Seasons of the Ukulele

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

Season 754 - What A Drag!

OnlyUkeThatMatters

drag performers

David Bowie is such a heroic drag performer. His gender bending glam personae helped teach generations of people that exploring who and how they are, gender-wise, is cool. Such a beautiful man!

And, unsurprisingly, the Bowie song that jumped out at me after listening to both Carsie Blanton and Einstürzende Neubauten this week is his 1997 antifascist techno classic, "I'm Afraid of Americans."

Threebird

I wouldn't have guessed how much I am liking it when folks put the number of the category when posting a song, saves me having to think too hard lol - so thanks for the assistance! Great songs are still coming in, and today Bowie was the flavour of the day - keep 'em coming!

Drag Performers: 7
Drag Performance: 2 (+ 1 oldie)
About Drag (& mentioning drag): 4
Drag Racing: 2
Physical & Mechanical Meanings: 5
Original: 0
Dragging Them Into The Season: 5

Barbablanca

Well, I managed to get that new video done after all! hooray!

So here is Queen Beaver (so called because she doesn't give a damn!) singing:

Cheesy Little Keyboard

I hope you like it

uke4ia

This is "Draggin' the Line" by Tommy James, from 1971, a year after the Shondells broke up.

potmo

"Drag City" Jan and Dean

Thanks to Tamar and Noah for the colab.
vroom vroom !

UkeCan1

potmo The Enoch Family Uke Band keeps expanding!

UkeCan1

For twoferness, I searched YouTube for "drag jug band", and discovered this cover by drag artist Dusty Pörn and her puppet partner Gizzy.

"When the River Meets the Sea"

Written by Paul Williams, for the 1977 Jim Henson Studio TV movie musical, "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas", which I don't think I've seen. It's free on YouTube though, and under an hour.

Here's Emmet and his Ma Alice Otter singing it together in the movie:

You could argue that the movie itself involves some drag - humans "dressed" as puppet animals - plus Ma Otter is puppeteered by Frank Oz, and another female character is puppeteered and voiced by a man.

This is the second time in recent months that I've covered a song with a phrase (in this case the title) that sounds a lot like another phrase that is inexplicably illegal here in Queensland.

Threebird

Today, a drag queen was brought into this world, just in time to join this Season. Covering "Mangetout" by Wet Leg on ukulele, please welcome for the very first time anywhere, Ms. Rusty Mantrap.

My Sweetie loves the series Heated Rivalry, has watched it several times, this song is featured prominently, and she loves the song. So getting a little over the top with it seemed like the right choice to repay her for the make-up, clothes, and wig (oh, and Rusty Mantrap was her first idea for her roller derby name ages ago, but she went with something else).

CanadaJim

I've been working on Django Reinhardt's Blue Drag, but it sure won't be ready on time. If I get anything worth listening to, I'll put it in The Island Of Misfit Seasonistas. (Did I get that name right?)

Threebird

CanadaJim Feel free to post it in this Season! I'll consider your post as a 'placeholder' (received before the end of the Season) for your submission.

And this is my placeholder for a second song from Ms. Rusty Mantrap - I have to get to bed now, but I will post it in the morning.

potmo

"Folsom Prison Blues" Johnny Cash

I dont know what category "time keeps dragging on" fits into but I feel fairly confident that this should fit nicely (choice of song more than the performance needless to say) into the spirit of the season.

potmo

UkeCan1 Yep! That was Noah's very first day playing the uke. I tried to give it to him as a present, but he became the second relative to turn down my regifting attempt. He promised to buy one though.

Threebird

As threatened earlier, here is an encore from Ms. Rusty Mantrap. This also is a 'twofer' for Season 755 since The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band covers 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'. Ms. Mantrap apologizes for not playing any kazoos or jugs in this performance, unfortunately she won't have any jugs to play until after her upcoming augmentation surgery!

Threebird

Hello, Season 754 has officially come to a close, and serving as your host has been anything but a drag!

I am impressed by the diversity of the songs and performances delivered - all the categories were filled, by how common ground was found between drag and jug bands and puppets via @UkeCan1 's twofer, and especially happy to hear so many Carsie Blanton covers performed by folks newly introduced to her music - love it!

Of course, we also had the privilege to meet some divine drag performers like the smokey & illustrious Queen Beaver!! And who could have predicted that Queen Beaver's soulful blues performances would inspire a new queen, Ms. Rusty Mantrap, to emerge in the waning of the Season?! (I would mention the other drag performers by name if I knew them, so I ask the other drag artists @potmo @LimousinLil to please let us know your drag names?).

Drag Performers: 8
Drag Performance: 4 (+ 2 oldies, and + 1* in the Original category)
About Drag (& mentioning drag): 5
Drag Racing: 3
Physical & Mechanical Meanings: 6
Original: 1*
Dragging Them Into The Season: 5

And a late arrival from @CanadaJim may find its way here sometime.

Thanks everyone!

potmo

Threebird Nice job. I would like to point out an error in the tally as I count 3 drag racing songs and i am not sure if Folsom Prison Blues was awarded a category. I'm afraid I have no clever drag queen name to offer up so if someone finds this concerning I will be happy to entertain suggestions.

Threebird

potmo There are 3 drag racing songs counted in the tally, so I think we are good there unless I misunderstood what you were saying. And I put Folsom Prison under About Drag (being a drag and time dragging seemed similar enough).

I count 32 new submissions and 2 oldies drag performances (Queen Beaver & Joo/Jon's great number), and the tally scores total 32. If my numbers are off or any songs are missing from the playlist please let me know and I will correct.

potmo

I thought I saw a two there. I am blind, stoned and senile, don't mind me.

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