Cajun Music : Eddie LeJeune DL Menard & Ken Smith

[tapper1477]

Fantastic.

[hussnfussel7]

I have this tune by eddies daddy and i think eddie does a better job. You can tell eddie puts his heart and soul into this song.

[hussnfussel7]

omg he is great. This is my first time i ever heard eddie sing.

[mosttrophies]

Fantastic piece of music that I never tire pf listening to. Got into the 'Cajun thing' a few years ago and have fell in love with them, their history and their lifestyle.

[rmachayes]

I have recently started a study on cajun music, so I spend a lot of time on youtube....just listening. As I hear a song I wonder just how much better can it get. Such is this song, how much better can it possibly get?

[005658able]

@rmachayes having the right Cajun people that are looking for an excuse to have a party while you are listening to this and dont forget to lite the bar b que pit no. Then you let the good times roll  Charles thibodeaux

[thereit2]

now i understand your viewpoint you are a liberal and not even american! ulstman 59 stick to uploading you cant comment on my viewpoint u do things in the scotch way have a nice day

[UISTMAN59]

@thereit2 A man can be theologically conservative and politically liberal. A man can alternatively be politically conservative, yet theologically liberal. You don't have to be American to have a view on what Americans think about things and it wouldn't do any good for me to even BE American because you'd then be categorising me into some other niche group that you didn't like. It wasn't liberal Amercians who marginalised the Cajuns or indeed the Islenos communities of Louisiana. Think about it

[almadenmike]

I saw/met Ken when he was a kid at a Texas fiddler's festival in the mid 70s. He was fabulous then; it's great to see that he's continued and thrived as a musician. Gotta dust off the turntable soon and listen to his LP that I'd bought then. So pure and smooth, his playing is.

[tommyau2006]

yup......you gotta love this guy

[greatgreatgrandma]

D.L. Menard is Alive and Doing very Well, he has just come out with a new CD. I don't remember the name of it , but if you go to Dee's Cajun Gifts , Eunice La. I'm sure they would have it there.. He is a Wonderful Entertainer.. Jan 8th 2011 /11th Annual

Tribute to Hank Williams, Sr.

[Goethefemme]

I was taught to dance by Christine Balfa while Eddie played live. We miss him at Augusta Heritage.

[tommyau2006]

this is brilliant. Great to see the young and the not so young playing this great music together

[cato9tail1]

I was blessed to see these guys play at a rare gig in Cambridge,England.Sublime.

May the music live on

[kmontileaux]

I would like to connect with some Cajan folk who are my kin. My name is Kateri Montileaux from South Dakota. From what I can find out my ancestors are from Cajan country via Canada. I am a Lakota woman and my ancestors are from Louisania (Sic) my address is kmontileaux@hotmail.com if anyone can tell me more, I sure would appreciate help in finding my kinfolk...thanks

[tommyau2006]

@kmontileaux try ancestry.com..........I have found them to be quite helpful

[notoriousbrothers]

I had a great honour when Eddie asked me to sit in on a session with my guitar. This was at the Sidmouth Folk Festival not long before he left us. The jam session was at the Bedford hotel. I enjoyed every second of it. Iam so glad I got to meet Eddie and some of the boys.  We tore it up a while too..... R.I.P. Eddie gone too soon

Your friend John Hill ( aka Johny Flambe )

[CHOUCHE4]

Any one knows if lejeune and menard are still alive ?

[UISTMAN59]

Eddie LeJeune, born Lascasin, Louisiana 1951; died Eunice, Louisiana 9 January 2001. DL Menard, born April 1932, is still living as far as I know.

[CHOUCHE4]

@UISTMAN59 THANKS FROM FRANCE; EDDIE rip

[vernonmoreaux]

@UISTMAN59 I knew Eddie well in the late 60's, but haven't been home to Louisiana since the late 70's. It breaks my heart to know he's gone, but I'm grateful for youtube & UISTMAN59 for posting this. Thanks.

