Just found out that Jo-El is coming out with a new 2 cd set along with a DVD documentary in 2010. I cannot wait, it should be awesome. One of the best performers ever.
This man is truly a gifted musician. I'm from northeast La. and saw him in concert at a private club in Monroe. His dedication to his Cajun roots are clearly visible when he performs. Ce' bon Jo-el!
Evangeline Special is one of my favorites. The dancehalls of Acadiana are packed on Friday and Saturday nights, but you can hear music like this any night of the week. My home is New Orleans and my favorite place for food and music in the city is Mulate's. South Louisiana is more than excellent cuisine and music. We are friendly and have a deep faith that I have not found anywhere else. La Nouvelle-Orléans, la ville que le soin a oubliée, mais moi ne peut pas oublier la Nouvelle-Orléans!
Cajun language its awesome, get down in the bayous of Louisiana & that's how they speak. One of the wonderful cultures still left here in the USA. Cajun food is to die for.
I sent these wonderful people a lot of prayers last week during Hurricane Ike.
Actually it is French with a twang lol. Like Dunit said one of the great cultures left and great food, be be for warned, alot of the cooking will burn you to your toes it's so spicey hot lol.
The first Europeans to settle in Louisiana were the French. Some Germans helped the original French settlers. Also,France and Spain would take turns owning Louisiana. This arrangement continued until the Louisiana Purchase. Finally, Cajun French never has stuck to the exact same rules as Continental French. Example: The Cajun French expression for "Let the good times roll!" is "Laissez les bon temps roulez!" In Continental French, one would say, "Laissez les temps bon roulez!"
Where is that video now that's a live recording of him playing Iry LeJeune's Evangeline Special ? I know that I had that in my favorites grouping ! WHERE is it now ?! Rats; it must have been pulled. But don't they usually leave it there as a pic and desciption 'box,' in your folder--when you click on it, "it" will tell you it is no longer available ??
Jo El Sonnier continues to be one of the great performers from Louisiana. He delivers Cajun music in a unique manner and when you see him perform you know he puts every ounce of his heart into everything he performs. Truly a great entertainer.
He took a detour into country music, but to his credit he recorded three fine records that you can get on CD: Cajun Life (Rounder, '88), Cajun Roots (Rounder, '94), and Cajun Pride (Rounder, '97) His last, that I know of, real Cajun music recording was a self-produced album: Cajun Blood, Musique de' Jo-EL, #1755, that followed...year of release unknown (to me). It's a little odd - off, but he plays very much in the traditional style on the first three I listed. He's a good hearted guy.
I loved the 3 albums that u speak of, but still wonder why he had to go country, it seems that he wanted to be more commercial and thats sad. I think he could have made a living promoting french music like Beausoleil has and no one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public as Marc Savoy says.
My friend Eddie LeJeune was as traditional as they come but he always spoke of Jo-El Sonnier with respect and appreciation for the way he played his music. So I think if someone with Eddie's pedigree can appreciate Jo-El's style of Cajun playing then it's good enough for me. BTW Beausoleil are more eclectic in their influences than your comments might suggest.
zphil, Believe me, I'm not trying to be mean. I truly love cajun music and I know Jo-El is a very talented man. It's just that I went to hear him perform once in TX and was expecting to hear beautiful cajun music and was so disapointed when I heard boring country. When you have a gift u shouldn't waste your talent on what so many others are doing.
I saw him at a show in Amarillo many years back and got the same dose. I got the impression at the time that Jo El was trying to break into mainstream country, but the result was pretty bad. Even in a bastion of country music, he bombed. BUT... when he broke back into Cajun music, he brought the house down. Absolutely wonderfully talented, no doubt.
Thanks, I'm glad to see someone agrees with me and maybe Jo-el will understand to stay true to who he is and the people who have taste and culture will love him.
Mairabella I respect your choices, we should in turn respect Jo-El's. Who makes a living playing only traditional Cajun music? And what is Cajun culture? Listen to what is played on the radio in Louisiana - it's mainly country music. As a Brit playing Cajun music in Louisiana I need to be very respectful of my friends' views on what is their culture and not push my preferences - and prejudices - forward.
Hi, ridif --- thanks for "answering my question before I asked it" *chuckle!* --- I thought that was Richard Thompson, but wasn't sure! Not surprised; he and the gang at Fairport were digging Cajun music, etc., long before anybody outside of Louisiana had heard of it, which is very impressive when you consider they were in the middle of Britain at the time (late '60s).
