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Its all good, Travis.

First let me say that your music has been the subject of many discussions on this board. With the exception of Rick, and maybe one or two others, its pretty much a "don't like it" thing around here. But don't take it personal. I don't think Chris' comments were a personal attack on you, Travis. He was voicing his opinion about something that is a real concern to many people, especially parents. I work in an elementary school, and I know what kids are exposed to. Most of the people who read this board would blush at the stories I could tell you, but that isn't the point. Taking the approach that kids will get exposed to the language in your lyrics at school or some other place is perpetuating a serious problem. Children have sex and get involved in drugs at a younger and younger age with every year that passes because of the music they hear and the videos they see. Contributing to this is contributing to the problem. Your music is what it is. If you don't like the images Chris associated with it, change it. It is what it is.

I have always been a strong supporter of musicians making the music that moves them, and if they create a following, its even better. Your music, Travis, is not my thing; however, I have no problem with adults paying money to enter a club to enjoy it. I do have a problem with it being on the radio. I don't want my three year old talking about "booty calls" and "vibrators" at daycare.

I don't play much, anymore, but when I do, I am particular about where I play. If I'm not home on a Friday or Saturday night, and my boy wants to know where I am, my wife get in a car and drive out to show him. YOu've made your choice; I've made mine. Many others will, too.

Travis, your shows are selling out, and your CDs are riding in the cars of every college student in SW Louisiana. You're a great song writer. There's no need for you to defend yourself, here.

By the way, Chris is a great songwriter, as well. He has written a number of songs not only in the traditional style, but Creole, Blues and Zydeco.

Re: Its all good, Travis.

I must have missed something here. Ganey, what post are you replying to?

Re: Re: Its all good, Travis.

Its way down, Joe. I've been out of pocket for a couple of days and was reading through and saw the long discussion about the effect of Travis' music.

Re: Its all good, Travis.

I can respect that view and I would surely not think our music would be a "hit" on a forum that enjoys folk style traditional songs.
It was never our goal to reach an audience that was already inside the jar so to speak - our goal was and is to reach a younger newer audience that has never heard or never would have heard about Louisiana style of music and that style ranges from folk to club style of playing the music and we obviously do a club style of music.
As far as the radio and kids are concerned that is why we have FCC to regulate what goes on the radio? That is an issue to take up with FCC not Travis Matte?
Myself, I have no beef with my child who is six years old hearing any of these songs and child rearing is another subject but the bond my son and I have are so close that not many could comprehend and he has the most highest respect for me as I do him and when a parent of a child is envolved in the entertainment business whether it be music or an actor on television the kids have to understand that Stephen King can't write movies fitting for 3 year old kids and that's why there are ratings and with radio unlike the movies don't have PG13, Rated R, etc. so all music goes into one category which is again not my fault?
As I have said everyone brings something different to the table and I as a musician and person have respect for it all.
You mentioned Rick was one of the only one's in support of what we are doing but my earlier point and also according to Rick is that he wouldn't be on the discussion forum had he not been inspired by our group to learn more about our local music and for me hearing that and seeing college kids loving the music and getting tons of emails from our soldiers in Iraq saying this is what gets me through this war is hearing your music and reminding me of HOME and how they can't wait to get home and come hear us play...for me it's all worth it and is a good feeling knowing that our music anyway it upsets a hand full of people on the other hand makes so many happy.
We also get emails from divorced people saying songs like "I'm happy being me" made them happy and helped them and also received sometime back an email from Rick saying he wanted to use our song "A night to remember" for his wedding....so, not all of our songs relate to anything sexual?
We recorded a great song on our last CD which is a mixture of an old Cajun waltz mixed with a creole sound entitled "without you I'm not me" and also did an instrumental entitled "what it do" which is accordion all the way through and is done in an old style and is a NEW song as well.....so, there is a lot more brought to the table than the songs you may not like? Take a closer look and examine the songs you might like and you will see all of the older influence in those songs?
As far as contributing to "The Problem", I don't see any problems that haven't always been there? I guess the problem you are seeing is that kids are saying and hearing more than they did years ago but that will never change? The end result is how you raise your kids and my son respects me and respects everyone else and he is also like myself when it comes to respecting the older generation and I have super high respect for older people and that is what he will see and learn from me but the songs will not affect his life in any way in my opinion?
I was friends with Octa Clark and also with his kids and Grandkids and Great Grandkids and I have respect for all of them but it was funny to hear them all talk and they could say a dirty joke in front of the whole family and everyone took it with a grain of salt and were all respectable people and I could name tons of people I have respect for that do the same?
I'm sure if you look back when you were younger you can remember watching Western movies with guns and everyone shooting each other...but it was entertainment and you didn't go out and kill people after watching the movie and if someone did then it wasn't the movie it was because he was wacked!?ha
Those issues can get as deep as people make them but myself I don't see it any different than the 1950's thinking Elvis was so sexual he could be on T.V and now it is laughed at when Elvis was a fine guy just as I consider myself to be?
You mentioned your wife and child knows where you are..well my wife is at every show with me and my son comes to all of our shows that allow kids inside? There are several places non-musician people go that their kids can't get inside Casino's, Movies, Bars, Jobs, etc.? I missed the point...whether I was playing what I am playing or playing "Traditional Music" my son still couldn't get inside the club regardless...I missed the point you were making with the kids knowing where you were and that "I made my choice"?
Regardless, the end result is everyone has their own likes and dislikes and it comes down to a matter of respecting each others music opposed to slamming it in the ground because someone doesn't like 3-4 songs out of 60?

