Where Happy Little Bluebirds Fly: Brittni Paiva and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

Today's random tune is by ukulele mistress and guitar prodigy Brittni Paiva. From Hilo, Hawaii, she is known as "the ukulele darling" who besides uke and guitar also plays electric bass, piano and drums. With the ukulele, she is able to move between genres such as classical, ancient Japanese, jazz, world beat, pop, flamenco and Latin music, as well as adding her own special touch. This song, the classic Somewhere Over the Rainbow, can be found on her 2009 album Four Strings: The Fire Within (2009). Full disclosure: this song often makes Mike tear up a little. Also, a very happy anniversary Megan Kamerick - one day I wished upon a star, and now it's 22 years.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Singin' in the Rain: Brittni Paiva and "Thunderstorm Slack Key"

Sit back and listen to the beautiful rain with this song, Thunderstorm Slack Key by young ukelele and guitar prodigy Brittni Paiva from Hawaii. A native of Hilo, she is known as "the ukulele darling" who besides uke and guitar also plays electric bass, piano and drums. The slack key in the title of the song refers to the guitar tuning - one or more of the strings on the guitar is detuned until all the strings form a single chord. You can find Thunderstorm Slack Key on her 2004 CD Brittni X 3, and on the compilation album Ki Ho 'Alu No Ka Oi, Vol. 2 (2007).