Are Cajun and Zydeco one and the same?
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Are Cajun and Zydeco one and the same?
You are getting beyond my knowledge, but I can say no. I am a aficionado of the music only in I know what I like. In my mind, Cajun music is like
country music only in the Cajun style. Zydeco is Cajun music taken to the country rock level. I struggle with these descriptions because I am not educated in the genre. I do know I like both but prefer Cajun.
While I like the music, I mostly have no idea what they are saying because most of it is in Louisiana French which is a different version of French spoken elsewhere. Because of the isolation of the French speaking people, the language didn't evolve like it did in the rest of the world so they speak what is probably a purer version of French than what you would hear in France or Canada.
I found THIS that might help.
The best thing I can say is Evangeline country in Louisiana is a really cool place to visit!
Austin National Anthem ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySNON249yes
Wow---what a treasure chest of information Mike---thank you :clap:
First, the instrument the young lady was playing in the song that got this started, I now know is a button accordion and is and Irish instrument.
Regarding the changes to French in LA, the same happened in Quebec. I learned French Canadian while living in Montreal. It is of questionable value to me in France. Depending on the location and the individual, I am speaking to in France, I might be better off using English---many look down their upturned noses at French Canadian.Quote:
The accordion is an important instrument in Irish Traditional Music, including the ever-popular Ceili style, as is the concertina, and has been since its arrival in the country in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The ten-key form of the instrument (the melodeon) is still played in some parts of Ireland, most notably in Connemara, though most Irish musicians prefer the more standard two-row button version or the Button and Piano Accordion.
The German dialect that I spoke as a child, is exactly the same--for the same reasons. The "separated development" of the dialect was not only independent of what was going on in Germany--there are very distinct differences in the dialect here in very small areas. As an example, a manure spreader, (which did not exist in Germany at the time of immigration and thus was "created" here) can have 3 or 4 terms used for it within a 30 mile radius.
Some years ago, I took a German to English primer from our Catholic grade school from the turn of the 20 century with me to Germany and asked a number of people from different regions to read from it. We (PA Dutch) mostly come from the black forest region or Palatinate. Only older people from that region could read the text, and even there they had blanks.
Having spent cumulative years in Germany, I have relearned current German but it is not unusual for the dialect to sneak in on me while in Germany.
Moving to the Canadian origin of the Acadians and their exile from what is called the maritimes, my mother's family (my Grandfather to be precise) came from Nova Scotia. His family was English, but there is some foggy connection to the Acadians in general and to Evangeline in particular--although I'm not convinced she was a real person :shrug:
Many claim the Acadians were victims of ethnic cleansing. I can believe that, while hunting in Newfoundland I asked my guide about the indigenous people. His response---"there aren't any". My question: "what do you mean there aren't any?" His answer, "because we killed them all". I latter verified the accuracy of his response!
And now: back to the original music link, this was preformed not in Cajun country---but in a major music festival in Ireland and it is an Irish Folk Song: The Galway Girl:
Quote:
Galway Girl
Ed Sheeran
She played the fiddle in an Irish band
But she fell in love with an English man
Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand
Said, "Baby, I just wanna dance"
I meet her on Grafton street right outside of the bar
She shared a cigarette with me while her brother played the guitar
She asked me, "What does it mean, the Gaelic ink on your arm?"
Said, "It was one of my friend's songs, do you want to drink on?"
She took Jamie as a chaser, Jack for the fun
She got Arthur on the table with Johnny riding as a shotgun
Chatted some more, one more drink at the bar
Then put Van on the jukebox, got up to dance
You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band
But she fell in love with an English man
Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand
Said, "Baby, I just wanna dance"
With my pretty little Galway girl
You're my pretty little Galway girl
You know she beat me at darts and then she beat me at pool
And then she kissed me like there was nobody else in the room
As last orders were called was when she stood on the stool
After dancing to Kaleigh, singing to trad tunes
I never heard Carrickfergus ever sang so sweet
Acapella in the bar using her feet for a beat
Oh, I could have that voice playing on repeat for a week
And in this packed out room swear she was singing to me
You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band
But she fell in love with an English man
Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand
Said, "Baby, I just wanna to dance"
My pretty little Galway girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway girl
And now we've outstayed our welcome and it's closing time
I was holding her hand, her hand was holding mine
Our coats both smell of smoke, whisky and wine
As we fill up our lungs with the cold air of the night
I walked her home then she took me inside
To finish some Doritos and another bottle of wine
I swear I'm gonna put you in a song that I write
About a Galway girl and a perfect night
She played the fiddle in an Irish band
But she fell in love with an English man
Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand
Said, "Baby, I just wanna to dance"
My pretty little Galway girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway girl, hey
Flaco Jimenez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6bm2GQ4CBc
At the risk of repeating myself, I am posting Suzanne, one of Leonard Cohen’s great songs, as sung by Neil Diamond from his 1972 album “Stones” on which he sung other songwriters’ masterpieces he admired. The album is stacked with some of my favorites in arresting arraignments worth your searching them down if you like syrupy songs like I do.
https://youtu.be/AmP5jXZV4kY
I have found I do not care much for opera, but there are some arias which are stunning to the bone. Un Bel Di Vidremo from Puccini’s Madam Butterfly may be the most stunning of female such. If it is sung well and does not not give you goose bumps, then forget about the genre. The song is a forgotten lover’s cry before she commits seppuku, so the drama is not overdone. Some time ago I went on a search of YouTube to find my favorite performance of the aria and found I like the singer, Renata Tebaldi, best. She is a mezzo-soprano in contrast with the usual soprano version, which adds a bit more to the richness to my hearing. This performance was from the later stage of her career in which she had a vigorous dispute and rivalry with her contemporary soprano diva, Maria Callas. You might pull down Callas’ version to compare for yourself, if you are interested.
https://youtu.be/IYE99lyfzrw
This is one of my all time favorite pieces.
