Jake Shimabukuro plays Beatle's tune "In My Life" LIVE!

[Intorqueo629]

I love this song, and Jake plays it beautifully. He has rekindled my interest in the uke.

[lazaruslongable]

The only people who could possibly find this boring played live are those so young or sheltered they have never lost someone they cared about, or had to leave a place they loved. Me, I just sang along with it to my dead wife....and felt her presence in my heart again. In MY life, Jake, I love you more than some of these callow youths. Johnny would have, as well. Go, cat, go!

[happyslappysoong]

Beautiful.

[HughMacLennan]

I really like this song done by him. It shows me that you don't always have to play fast to sound beautiful on ukulele.

[rexlazard]

absolutely beautiful! this is one of my favorite Beatles songs!

[bungle0]

Hey this sounds great to listen to at home and relax... but not so good live. I'd probably get bored. Don't get me wrong. This guy is talented, and I have respect for him, but this would be boring live. :P

[hickeye]

@bungle0 i agree

[daveyphotos]

This is absolutely incredible talent! 5 stars!

[drtpur16]

He played this song in front of the Queen of England with my idol Bette Midler. Congrats to him!! This guy deserves it.

[timjmoran]

amazing how he makes the uke sound like a small harp!! Really unique stalent.

[cicero10107]

Linda canção, pena que o público não estava ligado...

[paolitas7]

love this song jake great

[crescentridge]

Great Jake, sooooo musical!!!!!

[phaelaenopsis]

always sounds great! awesome!! but let us hear your voice also

[shizzzznet]

Jake is my cousin and he cant sing no offence Jake

[randomrage5]

bullcrap then wat type of uke does he have

[420inthe802]

like

[kiheispeed33]

dont lie

[xaznacex]

Always sounds great ...

[roxas13267]

It's like in that Led Zep live album(The song remains the same?), where Plant doesn't announce Stairway, and once the crowd recognizes it, they go crazy

[duenyen]

Yeah! Right on!

[DarkwingNest]

@puckdiv

You're damn right, man!!! I've got nothing to add.

Besides, it just sounds great!^^

[puckdiv]

Hey Jackass...you just did the same. Jake has brought the Ukelele to the mainstream here on the mainlands. He's doing the Islands, culture, and heritage proud by letting us see and hear the Hawaiian musical genre. You on the other hand, need a pineapple shoved up your ass, and to respect others. Would you say the same about IZ? I doubt you would. Which is why you are a JACKASS!

[Hysjulien11]

Amen tp that.

[Intorqueo629]

@puckdiv I wouldn't say it's brought it to the mainstream, per say, but it has made it a bit more popular.

[brackie67]

@puckdiv

it's spelled "per se"

[Holms]

ou yeah everybody who plays covers and make concertw of their national folk music in other countries are traytors =)) man you're insane. most stupid post I've read.

[Sickdrummer1]

That is the most stupid post I've read as well.

[eschelar]

right. So he should "instead embrace the Hawaiian people" by not playing concerts, and only playing the music of homosexual black pagan females? or do you mean homosexual hawaians?

Dumass.

I started learning uke 80% because of Jake. I have personally brought uke music to loads of people many of which also started learning uke. Some like Hawaiian songs, some like mainstream. Me, I like more flamenco type stuff. Oh, did you know that is where the uke comes from? Portugal. Not Hawaii.

Dumass.

[musicalmichaeltran]

that was so great..

[FredFerdberger]

It's Dumb Ass, not dumass. Thanks for the geography lesson. I might buy a Portuguese Uke myself.

[eschelar]

heh. Yeah, I know. I spelled it that way on purpose. I did it twice to show that it was deliberate. Oh well.

I occasionally call them Dum Bass too. Whatever fits.

[YoHuckleberry]

Actually I think he uses Kamaka ukuleles. They're from Hawaii. There was a story on them a while back in The Fretboard Journal. Either way he plays the shit out of it.

[capricorn840]

great musicianship man!!! awesome!!!

[jipes]

Mr Jake has great load of talent and a wonderful feeling he probably motivate many people to play this wonderful and tiny instrument the ukulele ¨Thanks for sharing !

