Eric Davidson: Ukedoodledandy

Brexit: so much to answer for. Hailing from the old Edinburgh mining suburb Newtongrange, the poet, comic and ukulele enthusiast Eric Davidson was planning a show about America originally—hence the title—but then felt compelled to throw in lots of newer stuff about UK politics too, what with all the post-referendum machinations.

Hence a wider cross-section of characters feels the wrath of his furious strumming: George Osborne, Donald Trump, Jeremy Corbyn, Hilary Clinton, Nigel Farage. Davidson certainly cranks out some songs, but saves time on the writing side by using other people’s tunes, and shoehorning new lyrics into them. Actually he keeps in a lot of the old words too, so these are often just quasi-cover versions. Not that his devoted following seem to mind.

The tracks he reinterprets are a mixed bag: Pulp’s 'Common People', The Beatles’ 'Norwegian Wood', that old 'Mickey Mouse song', and Oasis’ 'Half a World Away', rejigged as 'Half a Twirl Away', a not very affectionate ode to an overweight ex-girlfriend. Hmm.

There are a few other disquieting moments along the way, notably a rather crass song about Cliff Richard, and a line about Hilary Clinton moving back into the White House and coming across Barack Obama’s Quran; which clearly isn’t meant as offensively as it sounds, but would no doubt make Trump laugh. Always a sign that a gag is worth quietly disposing of.

He may not be to everyone’s tastes, but generally Davidson is an engaging character, mixing the show up with pithy poetry too. YouTube-try before you buy.