Customer Reviews

Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian: Best of Petty Booka

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was recently introduced to this fantastic Japanese duo by a pal and have been smitten ever since. There is something special about this music. I can't listen to it without smiling! I listen to the disc while riding the subway to work in the morning. I can't believe that I actually look forward to the commute! The subway tunnels ring with their pure harmonies.

Fave tunes: The Tide Is High, Teacher's Pet, I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend. (Heck, the whole CD is groovy. Who am I kidding?!)

I just saw them in concert in NYC last night. They must be seen to be believed...I love Petty Booka's harmonies and wry non-ironic sense of humor. They send you to heaven and back. Top notch covers of great songs and secret meanings come through like a bell...They strum their ukes beautifully in concert. If there is one record you buy this year, make it this Petty Booka compilation.

Great uke playing from both Petty & Booka. Fun vocals, and a array of Hawaiian guitarists, slack key guitarists and other tiki style instruments. To say that this muis is kitchy is an understatement, yet these two gals are sincere, singing in English with Japanese accents. They especially swing hard on Sophisocated Hula, and thier uke skills are featured on a veiety of tracks including Ukulele Lady. The main reason to pick up this disc is for the hot ukulele playing of Petty-Booka and the charmin 1930's vintage rerto hot Hawaiian jazz covers of pop tunes! Fun and essential music, if you don't take it too seriously.

If you like Sol Hoopii's sining and the sound of vintage Hawiian jazz/swing, ukuleles, slack key guitars, and Hawaiian guitars, you'll love this. I can't stand 80's music, or Blondie(or popular music in general) but thier cover of Blondies' song is almost charming. You must get past the fact that they do not pronounce the words properly, and thier Japanese(I guess it's all part of thier CAMPY chram) accents are very noticable. The two songs that I find most enjoyable are the very swinging versions of Sophistocated Hula, and Let's Talk dirty In Hawaiian. They are a little reminiscent of the Boswell Sisters(without the hot syncopations) on Sophistocated Hula, swinging awfully hard, and strumming thier ukes in a way that would make Cliff Edwards smile down on them from heaven. They also play a lot of uke on Ukulele Lady, my only complaint is some of the songs don't feature these ukulele virtiousos enough and some tracks are overproduced, when all that is needed are ukes, Hawaiian guitars and a bass, but this is unusual music, and if you are a ukulele player like myself, thsi is essential. Come on, it's not everyday that you can find a cd with any ukulele playing on it. Yes some of the material is better then others but it's a fun listen. One would hope for an all Hawaiian jazz, rather then some of the Raggae flavoured tunes, still pick this up next time you see it. And they are adorable looking!!! For all you historians, you will find they sound a lot like Louisa Moe, who sang with Mendellson's hawaiian Sereanders, on Hula Blues!!!

then you will like this CD. Admittedly, this CD is an acquired taste, but it is fun, cute, musical, whimsical, and ultimately enjoyable. the osng selection is wide ranging, culled from Petty Booka's first 12 Japanese releases. If you like Ukelele music, you should get the "Singin' In The Rain" CD by Cliff (Ukelele Ike) Edwards, it will truly open up your eyes. And anything by King Benny Nawahi, SolHoopi, and Roy Smeck, all great stuff from the 20's and 30's.

I saw Petty Booka in concert for the first time a few days ago, and I am SMITTEN. This ukulele duo is just so good and so charming, one can't help but fall in love with their note perfect harmonies Hawaiian style! I was really excited to get this CD, which is a collection of the best tracks from Petty Booka's many, many Japanese releases, plus two exclusive, never before released songs "These Boots Are Made For Walking" and "Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian." Backed by an ace band of Island style musicians playing slack key guitar, Hawaiian steel, and other authentic instruments, the Petty Booka girls do amazingly adorable versions of songs ranging from Tom Waits' "Hang Down Your Head" to Blondie's hit "The Tide is High" to Gomez' "Whipping Picadilly" plus ukulele standards like "Sophisticated Hula." Petty Booka is so charming and so GOOD, you can't help but love them!!

Petty Booka is a phenomenon that should not be missed. I ordered this CD after hearing that they had a great version of Ukulele Lady on it. I am learning how to play the Ukulele myself and this is one of the first songs I am trying to tackle. Plus there are great covers of "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" and "The Tide is High."

I was initially charmed by Petty Booka--two cute Japanese girls singing a Ramones song Hawaiian style? Ha! That's great!

However, the novelty quickly wore off. The engineering on this disc makes it sound like cheap karaoke music, which I found a little irritating. In addition, the cover songs are funny, but like I said, the novelty wears off pretty fast.

This CD would be good for parents with small children, because it is awfully precious and I think little kids would find it fun. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it. I really don't think that anyone could listen to this CD frequently enough to justify the purchase.

The bottom line is, Petty Booka is cute Japanese girls performing Hawaiian ukelele music. Only you can know for sure whether this is something you'd enjoy.