[menestrel76]

des doigts d'or sur un si petit et difficile instrument qu'est le ukulélé.sulime talent, du grand art, je sais de quoi je parle puisque je suis professeur de musique...merci pour ces instants magiques!

[ronthemoron]

Was that the start of Orange World and the very end?

[notvalidcharacters]

Look at it this way- if you already know the song, the surprise effect is spoiled. If you don't know it, having the info before you've heard it doesn't help. It's AFTER you've been impressed that you want that info.

But I've only been doing this 26 years. What do I know.

[Martinring]

Less than you should

[notvalidcharacters]

-meaning ...what?

[mlkalani]

How many shows have you done outside of the continental united states? Music is different in other parts of the world. No one cares how long you've been playing. And btw, what do you play? You're a drummer aren't you?

[notvalidcharacters]

Who are you talking to? What are you talking about?

[addam2315]

simply beautiful

I just love the sound that the uke makes.

[rlctrading]

jake u are so awesome i luv the beatles and im 11 yeas old i luv u bye

[thewetbandito]

why do young kids always have to say how old they are? no one cares! and that just makes us hate you that much more.

[ronthemoron]

Why do assholes like you have to be so rude. They are saying their age becasue it's unusual for kids to listen to such wonderful music. Like when I was younger, my mom made me listen to popular bands instead of music with talent. And you hating them that much moredoesn't mean I do, don't speak on behalf of everyone else on youtube you prick.

[thewetbandito]

why do fuckers like you bitch at people for saying things on the internet? it looks like you were the only person who thumbs downed my comment. and look at yours! :D you're welcome

[ronthemoron]

The fuck are you talking about? All I said was "Was that the start of Orange World and the very end?" And you replied saying that. Either you're a dumbass or you replied to the wrong person.

[notvalidcharacters]

Curious that he introduces Beatles tunes, titles and all, as if nobody's ever heard of them. JS is surely good enough that the tunes would be immediately recognizable. He should just play and let the recognition come; it would render a more powerful presentation.

[thekiwicanuck]

Many of the younger generation these days wouldn't recognise most Beatles tunes, sadly...

[notvalidcharacters]

Even when that's true, announcing the title isn't going to help. But for those who do know them, the recognition adds to the experience. Obviously Jake has concentrated more on playing than on stage presentation. Nothing wrong with that, but in his case he'd get more mileage out of just letting the uke do the talking.

[thekiwicanuck]

Yeah, I guess that's just his style. It works a lot better in his more informal performances like "Crazy G", posted by MichelleKenobi.

[sturgio]

Aloha--

That's local style acknowledging the artist and sometimes how it is a part of you. Jake is showing respect. No offense.

[ex0duzz]

Why wouldnt it help? it might introduce a whole new generation to good music. I know if i hear a song, i'd want to know the name, and then try to find a copy if its good..

[notvalidcharacters]

Not the point at all. I guess none of you have ever been on stage.

Don't see why this is hard to get- it's about dramatic effect. When you have a good piece to present, as here, you amplify its power by just laying it out. Pre-announcing takes the wind out of the sails, like giving away a punch line. You can slate *AFTER* the piece.

I say his talent speaks for itself without celebrity coattails. Y'all disagree, fine, but I say his playing IS that good, and he needds to credit himself.

[fntrainwr3ck]

i would, i'm 17 and have been listening to beatles for over 8 years

[thomasinasadie]

@thekiwicanuck

I disagree, as a 20 something who has grown up on the Beatles since I was born, I am happy to say I've been sharing their amazing songs with my friends all along. :) And I agree with you that it would be sad if any generation ever stopped being able to recognize the beautiful work of George, Paul, John, and Ringo.

The Beatles = Love :)

[resipsaloquitur49]

While you're hung up on whether he introduces his music, the rest of us are simply enjoying this guys extraordinary talent.

[notvalidcharacters]

whatever, dude. I've just made a suggestion as a fellow performer. I'd like to see him get the full credit he deserves with a little polish. Wasn't aware entertainer feedback was verboten.

Obviously some lurker in here knows diddly about stage presence, but hey, if you don't know what I was talking about, that's fine, just enjoy the music instead of posting about nothing.

[johnx1p]

its better to acknowledge the original when you played or performed in audience..

