Australia the movie

**salukulady** · 02-01-2009, 04:50 AM

"Australia" with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman finally arrived at our local $3 theatre, so I went and saw it. In a campfire scene the cook is playing a uke like instrument. They only have a close up of it once and it was so quick I couldn't count the tuning pegs. The top of the headstock was the same shape as my 1925 gibson, so it might just be a uke. I was wondering if Australia had a similar instrument from that era. The movie is set in 1941. What is the instrument, and has anyone figured out the song he's playing? The song is used several time through out the movie and I'd love to learn it. When they rolled the credits there were too many songs used to figure out which one it was. I may have to wait until it's out on DVD. Any ideas from down under?

**Ukulele JJ** · 02-01-2009, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by salukulady

has anyone figured out the song he's playing? The song is used several time through out the movie and I'd love to learn it.

I just pulled up the Australia soundtrack on iTunes, and it only listed five songs:

By the Boab Tree
The Drover's Ballad
You Ride Your Way and I'll Ride Mine
All Night Long
Waltzing Matilda

Maybe one of those is the one you're looking for?

JJ

**UkuLeLesReggAe** · 02-01-2009, 06:19 PM

when i 1st seen the previews for this... i was honestly like

-_-

**salukulady** · 02-01-2009, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by Ukulele JJ

I just pulled up the Australia soundtrack on iTunes, and it only listed five songs:

By the Boab Tree
The Drover's Ballad
You Ride Your Way and I'll Ride Mine
All Night Long
Waltzing Matilda

Maybe one of those is the one you're looking for?

JJ

Thanks, but none of those are it.

**salukulady** · 02-02-2009, 03:59 PM

Hey, someone's gotta know the answer......?

**cpatch** · 02-02-2009, 04:11 PM

Haven't seen the movie, don't know what the instrument is, but I believe the song is "Such Great Heights" by Iron and Wine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKGHkBComjM

Lots of uke covers on YouTube (some will show up under "The Postal Service," who did the original) but here's one dedicated to UU:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAnzns0sTT4

**salukulady** · 02-02-2009, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by cpatch

Haven't seen the movie, don't know what the instrument is, but I believe the song is "Such Great Heights" by Iron and Wine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKGHkBComjM

Lots of uke covers on YouTube (some will show up under "The Postal Service," who also covered it) but here's one dedicated to UU:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAnzns0sTT4

Hey that's it. But in the movie the uke played the melody the guy is singing. How did you know it and how did you find it?

**cpatch** · 02-02-2009, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by salukulady

Hey that's it. But in the movie the uke played the melody the guy is singing. How did you know it and how did you find it?

I either have an incredibly impressive knowledge of generally useless stuff or I'm a master of Google. It depends on the circumstances.

And I was actually wrong...The Postal Service did the original. (I've corrected my post.) Iron and Wine's cover also appeared in the movie "Garden State."