I see it as a problem that goes beyond any specific genre. I believe it has a lot to do with the way we learn music these days. I've run into many people who learned off of records, tab, etc., and it becomes carved in stone how something is played. Take a blues tune that ad libs before going to the change, for instance. There's a lot of musicians that have a hard time doing that. They have a hard time feeling what's going on and rely on a set pattern. Seems to me, not just Cajun, but any genre needs to get back to playing as an ensemble, able to play off each other. Eye contact! Eye contact! Eye contact!
Just an opinion.
Steve

If you change all those little things that make cajun music, cajun music and folk music, folk music then it seems to me you have something else altogether. IMHO!! You know what mean?

Thanks
Yes, I've often quoted that quote from Boozoo. I agree with all of your sentiments b.t.w. It's strange though that vocals are often standard length but instrumentals are more variable, as if we notice the saymmetry more when words are attatched to the music. I learned Delton Broussard,s version of Boozoo's Leona Had a party a while back and have always been struck how i have to keep on my toes regarding the other musicians when playing it because my solo is 10 bars long not 8. The vocal is 8 bars. I also heard the western swing version of that song recently which is probably the original one and I must say both are great!

Thanks
Yes, I've often quoted that quote from Boozoo. I agree with all of your sentiments b.t.w. It's strange though that vocals are often standard length but instrumentals are more variable, as if we notice the saymmetry more when words are attatched to the music. I learned Delton Broussard,s version of Boozoo's Leona Had a party a while back and have always been struck how i have to keep on my toes regarding the other musicians when playing it because my solo is 10 bars long not 8. The vocal is 8 bars. I also heard the western swing version of that song recently which is probably the original one and I must say both are great! No I am wrong I am talking about Dance all Night , not Leona Had a Party

Pogoyo:

Is that P O, po, Y O, G yo yo?

If so, I'd like to order some Hasitall.

Cory

You got the right Pogoyo chere! But I drank all the Hasitall.

I have friends who are avid collectors of old Missouri tunes. They often modify the measures of songs so they can be used for square dancing etc.

My own choice it to listen to a song and do it the way I think it sounds best. Usually it is the odd phrasing or strange tunings that attracted me to the song in the first place. I believe this is how it was been done historically. That is also why regional styles developed. Since local musicians shared music and techniques they tended to evolve a similar style.

Unless you are trying to learn or demonstrate a particular person or style there is no reason not to do it the way it sound best to you. Chances are that is how the musicians you are trying to copy did it.

RPr

I guess I have to go with the gut feeling, sometimes you feel like playing exactly how it is on the vinyl and sometimes you feel like being Peter Frampton, all in all, it's a feel, you're making music, if everyone played The Back Door the same way I think the song would have becoming quite booring over the years. It's all about a flavor of life !!! imho !!

I think you are wrong there my man. I prefer the original version of the Back Door and never get tired or bored listening to it. But hell I never get bored listening to Cajun music.