Graham Gouldman has released a brand new video for his song “Play Me (The Ukulele Song)”, taken from his latest album, “I Have Notes”. The video is directed by Graham’s former 10cc bandmate, and legendary music video director Kevin Godley.
Gouldman recalls the inspiration for the exuberant childish joy of the song: “I know someone that’s got a very nice collection of vintage guitars. They’re worth a lot of money, and he won’t let anybody play them! I said, “It’s not right. They’re sitting there all on their own in the cold, in your safe! They need to be played. That’s what they’re for!”
I wrote Play Me initially as part of a children’s music album a friend of mine was making. As I was writing the song I thought it was quite charming and too good for library music that might never see the light of day! A bit like those vintage guitars.
It was natural for me to approach Kevin Godley to see if, first of all, he liked the song and, secondly, if he could come up with a great video idea for it, which of course he did.”
Godley explains: “The charm of ‘Play Me’ lies in giving humanity and hope to an inanimate object so, once I’d decided that drawings were the way to go, I thought that watching the drawings take shape and becoming the active story could look more interesting than traditional animation, which was way beyond our budget. After a short day with a long roll of paper and about 50 felt tipped – pens I hope we managed to add a visual simplicity and urgency that gets the spirit of GGs song across without being too literal”
So get out your ukulele and play along!
Graham Gouldman’s latest album “I Have Notes” is out now on Lojinx CD, vinyl LP and digital. Graham Gouldman’s Heart Full of Songs is currently touring the UK:
Mon 10 Mar The Gate Arts Centre, Cardiff
Tue 11 Mar The Hafren, Newtown
Thu 13 Mar St Luke’s, Glasgow
Fri 14 Mar Playhouse, Alnwick
Sat 15 Mar RNCM Manchester
Sun 16 Mar City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds
Mon 17 Mar The Stables Theatre, Wavendon
Wed 19 Mar The Factory Live, Worthing
Thu 20 Mar Cadogan Hall, London
Fri 21 Mar Cheese & Grain, Frome
Sat 22 Mar Corn Exchange Theatre, Stamford
Sun 23 Mar Theatre Seven, Shrewsbury
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