Happy Mardi Gras! In New Orleans and other Carnival-celebrating cities, today is a daylong party. By the time this posts, I’ll already be walking the avenue — my group and I are hitting the street (and the bottle) at 7:30 in the morning.
But for everyone who’s having just another Tuesday, I put together a primer on some of the omnipresent songs of Carnival in New Orleans. They never get old, and I hope they bring the Carnival spirit to wherever you are.
Professor Longhair, Big Chief
Fess’s version is an instrumental, but Earl King also wrote lyrics for this song which, like many other Mardi Gras classics, references the traditions of the Mardi Gras Indians. The Indians are “tribes” of African-American maskers who dress in elaborate beaded and feathered costumes and stage stylized battles across the city on Mardi Gras Day.
Wild Magnolias, New Suit
And the Wild Magnolias can explain, in funky fashion, better than anyone.
The Meters, Hey Pocky A-Way
If this song doesn’t make you want to shake your ass in the street, well, this post is probably really boring for you.
Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Carnival Time
“The Green Room is smokin’ and the Plaza’s burnin’ down / Throw my baby out the window, let those joints burn down / All because it’s Carnival time.”
Rebirth Brass Band, “Do Whatcha Wanna”
Rebirth are the standard-bearers for loud, raucus, sloppy brass band music in New Orleans, and this tune exemplifies a Mardi Gras attitude.
Dr. John, “Mama Roux”
Fat Tuesday night, maybe you’re wandering the Quarter, a little bit confused, a little bit rad.
Big Freedia, “Y’all Get Back Now”
You may have noticed that the soundtrack to Mardi Gras is … kind of old, on the whole. New Orleans loves its traditions. Big Freedia is one artist working now who’s making the new party music.
There is so much more New Orleans music out there, even so many more Carnival favorites, but here’s hoping this sampling puts a funky bump in your step today. Get some of that spirit in you. Music in the (slightly NSFW video) below is by the Hot 8 Brass Band.
