While most of YouTube is populated by videos of cats and zits being popped (link not provided out of human decency), ukulele cover songs represent an ever-growing market. These videos are generally made with just a ukulele, a webcam and a voice.
The one characteristic all ukulele videos have in common is that they’re cute. And why not? The instrument looks like a baby guitar, it’s quiet, so it demands hushed singing, and it sounds like a toy. All cutes are not created equal, so we’ve categorized the cute from the least to the most over-the-top saccharine sweetness.
5. Angry rap
Rap and ukulele are musical opposites, so a lot of people figure, “Wouldn’t it be funny if I did a ukulele cover of the most cuss-filled rap songs I can think of?” The answer: Not really. All that aggression is too much for your tiny uke to handle.
4. Uber-nerds
While there is something inherently nerdy about playing ukulele in front of a webcam, some people take it even further. Sites like boingboing laud ukulele performances as well as DIY uke creations. It’s not necessarily super cute but it’s awesome. Here is a rendition of “The Final Countdown” on a kazookeylele, a ukulele-kazoo-keyboard hybrid.
3. Zooey Deschanel
Ms. Deschanel is the prototype for doe-eyed cuteness — the dresses, the ribbons in her hair, the old-timey radio voice. On the spectrum, she only represents the median. That’s how cute ukulele videos are. Here’s a video she posted in late 2011, singing “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” with her 500 Days of Summer co-star, Joseph-Gordon Levitt. Swoon. Am I right, ladies?
2. Girls with bangs
This is easily the largest and most recognizable segment of the ukulele population. It’s almost as though the ukulele wasn’t created by Hawaiians but by 20-something women who work at a food co-op and knit their own infinity scarves. Here, a French singer who goes by “Scampi” gives Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness” the twee tweetment.
1. Kids
Well, this is a no-brainer for the cutest category on the spectrum. Kids are like small humans so ukuleles actually seem kind of big next to them. Most kids are good-for-nothing punks so it’s amazing when a kid can actually play an instrument. Check out this little guy playing an all-gibberish version of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours.” I guarantee your ovaries will melt. Mine did.
Related links:
Alberta Report: Woodpigeon’s Extreme Ukulele
The Top 10 Cutest Ukulele Girls