30 Day Song Challenge #27: A Song That You Wish You Could Play

[Day 27: A Song That You Wish You Could Play]

Beirut – Elephant Gun

If I could pick one instrument to be able to play properly, it would be the ukulele. It’s just such a beautiful instrument, and features prominently in the music of one of my favourite musicians, Beirut.

There’s just something about the ukulele and the music it creates that reminds me of the world out there and its possibilities. Plus it’s portability can’t hurt. I actually purchased a cheap crappy uke a year or so ago, however got it signed by Dent May at a gig and so have been unwilling to actually play it. And if you read my last 30 Day Song Challenge post then you will know that I don’t exactly have a great track record when it comes to learning instruments.

But this song, Elephant Gun, is just perfect. It’s my favourite Beirut song, and music generally just doesn’t come much better than this. I’d dearly love to be able to play this song on ukulele, in no small part because it would also mean being able to play other Beirut songs, some of Dent May’s music, and a bit of Eddie Vedder’s solo stuff. 

I’m definitely going to try and teach myself ukulele (and subsequently fail horribly) at some point in the near future.