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Highway Kuricorder

Japan is full of musical genius, it’s just getting lost in translation. In further establishment of the proof of this self obvious thesis, we present you with this little gem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Df8RcBm6_Q

The band is called Kurikorder (“chestnut recorder”) and apparently is well established in Japan. They formed in 1994 and by now have 5 albums, 2 ‘best of’ albums, 1 live album, 1 DVD, 3 singles, 2 books/CDs, 2 scores, 3 soundtracks, numerous Ukelele albums (mostly covers) and tonnes of compilations under their collective belts. The band also performs for a children’s TV show called Pythagoras Switch on Japanese TV, and their music has been featured in the movie Quill.

This cover of the Highway Star is from their 2006 album Ukulele Kuricorder. You can find Japanese imports of the album on your local Amazon, but at the prices that can not be justified unless you are a serious ukulele/recorder fanatic. The album also includes covers of Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nacht Musik, Imperial March from the Star Wars, John Lennon’s Power to the People, and Queen’s Bohemian Rapsody, performed on recorder and ukulele, with tuba and percussion for the rhythm section.

Thanks to Nigel Young for spotting the clip, and to Akiko Hada and Eastern Ukuleles blog for further info.



18 Comments to “Highway Kuricorder”:

  1. 1
    kraatzy says:

    Unbelieveble – but obviously – absolutely true.

    🙂 🙂 🙂

  2. 2
    Crimson Ghost says:

    I’ve seen this before, I thought here, but it must have been uploaded to the Hub or something… cute!

    Have to mention “Pythagoras” because I study it from time to time and all musical avenues come from it, one way or another.

  3. 3
    Grzesiek says:

    It sounds more like Jozin z bazin by Ivan Mladek and Banjo Band…

  4. 4
    Crimson Ghost says:

    I’m still on the fence about this one after a couple of years now.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-ZxlxTvjI8&feature=related

  5. 5
    stoffer says:

    This belongs right “up there” with the Leningrad Cowboys version of SOTW.

    CG, call me crazy but I thought the youtube clip of Highway Star was pretty good, at the very least they get an A for effort.
    Cheers

  6. 6
    Crimson Ghost says:

    The Dread Zeppelin version of SOTW was killer in concert… the guitarist started to play that sort of skip beat rhythm, and I just somehow felt it was going to be SOTW, this was sometime back in 96 or so when I went to a great show of theirs and had no idea they would be playing anything but Zep meets Elvis meets reggae tunes… it was a pleasant surprise.

  7. 7
    Roberto says:

    ahahahaah great version, I love it!

    please check this and leave a comment if you want:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scM60OYxITM

    …summer version…

  8. 8
    Crimson Ghost says:

    Very good, but blasphemy! How dare anyone play a Purple song without using a Strat! Tee Hee lol!(touche Morse haters, it can be done)

  9. 9
    Crimson Ghost says:

    Of all the clips I see Roberto, your guitarist smokes pretty hard in HS here, if you ask me.
    Good stuff there!

  10. 10
    Roberto says:

    thanks
    a comment on you tube would be very appreciate…
    thanks

  11. 11
    Crimson Ghost says:

    I’ll leave some, I noticed there weren’t any.

  12. 12
    Roberto says:

    many thanks

  13. 13
    Roberto says:

    you have been very kind…thanks

  14. 14
    Crimson Ghost says:

    All good stuff, and good band chemistry.

    Cheers!

  15. 15
    AndreA says:

    bella Roberto!

    I liked to listen “your” Highway Star,nice to see/listen the tapping on guitar to substitute Jon Lord solo: great guitar solo and good band.

    bravi vi invidio

    me too i playied drums but now it is long time I stopped to play it,I envy you all!! :-p

  16. 16
    Roberto says:

    thanks Andrea…

  17. 17
    Crimson Ghost says:

    Also Roberto, you may have just been playing around, but the KISS video is great, just look at yourselves, what fun that must have been!
    Joyous!

  18. 18
    Roberto says:

    ooo yes ‘kiss night’ has been faboulous…walking in the street with that masks and having eyes upon you…
    very funny, but musically I just don’t like Kiss…
    we have done other concerts for the ‘new year’ and ‘carnevale’ with (500 and 350) people jumping and dancing…when people are happy while you play, you are happy too…
    thanks

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