Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Where y'at?


Happy Mardi Gras everyone. Hope y'all have an excellent day, full of good food and music. Wear a little purple, green or gold. Try and work a little dance step into your daily routine.


I really fell down on the job this year, and I don't have a lot of good visuals and music. I tried to find a digital version of James "Sugar Boy" Crawford's original recording of "Iko Iko" (originally known as "Jockamo".) It's a quintessential New Orleans song. Most people think it's much older than it really is--Crawford wrote it in 1954, and the Dixie Cups had a top 40 hit with it in 1965. You can listen to the Dixie Cups version here. I love the sound of it, especially when it was used to sinister effect in the movie The Skeleton Key.

This video features Dr. John, the Meters and Professor Longhair:



You can check out the Neville Brothers' version here. You can find some more ass-shakin' piano music video from Dr. John here (check out his boots!), and from Professor Longhair here.


Cook yourself something from The Creole and Cajun Recipe Page.


You can work on your faux New Orleans accent and vocabulary here: How ta tawk rite.

I've saved the best for last. Visit the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity website, and make a donation. Better still, try and head down there and do some volunteer work this spring or summer. The St. Bernard Recovery Project, having cleaned out and gutted over 2,000 homes, is preparing to rebuild.

8 comments:

kim said...

Happy Fat Tuesday, Bubs. You should go down and visit the Blue Bayou on Southport. The company is fine and the food is good.

I am trying to play my Zydeco collection, but it's not work friendly. Thanks for the links, I'm especially checkin' out hot to fix up my New Orleans accent.

Johnny Yen said...

Heard Dr. John's version of "Iko" on the radio this morning!

Now go out and earn yourself some Mardi Gras beads...

Chris Hinrichs said...

Thanks! I'm a fan of Dr. John, The Meters, AND Professor Longhair. It's fun music.

Dino said...

I love Mardi Gras. I went a few years ago and it was awesome. Thats one of the things I miss most about germany is Fashing (Mardi Gras)

Cup said...

Get out there and sin tonight!

Joe said...

Beth, it's a quiet and rather sinless night tonight. I plan on making up for that in the next few days, so thanks for the encouraging words.

Katy, I've always wanted to go. One of these years...

Chris, it is good for shakin' yer ass, idn it?

Johnny, my bride made an interesting observation about Dr John earlier--he's easier to understand when he's singing than when he's talking.

Kim, I've heard of that place but never been there. Got to check it out.

justacoolcat said...

I also dropped the Fat Tuesday ball.

Though, by posting The Meters I think you made it up for all of us.

Joe said...

It's all about doing penance here. I have much to be forgiven for, and I figure I gotta work it off before it's too late.