Bulletin Board: Tiptoe Thru The Tulips - let's hear it.

Original Post By: Arch Larizza Date: 6/24/2007 7:10:44 PM Just an idea spawned by some of the recent, erm, discussions here. There are lots of good performers who regularly post their recordings on this board so, as a member of the "audience", I'd like to make a request. I'd like to hear as many different versions of Tiptoe Thru The Tulips as can be mustered by the performing denizens of FMMBB. Even if it's not your style, give it a try and let's hear it. Doesn't matter if it's good or bad, as long as it's interesting. I suppose I should have kicked things off with a contribution but hey, that's showbiz. Is this a worthy suggestion? Would it work here? Will this thread disappear from page one in a few days and, perhaps like the song itself, be forgotten forever? Posted By: victrola lagüe Date: 6/24/2007 7:37:26 PM Where are the chords? Posted By: Sazerac Date: 6/24/2007 7:43:40 PM   (Updated: 6/24/2007 7:44:46 PM) http://www.alligatorboogaloo.com/uke/tabs/030602.html Have at it Posted By: Arch Larizza Date: 6/24/2007 7:50:14 PM   (Updated: 6/24/2007 8:01:21 PM) Well, that's one version but there are others. Try this link to find them: http://tinyurl.com/3ykrbc Posted By: Tin Pan Alley-Cat Date: 6/24/2007 8:51:47 PM   (Updated: 6/24/2007 9:03:32 PM) Darn you anyway, Arch...! After the sweet compliment you paid me on the other thread, I feel compelled to accept your challenge! It just so happens that I do have the original sheet music to that cursed tune, so I'll see what I can do... Posted By: victrola lagüe Date: 6/24/2007 8:56:00 PM On that video which chords or which tonality is he playing? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skU-jBFzXl0 Posted By: Arch Larizza Date: 6/24/2007 9:13:49 PM   (Updated: 6/24/2007 9:22:19 PM) Tiny's soprano is tuned F# B D# G# (or, for BruceE, Gb Cb Eb Ab). Anyway, it's a semitone lower than the usual "C" tuning which was probably completely unintentional. He's playing the chords for F major which sound like E major in this tuning and could pose a problem if you're trying to play along with a C tuned ukulele. Anyway, Victrola; you'd want to find the key that best suits your voice and that could be anything. Good to hear that, TPAC. This should be a gas. By the way, when watching that clip, it's worth keeping in mind the unholy mess of the war in Vietnam, the assassination of Robert Francis Kennedy, the USSR's invasion of Czechoslovakia and the Beatles going all strange and serious. The world NEEDED Tiny Tim. Posted By: victrola lagüe Date: 6/24/2007 9:18:15 PM I think he is just great! Posted By: DougD Date: 6/24/2007 9:27:25 PM Thanks for clarifying that, Arch. I could tell it was in E, but I couldn't understand what he was doing (or much else about him either). I doubt it was unintentional though, because the orchestra joins in in that key, and that kind of stuff doesn't happen off-the-cuff on network TV. Posted By: DougD Date: 6/24/2007 9:34:48 PM   (Updated: 6/24/2007 9:54:41 PM) BTW, you can hear Nick Lucas' original hit recording of this here: http://www.redhotjazz.com/lucas.html Its in G. As someone mentioned, you can hear where TT got some of his ideas. Lucas is not eaxctly singing falsetto though, its a high tenor like other singers of the time like Gene Austin. While you're there, check out the flip side "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine" another lovely song, and the guitar pieces "Pickin' the Guitar" and "Teasin' the Frets." Posted By: Arch Larizza Date: 6/24/2007 10:11:11 PM   (Updated: 6/24/2007 10:12:15 PM) Doug: "I doubt it was unintentional though, because the orchestra joins in in that key, and that kind of stuff doesn't happen off-the-cuff on network TV." These guys are pros. They're supposed to be able to fake it at the drop of a hat. The leader calls the key and the band plays. It happens all the time. (edit: thanks for the link to the Lucas version) Posted By: NinaC Date: 6/24/2007 10:16:35 PM   (Updated: 6/24/2007 10:18:49 PM) I bought Nick Lucas's album last year on iTunes. The whole thing is there if anyone is interested, and it's great. I think there's also a clip on YouTube (or there used to be) of the part of the movie Tiptoe was from including the tap dancers. I wrote to Uke Jackson about the idea of a group doing the song on stage at NYUF as an opening night production number with a few of the Rockettes (they make private appearances), but he said he thought it would cost too much $$. I thought that would have been a fun idea. Posted By: Sazerac Date: 6/24/2007 10:29:12 PM Alas, I probably won't be able to record my version of TTTT...I'm tiptoeing to Sweden and France in the morning...I will only say my addition to the song comes near the end when after the line "If I kissed you in the garden" I interpolate "That's a euphemism." I then wink before continuing. Posted By: Arch Larizza Date: 6/24/2007 10:43:31 PM You're not getting away with it that easily, Jon. If this thread is dead when you return, just look it up and resurrect it by adding your post and a link to your version which I'm looking forward to hearing, as I'm sure many others are, too. Bon Voy-agie. Have a safe trip. Posted By: ChiyoDad Date: 6/24/2007 10:44:48 PM Use this for reference: http://tinyurl.com/2xa4py I think I now understand why Kimo was unhappy with Tiny Tim. It sure is a far cry from this: http://tinyurl.com/yofn83 Posted By: PhonoFred Date: 6/24/2007 10:45:36 PM http://tinyurl.com/yvz49b Video of Nick Lucas from 1944 Posted By: NinaC Date: 6/24/2007 10:48:44 PM   (Updated: 6/24/2007 10:51:56 PM) That's it, PhonoFred! Thanks. Actually after watching this, there's a version with a bunch of tap dancers out there too...although this is very nice also, and great guitar work on Lucas's part. Posted By: Arch Larizza Date: 6/24/2007 11:10:37 PM Chiyodad; trying to compare Tiny Tim with Jake Shimabukuro is a pointless exercise, no offense. Tiny was a mature, all-round entertainer who was treading the boards in New York City from the late forties / early fifties (think about that) and Jake is an accomplished ukulele player from Hawaii in desperate need of a guitar. No offense. Posted By: ChiyoDad Date: 6/24/2007 11:15:36 PM No offense taken, Arch. :-) It was just amusing for me to see the stuff on that other thread and I had absolutely no idea who the guy was or why folks arguing (until I did some online research). Finally getting to see an old video gave some idea as to why his performances were polarizing to some folks. Posted By: DougD Date: 6/24/2007 11:22:46 PM Thanks, PhonoFred. That version is in F, easy on the uke. Posted By: PhonoFred Date: 6/24/2007 11:32:08 PM Nina, I also recall seeing the other one with the tap dancing but I have not been able to locate it. Doug, I am glad that it was helpful. Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 6/25/2007 9:44:09 AM Can't resist posting this, from some Americans visiting Holland it seems: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KuMW60Qj2Q Posted By: Arch Larizza Date: 6/25/2007 11:03:35 AM Wow. That is wonderful. Look at those smiling faces. Tiny would have approved. Ever since I was a teenager, I've been morbidly fixated on which music should be played at my funeral. No march from Abdelazer, intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana; Va, pensiero or Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme for me. I want TT's version of TTTT and a bunch of people singing and playing along on their ukuleles. Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 6/25/2007 11:14:00 AM I've downloaded a hellot of tabs and bookmarked a hellot of youtubes to try to learn it for you, Arch! It will take some time, but I promise you a recording. The funeral can wait, I hope. Posted By: MelTaylor Date: 6/25/2007 3:13:41 PM What a dynamite song! Posted By: Arch Larizza Date: 6/25/2007 4:40:17 PM OK, OK. I'd better start the proceedings. Here's my contribution. I started off trying to do the version that Elvis might have done but that didn't work out. Then I went for the Nick Lucas style and that fell in a heap. So, I decided that since I'm Australian and all, I'd do the version you might hear from Bluey down at the Goondiwindi pub on a Friday night, after a few orange whips and a barbied snag or two. http://www.box.net/shared/4s7hf2zgt5 Posted By: NinaC Date: 6/25/2007 4:53:26 PM   (Updated: 6/25/2007 4:53:43 PM) Where is the digeridoo (sp) and the wobble board? Very nice, Arch. I liked it better than Nick's. And Tiny's. Especially the "Yah-ha"! Posted By: Tin Pan Alley-Cat Date: 6/25/2007 6:24:31 PM It may take me a week or so to get mine online, so I hope this thread stays alive until then. Posted By: Arch Larizza Date: 6/25/2007 10:30:38 PM Thanks, Nancy. It's just a trifle but I'm glad you enjoyed it. TPAC, I'm starting to wonder if this board is the best place to have such a topic. The thing that a lot of folks like about FMMBB is that threads are moved off the main page a few days after they've started, so I doubt that this thread will be "alive" (i.e. on the front page) by the time you're ready to post your recording. See how it goes. Posted By: lecky Date: 6/26/2007 3:40:13 AM   (Updated: 6/26/2007 4:14:10 AM) The speed at which the page disappears off the bottom is entirely dependent on whether comments continue... I'd love to hear some varied versions of this song, it's a fun challenge. Nancy could do a nice version, TRock could do a note twiddling rock ballard version, I want to hear the Hawaiian version, I want to be suprised. If I'm forced by absence of other versions to do a version myself, it won't be a pretty thing... consider that a threat ;) I understand peoples reticense to perform this in public, but we're among friends here. Posted By: Doug Skinner Date: 6/26/2007 3:33:29 PM What a coincidence! Carmen Borgia and I just did a revisionist "Tiptoe" on the last "Ukulele Cabaret" here in NYC. We did a mellow, unkitsch version, with Carmen on vocals and baritone, and me on the Venezuelan cuatro. We did the same for "Volare," which can be a lovely song if done straight. E mi piace tanto cantare in italiano! Count me among Tiny's fans. He could be hard to take, but his genuine love for the songs was beautiful. Cheers! Posted By: Jason @ Sonic Uke Date: 6/26/2007 3:48:12 PM   (Updated: 6/26/2007 3:51:57 PM) Doug ! Hey I just happened to be "stopping by" (Hi Ted!). You and Carmen sure slayed us with your Tiptoe: http://www.ukuleledisco.com/tiptulips And this must be one of those 'psycho' connections I've heard about 'cause the last page I looked at before coming to FleaMarket was http://www.lyrics007.com/Domenico%20Modugno%20Lyrics/Volare%20Lyrics.html looking for more information so that I could upload: http://www.ukuleledisco.com/volare (Give it a couple of minutes to upload) Guess what's next ?? Jason Posted By: NinaC Date: 6/26/2007 4:19:14 PM   (Updated: 6/26/2007 4:26:52 PM) Arch, I think that's why people often post music on multiple boards. This one moves pretty fast, which I guess is one reason why it's popular, too. I hope this thread stays alive, I think it's fun and it's always good to see music posted here. You raised the bar right from the get-go. I'm always amazed at the speed with which you're able to do such good stuff. (That day you recorded a couple of posts to music had me rolling on the floor, not only did you do them in about an hour, the songs sounded great and had actual arrangement and orchestration ;-).) I might have a little break starting next week when I can finally get my studio back together and start recording again, so I'll make sure to put this on the to-do list, along with the other number we talked about doing together that I haven't forgotten. Now I just have to think about how I'm gonna arrange Tiptoe, hmm... Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 6/26/2007 4:31:14 PM   (Updated: 6/26/2007 4:32:37 PM) It's FUN??? It's a curse!!! The whole pile of things urgent is still as big as it was early morning, all day I've been haunted by that song. I didn't even really know it until this upheaval started but now I suddenly wanna make it my first effort at recording. Oh dear, why must I be so totally carried away with something I can't do at all... Edited to say: Mr. Skinner, that's some lovely singing you do!!! Posted By: NinaC Date: 6/26/2007 4:33:16 PM Do it Jeanette!!! Posted By: Ted Gottfried Date: 6/26/2007 4:35:57 PM   (Updated: 6/26/2007 4:41:21 PM) Jeanette, the lovely singing on Tiptoe is by Mr. Borgia. Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 6/26/2007 4:47:07 PM I was referring to Volare - wonderful! Nancy: thanks! Posted By: Jason @ Sonic Uke Date: 6/26/2007 7:46:58 PM Hey Jeanette, maybe you'll enjoy this one too then ... http://www.ukuleledisco.com/ilikepie Posted By: victrola lagüe Date: 6/26/2007 8:13:59 PM   (Updated: 6/27/2007 12:21:00 AM) OK, this is my turn! Here is my small contribution! The sound is bad, i don't care. It was just for fun! http://www.macaronimusic.com/audio/TipToevictrolalague.mp3 (good that you already know the lyrics...) Posted By: NinaC Date: 6/26/2007 8:41:57 PM Victrola, that was inspired. Can you tell us how you did it, or is it a trade secret? :-) I also had no idea that Stephen Hawking sang. Posted By: victrola lagüe Date: 6/26/2007 9:00:17 PM   (Updated: 6/27/2007 1:56:52 AM) HAHAHAhahahahahah!!! I just use some effects in Garageband. It is only samples from old Roland drum machine, my dear Kumalae (a bit hard to tune) and my poor voice. Posted By: DougD Date: 6/26/2007 9:22:32 PM victrola - That's just great! Too bad that Arch, who instigated this, isn't around to hear it. Not meaning to be too personal, but why are you named after a machine? I was just playing a couple of records on one of your cousins last night. Posted By: victrola lagüe Date: 6/26/2007 11:24:54 PM Hey Doug, Thank you! I bought one last december and a big pile of records and it's at that moment i knew the word victrola and i just loved it. I am really a big fan of old music since a loooooong time. Posted By: Mark 'JazzUkes!' Occhionero Date: 6/27/2007 9:55:57 AM here is one that is True to Form by Ukulele Bartt (a favorite of mine on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzseJKdI0V4 i also have my jazzy version that Jason recorded at a ukulele noir sometime back. http://ukuleledisco.com/tiptoe honestly, like most, i really hated to do this song. but now it is one of my favorites, and a go to. long live tiptoe. long live tiny. long live the ukulele. it really is about the music. Posted By: Doug Skinner Date: 6/27/2007 12:58:14 PM Mille grazie, Jeanette! It's a treat to hear all these different Tiptoes. More! Posted By: lecky Date: 7/4/2007 8:28:42 AM I warned you, didn't I!! http://www.box.net/shared/kq8buxgddn enjoy. Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 7/4/2007 1:41:01 PM You definitely win the scary monsters award, Lecky!!! Great version! Posted By: lecky Date: 7/5/2007 3:31:39 AM Thank you! Posted By: Spacemonkey Date: 7/5/2007 3:57:13 AM Don't tempt me. Peace Posted By: lecky Date: 7/5/2007 4:58:43 AM You're already a bit tempted aren't you! Posted By: CooperBeagle Date: 7/5/2007 8:11:26 AM I've decided the uke players are FEARLESS! It flies in the face of all logic to give life to this cliche-of-a-song. And yet... there you have it: Beauty and Creativity, ukulists are at your service! Posted By: Carmen Borgia Date: 7/5/2007 5:53:25 PM   (Updated: 7/5/2007 5:59:48 PM) It's really great to hear the Nick Lucas version of TT. I love the song and I feel that it really has a lot of heart. And I always get a little titter from the crowd when I say the word "Tiptoe" for the first time... It sure is fun to play it with Doug. http://ukuleledisco.com/tiptulips Posted By: Robtjm Date: 7/5/2007 7:02:33 PM Doctor Uke has a version here: http://www.doctoruke.com/tiptoethroughthetulips.pdf Posted By: Patsy Date: 7/5/2007 10:36:51 PM It's a cool idea to get people up and working on new recordings. Thanks, Arch. Here's my contribution: http://www.box.net/shared/k7srscsjtg ;�) Posted By: No Strings Date: 7/5/2007 10:45:44 PM Wow Patsy, I love that! Posted By: Dominator Date: 7/5/2007 11:40:46 PM That's tops Patsy. Simply Wonderful! Posted By: UkuleleTezza Date: 7/6/2007 2:52:41 AM Patsy! I really enjoyed that! Nice singing, sweet playing. Good stuff. Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/6/2007 2:37:04 PM Patsy, what a great performance. The uke arrangement was sublime with your fantastic vocal. Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/6/2007 2:45:02 PM Lecky, that was precious. You must be an actor! Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/6/2007 2:50:40 PM Ukulele Bartt has some voice. I like that uke he's playing, too. Posted By: lecky Date: 7/6/2007 2:54:15 PM Pat, I'm a visual artist. Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/6/2007 3:01:23 PM Lecky, I don't know what a visual artist is but I know that you provided the audio and I provided my own visuals. That was funny. Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/6/2007 3:03:40 PM Mark, I can't get your version. It keeps cutting out. Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/6/2007 3:09:18 PM Victrola, with that rendition you ought to pair up with Lecky. One creepy guy on the outside of the window and you creeped out on the inside. Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/6/2007 3:17:57 PM Where did your version go, Arch? I can't get Jason's either. Do they time out after a couple of weeks? Posted By: UkuleleBlues Date: 7/6/2007 3:37:00 PM my little brother recorded this months ago he is loads better now but this is his Dedication tiny was the reason he is playing ukulele http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=3090738 Posted By: lecky Date: 7/6/2007 3:39:40 PM Pat 'visual art' is another term for fine art, as I'm not medium specific i don't call myself a painter or sculptor or whatever, and I'd rather let others decide how 'fine' my art is so visual art it is. Posted By: ukebucket Date: 7/6/2007 6:23:26 PM My recording software is VERY cheap, but here's my version!!! Tiptoe Through the Tulips http://www.box.net/shared/i5sd83lkqz :)Amber. Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 7/6/2007 7:10:36 PM Ukeblues'little brother: http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=3090738 Ukebucket: http://www.box.net/shared/i5sd83lkqz Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/6/2007 11:56:47 PM Lecky, got it! Amber, you are the cat's meow! Where do you do your performing? I'm thinking I've heard you before but I'm having a senior moment. Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/7/2007 12:47:46 AM Ukeblues, your little brother is quite the personality. It's great to see a kid having so much fun with music. Posted By: lecky Date: 7/7/2007 4:37:30 AM Ambers version is wonderful! Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 7/7/2007 7:42:38 AM Like Victrola and Lecky could pair up for the creepy couple version, Patsy and Amber are the romantic tops! Great version, Amber, wonderful singing! Jeanette Posted By: ukebucket Date: 7/7/2007 10:06:52 AM Pat, thanks for the compliment! I actually don't really "do" any performing. I'm thinking about it, though. Maybe some open mics or something. My band moved to Florida and I teach so it's hard to get motivated on my own. But a few years ago, I had a website, www.ukebucket.com, that I advertised on some message boards. It has since been abandoned due to, well, the busy-ness of life, I guess! Posted By: ukebucket Date: 7/7/2007 10:07:07 AM Pat, forgot to say, I live in Cincinnati, OH. Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/7/2007 12:12:46 PM   (Updated: 7/7/2007 4:28:21 PM) Amber, I thought I had heard you before so maybe it was on your website. You probably posted it on this board. I just saw your other post below and when I viewed it I saw your song "Grama's House" listed. I do remember hearing it a few years ago. That's a great song but I can't get it to play from EZFolk or any of the other songs on MySpace. Hope you post some more songs on this board. It doesn't matter how good your tech equipment is because your vocal equipment is perfect. Cincinnati, huh! I hope KonaBob is reading this. He told me he lived there before he moved to Hawaii and visits occasionally when he's on the mainland. You two would have a great time jamming. His walkingstick bass is fantastic. Posted By: ukebucket Date: 7/7/2007 4:16:49 PM Pat, I just checked Myspace...sometimes it's weird and takes a while to load. But ezFolk is working, so I dunno. I hope KonaBob is reading this too! I want people to jam with! It's hard to find uke people around Cincinnati! Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/7/2007 4:29:53 PM Amber, I'll have to check out EZFolk later. Arch, I finally heard your take. That was great! Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/8/2007 12:10:24 AM Amber, got it. You should rerecord Grama's house with the uke accompaniment since the guitar covers your voice. Posted By: hushnel Date: 7/8/2007 10:07:31 AM I�ve been reading this thread and the other one about Tiny Tim and just trying to wonder what was up with all this but then I brought my ukulele to work on Friday. All the idiots I work with, not that all the people I work with are idiots, but the ones that are made fun of the instrument and pulled out the Tiptoe Through the Tulips thing and how goofy Tiny Tim was. I did stand up for Tiny, though I realize he came off as something less than mainstream. I heard a broadcast on public radio back when he passed, R.I.P. Tiny, and learned that he was quite a knowledgeable historian of 19th century music and tell the idiots that remembering Tiny only by the Tiptoe through the Tulips tune is like remembering Chuck Berry only by the tune My Ding-a-ling, the only song of his to make #1 in the charts. Still I wasn�t quite willing to support the stereotype but I down loaded the music this morning from this thread, the song is a great one. I�ve always believed that musicianship was about serving the song, honoring the composer and the inspiration of his music. Trying to find the soul in the tune and keeping that alive and I don�t mean parroting the top 40 version, even if I could :o) I�m very new with the uke so it�s going to take me a while to learn the tune and record it but I�m going to give it a shot. It�s funny how this tiny instrument leads to big changes in me and I�ve played music my whole life. Mike in Homestead Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/8/2007 1:11:33 PM   (Updated: 7/8/2007 1:23:35 PM) Doug, I just listened to the Nick Lucas version. Reminds me of the old operettas you sometimes see on films. When I checked out the list below, I was thrilled to see "A Cup of Coffee A Sandwich And You", one of my favorites. I think I first heard that as a barbershop arrangement and hadn't heard it sung again until I sang it with Fred Fallin at a jam at the RI Ukefest a few years ago. That's a great little uke song, done up tempo. PhonoFred, just watched the movie version and loved it. Thanks for the link. Posted By: Dominator Date: 7/8/2007 7:53:12 PM Nothing creative or original here but I did want to participate. It�s been great to have so many people posting their versions and it�s even motivated some to record and post for the first time. I think that�s great. I know this is heavy on the verb but the vocals just seemed so lifeless on their own and since it was just one track the ukulele got saturated as well. http://www.dominator.ukeland.com/Images/tiptoe_dp.mp3 Posted By: studentaccount1 Date: 7/8/2007 9:50:36 PM Dom, you're a good singer. Nice job man. :) Posted By: lecky Date: 7/9/2007 3:12:54 AM Dom that was a really nice straight version; cheeered me up this morning! Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 7/9/2007 3:28:05 AM Love it, Dom!!! Posted By: Alohayall Date: 7/9/2007 6:29:17 AM I have not been able to listen to all of the versions, but Ahhhhhhhh. Patsy. Thank you for starting my day with a smile. I like the audio versions because the YouTube recordings don't load all the way for me and thus are pleasant to hear in chunks. Doug, loved your laid back style as well. Joyce Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/9/2007 11:42:54 AM   (Updated: 7/11/2007 8:54:39 AM) Dom, beautiful version! What a player you are and the voice is complementary to your playing . I finally was able to hear Carmen and Doug's songs. You boys know how to caress words, and your playing is engaging. What arrangements! edit: mispelling of complementary, which I meant to mean voice fits playing as hand fits glove. Of course I also meant it to be a compliment. Another Senior moment that day! Posted By: hoaryhead Date: 7/9/2007 12:03:19 PM Joyce-- I'm on a slow DSL connection and I just hit the pause button on YouTube videos, and do other business while I wait for it to load in. Then I can watch without breaks. Posted By: Dominator Date: 7/9/2007 12:05:47 PM Thanks Pat. Joyce, there are some very good and creative versions that have been posted hear and at Cosmos but that version Patsy posted.....I love everything about it. The playing, singing and production are all stellar. I've got that one saved for sure. Posted By: hoaryhead Date: 7/9/2007 1:18:28 PM Dominator is a quadruple threat: player vocalist uke builder tabber All of that and one of the most friendly people I know. Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 7/10/2007 5:23:00 AM No new additons for this addicted this morning? (Or: bumping it up...) Posted By: hokeypokey Date: 7/10/2007 11:44:54 PM In response to hoaryhead's take on Dominator, couldn't agree more. I'd love to lay claim to any of the four threats, and sadly can't, but I sure loved listening to Dominator's recording (and all of the others I might add). Thank you to the posters. If you are wondering why so many posts from me tonight (apologies) see my thread on missing my ukes. Not having one with me tonight and sitting in a hotel room, I must experience them vicariously. Posted By: Paul Cundari Date: 7/11/2007 1:21:50 AM Victrola said: On that video which chords or which tonality is he playing? To add to Arch's explanation, perhaps some of the confusion in interpreting the recording is that Tiny is playing the uke upside down (fretting with his right hand) while the uke is tuned for left hand fretting. Posted By: Dominator Date: 7/11/2007 10:44:13 PM Thanks for the kind words folks. I'm no threat to anyone but maybe I can find another vice to add to the list to go along with my quintuple bypass:). My wife says to add all round good hubby to the list. How sappy is that? John, I'm surprised you haven't cranked out your version on the Dominator soprano by now. I've been anxiously waiting. Hobbit just posted his over at Cosmos as well as Zathras. Come on everyone, a whole two weeks to go:). Posted By: Dominator Date: 7/12/2007 1:01:08 AM Hobbit gave me the go ahead to post a link to his version. Hopefully Chris will post his as well. http://www.ukeland.com/users/hh/files/tip/tiptoe_hh.mp3 Posted By: Zathras Date: 7/12/2007 10:21:15 AM I gave it a quick once through: http://www.ukeland.com/users/zathras/files/tip/tip2.mp3 Posted By: Doug Skinner Date: 7/12/2007 11:00:12 AM Ah, it's nice to hear all those versions. Now I'm jealous of all the men and smitten with all the women. By the way, fans of the Carmen Borgia manner might like to visit his website, www.carmenborgia.com. He's posted some amusing videos there (under "calendar"). (I'm too old and cranky to have a website; those interested in tracking my decline will have to resort to Google.) Cheers! Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 7/13/2007 5:44:07 AM Bumpadabump... Posted By: Howlin' Hobbit Date: 7/13/2007 11:00:03 PM Doug Skinner -- you're one of my ukulele heroes, man! You should at least have a page somewhere with a few words about yourself and links to your terrific videos. HH Posted By: Doug Skinner Date: 7/15/2007 12:37:19 PM Thanks, HH! And thanks for the cozy "Tiptoe," too. There is a Wikipedia page about me; I sometimes refer people to that. I'll have to get one of my pals or students who actually enjoy computers to fix me up with a website. So -- no more tulips? Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 7/15/2007 2:12:24 PM Oh yeah, but for me: not yet... I have to accumulate more courage and more gear. And Doug S, we heard you play TTTT and we heard you sing other songs so wonderfully, now we're dying to hear you *sing* TTTT too!!! So, hopefully still lots of tulips ahead? Jeanette Posted By: Doug Skinner Date: 7/16/2007 1:53:11 PM I'd give it a go, but I'm not set up for home recording. It's on the to-do list. Meanwhile, this bumps the thread; maybe that will spark more versions? Posted By: deejay Date: 7/16/2007 9:33:16 PM This is a fun thread! I have a whole new appreciation for this song... Here is my take: http://www.ukeland.com/users/derek/files/tip/tt1.mp3 Posted By: Dominator Date: 7/17/2007 12:37:11 AM Deejay said "I have a whole new appreciation for this song... " I hear ya Deejay. If someone would have told me 5 years ago, 1 year ago or even 2 weeks ago that I would be recording a version of me singing TTTT for the cyber world to hear I would have told them they were out of their freaking minds. How things change :). I like your uptempo treatment. Posted By: studentaccount1 Date: 7/17/2007 1:56:09 AM This isn't me, but I heard it last night on another forum and it is one of my favorite versions yet. I hope that the person who originally posted it doesn't mind me posting it up on this site. http://www.box.net/shared/i5sd83lkqz You can hear more of her playing here: http://ezfolk.com/audio/ukebucket and http://www.myspace.com/ukebucket Posted By: Goaticus Date: 7/17/2007 2:00:11 AM   (Updated: 7/17/2007 2:01:22 AM) Well, if anyone is still following this, I finally had a chance to upload my own odd version of this most wondrous of songs-though perhaps its not so much the version that's odd. Take a look if you like. This is how all club singers ought to start their careers. http://www.youtube.com/ukulelemike (actually, as I write this, it is uploading-give it about an hour!) Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/17/2007 10:54:10 AM Ukulelemike, that is so funny. I loveed your audience but I wondered if you were going to lose your uke to one of them. They seemed enthralled! Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/17/2007 10:58:59 AM SA1, Amber already posted this up above, but she is worth listening to again..... and in case you haven't heard it, it is a "must listen". Posted By: studentaccount1 Date: 7/17/2007 11:33:17 AM Oops... well I think it deserved a re-post in any case. :) Posted By: deejay Date: 7/17/2007 5:56:18 PM I like your singing and playing both ukulelemike. Very relaxed with the crowd pressing in! The video does conjure another meaning for knee deep though ;) Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/17/2007 6:57:55 PM Some pretty good renditions HH, Zathras and Deejay. Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 7/18/2007 6:56:46 AM UKUlelemike, only today I had a chance to watch your video - enjoyed it tremendously! Both for your nice version and for your wonderful and supportive audience! It's great to see you sit there in your farmgrounds. I love how that big buck in the back comes to show his head above the fence once you start playing. Jeanette Posted By: SRC Date: 7/18/2007 9:57:20 AM   (Updated: 7/18/2007 9:58:12 AM) I recorded a version last night. http://tinyurl.com/3ycucw You can read all about it at my blog http://ukesit.blogspot.com/ Posted By: Ukulele Crooner Date: 7/19/2007 1:21:16 PM That Amber Nash sings the hell out of that song. Crooner Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/20/2007 10:02:07 PM Bump! Posted By: Clark Turner Date: 7/20/2007 11:01:04 PM I'm happy this thread has turned from Tiny Tim veneration to more current music and players. Good sign. Good people. Good songs. Keep it up. I've stood aside from this discussion because I can't participate in what seems to be endorsement, even enthusiasm, for the effect Tiny Tim had on the ukulele's public image. As a survivor of two of the ukulele's peaks in popularity (in mainland America), I view Tiny Tim's role as that of a brilliant musician who sold out to pop culture by portraying the uke as a toy played by a clown. Whatever he might have contributed to our musical tradition, he's remembered in this outward role. What a tragic waste of talent. He (and we) deserve better. But that seems to be the way it goes. We claw our way back to admission into the ranks of musical instruments, and then someone comes along and blows it. Arthur Godfery, Tiny Tim -- only the mostrecently visible of them. Jake Shimabukuro has set a new standard that illustrates what the ukulele can do. He doesn't play traditional tin pan alley or Hawaiian, or romantic ballads on the 19th century. He plays real music, as a real musician, on a real musical instrument. I can't imagine playing as Jake does, but he surely inspires me. He's wildly popular. He's captured the attention of a generation that's been deadened by endless hiphop, rock, ersatz country, rap, and other electronically-enhanced digital junk. They're hearing real music. They like it. They want more. Tiny Tim is gone. Rest in peace. I pray that his prostitution of his talent won't be repeated. Jake is a new pop standard, and he's a brilliant musician. The ukulele is a serious musical instrument, Just because it's also more fun than almost anything else doesn't make it a toy or its players clowns. There's a difference. Think about it. Let's not blow it again. Posted By: bink Date: 7/24/2007 12:13:22 AM Hi folks. I'm new. I may have met some of you when I stumbled into Uke Fest this spring in NYC--didn't play then and am still a beginner now but this thread raises an important question for me: I started off with the chords in the second post in this thread (the ones from Alligator Boogaloo, starting with C/A7/F/G7) and have more or less learned the whole song that way. Now it seems that no one plays it in that key... is this true? Is it really supposed to be in E? (Ack--Say it ain't so! I'm still really bad at E chords!) I'm hoping there is some subset of people out there who learned it with the Alligator Boogaloo chords that I could play along with some day. Now I'm worried about all the other songs I'm learning from their chords--are they all simplified for beginners or something? What's the point of learning a song all wrong? Anyway, hi! I look forward to getting to know you. Posted By: Dominator Date: 7/24/2007 2:00:45 AM Bink, I think most of the people who posted versions here and on Cosmos play it in C as you do. I substitute F6 for the F (same shape as a Dm) as well as add some diminished chords. But all in all it is much the same as the Boogaloo version you are working with. So you have 8 days left in the month of July so record a version and share with us all:). Posted By: bink Date: 7/24/2007 8:50:19 AM Interesting. The F to Fm transition is a bit of a sticky spot for me; I will check it out with the F6 there instead. I think the chances of me learning to sing and being ready to sing for the whole Internet in eight days are slender, but I'm glad to hear the C version of the song is okay to use if I do! Posted By: Dominator Date: 7/24/2007 10:13:55 AM Bink, I play the F6 on the intro and the first part of each of the vocal sections but I do play the F to the Fm as written to end the section. That pretty much needs to be there but I'm sure with a bit of experementation one could find a suitable substitute. I was just joking a bit about the 8 days. Didn't intend to put undue pressure on you by any means. Just practice at your own pace and keep it fun. That's what's important. Posted By: Davis Date: 7/24/2007 11:24:22 AM For an over-the-top instrumental of TTTT, Listen to Pete Kennedy's version on new Stringbusters CD. Pete played with Danny Gatton for many years, acquiring some serious guitar chops. Since I inadvertantly infected Pete with ukulele syndrome, he has transferred those chops to our favorite instrument. I don't think Pete's version is on the internet anywhere, but it's worth seeking out The Stringbusters CD. Maybe I can ask Pete to post his version. Posted By: Goaticus Date: 7/24/2007 2:06:46 PM   (Updated: 7/24/2007 2:07:34 PM) Hey, Clark-I understand your feelings about that-the uke IS a serious instrument, and those who can play, should try to play as well as they can. But I believe that people like Godfrey and Tiny Tim taught us that we can take a serious instrument and have fun with it, as well-is that prostitution? Would you then lump Spike Jones' orchestra into the category of music prostitutes because they had fun playing? Victor Borge? Chico or Harpo Marx? Tom Lehrer? Weird Al? All phenomenal musicians who just chose to really enjoy their talents. Yeah, Tiny was somewhat of a clown on the outside-even worked with the circus for a while-so what? He had a good time doing what he loved. I'm a pastor, a very serious calling, but I have fun doing it as I can. I like to say that we put the "fun" in "Fun"damentalism! Keep on playing, and play well, but remember to stop