Apparently, in the 1920s, when the uke was becoming hugely popular, so many people played it so often and in so many places that others SIMPLY COULDN’T STAND IT.
This is documented in at least one book, one movie, and one song (that I know of).
Which means: this is not a new problem.
The Movie
In the Buster Keaton comedy Steamboat Bill, Jr., Buster returns from college wearing a loud striped jacket, a ridiculous thin moustache, and — yes — a ukulele.
His dignified father watches for a few painful seconds before snatching the uke and snapping it in two.
The Book
In Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse, Bertie Wooster, another young fop, rather like Buster Keaton, above, takes up the banjolele.
The musical racket is so great, it causes his valet Jeeves to resign and the landlord forces Bertie to move to the countryside so everyone else can live in peace.
I’m starting to feel sorry for the poor ukulele in pop culture.
(Here’s an Amazon link, if you want to read-n-laff.)
The Song
There’s even a 1927 song that begins:
There’s a guy I’d like to kill
And if he doesn’t stop I will
He’s got a ukulele
And a voice that’s loud and shrill
The narrator of the song is certain that the jury and judge will understand the murder of the ukulele player and his never-ending refrain of “Vo-do-do.”
Here’s good old Frank Crummit playing it (on a ukulele — danger!) in 1927:
The ukulele excels at two things.
One is humor. All the songs, books, and movies I mentioned are very funny.
The other is obnoxiousness.
It’s a fine line.
Take it from your pal, Danno, who is also on that line between funny and obnoxious —
The safest rule is simple: leave ’em wanting more!
And on that note, I’ll leave you wanting more.
— Danno
- For Buster lovers, this short video is a treat!
- Here’s an overview of the comedy content
- Another way to please an audience is to think about how MUCH they can stand from you