He can tear it up as well as anybody on two-steps (I've never heard a guy play the Perrodin two-step any faster !), but Sonnier really shines with his plaintively sung evocative waltzes. Here's a swamp pop'ish' zydeco'ish' thingy NO ! Not a saxophone :( Not him at his best, unfortunately, but still he rivals the best when he's feeling free to play in the traditional manner.
Jo-EL Sonnier has never sold out his culture and to this day travels around the World playing his Cajun music. He has 4 Grammy nominations for Traditional French music. Yes, he made some great Country music but always played his accordion on those recordings as well. His accordion can be heard on over 100 different major Artists records. He has performed in 49 states and over 15 different countries, always letting people know where he came from. He could not have done more for his culture.
This has been flagged as spam show
JO-EL is scheduled to perform at the DeQuincy, Louisiana RailRoad Festival, 2nd Saturday in April, 2012, @ 3 pm. Will be a great show.
headredbone 3 months ago
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headredbone 3 months ago
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headredbone 3 months ago
Saw this guy last night, he was awesome!
TheHolyMongolEmpire 4 months ago
Fantastic, wonderful, I want to go to Louisiana.... now!!
tesyeauxbleu 5 months ago
J'aime la musique de Jo-el Sonnier ... toute la musique Cadienne, en fait! :)
jmacleve 6 months ago
Thought I was gonna read a bunch of comments bashing this music. Glad to see so many open minds. Nice change.
hokanut 6 months ago
keep dem feet stoped i dare u for me i dancea
MsMeatloaf69 6 months ago
sounds like a old amedee ardoin song
wolvenancestry992 7 months ago
I have no idea what he is saying but oh man do i know that music.
purplefrog150 8 months ago
holy s***!
jipidibipity 10 months ago 3
rock on man rock on !!
nutindoin1 11 months ago
One thing about South Louisiana we have our own food, language, and our own music!!!!!
duckdaigle 1 year ago 3
@duckdaigle oui ami oui!
Academic1Researcher 9 months ago
I like this. Serious musicians. The dorky tv station rolled the credits right over the best part of the song, and then cut them off. Clueless.
compabutch 1 year ago
I grew up listenin to him just across da Sabine and I still love him! Kick ass
aclark619 1 year ago
La meilleure genre de la musique francophone!
ronaldinhollew 1 year ago
I agree:-)
LH98000 1 year ago
Cool music:-) Greetings from Norway!!
ErwinSchlupp 1 year ago 2
tres bon, merci
HSLaFever 1 year ago
where can I get English and French Cajun lyrics? Have always loved him!
jolene99902002 1 year ago
Best music to ever listen , dance and enjoy A life tool for happiness
calvisc775 1 year ago
Wow! Richard Thompson backing him? Must try more of this man's work.
WZYrover 1 year ago
man i love this music
Thatuptownguy 1 year ago
Go Man Go!
LarrySommer 1 year ago
dude hes my freakin 7th cousin!!!! o.O
NO JOKE! (on meh mommiis side :D)
JOBROSandME 1 year ago
i dont understand it but i love it !!lol
splitsawoperator 1 year ago
Just found out that Jo-El is coming out with a new 2 cd set along with a DVD documentary in 2010. I cannot wait, it should be awesome. One of the best performers ever.
streetervillemusic 1 year ago
Amazing!
YvesB1 1 year ago
Joel Forever....
Aloofbear 2 years ago 3
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mrrhum 2 years ago
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mrrhum 2 years ago
I just had to know, so I looked it up, and for those who care, this was on episode 16 of the show's second (and last) season in 1990.
mrrhum 2 years ago
Wow, he was so great - and look who's playing guitar in back of him - the great Richard Thompson.
sonomafan 2 years ago
Super bon,, j'aime cette chanson,,, Beautiful song and charming french cajun accent...I.M from QUEBEC , Canada
orignal7 2 years ago 9
I saw him last week on a cruise ship, very nice music.
txdude86 2 years ago
Hiram Bullock backing up a coon-ass...mais don't dat beat all I never saw me
Chromatype 2 years ago
Coon-ass? Connasse!
mrrhum 2 years ago
Jo-el is by far one of the best cajun performers ever !
stefalbert 2 years ago 2
Just Beautiful....