and smell the tulips every now and again. Posted By: Howlin' Hobbit Date: 7/24/2007 11:55:10 PM And a big huzzah to ukulelemike. Well said, sir! HH Posted By: Noel-lele Date: 7/25/2007 8:38:37 AM Here is our submission. It features Tim H on the vocal. We think Tip Toe is a very sweet song and we play it in a traditional manner. This version was recorded at one of our Urban Uke rehearsals on an iPod. http://www.box.net/shared/iohcqxouoe Posted By: Clark Turner Date: 7/25/2007 2:00:13 PM   (Updated: 7/25/2007 2:20:39 PM) ukulelemike - Your points are well-taken. I made two big mistakes in my earlier post complaining about Tiny Tim: First, I characterized Tiny Tim's act as "prostituting" his talent. That was a nasty, mean-spirited remark, and inappropriate to the argument I was trying to make. Shouldn't have said it. My bad. Second, I described TT as a "brilliant musician." That was wrong, too. I really don't know if he was or not, because he offended me so much with his act that I never listened to him again. So I'm ignorant of what else he might have had to offer. Having said that, I should point that what I DID see looked very much like a not-very-talented clown playing a uke. And that's the image the TV audience saw, and the ukulele is an inseparable part of the impression. If there was any real talent in there somewhere, it surely didn't show in performance. In sharp contrast are the examples you give of great performers who had fun and entertained with wickedly clever and sophisticated skills. They didn't present their instruments as toys --but as full-fledged partners in the act. Satire can be great comedy without demeaning the object. The most "clown-like" persona among your examples might be Harpo Marx. But watch him as he plays the harp. The clown fades away; Harpo's face turns dreamy; he plays superbly with a quiet and inspired passion. Then he finishes and the clown reappears. This counterpoint greatly enriches his overall comedy performance by revealing the depth and breadth of his talent. Each one of the entertainers you cite is a package of talents, and their performance keeps revealing this fact. Despite his comic playing, we KNOW that Victor Borge is a seriously-talented pianist. Can't miss it -- flashes of his skill are woven through his act. The same holds for all the others. The Harlem Globetrotters look goofy and clown around, and are as funny as the Marx Brothers. But there's serious basketball talent there. The ball is a respected part of their act. Five ordinary guys with a basketball trying to do that wouldn't be funny at all. The basketball is insulted. Talent is the difference. In my view, Tiny Tim was a one-trick pony who caught a break and flashed across the stage as a clown with a ukulele in his hand. His falsetto was a charicature of singing. He played his uke upside-down. His appearance was appalling. I didn't see any hint of talent that would entitle him to take such liberties. That's what we all saw, and that's all he had to offer. How is this clever? What latent talent does he reveal? Creative entertainer? Buffoon is more like it. While I'm "clarifying," ( was, wasn't I?)-- my unabashed admiration of Jake Shimabukuro's talent doesn't mean I think he's one of the all-time great ukulele performers. To be one of them, you've got to play uke. I see Jake as an extremely skillful guitarist playing great arrangements on a uke -- nothing wrong with that, and quite entertaining. But whatever he's playing, Jake's enormous popularity is presented in a package with the ukulele. Unlike the image that Tiny Tim projected, Jake shows respect for the instrument. Huge difference. Thanks for improvement of the image, Jake. (Bet he could play uke, too, if he wanted). By the way -- I've listened to the variety of Tiptoe arrangements y'all have posted and linked here (except TT's). What a great collection! I'm actually working on my own version now. Thanks for the ideas and inspiration. Clark Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 7/27/2007 3:57:22 AM Bumpadabump... Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/27/2007 10:43:26 AM Noel, that was so nice! Tim's voice is so perfect for that song. Was that you on the harmony? Loved the bass! Posted By: Big Bill Brody Date: 7/27/2007 8:51:23 PM To Clark, All I know is that Tiny delighted me with his silliness in a time of uncertainty and fear. Yes, his oddness and the Ukulele will be for a long time associated, but he didn't just appear on Laugh In and go from there. He paid a lot of dues, from what I read, in Greenwich Village in the same places and times as Dylan and others- from all reports by his intimates, he was a virtual repository of American music from Steven Foster to Cole Porter to Frank Zappa. George Harrison and Eric Idle had nothing but good to say about poor Herbert Khaury who died almost forgotten.I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around how much you dislike his association with the Uke. Way I see it, anyone playing a Uke can't be all bad. If you can find it, get a load of him singing "Stay Down Here Where You Belong" by Irving Berlin. It's on his album God Bless Tiny Tim, and the story goes that Berlin hated the song, and Grouch Marx never let an opportunity pass to embarass Berlin by singing this song whenever they were in public together. I find the guy fascinating, I'm really sorry he rubs you so the wrong way. I'm just sayin... Posted By: Clark Turner Date: 7/28/2007 12:23:50 AM   (Updated: 7/28/2007 6:48:21 AM) Big Bill - I can't disagree with your feelings, and can understand where you are. Entertainers speak to each of us in the time and place. We hear what we need and want to hear at that time. They live in our memories as we keep them. Tiny Tim and his presentation spoke to you as you were then, and you carry and cherish the memory. Tiny Tim spoke to me, too, but the chemistry wasn't the same. For one thing, I was older than you -- different generation; different perceptions. Second, I'd been playing the uke for the better part a decade when TT burst on the national scene. I was an old-timer; he was a rookie. Or so it seemed then. Third, TT enjoyed great publicity (briefly) which always tends to stick in the craw of hoofers who've