It’s Super Bowl Sunday and all I have for you is my third annual Carnival Tunes post.
Enjoy.
I’ve been meaning to do this since this feature began in 2022. There’s no time like the present.
I’m not usually a fan of seasonal music but I make an exception for Carnival tunes. Anything that makes you dance on the parade route, can’t be bad.
Why Carnival tunes, not Mardi Gras tunes? Here’s why: Carnival is the season and Mardi Gras is the grand finale.
I did some crowd sourcing on Facebook. Thanks to everyone who suggested songs. I used many of your suggestions; most of which reinforced my own preferences.
The list is arranged in chronological order based on when the song was written. They range in date from 1953 to 2006.
I’ve posted my favorite versions of the Carnival tunes, which is why we begin with Dr. John. It was the first version of Iko Iko that I ever heard. I didn’t imagine then that someday I’d live in New Orleans. It’s a funny old world. Hey now. Hey now.
I was acquainted with Danny Barker and attended the 1994 second line honoring his passing. He was the first to record My Indian Red:
That was the original, here’s my favorite: It’s the first of two doubleheaders in this post.
Speaking of acquaintances, my late great 13th Ward neighbor Art Neville told me that while he liked this song, he didn’t dig playing it live. It was too simple for his taste, but play it he did as do we.
It’s time to clown around with Huey Piano Smith and his 1958 recording of Don’t You Know Yockomo:
Professor Longhair. Fess. Say no more.
Al Johnson is a warm and lovable man who has adopted the title of his biggest hit as his middle name. I give you Al Carnival Time Johnson.
Big Chief was written by Earl King and is most associated with Fess, but I love this live version by my 13th Ward homies, the Neville Brothers:
Dr. John wrote the next song when he was the Night Tripper, but I prefer this version by Kermit Ruffins with Trombone Shorty. It’s also known as All On A Mardi Gras Day.
Here’s our second doubleheader with The Meters followed by the Nevilles live on Halloween, 1991. Dr. A and I were there but didn’t costume. What can I tell ya?
The New Suit in question is the feathery and beady suit designed and sewn annually by Mardi Gras Indians. In this case, The Wild Magnolias.
I’m a bad New Orleanian: I’m lukewarm on brass band music but I dig this rousing Carnival anthem.
It’s time for the only song on this list that was written in the 21st Century. It’s a new dawn, y’all.
Here’s a quick and dirty list of the Carnival Tunes Dozen
- Iko Iko
- My Indian Red
- Mardi Gras Mambo
- Don’t You Know Yockomo
- Go To The Mardi Gras
- Carnival Time
- Big Chief
- Mardi Gras Day AKA All On A Mardi Gras Day
- Hey Pocky Way
- New Suit
- Do Whatcha Wanna (Part 3)
- Street Parade
Are you ready for some lagniappe? I give you three songs by artists from away as the locals say: The Band, Paul Simon, and Cheap Trick.
Finally, a concession to Carnival traditionalists. If Ever I Cease To Love has been the unofficial Carnival theme song since some Romanov Grand Duke hung out with our local fake royalty in 1872. It’s especially beloved by the old line krewes such as Rex and Comus. Here’s a non-traditional version by Charmaine Neville who once tried to give Dr. A a kitten:
That’s it for this edition of The Sunday Dozen. The last word goes to Rex and Comus at the Meeting Of The Courts:
It’s as weird as it looks, y’all.
Happy Carnival.