[UISTMAN59]

Thanks for your note vernonmoreaux. It is always sad when a person dies comparatively young, as Eddie did.

[palfab962]

@UISTMAN59 i think DL has gone on, can someone confirm ?

[UISTMAN59]

@palfab962 DL Menard, born April 1932, is still living as far as I know. The easiest thing in the world, in cases like this, is to do a Google search. The passing of someone like D L Menard would not have un-noticed by the Cajun community and I am happy to report that I have found no mention anywhere of his passing away.

[palfab962]

@UISTMAN59 I think i may have got mixed up with the fact he had a fire at his house that i think andy keshaw mentioned on his show some while back,

I hope he is still going strong ! cheers

[joespat75]

@UISTMAN59 Mr D. L Menard is still alive

[TheNawMatt]

@joespat75 DL is definitely still alive and still playing his guitar and singing every chance he gets!

[snelpop]

this is awesome, brings tears to my eyes and that while I am a cold and sober nw europe man. Song sounds so full of melancholy and  high spirit at the same time, i want this cd!

[UISTMAN59]

Thanks for the note, snelpop. This track is on "The Shetland Sessions, Vol. 1 by Various Artists"

[joespat75]

@UISTMAN59

i searched high and low for the Shetland Sessions. Unfortunately, it is no longer available. would love to have a copy . you can reach me at joespat62175@yahoo.com. Thanks for posting.

[jbm0745]

Damn, that was priceless.  RIP Eddie LeJeune...

[hulkingbeast]

i agree...priceless for sure

[wagonhead]

I was lucky enough to see these 3 fellers a few times in London. 100% pure pleasure.

[Tonefid115]

Great stuff!

[thereit2]

on my dads side i am french canadian and huron indian plus irish cajun music is awsume one other group is great also balfa toujours with courtney granger they r on u tube click them up

[agochoa]

I dont care what anyone says, even if you dont understand this language, there is indeed something soulful about this music. It makes me feel good just to hear it. The cajun culture is so vibrant and filled with life. Hell, Im not even cajun and Ill say it.

[Melancholy1040]

Indeed. Just last night I've got the iPOD working "Chez Seychelles", Chez Les Cajuns, which is instrumental - makes me want to play bass, and learn just enough language to sing something.

[karpdiem2]

I purchased a used copy off the Amazon website. It was very inexpensive, plays well. I'm quite happy with it. Thanks for

the info.

[karpdiem2]

I just got hold of a copy of Le Trio Cadien & really, I don't understand a lick of French or Acadian or Louisiana French (I

hesitate to call it "Cajun" for fear I'll insult someone by using vernacular or descrip-tions I'm not completely familiar with. I just began playing Cajun & Zydeco fiddle & I can't beleive how SMOOTH Ken Smith is. I'm doing net serarches on him &

Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold as I write this. They were a great group.

[remijeanetienne]

i agree about KEN SMITH !

i usually never listen to cajun music, but that violon part hit me

[joespat75]

any true Cajun is never insulted by being called Cajun. I for one am very proud to admit that I am pure Cajun. i also speak the language fluently. Paul Daigle can usually be heard on KBON 101.1 they also have a website where you can subscribe for a yearly fee. they play all kinds of music but feature LA artists. Please let me know where i can find a copy of Le Trio Cadien, thanks

[ddd3240]

it is quite the honor to be called cajun, thank you. It reflects more of the spirit than I can expain. In no way is it derrogatory to me or my house and I am 84 years old and have seen more injustice and bigotry than you can imagine. Cajun? Hell yes!

[greatgreatgrandma]

I also have Le Trio and it is Cajun Music..... You have to come here and see for yourself how Truly Wonderful it is in "Cajun Country" Eunice Louisiana, and Surrounding Areas.... It's Beautiful Here. The Old Fashioned "Mardi Gras" in Acadiana Area is Awesome !!!!

[joespat75]

wow..that is awesome. more than any words can say, true authentic cajun music from 3 of the best. wish there was more. thanks for posting

[txstoryteller]

Take me back to Louisiaana!!!!!!!!!