Re: Re: Its all good, Travis.

I only have one problem with your last CD Travis, EVERY song sounds like VIBRATOR! Couldn't ya'll find a new beat? Oh yea don't waste your time replying trying to defend your style of music on an internet message board, it's pointless.

Re: Re: Re: Its all good, Travis.

You obviously didn't hear all of the 21 songs? If you think "Night to remember", "without you I'm not me" or ANY of those songs sound like Vibrator then you have unusual ears? I don't see how a ballad like Tuesday's gone sounds like Vibrator?
Maybe a song like "I've got a women" that used an 808 kick sound was similar....but there are 21 songs?
I missed that one brother, but again everyone is entitled to their own opinion?....I find that funny!
As far as defending my style...I'm not so much defending it as I am saying respect other people's material?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Its all good, Travis.

Well, I have heard Travis' CDs and I can't get too bent out of shape by the lyrics on any of them. "Vibrator" is pretty tame stuff. Humorous, really. Try listening to an hour or so of BET on TV and then realize that this music is toned down from what the kids really hear on a rap CD. And they all (kids) listen to these CD's, all the time. Try driving 5:00 PM traffic in San Antonio, Dallas, or Houston and you will hear more MF this and MF that, B...., H.., etc., ad naseum, blasting from oversize speakers so everybody on the highway gets to hear it whether we want ot or not. The reason Marconni put a button on the radio is so you can turn it off. I am 63 and like to listen to Travis, but I also like all the old-timey traditional stuff as well. Main thing is that it involves accordions, guitars, fiddles and drums, and you can stomp your feet to it.
See ya'll in Breaux Bridge this weekend.
JB

Re: Re: Re: Re: Its all good, Travis.

Seems like we're beginning to beat a dead horse here rather than exchange views. (Just when you thought all that could be said has been said, there's more.)

I have a 9 year-old stepdaughter who loves Travis' music. She also likes other artists such as Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas and *****cat Dolls, whose lyrics are far more "expressive" than Travis'. The aforementioned artists get far more airplay nationally/worldwide than Travis does. That's a shame because I think Travis is far more interesting and -- better, especially the great tunes that no one seems to know about of Travis' -- and in those half-dozen tunes that make shy people squirm, he has a genuine sense of humor you can feel and chuckle to, unlike a lot of pop music in heavy rotation today. The young adult crowd is flocking to see Travis for more than just Vibrator; they are there to witness a helluva tight band playing a LOT of music with a LOT of influences mixed in, a well-planned set list, good friends they've made at his shows, and most of all -- a very good time.

I am part of a musical family, my stepdaughter attends gigs where it's possible for her, too. Music is a big part of our lives -- it's a huge pleasure for us. Even at 9 years of age, she knows what "words" are acceptable in mixed company and public as well as the words she should never use unless she's an adult. Why? Because WE teach her these things -- not the radio, CDs, TV or internet.

Kids are very impressionable -- we all know that. If you REALLY want to frighten your child, let them watch the evening news. And there's nothing like a good ol' fashioned fetus-frightening from Star Wars, Lord Of The Rings or Harry Potter. But what do you do? Raise a kid in a bubble? From what I've experienced, what you choose to limit them from makes [that] all the more alluring.

When I was an adolescent, belive this or not -- I listened to a lot of Cheech & Chong records. It's true, my parents even bought them for me as they knew my friends had them too. I turned out just fine and I understood what humor was. Surely I'm not alone with the Cheech & Chong records.

