Shock and outrage struck an Austin, TX backyard recently when a young woman, Dana Buckman, performed her ukulele covers of yesterday and today’s hits that she claimed were “brighter” and “more listenable” than the originals.
“It was so messed up,” says on anonymous partygoer. “We were just trying to eat some burgers, and suddenly Dana’s pulling up her YouTube channel and asking if she can play for us.”
The trouble started when Buckman purchased a ukulele “on a whim” because as she says, “I’m just like that, ya know?” Since then, she’s been an active user of several ukelele chords sites, learning as many songs as she can and playing them publicly whenever possible.
“I never thought I’d have such a strong opinion on Jason Mraz,” says Buckman’s own mother, Lori Buckman. “Now I fucking hate that guy.”
What started as light, casual entertainment for friends at parties quickly spiraled into an unhealthy obsession. Buckman began inviting friends over just to hear her newest renditions of Beyoncé, U2, and every volume of “NOW That’s What I Call Music!”
“Every Sunday, she invites us to her house for a mini-concert in her living room,” says longtime friend Rachel May. “It’s just her sitting on a stool that’s been wrapped in Christmas lights.”
She adds, “At first it was fun hearing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and a few Colbie Callait covers, but recently Dana has turned into a monster.”
Her hobby went global three months ago, when Buckman started a YouTube Channel called “Dana Covers The Classics” under the username BubblesAndBowsLaughGirl, which includes her covers of artists such as Carole King, Tina Turner, Radiohead, Korn, Menudo, Gwen Stefani, The Who, Milli Vanilli, Weird Al Yankovic, and even more wholly un-ukulelable artists. Recently, she’s been particularly taken with covering rap songs by plucking her uke softly and singing them slower. She says that, “Everything just sounds better on a ukulele!”
“You wouldn’t believe how many views I’ve been getting, particularly on my rendition of The Star Spangled Banner!” says Buckman. “I think my personal spin on it plus how raspy my voice sounded that day made it just a little bit better!”
Says one coworker: “Paul McCartney never meant for ‘Hey, Jude’ to be played on a tiny guitar by a 24-year-old yahoo who recently got bangs.”
For those in the Austin area, you can see Dana Buckman perform this spring at local candle makers Todd Bacher & Shana Nichols’ outdoor wedding.
Adds Buckman, “I’ve also been thinking about trying an open mic.”