[kohaylan]

We played the support to Eddie in Cambridge England once. He had a great voice and trio. Hubert Maitre was a lovely kind man. Eddie could really sing with soul . It was a thrill to hear and see them.

[UISTMAN59]

Thanks for your note.

Sorry I missed the comment till now :-)

[manasmith]

Ah, this is good music. Don't go argueing about language, its irrelevant. The music is what is important.

[Stefanochti]

@manasmith la langue c'est la musique aussi.

[UISTMAN59]

Pistolio77 is in no position to speculate about what Eddie Le Jeune or any other Cajun understands from these lyrics. Cajun French, as spoken in Southern Louisiana and elsewhere in the US, is an offshoot of older forms of Acadian French.

Montreal doesn't come into it.

[pistolio77]

HEY UISTMAN

I LIVE IN MONTREAL BUT IM AN ACADIAN AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I CAN CONVERSE WITH MY FATHER, MOTHER,GRAND FATHER, GRAND MOTHER AND I UNDERSTAND FRENCH IN A N Y WAYS POSSIBLE!!!! MR KNOW IT ALL AND THIS EXCERP IS ALMOST U N I N T E L I G I B L E papa mama is that french?

Maybe this song is creole but its not french

maybe he didnt remeber the lyrics and started inventing words thinking that nobody would notice...and uistman59 take a deep breathe here its only youtube

[UISTMAN59]

to speculate about what Eddie Le Jeune or any other Cajun understands from these lyrics. The song is Cajun, pistolo77. It is "only youtube" to you but you are very disrespectful of a great Cajun musician.

[melodeonfreak]

Pistolio sounds more like an Eyetalian Mobster from Chicago ... they respect no-nothing only their Capo & La Mama, that's why .....

[dsalonen2]

pistolio77 -

My parents and grandparent knew Eddie LeJuene and his father Iry, and while both did not speak pure French, they both spoke Cajun French fluently. Most Cajuns don't speak true French, they speak Cajun French. If you're Acadian you should know that Cajun is about as much like French as American's version of English is to true English.

You're right about one thing though, both languages are dying.

[jacksblack1]

Hell, a puerto rican cant understand a mexican. True spanish comes from Europe, where Spain is located. but hell, what do you think ebonics is? We all screw up everything we get our hands on.

[UISTMAN59]

"True spanish comes from Europe" but even there there are dialects differences between Castilian and Andalucían, which also traveled to the colonies. Ebonics was originally intended (and is still sometimes used) for the language of all people of African ancestry, or for that of Black North American and West African people, emphasizing the African roots of the former; nowadays it is often used to refer to African American Vernacular English, asserting its independence from "Standard English."

[RedKetchupz]

He is telling is mom, that he doesn't know what to do, becose he probably going to the prison.

[pistolio77]

Im an acadian and i can tell you that im not sure if he understood the lyrics he was singing...hehehe

unintelligible

French language is really dead in the states its only folkloristic now

Maybe old folks are still talking it

Still the music is beautifull

[UISTMAN59]

Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 11

[plbjon]

I'm 28, Cajun, and still speak french and I understand him completely as do all of my friends and those I work with. You can even go to wal mart in Lafayette, LA and get by with only french ( I see European tourists do it very regularly).

[pistolio77]

Ok écrit moi les paroles

[plbjon]

Dit byé byé à ton pop et puis ta mom malheureux pries pour moi,

Moi, je suis la à grand Durald

Faut jamais, malheureux mais tu ten viens tite monde, mais pries pour moi je vas venir peut être un bon jour.

And boo hoo if you can't understand what he's saying because it is french, it's just as good as what you speak. It has rules of grammar just like what you speak and you can find all the words in the dictionary. Just because you haven't seen us doesn't mean we don't exist.

