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 ...
Let alone one with accordion and yodeling , but I was wrong all you have to do is Focus
Weird Al Yankovich twittered on this yesterday (yes, I follow him for some reason and he’s actually very entertaining!) As you can guess, he’s really upset about the loss of Polka music in the Grammy’s.
My favorite polka music performer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-blbZvLz5c&feature=channel_page
He’s in my niece’s third grade class .... needless to say, when their annual talent show rolls around, this little Chinese kid literally steals the show.
More of Brendon (he does a lot of Elvis and classic country,too): http://www.youtube.com/user/brendonTX
Zackly. < |:(~
Joe Flaherty, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, John Candy, Catherine O'Hara...great comedy troupe
SCTV ruled...much better than SNL.
And what they've called "comedy"??? since then...has been nothing but pure garbage IMO.
Ohio weddings, it is traditional for one polka at least to be played.
Amen. Finally a sane voice.
Hey my friend, I can’t do the YouTube thang but thought you might like the offerings on this thread.
*snicker*
I remember that song.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.