Bailemos – Let’s Dance

(1965)

Esta canción «Iko Iko» habla del enfrentamiento de dos tribus de indios del Mardi Gras (Mardi Gras Indians) en Nueva Orleans. Bueno, no me voy a liar, hay que ser de Nueva Orleans para entender esto. Pero no para gozarlo, bailarlo, cantarlo y gritarlo por las azoteas. La otra letra jock-a-mo es un grito de guerra de los indios, bueno, al menos eso he leído…

Hay muchas versiones, comenzando por la del propio autor, James «Sugar Boy» Crawford and his Cane Cutters, (1953), The Dixie Cups (1965), el legendario Dr. John (1972), The Grateful Dead (1977), y en 2021, la adaptación del artista Justin Wellington de Papua Nueva Guinea, que la tituló «Iko Iko (My Bestie)», se convirtió en un hit internacional debido a un desafío en Tik Tok.

(Dr. John, 1977)

Y no me preguntéis que significa la letra, cantadla y disfrutadla…

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«Iko Iko» is a song about two tribes of Mardi Gras Indians who confront each other in New Orleans. But, hey, I don’t want to get caught up in the confusion, so just enjoy the song and dance to it! The phrase jock-a-mo is a war cry of the Indians, I guess…

(The Greatful Dead 1991, photo JamBase

There are many versions of this song beginning in 1953 with the one by its composer James «Sugar Boy» Crawford and his Cane Cutters, (1953), The Dixie Cups (1965), the legendary Dr. John (1972), The Grateful Dead (1977), and in 2021, Justin Wellington, a singer of Papua Nueva Guinea, recorded a version he titled «Iko Iko (My Bestie)», which became an international hit after a Tik Tok challenge.

(2021)

Well, don’t ask me what the words mean, just dance and sing it on the rooftops!

Aqui teneis una de mis versiones favoritas:

But here is one of my favourite versions:

(2019, DEP Dr. John/RIP Dr. John)

Gracias…

Cheers…

(James Crawford, 1996)

2 Comentarios

  1. Avatar de vermavkv vermavkv dice:

    What an energetic and wonderfully engaging post! You capture the spirit of Iko Iko exactly as it’s meant to be—joyful, rhythmic, a little mysterious, and full of New Orleans magic. I love how you highlight the song’s deep cultural roots while still keeping the focus on what truly matters: the irresistible beat, the dancing, the shouting from the rooftops, and the pure fun of it all.

    Le gusta a 1 persona

    1. Absolutely! Thank you Sir for these wonderful words!

      Le gusta a 1 persona

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