And well it should be. 
Posted on 06/05/2009 1:35:50 PM PDT by a fool in paradise
After 24 years, polka has had its last dance at the Grammys.
The Recording Academy, which bestows the Grammy Awards, announced late on Wednesday that the polka category would be eliminated, saying in a statement that it had been cut “to ensure the awards process remains representative of the current musical landscape.”
To many in the polka world, that read as a kind of industry code meaning that their genre — once capable of supporting artists with million-selling hits, but long since relegated to micro-niche status — had slipped off the mainstream radar entirely.
“It’s devastating,” said Carl Finch of Brave Combo, a band from Denton, Tex., that has won the Grammy twice. “Polka is so misunderstood, you know, the butt of jokes. Having a polka category was the most important step to legitimacy that we could ever hope to achieve. To have that taken away, it’s like it was all for nothing.”
The news was met with sadness but little surprise. The number of albums considered by the Recording Academy for the polka award has dwindled in recent years. In 2006, for example, only 20 albums were considered, and of the five nominees, only one album had wide distribution.
“When it gets down to around 20 entries, just by entering, you have a one in five chance of being nominated,” said Bill Freimuth, the academy’s vice president for awards. “That’s not as competitive as we’d like these awards to be.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Did I say they were Slovakian? Sorry, all these groups are Slovenian.
My mistake
Brizgalna brizga has always been a favorite of mine...
I like the Polish band Brathanki. I don't like most of her songs, but this was a real cool album by Kayah and Bregovic. This song is a must for any good Polish wedding:
That translates roughly as the “springing hose.” Check out their song “Feuer auf dem Dach.”
slurred word don’ count, dawg.
When Rod Blagojevic makes his hip-hop polka debut, we'll know the genre is dead.
Blame it on those devastating East Coast vs. West Coast Polka Wars.
Have a look at some of my other posts and enjoy the music.
Speaking of which, it’s time for the annual according kings festival...
Free (Houston)
Accordion Kings and Queens Start Date: 6/6/2009
Start Time: 6:30 PM End Date: 6/6/2009
End Time:
Gather your friends and family, pack a picnic, and head to the park! The Twentieth Annual edition is celebrating the National Instrument of Texas! From Czech-German polka, cubia to conjunto, cajun, zydeco and more, you will hear the best of Texas squeezebox.
Featured musicians will be Sunny Sauceda, Santiago Jimenez, Jr., Cedryl Ballou and the Zydeco Trendsetters, Mark Halata and Texavia, and Lady “D” and the Zydeco Tornadoes. Hosted by Joe Nick Patoski.
Gads, the tempo is frantic! :-)
And well it should be.
Listen to some of the music posted on the thread.
Aw man, do I have to? :-)
It has accordian’s in it. I hate accordian’s.
I always wanted to learn to play the concertina.
You might be surprised. :-)
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