The United States of Songs: Louisiana
Friday, September 9, 2011
It’s Friday, and that means it’s time for my weekly ritual: The United States of Songs. I know pretty much everyone knows the drill by now, but I keep repeating myself week in, week out in the hopes that someone somewhere is just stumbling upon this for the first time. Still, if you’re as sick of reading the rules as I am of typing them, you can skip this part. If you’re new to the blog, here’s how this works: I’m working my way through each state in the U.S. alphabetically to identify one song that truly identifies and speaks to the experience of being in that particular state. The song has to have the state name in the title, and it can’t be one of those “Yellow Rose of Texas” metaphors, either. It’s got to be all about how awesome (or, in some cases, how awful) the state and living in it can be. This week it’s Louisiana, and our song comes courtesy of Wooter bradw76:
The state: Louisiana
The song: “Louisiana Man” by Doug Kershaw
Let’s all take a second and appreciate that combination of tuxedo shirt, wild man haircut, and fiddle. The ’70s were just beautiful, man. Alright, back to business: for everyone who wanted “Louisiana 1927,” I can’t say you’re wrong. It’s a fantastic song, and yes it does have that whole “poignant yet again” vibe since 2008, but New Orleans is clawing back from the brink, fighting their way to prominence. They don’t need another “we’re so sorry for you” song, and New Orleans does not equal all of Louisiana. I had to go with something upbeat.
If you’ve never been to Louisiana you might think it’s all Billy the Exterminator and various Cajun stereotypes skulking around the outskirts of Bourbon Street, which exists as a perpetually-shaken snowglobe of flying beads, exposed boobs, and those four-foot-tall Hurricane glasses full of margaritas. Well it’s not ALWAYS like that, and I should know: I’ve been there. Twice. And I want to head off any additional criticism by saying if I had been able to find a decent copy of Clifton Chenier’s “Louisiana Two-Step,” it would be the winner, because if there’s anything the world needs more of it’s Zydeco and that stuff was BORN in Louisiana.
But it’s hard to argue with the original Ragin’ Cajun himself. Maybe you could say “Louisiana Saturday Night” is more your cup of tea, but not many songs capture the joyful exuberance these people have in the face of what I can only describe as “the worst weather to exist on planet earth.” That’s no knock against your state, Louisian…ans? Louisianoids? Whatever. You can’t help where your state lies, but I had no idea humidity could reach over 100% before I visited. It’s like you guys live there to spite the earth itself.
But they’re happy! Presumably because if you can survive inside nature’s crock pot and eke out a living dodging poisonous snakes and mosquitoes and alligators all day then of COURSE you’re going to party like it’s your job. Okay, okay, that’s as much a stereotype as the idea that everyone runs around shoeless with overalls and nothin’ on underneath them. But I mean it with respect. I don’t think I could survive in Louisiana. I’m soft. I don’t know how you guys don’t immediately sweat through every article of clothing you have as soon as you walk outside. But I could definitely visit again, and I hope to some day soon.
I like you guys, Louisiana. You’ve had a rough few years what with the hurricane and the oil spill and the drought, but I know you’re not looking for sympathy or another sad, “woe is Louisiana” song. There’s plenty to be happy about in the Bayou State, and I’m looking forward to the next time I go.
Got a better song for Louisiana? Want to suggest one for next week’s piece on Maine? Get to commentin’!
Runner Up: “Bon Temp Louisiana” by Jude Taylor & His Burning Flames
Most Laughable Suggestion: “Louisiana Blues” performed by Eric Burdon & The Animals (the original by Muddy Waters is fantastic, though.)
Flickr photo Fresh Louisiana Crawfish by Jeff Kovacs used under a Creative Commons License.
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