Personally, I think those "edgy" few tunes of Travis' are nothing near as forbidden as some of the artists that make the Billboard top 20. I do happen to like a lot of hip-hop and top 20 pop music, and I'd love to see Travis right in there with those 20 artists, giving them a run for their money; nothing could make me more proud. I think he's got the talent and the band to do it. This is progressive thinking, here.

But even if progressive-club-zydeco doesn't break into pop culture, Travis and his band has proven to the local Louisiana music scene that yet another musical door has been opened -- and a band doesn't have to follow a conventional formula of playing the same 30 tunes the same way, like the 30 other bands do, just so they can have a neat little bucket to fit in.

K. Gotta go pick up the kid. Got Travis in my changer... Good to go.

R!CK

Re: Re: Its all good, Travis.

Thanks for your input and honesty, Travis. Just to clarify...I wasn't talking about "knowing where I am." I was referring to places that you have to be twenty-one to get in to. That way, my son or any member of my family, can come enjoy. That's not to say that there aren't any clubs that wouldn't allow him to come in. Its not where I want him to come listen. Restaurants, festivals, house parties, etc.

Re: Its all good, Travis.

I like Travis' material due to the fact that it's different, and that's what stands out, being different than the next cat.

Take country music, artists like Alan Jackson to Keith Urban have their own distinct sound, that's what sets them apart from every other country artist out there. It's like branding,you know a chevron gas station by the blue, white & red colors and the look of the logo, you automatically know it's a chevron.

Travis' music is targeted to a younger demographic and he's reached his target. There's nothing wrong with him making a living doing what he's doing, if he were still playing fiddle in a traditional cajun band, he wouldn't be where he is today.

When you look at this from a business and marketing standpoint, Travis has done a great job at this. His two songs in particular, the LSU tailgate song and the santa claus one will continue to get airplay well after the normal life of a cd is over. They'll be played at every LSU game and every Christmas, pretty smart.


Good luck Travis.

Re: Re: Its all good, Travis.

VERY well said, Tony.

You know what is surprising me here is why aren't all you accordion mavens bombarding Travis with questions about his Falcons, Pointe Noir and how they are tuned!?

Ha!

R!CK

From a mother

Ok Guys - you have all had your say and I know that this subject is rapidly growing stale. However.....as a mother, I feel compelled to add my to cents. (such as it is)

I don't think anyone here is trying to "attack" Travis in any way. What I hear (or read) is a discussion on traditional vs. nontraditional...risque vs. clean.

Music of any kind is an art form. Just like in paintings - many people will portray the same image in many different ways. No one would be presumptuous enough to tell an artist that he is expressing himself in the "wrong" way.

That being said - Travis's music is distinctly different. That is what makes some love it and some hate it. Whether you are revitalizing the great songs from our roots or creating new and distinct ones - to do it well takes talent. Both Chris and Travis are too very talented individuals expressing themselves in two very different ways. I can respect both of them for their talent and dedication.

Although I do favor traditional music and do not care for the lyrics (and ESPECIALLY not the cover art) of Travis's music- I cannot deny that he has talent and his music has a catchy beat.

But here is the problem and I think that I understand Ganey's and Chris's points. I have three children (6, 9 & 10) They are exposed to all sorts of disgusting images and words at all times. As a parent - I cannot shelter them from everything, but I can try to minimize it as much as possible. I can also let them know that I do not condone such things by not listening to it myself. This is how we teach moral values to our children in an immoral world. These are our values and I do not expect or try to get the world to adhere to them.

But as a child who grew up with cajun music - I do object to traditional "cajun" radio stations playing these songs. Why? Because cajun dance halls and cajun radio stations used to be our "one safe place" where we could bring our children or turn on the radio and NOT worry about the content. It was always a family atmosphere. We could even lower our guard enough to leave the room and feel relatively safe that they could listen unattended - without our fingers poised nervously on the "off" button in case something explicit came on. Not anymore.

It's my job as a parent to try to teach my children right from wrong. And its my job to monitor the images and music that they take in. So I will still listen to the stations that play this music and I will sit with my hand ready to hurry and change the dial - its my job and it's one I volunteered for. But I will still mourn the innocence lost and still regret that yet another one of our "safe places" is gone.


Megan

Re:My 2!

