{"id":973,"date":"2023-02-07T03:49:34","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T03:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.misscharlottemusic.com\/yourweeklylisten\/?p=973"},"modified":"2023-02-07T22:02:23","modified_gmt":"2023-02-07T22:02:23","slug":"choo-choo-boogaloo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.misscharlottemusic.com\/yourweeklylisten\/music\/choo-choo-boogaloo\/","title":{"rendered":"Choo Choo Boogaloo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


Zydeco music is a uniquely American genre that developed in Louisiana as several cultures came together in the 1700s, including French settlers, indigenous peoples (in particular the Atakapi-Ishak<\/a>), and African-American slaves and freed slaves (who incidentally enjoyed greater rights and freedoms under the French Code Noir<\/a> than their counterparts elsewhere in America at the time). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

French immigrants brought their traditional customs with them and began celebrating Mardi Gras in the area around New Orleans as early as the 1730s<\/a>. By the 1800s, Zydeco – with its syncopated rhythms and toe-tapping accordion – had become an integral part of Mardi Gras celebrations<\/a> in the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One characteristic of Zydeco music is the tempo often speeds up as the song goes along, forcing dancers to try to keep up – and often producing much merriment and laughter in the process! This family-friendly song by the late, great accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco<\/a> is really fun to share with a group of kids, especially if you have a basket of egg shakers. Tell the kids the train is starting slow, but they have to pay attention and keep up with the beat as it goes faster and faster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can listen to the song on YouTube<\/a> or purchase the whole album here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For more information about my music classes, please visit www.misscharlottemusic.com<\/a> <\/a>.

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