was so quick to get it back you might not even notice it haha!

Nearsighted-Lemon-McKay

Here is one that pushes several of the buttons. It starts with "V" (not a word starting with V, the letter V) and was done by the female who holds the record for longest residency at the Sahara in Vegas, Connie Francis. V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N