been toiing all these years without notice. Envy is a powerful poison. Finally, one tends to form opinions -- not right or wrong, just opinions -- as to what's correct and incorrect performance. TT came across (to many of us oldsters) as a clown with a toy ukulele prop. We'd been working to support the image of the uke as a serious (but fun) musical instrument. In our view, TT blew it. Add it up -- resentment, envy, disrespect, anger, jealousy, professional pride -- hard for any of us to welcome TT. I don't "hate" Tiny Tim, nor do I disrepect anyone who admires him as a performer. I think Harpo Marx was an incrediby talented artist. My wife thinks he was a buffoon. She won't discuss him with me. So it goes...we're both right, because that's what we believe. Tiny Tim is what you want and believe him to be. That's it. Enjoy your memories. Don't allow this cranky old man to rain on your parade with old and negative memories. Hold on to yours. As they say in that commercial: "Priceless". Posted By: Clark Turner Date: 7/28/2007 12:23:50 AM   (Updated: 7/28/2007 12:29:27 AM) Omigawd -- dreaded double post. Twice in one evening! My bad. Sorry. Posted By: Goaticus Date: 7/28/2007 3:15:20 AM Hey, Clark you make some very fine points-thanks. I guess my thought is that Tiny Tim may not have been a great musician, though he was really more versatile than most think. He actally had a good baritone voice, though he tended to imitate Elvis at times. And he could play guitar. I guess he was more of an entertainer than a musician, and that's how I take him. Like Rush Limbaugh-I like his show, but I understand he's a radio personality overall, and his ideas must be taken with a grain. It is, indeed, all in one's personal tastes and ideals. Posted By: Big Bill Brody Date: 7/28/2007 10:14:18 AM Here here, well spoken Bruce. I mean Ukulele Mike and Clark. What a civilized exchange. I do understand now what you mean, Clark, and I appreciate your eloquence and candor. I mean, go figger...I consider Paul Rubens to be a great and consumate performer. I like weird. And it beats the heck out of me why so many people don't know about Doc Watson, or John Hartford. I'm a member of the Sons of the Desert, an international Laurel & Hardy appreciation and preservation society, and I run into a lot of anti Three Stooges bias among L&H fans. What the hey, as long as as many people possible are grinning, right? Posted By: Clark Turner Date: 7/28/2007 12:00:45 PM Thanks - Now, as MGM would say: Time for a uke break! My Tiptoe arrangement needs a lot of work :-) Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 9/12/2007 7:13:18 PM A pretty belated contribution and not one to be really proud of - but well, it�s my first song ever and a girl gotta start somewhere, isn�t it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S5foqAK6Mw Recorded by WS64 at last weekend's gettogether in Dortmund, Germany. Jeanette Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 9/12/2007 7:24:00 PM I'm so glad you brought this thread back, Jeanette. What a nice uke arrangement, and good for you to put it up as a video, especially since you say it is your "first song ever". Good job! Posted By: deejay Date: 9/12/2007 8:09:25 PM Very nice performance! I enjoyed your playing. Posted By: mmbork Date: 9/12/2007 10:20:28 PM All right...you asked for it...here is my version of it...let me know what you all think. Thanks for starting this one! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps7waXP2_ZQ Posted By: lecky Date: 9/13/2007 3:05:45 AM Yay, the thread's back from the dead! Nice to see you there Jeanette, thanks mmbork too. Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 9/13/2007 9:03:15 AM OK it's on a roll again. Thanks, mmbork. Posted By: Dominator Date: 9/13/2007 4:08:15 PM Jeanette, I'm glad you shook off the nerves and put yourself out there. You did a wonderful job. Good for you. It's all downhill from here. It will get easier each time. Congrats. Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 9/14/2007 6:37:38 AM THANKS for the kind words, Pat and Dom! Yeah, it's the first time ever that I'm learning a song. Never lasted any longer than two three squeaky lines before choking into silence. Well, progress... Actually, I took some voice lessons a year ago, just because I wanted to learn to simply sing along with everyone, but all they brought me was a sore throat. Then last January with a lady in the Caribbean it went a little better. Next to breathing excercises she used cd's from a singing course by Brett Manning. When I tried to learn Tiptoe, I ordered that course and now I practise with the cd's. And I *love* it. (But I hate the neighbours hearing me.) Jeanette Posted By: jeanadriane Date: 9/14/2007 6:59:48 AM Also thanks to Deejay and Lecky! And Bork, nice version you made, nice voice too! Plus you changed the chords a little, isn't it? I hope by now Bink has noticed a lot of people play this song in C. Noel, only now I heard your contribution, and OMG... that's friggin' terrific! Jeanette Posted By: mmbork Date: 9/14/2007 10:13:20 AM Yeah, I changed the chords, but not much. I don't remember where I got this arrangement from, but I liked it, and it worked for me. Thanks Jeanette and Pat! I appreciate the props! Mike Posted By: Clark Turner Date: 9/14/2007 10:11:44 PM Good for you, Jeanette. As they say: "practice, practice, practice". You made the big step by going public. Congratulations! Clark Posted By: Drewkulele Date: 9/15/2007 9:27:10 AM   (Updated: 9/15/2007 9:57:54 AM) OK, this is not my recording, but in surfing 'round the interweb I came across an odd little ukulele ensemble from New Zealand called the "Big Muffin Serious Band," who have three albums out, and found a couple of recordings on their website of their very weird versions of "Tiptoe Through The Tulips." And, here they are: http://www.muffin.net.nz/mp3/Tiptoe_thru_the_Tulips.mp3 http://www.muffin.net.nz/mp3/Tip toe tru tha tuleps.mp3 I really like them, but I think it's probably not for everybody's tastes! For more info, and more songs, check out their website: http://www.muffin.net.nz/ Drew Visit the Fluke Museum: http://flukemuseum.blogspot.com/

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