J'ai été au bal (Movie)

Running Time: 1 hr. 24 min.
In Theaters: Oct 13, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Jul 22, 2003J'ai été au bal

Directed By: Les Blank , Chris Strachwitz
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts, Documentary
General Response: 4/5 Stars

J'AI ETE AU BAL is the definitive film on the history of the toe-tapping, foot-stomping music of southwest French Louisiana. With rare recordings, archival photos and footage, contemporary interviews and live performances by the likes of Clifton... A definitive film on the history of the toe-tapping, foot-stomping music of southwest French Louisiana. With rare recordings, archival photos and footage, contemporary interviews and live performances by the likes of Clifton Chenier, Queen Ida, Walter Mouton, Michael Doucet and Beausoleil, Boozoo Chavis, Marc and Ann Savor, and more, this video will take you from the roots of cajun and zydeco through the 20th century.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

Well for this week I figured id go with a documentary. So for this week I've chosen J'ai été au bal, a great movie that explains the history and struggles as well as the triumphs of cajun music. I own this dvd and consider this a must buy for all fans, and young musicians alike.

Allons à Lafayette

Well today ima post a song with its history and translation for all to enjoy, learn, or just plain understand better. And why not start with cajun music's first recorded song, Allons à Lafayette!

This great and still played song was recorded in 1928 by Joe Falcon and Cléoma Breaux, Allons à Lafayette is the B-side of the 78-RPM album "Allons à Lafayette". The song is based off of an older traditional tune called "Jeunes Gens de la Campagne". The song deals with a man asking her partner to go to Lafayette, Louisiana and change her name to something more scandalous, Mrs. Mischievous Comeaux. The singer is upset they are both far apart and thinks her beauty is far better than her character.

Source:Wiki

Cajun French

Allons à Lafayette, mais pour changer ton nom.
On va t’appeller Madame, Madame Canaille Comeaux comme moi.
Petite, t’est trop mignonne pour faire ta criminelle.
Comment tu crois, mais moi, je peux faire, mais moi tout seul.
Mais toi, mais joli Coeur, regarde donc mais quoi t’as fait.
Si loin que moi, je suis de toi, mais ça
Petite, t’est trop mignonne pour faire ta criminelle.
Comment tu crois, mais moi, je peux faire, mais moi tout seul.
Mais toi, mais joli Coeur, regarde donc mais quoi t’as fait.
Si loin que moi, je suis de toi, mais ça, ça me fait pitié

English

Let's go to Lafayette to change your name.
We will call you Mrs. Mischievous Comeaux.
Honey, you're too pretty to act like a tramp.
How do you think I am going to manage without you?
Look at what you done, pretty heart.
We are so far apart and that is pitiful.
Honey, you're too pretty to act like a tramp.
How do you think I am going to manage without you?
Look at what you done, pretty heart.
We are so far apart and that is pitiful.

Iry LeJeune

Well for this week I wanted to do a artist spotlight, and at random I drew Iry LeJeune. 

Iry LeJeune (October 28, 1928 – October 8, 1955) was one of the best selling and most popular Cajun musicians in the mid to late 1940s into the early 1950s.

His recordings and repertoire remain influential to the present day. He was among a handful of recording artists who returned the accordion to prominence in commercially recorded Cajun music and dance hall fiddles and Western Swing sounds from Texas were influencing Cajun music. The return of the accordion to prominence is referred to as a Cajun music renaissance, i.e. a return to the roots and rebirth in Cajun pride in their traditional music. Iry LeJeune is regarded as one of the best and most beloved Cajun accordionists and singers of all time. performances. The return of the accordion contrasted with the popular Cajun recorded output of the late 1930s and 1940s, a time during which fiddles and Western Swing sounds from Texas were influencing Cajun music. The return of the accordion to prominence is referred to as a Cajun music renaissance, i.e. a return to the roots and rebirth in Cajun pride in their traditional music. Iry LeJeune is regarded as one of the best and most beloved Cajun accordionists and singers of all time.
 From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iry_LeJeune

Iry LeJeune is considered one of the best and most famous because of the many classic cajun songs he created, some are: LaCassine Special, Calcasieu Waltz and Lovebridge Waltz. He was such a great and influential song writer and artist that tragical only lived to be 26.

So please enjoy some of this very talented accordion player:

100 views in a week!

Well according to our stat bar of the bottom of our page we've made 100 views in a week. So I thank all our viewers who have made our first milestone, so lets celebrate this one and move on to the many more. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Mardi Gras!

Well as the week comes to a close so does the Mardi Gras season for louisiana. I hope that most of you reading got the chance to enjoy the many parades, festivals and Margi gras runs, For those who missed out i guess just wait for next year and catch all the fun. So i hope everyone had a safe/fun Mardi Gras.


To celebrate our great Louisiana culture I hope you'll enjoy The Balfa Brothers: La Dance Des Mardi Gras

Place of interest: La Maison de Begnaud

Daily Hours of Operation: Tues- Sat 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Physical Address: 110 Benoit Patin Rd. Scott, LA 70583
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1137 Scott, Louisiana 70583
Contact Us:
Scott’s Tourism Coordinator: "Mama" Redell Comeaux Miller
Phone: 337.269.5155
Fax: 337.269.5697

Jam Sessions:
Enjoy our FREE jam every Friday Night(around 6pm), depending on weather, inside of house or on the dim light porch. Our Jams are all acoustic, we like to create the the sounds of the old house dances of yesterday. And for those of you who don't play do as I do, just pull up a chair and enjoy the talents of others at our friendly jam.

And if you cant be in the area enjoy our jams LIVE and view some jams of the past at: Bambuser(The Soundboard)

Welcome!

Well hello there my freinds to Cajun Music Bayou!
Here you will/could find anything at all about cajun music, anything from videos to song lyrics and i might even add something different every now and again like a place of interest or maybe a song/artist. so please look round!