5 New Orleans-Flavored Grooves For You and Your (Future) Kids
I often think about my future children and what wonderful musical legacies I will expose them to in the hopes that they muster the strength to rise above those terrible Disney Channel pop stars that pervade all of Kid Kingdom these days. My favorite genre of music for most of my adult life has been New Orleans traditional, funk, and jazz music. I’ve only recently realized this music has a huge capacity for aiding in the successful child-rearing of rhythmically intelligent, fun, little people who will hopefully turn into rhythmically intelligent, big people (i.e. “adults”). There’s tons of silly lyrics with equally silly voices, wildly danceable beats, and so many different cool instruments with which to inspire your little funky ones.
Please pardon the lack of variety when it comes to artists — I’m only speaking from my uterus. Yes, I know that so much more potentially kid-friendly New Orleans music is out there, and I know there are some of you on the interwebs with your own little, actually-existing tots who may jam out to those other tunes. These, however, are the top five songs that will comprise the soundtrack of my future offspring and me getting our sillies out in our socks and PJs.
This could be after a stressful weekday of homework and strife (“common core — grrr!”), on a rainy Saturday afternoon (“If you make me play another round of Trouble, you’ll be the one in trouble!”), or while cooking Sunday dinner (and let’s be honest here: I don’t cook — my future husband does, though, and in this fantasy he’s making jambalaya mac ‘n’ cheese with chicken andouille and fresh crawfish while the kids and I work up an appetite practicing our second line march with instruments in tow).
1) “They All Ask’d For You,” The Meters (1975)
This one is the stand-out leader. What more could you ask for from a kids song other than mentions of a plethora of cool animals and some great opportunities for audience participation? It’s from the album Fire On The Bayou, and here’s my favorite verse:
I went on down to the deep blue sea
And they all asked for you
They all asked for you (for me?)
Well they even inquired about you
I went on down to the deep blue sea
And they all asked for you (for me?)
The shark asked
The whale asked
And the barracuda asked me too
I love the way the call-and-response works in this (almost too) catchy song. The person the animals are inquiring about in the song is in sincere disbelief that his animal pals ask’d for him, and as a result, he’s truly filled with joy. I’m sure your son or daughter will be filled with just as much joy when you sing to them that their favorite animals at the zoo are asking for him or her, too.
There are many different versions of this song, but the one on Fire On The Bayou is by far my favorite — it’s the most textured. In between verses, the funky Meters name random delicious and not-so-delicious cajun food items such as creole gumbo and fish drippin’s, respectively.
2) “Little Liza Jane,” Dr. John (1972)
From Gumbo, my favorite album of all time. “Little Liza Jane” is not only the name of my future daughter, but in addition, it’s the title of an adorably bouncy, swinging piece of music. There are many version of this ole traditional song that dates back to the 1910s, but obviously this one is the best (according to my ovaries).
3) “Jambalaya (On The Bayou),” Professor Longhair (1977)
Another classic. It’s illegal not to include some Professor Longhair in every NOLA-centric list! Plus, more mouth-watering food references. The best version I found on YouTube is from 1993, but if you can find the 1977 version, definitely give it a listen.
4) “Hey Pocky A-Way,” The Meters (1974)
Also from the Meters, “Hey Pocky A-Way” is probably the funkiest on this list. I imagine this groove would be a great opportunity with which to practice coordination via hand clapping and feet stomping. Also, check out my favorite truth-speaking lyric which contains a lesson no one is too young to learn:
Feel good music, I’ve been told
Good for your body and it’s good for your soul
It’s from the album Rejuvenation, which you need to listen to as soon as possible.
5) “Iko Iko,” Dr. John (1972)
Also from Gumbo… and did I mention it’s my favorite album of all time? Please ignore the moderately violent lyrics displaying right in front of your moral eyes, but I wanted you to hear the album version, and this is the only video currently on YouTube. I think I mostly picked this song because my mom consistently had this in the tapedeck of her 1991 maroon Chevy Corsica, which I have since lovingly named the “Of-Corsica.” I’d sit in the back seat and groove to the beat while pondering what a spy boy could be (and is he cute?). I also wondered whether “jockamo feeno ah na nay” was just big people words I wouldn’t understand until I hit puberty or if it was some type of alien language (alas, I was not as worldly back then).
What funky NOLA grooves do you and your little ones boogie down to? Let us know in the comments!