[beatlesbeaglesbears]

It amazes me how this guy can get such a sound out of four strings...he is right there with Iz

[LavaLizard6969]

I used to teach 8th grade science, and one of my projects every year was to have students make a 'musical' instrument to study sound. Most were chimes made of pipes or rubber bands on a cigar box. One year I had this kid who made a beautiful koa ukulele under the tutelage of Hawaii's greatest maker, Kamaka. To get an A the student had to perform for the class. When Jake played, he got the only spontaneous standing ovation I ever experienced in my class. I love seeing former students do well

[duenyen]

Wow! What an incredible story!

[garonz]

Absolutely - Thanks so much for sharing the story!

[LavaLizard6969]

While you're free to call BS all you want, and there are no pics of the event [would have been at least 10 years ago, before we all walked around with digital cameras built in to our phones] I will see about posting a shot of his yearbook pic from 8th grade, along with the rest of the Waiakea Intermediate School Ukulele Band. Maybe even toss in my pic for chuckles.

[kaywoonping]

@LavaLizard6969 Thank you for sharing... nice

[JWazza]

how can people be making so much noise when this man is playing?

[oib4696]

just doing what they did to the beatles? xD

[soloboxsucks]

the people in the audience suck. they are making too many stupid noises. BOO CROWd

[kaboomzor]

I want to be you Jake

[notaguitarhero88]

i think i just came a little.

[Ey3shi3ld]

jake song are less complicated as James hill

ONe day a duo James Hill JAke will be the best ukulele duo !

i prefer jake for his feeling and james for his skill

[mydogjo]

ah jake could you play with a little more feeling? haha irony!!!

[ErnestoandLucy]

when i marry i´m gonna invite this man, to play this song

[zeldagoblin]

When I marry, it's gonna be TO this man, you can come if you like :D

[bonniherself]

My favourite Beatles song, and so beautifully performed! I had no idea a ukulele could be so soulful. Truly inspiring.

[pmabaz]

I'm so inspired! I'm gonna buy me an uk now!

Truly a God given talent to be shared for everyone to hear! Mahalo!

[deraiden]

if i was a girl, i would fall in love with dis guy roffle

[ShaunMartin827]

the level of respect from the audience is amazing its dead silent

[redlebosch]

Oh my god... I'm crying listening to this. Amazing magic.

[lornevic]

Great sound on Waikiki beach.

[coffeewithmark]

Of the many videos i have watched on utube, no one come close to Jake.

[paulluongo]

james hill...look him up my man

[VideoJunkie]

hill only plays quick songs. Jake is great cuz he can play both ballads and fast songs with great feeling and flow it all nicely.

[paulluongo]

james hill man, james hill. Jake obviously has talent, no doubt, James Hill is the full package who best shows the ukulele's legitimacy. I see Jake as an entertainer which is totally fine, James on the other hand is a virtuoso who demonstrates what capabilities the ukulele has

[londuxocents]

I don't think you can call this guy just an entertainer. He's a musician who plays with so much feeling on this tiny instrument. Being a virtuoso has many definitions but if you're applying all of them, I think by the emotion he expresses when playing can count him as one too. He definitely has a unique personal style that obviously shines through to the mass. Man check out the "close to you" vid thats up next in the recommended.

[paulluongo]

what you say is true. My defintion didn't specify Jake as being a virtuoso to but he isn't in James Hill's league. He markets pieces people "may" listen to (which all sound the same) and hope for the best. All in all, my opionion puts James Hill no doubt as the best ukulele alive and most likely ever to live. He is humble, unlike the "mr. sony" Jake who is all about getting coin

[peterng20]

Also one of my favourite Beatles song. Nice job. Even without the crazy solo(whether its possible or not possible to do), it still sounds beautiful. Anyone know the tabs to this?

[teejate]

He has the strength that comes from subtlety. He's the best.

[taleofsixstrings]

Agree!!!!

[mikiscool]

That was very beautiful and heavenly.

[kiddsarah23]

i am sooooo in love with this guy!!!!

[msgtusa]

This guy's work on the ukelele is stunning.

[kaboomzor]

this is my favorite Beatles song. Thakn you so much for posting this. Damn near brought me to tears.

[cohortripper]

thats real good man

[andre2692]

This guy is great nice work

[flipm212]

friggen sweet...

[guting]

sweet