Cajun music is well, cajun, and Zydeco is creole.
I am not...I am not the damsel in distress. I am not some case. I have to work this. I've lived in a cave for 5 years in a world where they killed my kind like cattle. I am not going to be cut down by some monster flu. I am better than that. What a wonder...how very scared I am.
Fred ,'A Hole in the World'
Buffista Music II: Wrath of Chaka Khan
There's a lady plays her fav'rite records/On the jukebox ev'ry day/All day long she plays the same old songs/And she believes the things that they say/She sings along with all the saddest songs/And she believes the stories are real/She lets the music dictate the way that she feels.
Daisy Jane - May 05, 2005 8:19:34 am PDT #8506 of 10003
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."
Hayden - May 05, 2005 8:26:39 am PDT #8507 of 10003
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."
I think there was an article in one of the recent Da Capo Best Music Writing annuals delineating the difference in terms of race and instrumentation.
Daisy Jane - May 05, 2005 8:35:04 am PDT #8508 of 10003
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."
The thing is they've borrowed so much from each other and both become so English, or rather Americanized, that I don't think that's a useful distinction.
Hayden - May 05, 2005 8:36:35 am PDT #8509 of 10003
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."
I'm sure that's why I can't tell the difference between the two.
DavidS - May 05, 2005 8:41:43 am PDT #8510 of 10003
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
There's certainly crossover between cajun and zydeco, but one is a broad cultural folk music (cajun) and the other is a regional dance music style (zydeco). I like Michael Doucet playing both.
Heather, if you want some red hot zydeo dance music that's not particularly traditional, I highly recommend Zydeco Brew. That's a side project by the aforementioned Mr. Doucet, with contributions from shit-hot guitarists Sonny Landreth and Richard Thompson. They a fantastic "Zyedeco Boogaloo" which I've put on innumerable mix tapes, and zydeco-ify "Wooly Bully" as well.
DavidS - May 05, 2005 8:43:37 am PDT #8511 of 10003
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
it occurred to me that rarely has there been a more appropriate opportunity for Mr. Manservant of Evil to engage in some of his customary Swamp Dogg pimping: "I Couldn't Pay for What I Got Last Night," "Mama's Baby, Daddy's Maybe," "The Love We Got Ain't Worth Two Dead Flies". One could even say that Jerry William's raison d'etre is writing twisted love songs. And twisted liner notes, but that's a different mix.
So very true. Though even the Dogg might have to take a back seat to Screamin' Jay Hawkins' pervy little love letters.
DavidS - May 05, 2005 8:44:32 am PDT #8512 of 10003
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Also, still waiting to hear about the best magazine in America.
I think my favorite magazine right now is Mojo. But maybe I'm not thinking hard enough about this, and maybe that's not American enough.
Daisy Jane - May 05, 2005 8:46:17 am PDT #8513 of 10003
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."
There's certainly crossover between cajun and zydeco, but one is a broad cultural folk music (cajun) and the other is a regional dance music style (zydeco).
But that doesn't tell you much when listening to them and figuring out which is which- though I more often hear zydeco translated into English, so I guess that would make it the more "popular" form.
msbelle - May 05, 2005 8:46:38 am PDT #8514 of 10003
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb
cat fancy.
DavidS - May 05, 2005 8:52:34 am PDT #8515 of 10003
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
But that doesn't tell you much when listening to them and figuring out which is which- though I more often hear zydeco translated into English, so I guess that would make it the more "popular" form.
More fiddles? Cajun. Washboards rhythm? Zydeco.
That's my short hand. Zydeco has a particular rhythm too, and cajun can be any number of rhythms (lots of waltzs, though).
cat fancy.
Is this a vote for Best Magazine, or a good way to discern cajun from zydeco?