I have no idea if they dance the polka in Germany anymore. I do know that they dance the polka in Mexico. With afterburners on.
sippicancottage
A Man Who Has Nothing In Particular To Recommend Him Discusses All Sorts of Subjects at Random as Though He Knew Everything
2 Responses
This is an example of “cultural appropriation,” or perhaps better said, “cultural borrowing.” The Czech and German immigrants to Central Texas in the mid to late 19th century brought their music: polkas and accordions. Also their beer, so it is claimed. The Hispanics living in the area incorporated accordions and polkas into their music. It then seeped across the border. What is called Norteño (Northern) music in Mexico is for the most part, the polka /accordion stuff borrowed from the Czechs and Germans. You can also hear a lot of tubas in the music played on Mexican radio stations here in Texas. Lot of tubas. Or would that be sousaphones?
Texas Tornados – “Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio”
Note that Dwight Yoakum introduces Streets of Bakersfield as a Norteño polka. Also w Flaco Jimenez. Dwight Yoakam – “Streets of Bakersfield”. Which may suggest that the polka went south of the border and then crossed again.
The following may suggest that the polka is still alive in Germany. The Heimatdamisch: Sweet Child o’ Mine (Guns n’ Roses)
OMG! He does it all with spurs on !