Here played by Alice Sara Ott, 31 years old and unfortunately diagnosed as having MS. The good news is that the treatments for MS have come a long way since I was making 100 mile bike rides for them.
I work with a lovely young lady of 60 who has MS but most of the time she is the only one who knows--she does have to avoid getting overly tired or stressed but she is fully mobile and rides her bike and paddles her kayak regularly.
^^^
Oh, that is just wonderful, both the soloist and the orchestra are perfect.
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If Beethoven floats your boat, I highly recommend the movie below depicting the first playing of his revolutionary Symphony #3 “Eroica.” This symphony truly marked the landmark onset of the Romantic period of classical music, and as it was stated in the movie, “From now, everything changes.”
https://youtu.be/UtA7m3viB70
Lovely, there are times that I wish I had lived when the masters worked---but then I realize very few ever got to hear their work--we are blessed to be able to enjoy their art at will :clap:
Here is another.
The location is in Norway and the ruins which have been incorporated into this modern structure date to the mid 12th century.
There are a number of venues in Europe that either incorporate into a modern "surround" or use in their stabilized state of ruin, without adornment, as part of the experience.
I was awakened around midnight last night and started reading an article about Buddy Holly's untimely death. That lead to an article about the demise of several members of Lynyrd Skynyrd in a plane crash. Which took me to the music of George Thorogood.
I recognize a couple of his songs, but I don't recall his name or the name of his band, the Destroyers. I'm not surprised, at that time I was into 50s and 60s rock, but mostly country.
After a few YouTube videos I found that I really like his music. I especially like the music when I can see him in a video. Watching how he gets into his music is almost as cool as the music itself.
https://youtu.be/--AvCsh48bk
I'll have to come back to that when i have some time----but for now I will offer up my favorite rendition of that song. John Lee Hooker convinces me he has been there and done that!
They don't get any better than John Lee Hooker, Dave!
For an extra treat, here is John Lee Hooker and George Thorogood on the stage at the same time!
BOOGIE!
[edit]
I forgot to mention Albert Collins is on the same stage as John Lee Hooker and George Thorogood!
And then there is this with Albert Collins and George Thorogood.
Madison Blues
Thorogood is the real deal, the masters come out to play with him. :worship:
I just found the Whole Concert
I just got time to go through that---I'll do that again tonight :clap:
That is the kind of thing that makes me wish I had been there :smokin::smokin::flower::hatoff:
One of my favorite Thorogood songs :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrjxXQIi7Qo
Best Selling Artists 1979-2019 in a fascinating time lapse graph —
https://youtu.be/a3w8I8boc_I
Do Not Miss
I saw George and the Destroyers (when they were a 5 man band) at a bar in Flagstaff Az called Shakey Drakes. Would have been around 1981.:smokin:
Shakey Drakes.. A real landmark in Flag.
A white guy doing Boogie Chillen is just not right.
I do remember Dooley's and Mr Luckies and the Minder Binders etc...
This has been a whole new adventure to me. I don't know that I have ever heard George Thorogood before---and he is the whitest black dude I ever did see---and that is a compliment :clap:
Jumping is not the only thing white men can't do :peace:
I am sure this has been posted before---but this just came up in rotation and made me stop working to turn all my attention to listening---what a lovely lady with a lovely voice :clap:
The side bar got me again, Dave! This time I found a collection of her songs titled "The Album That Never Was". A collection of her works apparently put together by a fan.
I am just now starting to listen, but it is Alison, so it has to be good. :love:Quote:
There is usually a long interval between Alison Krauss albums. But she does much outside her own published work. This is a collection of songs that Alison has performed in other venues and on the albums of others. From folk to classic rock and pop, from bluegrass to children's songs, from ballads to country to jazz, Dr Krauss here demonstrates the depth and the passion of her gift.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htk-hIvG6bk
Great---thank you---and thank you for introducing me to this treasure some years ago :clap: :bowdown:
Aly has been at the top of my list for many years. Very unfortunately, she has had serious voice impairment the last few years, which explains her sparse production.
Another new voice came up while random playing on YouTube---and when I went to see who it was--the image didn't fit the voice--and now I have added yet one more to my musical experience :cool:
Charlie Landsborough
Very nice, Dave. I wi have a look further into his music.
I just watched the Linda Ronstadt documentary The Sound of My Voice on CNN on demand for free. I watched on HULU and can't post a link but if you can get CNN on demand you can search for it. It is also available on several streaming services for a small fee.
It was a very good film for me, I have been a fan since the 60s and only recently learned how big of a star she really was. It was a fun film and a emotional film. I plan to watch it again.
On edit.
I was surprised to learn that she recorded the largest selling Spanish language album in history!
I happened to see it as well---and glad I did. Here is a link to CNN and the documentary Mike is talking about.
I think when she was at the peak of her career I was so drawn to her dark eyes and long long hair I missed how wonderful her voice was. Hers was one of those shows I tried not to miss!
I think the documentary did an excellent job of showcasing the range and depth of her voice.:clap:
Estas Tonne is a legendary busker street musician seen all around the streets of Europe. I have posted videos of him before, but he has now gone into the concert hall. Below is a video of part of one of his such appearances. He is genuinely inventive and owner of his instrument...a true master of minor keys, which speak to me.
https://youtu.be/Kbkc_0Ns6q0