TheSupremeGenius 2 years ago
grew up on cajun music love this song evangeline special
cajunbaby1226 2 years ago
doug kershaw is the real ragin cajun
cajunbaby1226 2 years ago
So Cool!
barbij9 2 years ago
He and Wayne Toupes! Thats Cajun!!!
dbarrois1 2 years ago
i from south la love cajun song's and la [o yes baby]
thecoonass 2 years ago
I love it... but only when I'm drunk xD
Scargon7 2 years ago
MY FAVORITE CAJUN SINGER! I don't understand a word, but I love the sound. I wish I knew the language-it's very pretty.
meddetect10 2 years ago
JA deta e Kanon MUSIK!!... FIVE *
lincolncadillac 2 years ago
I'm sorry, I don't understand the language. Translation please?
meddetect10 2 years ago
..OK!...."This is real good music"----
lincolncadillac 2 years ago
yea baby we rocking now!!!!!
skillet548 2 years ago 9
This man is truly a gifted musician. I'm from northeast La. and saw him in concert at a private club in Monroe. His dedication to his Cajun roots are clearly visible when he performs. Ce' bon Jo-el!
Laissez les bon temps rouler!!!!
tigerfantoo 3 years ago
OH YEAH !!! EXCELLENT !!!
sparkyslove 3 years ago 2
At birth mom and papa called their little boy Ned
steviehyperS98 3 years ago 2
Just awesome
ahmed1982alaoui 3 years ago 5
Evangeline Special is one of my favorites. The dancehalls of Acadiana are packed on Friday and Saturday nights, but you can hear music like this any night of the week. My home is New Orleans and my favorite place for food and music in the city is Mulate's. South Louisiana is more than excellent cuisine and music. We are friendly and have a deep faith that I have not found anywhere else. La Nouvelle-Orléans, la ville que le soin a oubliée, mais moi ne peut pas oublier la Nouvelle-Orléans!
brucerdavidson 3 years ago
ah c'est bon Jo-El,beau Musique cadjin!!!!!!!
JAMESELAIR 3 years ago 2
BTW, what is the name of this song?
Zeetana 3 years ago
The song is Evangeline Special
chip10289 3 years ago
Thanks
Zeetana 3 years ago
Is it French? It sounds like broken French or something. It sounds a bit like Portuguese too in a way. Anyway, great music! 5/5
Zeetana 3 years ago
Cajun language its awesome, get down in the bayous of Louisiana & that's how they speak. One of the wonderful cultures still left here in the USA. Cajun food is to die for.
I sent these wonderful people a lot of prayers last week during Hurricane Ike.
Dunitlucky 3 years ago
Actually it is French with a twang lol. Like Dunit said one of the great cultures left and great food, be be for warned, alot of the cooking will burn you to your toes it's so spicey hot lol.
chip10289 3 years ago 2
@Zeetana
The first Europeans to settle in Louisiana were the French. Some Germans helped the original French settlers. Also,France and Spain would take turns owning Louisiana. This arrangement continued until the Louisiana Purchase. Finally, Cajun French never has stuck to the exact same rules as Continental French. Example: The Cajun French expression for "Let the good times roll!" is "Laissez les bon temps roulez!" In Continental French, one would say, "Laissez les temps bon roulez!"
A1l2l2e2n4 6 months ago
Where is that video now that's a live recording of him playing Iry LeJeune's Evangeline Special ? I know that I had that in my favorites grouping ! WHERE is it now ?! Rats; it must have been pulled. But don't they usually leave it there as a pic and desciption 'box,' in your folder--when you click on it, "it" will tell you it is no longer available ??
gatorgarfish 3 years ago
Typical great rendition of music Jo El is so great at bringing to his audience. He is entertainment at it's best.
Jackthecat62 3 years ago 2
Jo El Sonnier continues to be one of the great performers from Louisiana. He delivers Cajun music in a unique manner and when you see him perform you know he puts every ounce of his heart into everything he performs. Truly a great entertainer.
Jackthecat62 3 years ago
Good mood music. I can hardly sit still when this kind of music is paying. Drives away all my sorrow.
Obebay 3 years ago 2
where is Jo el these days?
hswatnik 3 years ago
Jo el is in Lake Charles, La. and is good as ever whith a great band!!!
doncanot 3 years ago
Fantastic. This is what country music wanted to be but missed. Sonnier and Menard are exceptional -- tell your friends.