[pistolio77]

Salut plbjon

Merci

Oui tu comprend les paroles et moi aussi maintenant mais avoues que mr Lejeune chante avec un GROS accent parce que je comprend tout les autres chanteurs de la louisianne et pas lui. surtout sur ce vidéo

[plbjon]

Ma famile viens du même village que lui, donc ma famile à le même accent, c'est pour ça que c'est plus façile pour moi de lui comprend.

[jacksblack1]

I am from Opelousas and I can not get by in Lafayette Wal-mart with speaking only french. It is not like it was when I was growing up. I still may find some but mostly older people like myself that speak french. However, I do enjoy to see someone your age and younger speaking french. Like I said, I once in awhile can get by with speaking french in carencro, lafayette and Opelousas, but not at all like I used to.

[lilsteller]

Lafayette you may not be able to get around with only French. But you can defintley get around in Evangeline Parish with only using French.

Lafayette is having a problem keeping French as a second first language because many migrants have moved there. Hopfully the French schools being used will help keep at least some of the Lousiana Cajun youth speaking French.

[ronfrankl]

Eddie LeJeune, R.I.P. Gone much too soon.

[9578755]

hmm compared to 50 cent, this is., humm...Unique. ^^

[Spatcher]

You can't compare the two. This trumps all other music out there. These guys have talent, 50 cent has what, a nickname?

[Goethefemme]

Find more Ken Smith (if you can recognize him now) by searching under Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold.

[watchamush]

I saw these three at a Derby (UK) Cajun club a few years ago and I rate the evening as one of many highlights in my life.

[kmontileaux]

who is the fiddle player?

[UISTMAN59]

The fiddler is Ken Smith. He recorded an album "Le Trio Cadien" with D.L. Menard and Eddie LeJeune in 1992.

[notoriousbrothers]

Nice one bub...I got to play some music with eddie the year before he passed on...at the sidmouth festival in the uk

[MarthaMartian]

Thank you for letting us see him perform with the band. Handsome guy with a great voice and he can play the way it should be played. I didn't know he passed. I have his CD with this lovely waltz. Hope y'all can post more of him.

[UISTMAN59]

Hi MarthaMartian. This is the only clip I have of Cajun music from this session.

[xxtayxcorexx]

This guy is a cousin of my on my dads side...I was raised listening to this music...I also play the cajun accordian

[tommyau2006]

good for you

[krappyproducts]

I met Eddie while working on a documentary called, Joie de Vive in the mid-eighties. We had gotten to know D.L. Menard and his family and we went to a gig where D.L. was playing with Eddie.

I will never forget Eddie hunched over that accordion and microphone singing in the plaintive wail... it was like the entire place transported itself back 250 years. The hair on the back of my necks stands up every time I recall that sound and scene.

[mkr8683]

I didn't know Eddie but I wish I had. He died of a heart attack in January 2001. His passing away is made even more tragic for the fact that his father, the legendary Iry LeJeune, was run over while changing a flat tire at the age of 27. Eddie was a friendly and humble man and worked hard to preserve the culture and music of the Cajun music. Ils sont apres jouer au paradis, Eddie, Iry, et tous les vieux héros de la musique 'Cadien.

[mkr8683]

That should have read 'music of the Cajun people' rather than 'music of the Cajun music'.

[UISTMAN59]

Thanks for the note mkr8683.

[tdtoups17]

Bien merci chere!

[UISTMAN59]

'Kay Junn' is probably the way I would think of it. The Acadians were evicted from their native land Acadia (now parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada) in the period 1755 - 1763; More on Wikipedia.

[milenako]

how is the word "Cajun" pronounced? someone please post just a few things about cajun culture, origins, language? I found too many sites on the web, I don' t know where to start from!!

[havensbayou]

the son of cajun great ira lajeune

[jpeanrkode]

c'est bon!!

[astromusicorg]

are there more of 'em? i love it ......... nout

[MazAcadienDuNord]

Très beau vidéo, merci beaucoup!

[StAlphege]

Hey, great to have more cajun posted. Thanks...Laurie

[meloderon]

Awesome video.

Thanks.

[ChadHebert]

thank you for posting this!