| My Top Ten Favorite BeauSoleil Songs! ......so far (updated!) |
| This page was updated Feb 25, 2005.. Back Home |
| These songs are in no particular order: Chanson pour Tommy (Cajunization) This is a medley in honor of the late Tommy Comeaux who was an occasional member of the group. It starts with a slow, mournful yet respectful waltz and ends on a high note with a more upbeat anthemic tune that Tommy discovered and brought to the group. This song never fails to bring out my emotional side when I listen to it. Bayou Cadillac (Bayou Cadillac) This may actually be one of BeauSoleil's catchiest songs. The drums bring an urgent rhythm and the rest of the instruments keep up the urgency and make the song funky and rockin'. It's a medley of "Not Fade Away," "Bo Diddley" and "Iko Iko." Three totally unrelated songs at first glance, but somehow the group makes it all work and gets your hips moving and toes tapping. Le Jig Francais (Bayou Deluxe) This brings back memories. I don't actually have it on CD, but I heard it at the last BeauSoleil concert I attended in August of 2000. They brought out the other fiddlers from the concert (Darol Anger, Mike Marshall and the incomparable Vassar Clements and Mark O'Connor) onto the stage to play the song. When you add Michael Doucet, that's five fiddles at one time. First it was just Darol, Mike M., Vassar and Mike D, but about a minute into the song Mark O'Connor jumped onto the stage to join in. At that point, I knew I was in for a treat. That was so much fun to see. The song is your typical fast paced, catchy, French........jig. Just as the name implies. Newz Reel (L'Amour ou La Folie) This song holds special meaning for me - it was the first BeauSoleil song I had ever heard. The moment I first heard it, I fell in love with it. It's another one of those fast, catchy songs that BeauSoleil seems to specialize in. It kind of sounds like a country-style fiddle song. It's great stuff. Furthermore, it is used as the theme song to a Lafayette, LA TV news show, hence the name Newz Reel. Me and Dennis McGee (Gitane Cajun) This is a track off their lastest album "Gitane Cajun" and it's a tribue to the famous Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee with whom Michael Doucet had a great friendship. It's a fast-paced, fiddle driven song but everyone gets a solo. I'm highly anticipating seeing it performed live. I'm sure the band will play it because it's one of the highlight tracks on "Gitane Cajun". Les Fleurs Fleurissent (Gitane Cajun) Another "Gitane Cajun" song, this one features only fiddle, accordion and Michael's haunting vocals. It's simplicity and sadness really do it for me. I love when the group occasionally forgoes the full band concept and strips things down. There's something about just hearing a fiddle or two and accordion that makes a listener pay attention and feel the emotion in the song. Travailler C'est Trop Dur (Looking Back Tomorrow) This is one of the songs the band recorded early in its career, peformed again for the live 25th anniversary special album "Looking Back Tomorrow." It has the feel of a ballad or perhaps a Dylan song. In any case, it's very simple and intimate and slows things down a bit to allow reflection. I always imagine the song being peformed around a campfire at the end of a hard day of crawfish harvesting. It's a song you can relax to and think about what life means, and where the music fits in it all. One Iota (L'Echo) This is one of the finest examples of BeauSoleil's fast, danceable two-steps. The fiddle is practically on fire, the drums pound out a steady beat, and Michael sings with conviction and volume. You can't go wrong turning this song on at a party. Tasso/McGee's Reel (Cajun Conja) Another fast dance track, this one starts off fast and just gets faster and faster. The reel at the end has a very "live" sound to it, and you can imagine both the musicians and dancers being worn out by the time it's done. If there's an appropriate song to end a concert or dance, it's this one. Vieux Crowley (Cajun Conja) Yes, again, I've selected a dance number. This track has no vocals, and is a great example of a more accordion-oriented track. The accordion has a bit of a different flavor than the fiddle, and it makes for great dancing and shaking all around. This song is steady and comes at you full speed and you can't help but smile throughout. AND, my top four BeauSoleil albums 1) Best of BeauSoleil (Arhoolie 1997) 2) L'Echo (1994) 3) L'Amour Ou La Folie (1997) 4) Looking Back Tomorrow: BeauSoleil Live! (2001) |