Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco

Subject: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 05:10 PM

I've been listening quite carefully to Amede Ardoin's pre-zydeco pre-cajun accordion playing lately, and I can't help but notice in some recordings he sounds like he is chewing on his tongue. I finally realized that quite likely he has a lip or cheek packed with chaw or snuff on some recordings but not others. Then it dawned on me that this unique sound may in fact influence pronunciation by other singers regardless of what is in their mouths. Has anyone else ever noticed this and am I making a big deal out of something trivial? :D

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: GUEST,Dave D
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 07:06 PM

Andy Kershaw tells a great story about the mighty John Martyn coming off stage at Glastonbury and, after a particularly contorted vocal performance, producing a plastic spider from his mouth.

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 04:47 AM

To quote Stan Freburg " Come on you guys ! MUMBLE!"

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: Dead Horse
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 04:58 AM

Them old wax cylinders were not capable of picking up the nuances of Amede's dialect, even if the mic was shoved down his throat instead of aimed at his accordion. :-)

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 08:38 AM

Listen to Si Dur D'etre Seul on the first disc of Mama I'll Be Long Gone. It took me many listens to just get past how lovely his melodeon technique is, but the recording is good enough to be able to hear subtle harmonic differences in the man's voice caused by different positions of his tongue, how he shapes his mouth cavity, and whether he is pushing from his throat or diaphragm. I grew up around many people who talked with chaw or snuff packed in there pretty good, and I recognized passages where it sounds like he is singing while using his tongue to repack something in his jaw, a certain altered articulation I am quite familiar with. Sure, it could be moving toward and away from the horn during wax cylinder recording or whatever...but I think it would be really funny/ironic if people chalked up some of his incomprehensibility to creole dialect when actually sometimes it was chaw. :D Not to speak ill of the dead--to me this guy is a god of melodeon and I am his humble student for years to come. The way this guy's life was snuffed out in spite of all the joy he brought to those around him, too sad.

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 10:15 AM

It seems Si Dur was recorded for Columbia in 1934, long past the acoustic horn era.

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: Dead Horse
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 04:55 PM

Bob, your inability to detect that my tongue was firmly in my cheek rules you out of this thread :-)
I absolutely LOVE Iry Lejeune and his music, but it was his interpretation of Amede and his tunes that got to me.
By the same token, the playing and singing of Dennis McGee got to me too.
The pairing of Bois Sec and Canray take some beating as well.

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 06:54 PM

Jeeze, I hate it when I'm thick. But I've got company because the posting guest took up the master's voice theme as well. Meanwhile, here's a funny song about snoose.

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: Dead Horse
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 09:06 AM

I will see your snoose and raise you a Foggy Mountain

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 10:33 AM

I fold. Only a funny cat video could top that. Back on topic, ya gotta wonder how Gene Simmons can pronounce at all with that thing he's got in his mouth.

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: Mark Ross
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 03:38 PM

Why aren't loggers circumsized? So they have some place to put their snoose when they're brushing their teeth!

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: Dead Horse
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 05:02 AM

Amede & McGee

Subject: RE: Folklore: singers with cheeks full of tobacco
From: GUEST,Squeezy
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 07:31 PM

Here's my favourite song with a reference to Snus!

Freddie Fisher & the Schnickelfritz band - Turkey in the Straw:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pka6VPnmyk

enjoy!