ANOTHER MUSICAL MUSING, 2 February 2024: A Portentous Day, both Musically and Climatically!

Here’s a musing from a few of years back that I keep polishing, updating, and reposting. I do this because of the confluence of two of the most portentous days of the year! Some say . . .

Anyway, enjoy–and for many of you gentle readers who have let me onto your screens over the past few years–re-enjoy!

Admittedly, Groundhog Day is more of an annual “event” rather than a “holiday.”  Nonetheless, it takes on importance in that is it also “World Play Your Ukulele Day.” 

Who knew? 

Always a bit of a contrarian, let me add here a song for those of you who yearn for sunshine in these dreary winterish days. But beware! Keep your wishes hidden from those groundhog “weather guessers” out there. Don’t let them listen. Click or tap on the triangle in the following image for a bit of bad advice for our furry friends. Again, don’t let them listen!

It is also a day that we New Englanders strive to sense the beginning of the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring—at least those New England natives of the groundhog persuasion.  Pray for a cloudy day!  Avoid shadows except in song!

And, “shadowy” songs are out there!

Here’s another that we can take a listen to. Shadow Walz was featured in “the “Gold Diggers of 1933,” one of the great musical review movies of the depression era.

Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for a Busby Berkeley, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell over-the-top take on this shadow tune!

Here’s a more modern take on the shadow theme.

Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for the inimitable Ella!

This next one is one of my favorite shadow songs of the era.

“Me and My Shadow” was published in 1927. Officially the credits show it as written by Al Jolson, Billie Rose, and Dave Dreyer. Alas, Jolson was often given credits on sheet music so he could earn more money by popularizing them, but he played no actual part in writing this song and never recorded it! Those were the shady song-plugging days of Tin Pan Alley. But, dozens of others did making it one of the jazz standards of the day!

Click or tap on the triangle in the next image to listen to one of the earlier recordings and one of the few that includes the verse.

Now if you want to take the time and have a bit of fun, here’s an example of what became a favorite vaudeville routine based on our song–the “shadow dance.” It starts a bit slowly but the hammed up performance by Zero Mostel and Tommy Tune is worth the wait! So, click or tap on the triangle in the next image for the intro by Dean Martin and the “schticky” performance of the dancers!

Now, back to our furry friend of the day. I couldn’t find many ukuleles directly associated with a groundhog.  But, our animal friend has a long and historic association with that older cousin of the ukulele, the banjo.  It seems that it wasn’t uncommon back in 19^th century Appalachia to use a groundhog skin to make a primitive banjo. 

There is also a great old-time tune called “Groundhog.”  Here it is played on a fretless banjo just like an old Appalachian mountain one!

At the risk of all my vegan and vegetarian friends—to say nothing of those simply of the squeamish persuasion—I must add a good ole recipe for groundhog stew.  Well, why not?

Or, take the easy way out.

Oooops!

Now go seek out a groundhog, before he sees his shadow, and chase him back into his hole with a tune on “World Play Your Ukulele Day!”      

Let’s wind up this merry stroll into the wildness of wintry February mythology with a groundhog song based on–of all things–a sea shanty! Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for listen and a look.

And now, some groundhog cupcakes and milk while we wait for the shadowy forecast! 

It might be a strange weather prediction for us in these days of division and we could all use a little sweetness!

Keep those critters in the shade and STAY TUNED!