Translator: Kaori Nozaki Reviewer: Riaki Poništ
Aloha!
I was born and raised in Hawaii.
Very excited to be here at TEDxTokyo.
I met that Patrick over there at TED a few months ago,
just an amazing individual, and he's been a huge inspiration for me.
So it truly is an honor to be here.
I'm just going to tell you a little bit about myself before I start playing.
This is my ukulele.
And I've been playing since I was four years old.
My mom, she played and she taught me how to play.
And I've been passionate about this instrument ever since.
I truly believe that -
well, here's an idea for you:
I actually believe that the ukulele is the instrument of peace.
It's the instrument of peace because I truly believe
that if everyone played the ukulele, this world would be a better place.
(Laughter)
So I'm going to try to prove that to you in a bit.
But I started out playing a lot of Hawaiian music, things like this.
(Playing ukulele conventional style)
And then over the years as I got older,
I started listening to different styles of music.
Then those three chords became things like -
(Intro riff from "Sunshine of Your Love")
I start really rocking out on this thing.
So, I'm going to play a little tune for you.
This is a piece that was inspired by one of my favorite flamenco guitar players,
the great Carlos Montoya.
This is a piece entitled "Let's Dance."
(Ukulele arpeggio)
And here's something I call "flamenco ukulele."
(Laughter)
(Playing ukulele: "Let's Dance")
(Playing ends)
(Cheers) (Applause)
[Jake Shimabukuro Let's Dance / Ave Maria]
(Tuning ukulele)
Well, I'm going to try something, something a little different here.
I've always loved -
I loved all different styles of music when I was growing up,
and Franz Schubert was always one of my favorite composers.
So here's one of my favorite Franz Schubert pieces.
(Tuning ukulele)
Here's an arrangement of one of the most gorgeous melodies, I think.
Here's "Ave Maria" in the key of C major.
(Tuning ukulele)
(Playing ukulele: "Ave Maria")
(Playing ends)
(Applause)
Thank you. Thank you.
(Applause)
Thank you.
(Applause)
Thank you.
(Applause)
Thank you very much. Thank you.
(Applause)
Wow!
(Chuckles)
Weren't expecting this.
(Chuckles)
Patrick Newell: Just for your information, we do have another song planned.
(Laughter)
Bring it on!
Jake Shimabukuro: Thank you.
(Cheers)
A few months ago, I was invited to England
to perform for Queen Elizabeth there,
and it was one of the most incredible experiences in my life.
It's called the Royal Variety Performance that they put on each year.
And some of the other performers were people like Bette Midler, Lady Gaga.
They had Michael Boublé.
And then there was me, a ukulele player from Hawaii.
And the highlight for me that evening was after the show
when we were greeted by the Queen.
And just a quick story.
We're all standing backstage.
I was standing in between Bette Midler - and Lady Gaga was here.
I was so nervous.
I was just like, "What am I going to say?"
But moments before she arrived, the producer of the show came down,
and he said, "I just want to go over some of the rules,
the proper protocol when her majesty arrives."
So I thought, "OK, this is great."
So he said, "Just remember three things.
The first thing is you're not allowed to reach for her hand.
You have to wait
until she extends her hand to you, and then you can shake your hand."
I thought, "OK, I'll just keep my hands in my pocket and I'll be safe, right?"
"The second thing is," he said,
"you're not allowed to speak to her unless she speaks to you first."
So I thought "Okay, I'll keep my mouth shut and it should be fine."
"And the third thing is," he said, "in this situation,"
because we were at the Blackpool Opera House
just at the backstage, he said, "it's not necessary to bow.
You don't have to bow or curtsy."
So I thought, "OK, one less thing for me to worry about."
So I thought, "OK, I'm ready to meet the Queen," right?
And I don't know if it's the Japanese in me,
(Laughter)
but as soon as she entered the room, I started doing this.
(Laughter)
(Applause)
And I was the only one.
(Laughter)
But I've always been a huge Beatles fan,
so performing there in England was just a dream come true.
That was my first visit there.
(Tuning)
And here is one of my favorite songs to perform.
It was written by the great George Harrison of the Beatles.
And he's had a few elbow rubs with the Queen himself.
So here's one of my favorites.
Here's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
(Playing ukulele: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps")
(Playing ends)
(Cheers) (Applause)
Thank you very much.
(Cheers) (Applause)
Thank you.
(Cheers) (Applause)
Thanks, Patrick.
(Cheers)
PN: For those of you that want to leave for a break time you can,
those of you who want to stay,
and maybe we could get one more song from Jake.
What do you guys think?
(Cheers)
I mean you're welcome to go on break or listen to Jake.
(Jake laughs)
It's a tough decision, right? You don't mind? Would you?
JS: Sure. I'd be honored. PN: Thanks! Phew!
JS: Oh, thank you very much. Wow.
(Laughs)
(Laughter)
(Tuning ukulele)
You know, one of the things that I love about being a ukulele player
is that no matter where in the world I go to play,
the audience has such low expectations.
(Laughter)
A huge plus, for sure.
OK, I'll try this piece here. This is a -
(Tuning ukulele)
This is actually the song that I performed for Her Majesty that night.
And it's another one of my favorite Beatles tunes.
I love the Beatles and -
Here 's one called "In My Life."
(Playing ukulele: "In My Life")
(Playing ends)
(Applause)
Thank you very much.
Enjoy the rest of TEDxTokyo.
(Applause)
JS: Thank you guys. Thanks, Patrick.
PN: Thank you.