I am going to beat the horse a little more. While I am not a big fan anymore of Travis' music, he still has some really really good stuff. I love "Tickle my Fiddle" and some of the songs he did like Summer of 69 and such. My wife, however, loves Travis' stuff. She has put up with me learning the accordion (God bless her) and never got really interested until she heard Travis and Steve Riley. Even though her grandfather played all his life, she never got interested until these two fella's came to her attention. For this, I am thankful. BarBQ and Drink a few was an absolutely wonderful CD and I still listen to it all the time. If Travis can get a few kids my age interested in the music, I don't give a darn if he sings about shaking your ass or takin off your pantys. I have heard much worse. Tupac, Dre, or Snoop make this look like kiddy stuff. I used to listen to that, and still do on occasion. It is expressive music. But we have the choice of what we listen to. I may skip a few songs when listening to Travis' newer CD's, but if you listen to all the songs, some are really good. And no, they don't all sound like Vibrator. Travis, one request. No more panty songs!!!lol Be Good Boy

Re: From a mother

I won't retread any of the subjects I went over 10 times already but will say that I miss the part of the "safe haven" that is not here anymore and was here in the past?
The traditional band like Aldus Roger, Belton Richard, Nathan Abshire and Harry Choats were bands that were all HEAVY drinkers and played in night clubs and were not "daycare" material!? Trust me I've played with some of these bands and the musicians that have played with the bands and they are no different than the guys in my band.
Most of the older bands were huge drinkers and chased women (I am not saying it is the right thing nor am I saying ALL of the older bands) but most of them and I don't see where it was so holsom back in time?
I am sure someone could name bands that didn't fit that mold but you could do the same today?
Music is what it always has been and that is - full of change, full of past influence as with ALL music some will like it and some won't?
My beef since I started commenting on the forum was never defending what I play or saying someone SHOULD like what we do....it's always been about respecting other people's music and the old saying if you can't say something good then don't say anything at all?
But to bring the whole family values thing into music is a huge contradiction when you go back and look at the songs that have been recorded! If you take out every band that says one thing you wouldn't want your kids to hear, say or do then you couldn't listen to any song that mentioned drinking, any song that mentioned cheating, dancing in ALL forms whether it is Vibrating, twisting, shaking...what makes one decription any different than the other? I worked in the old field years ago and there were tools called Vibrators and there are sex toys called Vibrators and there are dances where girls vibrate their butt just as girls in the 50's did the twist and was considered BAD to the older generation of that era?
So, the whole family values thing is something personal that everyone has to do in their home with their own kids but the word "safe place" that isn't here anymore is grabbing for straws for the sake of having something to find negative about a style of music you don't care for?
Just my opinion?

Re: Re: From a mother

Eh. I'm not into the subject matter just 'cause I'm not into it. It doesn't offend me. I wouldn't care if my kids heard it. There's much worse stuff out there on every other station, as you're all noting. It just all bores me and I think it's stupid, but I'm snobby that way! Haha.

I think, Travis, if you recorded the same songs in French, no one would make a big deal out of the naughty lyrics. But then too many people would chalk you down on the same list of artists they won't listen to just 'cause they don't understand the lyrics.

However, while you are absolutely correct about the old bands (and the new ones, and the future ones, etc.), their habits weren't so public as your lyrics. You gotta admit that. At the same time, I said this in another post--there are LOTS of songs about getting drunk, songs with sexual innuendos, and so on, that are played on the same stations. "La Valse de Limonade", "Parlez-Nous a Boire", "Pointe aux Pins", and many more about drinking, "Sam's Big Rooster" talking about "my meat is hard, but that's what it takes to be the big **** in Sam's yard and make the little chickens jump up and down"...That's pretty raunchy stuff, but that's the kind of humor and subject matter MOST Cajuns love!

That's about all I've got to say about it.

Re: Re: Re: From a mother

Oh, and if you guys aren't going to let your kids know the lyrics to the songs in French, you'd better keep some great documentary movies away from them, too, where famous musicians are drunk, talking about women, and so forth. I'm sorry to say that this is a part of the culture, but it is.

Re: Re: Re: Re: From a mother

Ha, I agree! I've seen these documentaries as well and got some cool one's from Wilson and I love watching that stuff!
But I agree with you!

Re: Re: Re: From a mother

And then there's "Nonc Adam's Big Banana" and "Making Love in the Chicken Coop" among others with double entendre "naughty lyrics." Previous generations loved those songs just like this generation loves Booty Call and Vibrator.

I don't have kids, but if I did, it wouldn't bother me if they listened to Travis's songs.

Count Me In

I went on iTunes to see what all the fuss was about. I bought "Dis Ain'tcha Mommas Zodico." Love it, I'm a new fan.

Re: Count Me In

Make sure you listen to the tune "Zydehop" and how different it is from anything else on the disc -- it's a pinnacle tune in the budding genre of "zydehop."

R!CK

Re: Re: Count Me In

I would like to put in my two cents being that I'm a Cajun French hip-hop artist.

