The music itself is most often fast tempo and is dominated by instruments that include an accordion (button or piano), variations of a washboard (also called a rub-board and a scrub-board), guitars, bass guitar, drums, Cajun fiddles, spoons, triangles, horns, and keyboards. Zydeco music is also associated with dances including variations of waltzes and line dancing specific to its music that gained popularity in the dance halls and social parties in the region.
The longstanding tradition, popularity and social acceptance of Zydeco music can be attributed directly to the Louisiana Creoles who have a distinct culture, a way of life and a social prominence within their regional society. It was these characteristics that afforded the Creoles certain rights under French rule and its “Code Noir.”
When these privileges shifted after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 under the new rule of American Southern racist regimes, the Creoles began to fight back against this oppression and also to protest in song. Early Zydeco blues music used French and Creole lyrics to describe the pain and mistreatment of the members of their community.
Performed locally in house parties, its popularity spread throughout the Southern Louisiana region and was performed at Catholic church community centers, taverns, nightclubs, and dance halls. Its popularity spread throughout the state of Louisiana and into Texas and California with the help of the Great Migration where many black Creoles migrated to.”…
****This video is found at the top of this pancocojams post.
"** 3. @Celeste_G513, 2021
NY2Calif, Aug 11, 2011 -snip- Here are some comments from the discussion thread for this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svrn1AAqsyQ 1. @chocolateice4u, 2011 "Interesting two step swing"
** 2. @realtorforlouisiana, 2011 "Real Men Dance !!! :-)" ** 3. @kickgscreamg, 2012 "Tradition! Love passed to young ones. Beautiful." ** 4. @TheHershee, 2013 "Love seeing ppl zydeco!" ** Reply 5. @inmythoughts776, 2013 "Same...I'm impressed" ** Reply 6. @kevinw.3433, 2018 "Lillie Albert zydeco baby nothing but fun good food and good drinks"
** 9. @missperodin, 2013 "I loving the younger generation getting down on the zydeco,
No Twerking!!! Love it..." ** Reply 10. @Ronaldo-rt7hl, 2020 "I'm sure they do both and does it matter either let people dance and have fun however they please" ** 11. @tenmilebill, 2014 "Soulwood Train is the correct title of the song. He release a live version of the song earlier this year."
** 12. @funkybrothano.1706, 2018 "didn't know our people would find zydeco dancing cool." ** Reply 13. @roybabineaux5353, 2019 "Why wouldn't they find something they invented cool?" ** 14.@lilliealbert3548, 2018 "Beautiful! I am in Detroit, whatever dance my brothers and sisters are dancing, its beautiful💖😍💕😍" ** 15. @mimitop6447, 2018 "Gumbo, fish frys, crab boils and boudain. LES BONTON ROLE'
my peeps." ** 16. @mimitop6447, 2018 "I remember when I was little and my mom and dad would take us to these zydeco fiestas but back then the style was a lot faster footwork that was back in the 70's an 80's then I moved to California haven't zydecoed since but I sure miss those days 😀"
** 17. @keldholse618, 2019 "What's the name of this fantastic swingin band? wanna hear some more?
crazy about it!❤" ** Reply 18. @NY2Calif, 2019 "Keith Frank - zydeco band" ** 19. @beautiful80sladies22, 2020 "Creole version of a Cumbia.......Ate catfish one time in that town when I was a kid..... God bless 🙌and please be safe" ** Reply 20. @gabrieletienne8224, 2020 "Ahhh Zydeco, where you're judged not by how good you can dance but by how much of good time you let yourself have. Love my state. **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3- Zydeco dancing after Ville Platte trail ride 2 - August 2011
NY2Calif, Aug 11, 2011 -snip- Here are some comments from the discussion thread for this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bVFn68dwtE
1. @1nonlymrsjackson, 2011 "I Like The Way Y'all Zydeco."
** 2. @NY2Calif, 2012 "Actually, if you read the title of the video it is "after the...trail ride."
People usually wear cowboy boots and hats when they are riding horses unless they are riding English and then they wear helmets and riding boots." ** 3. @NY2Calif, 2012 "Most people use the kerchief in the back pocket to wipe the sweat off them. You get really hot dancing to zydeco music, especially in Louisiana." ** 4. @BlackRayne39, 2012 "Yes Ladies...They Did That:-)" ** 5. @missperodin, 2013 "Get it girls, very nice!!! Im such a fan of zydeco..."
** 6. @ronaldodavis1698, 2023 "anybody know the name of the song?"
** Reply 7. @NY2Cali, 2023 "Playa 4 Life - Keith Frank"
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With regard to this comment that is given at #16 in discussion thread #2 :
ReplyDeletefrom @mimitop6447, 2018
"I remember when I was little and my mom and dad would take us to these zydeco fiestas
but back then the style was a lot faster footwork that was back in the 70's an 80's then I moved to California haven't zydecoed since but I sure miss those days 😀"
I'd love it if people who zydeco would share what changes-if any- has occurred in zydeco partner dancing and/or zydeco line dancing. For instance, is the music & dancing basically the same tempo or are they faster or slower now then they were in the past?
Unfortunately, I've never been to a trail ride. I'm interested in knowing around what year) did line dancing begin at Black trail rides. Also, do people still do partner dances to zydeco music or other music at Black trail rides in Louisiana, Texas, and elsewhere?
ReplyDelete