LaserBeamr 3 years ago
Its so great for me to find this music that reveals my French roots!
It sounds wonderful.
Jeromegodboo 4 years ago
He took a detour into country music, but to his credit he recorded three fine records that you can get on CD: Cajun Life (Rounder, '88), Cajun Roots (Rounder, '94), and Cajun Pride (Rounder, '97) His last, that I know of, real Cajun music recording was a self-produced album: Cajun Blood, Musique de' Jo-EL, #1755, that followed...year of release unknown (to me). It's a little odd - off, but he plays very much in the traditional style on the first three I listed. He's a good hearted guy.
gatorgarfish 4 years ago
He was Earl Ball.
Stop your Fanny.
Lets Talk.
FloridaHuntingGuide 4 years ago
I loved the 3 albums that u speak of, but still wonder why he had to go country, it seems that he wanted to be more commercial and thats sad. I think he could have made a living promoting french music like Beausoleil has and no one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public as Marc Savoy says.
mairabella 3 years ago
My friend Eddie LeJeune was as traditional as they come but he always spoke of Jo-El Sonnier with respect and appreciation for the way he played his music. So I think if someone with Eddie's pedigree can appreciate Jo-El's style of Cajun playing then it's good enough for me. BTW Beausoleil are more eclectic in their influences than your comments might suggest.
zphil 3 years ago
zphil, Believe me, I'm not trying to be mean. I truly love cajun music and I know Jo-El is a very talented man. It's just that I went to hear him perform once in TX and was expecting to hear beautiful cajun music and was so disapointed when I heard boring country. When you have a gift u shouldn't waste your talent on what so many others are doing.
mairabella 3 years ago
I saw him at a show in Amarillo many years back and got the same dose. I got the impression at the time that Jo El was trying to break into mainstream country, but the result was pretty bad. Even in a bastion of country music, he bombed. BUT... when he broke back into Cajun music, he brought the house down. Absolutely wonderfully talented, no doubt.
SatchDaddyG 3 years ago
Thanks, I'm glad to see someone agrees with me and maybe Jo-el will understand to stay true to who he is and the people who have taste and culture will love him.
BabyPrincessAnna 3 years ago
Mairabella I respect your choices, we should in turn respect Jo-El's. Who makes a living playing only traditional Cajun music? And what is Cajun culture? Listen to what is played on the radio in Louisiana - it's mainly country music. As a Brit playing Cajun music in Louisiana I need to be very respectful of my friends' views on what is their culture and not push my preferences - and prejudices - forward.
zphil 2 years ago
THAT IS RICHARD THOMPSON ON GUITAR EVERYBODY!!!! from Fairport Convention.. yeah !
ridif 4 years ago 3
Hi, ridif --- thanks for "answering my question before I asked it" *chuckle!* --- I thought that was Richard Thompson, but wasn't sure! Not surprised; he and the gang at Fairport were digging Cajun music, etc., long before anybody outside of Louisiana had heard of it, which is very impressive when you consider they were in the middle of Britain at the time (late '60s).
sdingeswho 2 years ago
great...
Benouze3 4 years ago
Awesome.. the real deal..a vanishing man.
csason 4 years ago
Good,good.. (Norway)
beltebil 4 years ago
Hotter than a match.
cindyshealed 4 years ago
NICE SQUEEZE-BOXING
Schulle1987 4 years ago
Yeah, they have about four guys too many in this band
fiddlermike 4 years ago
He can tear it up as well as anybody on two-steps (I've never heard a guy play the Perrodin two-step any faster !), but Sonnier really shines with his plaintively sung evocative waltzes. Here's a swamp pop'ish' zydeco'ish' thingy NO ! Not a saxophone :( Not him at his best, unfortunately, but still he rivals the best when he's feeling free to play in the traditional manner.
gatorgarfish 4 years ago 3
I wish he wouldn't have sold out his culture and could feel free to play traditional more often because you are totally right!
mairabella 4 years ago
Jo-EL Sonnier has never sold out his culture and to this day travels around the World playing his Cajun music. He has 4 Grammy nominations for Traditional French music. Yes, he made some great Country music but always played his accordion on those recordings as well. His accordion can be heard on over 100 different major Artists records. He has performed in 49 states and over 15 different countries, always letting people know where he came from. He could not have done more for his culture.
backontouragain 3 years ago