To put it plainly: You can't blame rap music for bad parenting.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, the album "Who Stole My Monkey" by Boozoo Chavis (1999) has a parental advisory label on it. Travis' albums do not.

---Roy---

Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

I am going to start playing Cajun Rap Music... My new name is going to be Cinquante sous!!(Not sure of spelling of cent, I just know that is how we say it when we beg for nickels for Mardi Gras)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

P Diddy Pommier
L L Cool Jo-El
MC Marceaux

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

Sure, you're making fun, but don't forget that kids listen to hip-hop and they like it. Evolve or be left behind.



---Roy---

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

Vanilla Glace would work, too

Roy, I like some Rap. Hell, I like music. There isn't much that I don't listen to. I have a playlist for my truck with Keith Frank, the Stones, Kenny Chesney, Steve Riley, Travis Matte, Led Zep, Dr. Dre, and many more. My wife finds it hard to decide how to classify my lists b/c I am all over the place. lol

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

Let not forget the forerunners in the Cajun rap genre -- Cypress City. "A Cajun is a man, that likes to have fun, he's got an accent that far from none..." Oh brutha. I still get requests for "The Cajun Rap Song" and "Hot Boudin" on my radio show for that after these years. I just can't bring myself to play those -- they are way to goofy. But "La Brise du Bayou" sounds like a band I can definitely appreciate. Very cool indeed -- thanks for the clue! Keep on innovatin'!

R!CK

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

Thanks!

Check out the girl in the gold dress in this video from 1965. You could definately say that she was shaking that thing like a vibrator way back then in the not-so-innocent 60's.

She's a vibrator.

---Roy---

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

Dude that's outrageously groovy -- I'd tap that Man they're all vibrators -- I think I need a smoke after watching that! Thanks Roy!

R!CK

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

Gentlemen, let us compose ourselves as there are ladies reading this...

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

My sincere apologies.

~R!CK

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

then again, if it's about doing your own thing, why concern ourselves with who may be reading it; and if we are doing are own thing, the target audience should be of no concern; sorta like Maz and Sarah have hit on, but taking it one example further. Musicians and artists (which I have neither the gift nor talent to be, so I content myself to the role of spectator and audience), do communicate -- so i'm told -- about what is going on with and and about society in that time frame. Myself, I don't know how people can look at paintings from a particular era and form conclusions about what was happening in that society at the time, but i believe it to be true nonetheless, and that Travis, as a musician, if fulfilling a role and making a record or tape that people in the future will be able to examine and form certain conclusions about society -- either as whole or as to a niche, maybe teens, young adults, whatever.

I thought an apt and current analogy that might capture, in my own words, what both Sarah and Maz have communicated, is that: To those of us who tend to feel about cajun music along the lines that Sarah does, the history, age, past, and like what we consider to be the purity of the sound, be it the vocals, the instruments, or the sense of it speaking to us of a time in the past, vs. those who thrive on the Franks, Mattes, et cet., to say that the new stuff is still "cajun" is would be akin to saying that Debbie does Dallas belongs in the same genre of film as Gone with the Wind. They're both movies, they both have actors and actresses, but I think it's safe to say that they should not be up for the same awards. I agree with Sarah and don't like people haphazardly associating everything with 'cajun music' just because it's cool or may sell the label. Matte is cool and definitely talented, more than I'll ever dream of being, but an accordion in a piece of music, sung by a cajun, doesn't qualify it to be a cajun song. Maybe a rap song sung by a cajun. Then again, i've never been one to enjoy the mindless repitition of lyrics or riffs, regardless of the music genre, and i tend to detest 95% of the rap out there because it seems that the requirement to enjoy it is that one not have a brain or no thoughts higher than getting drunk or laid

Like most contributors to this thread, i have listened to, and have cd's of bluegrass, gospel, country, rock, pop, celtic, spanish, mexicana, new age, jazz, et cet. Growing up in S. Louisiana where I was and in my environment, I only heard cajun music on saturdays, and on Fridays when i could gain entry to the VFW.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

The horse is still breathing... hand me that rifle.

Points well taken with maximum respect to you, Matt.

What do you think of these recorded tunes by Travis Matte & The Zydeco Kingpins:

Going Up the Country
Lacassine Special
Kaplan Mix
Dear Rosa
Reno Waltz
Summer of 69
Blue Monday
Your Daddy Don't Want Me Around
Shoulda Coulda
Without You I'm Not Me
Tickle My Fiddle
I'm Happy Being Me
A Night To Remember
Tuesday's Gone


R!CK

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

I think I have that playlist...lol

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Count Me In

Exactly!!! Well put, Matt.

Who changed the spelling of your last name?



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