What is Cajun?

If you ever hear Cajun music you won't soon forget it. Its rousing rhythms, foot stomping beat and sweet lyrics make it special and THE COUNTRY CAJUNS play it that way. Most of them have played Cajun music as long as they can remember. As Louisiana "Acadians" it's a music they grew up with.

The ACADIANS, were French subjects in the Candaian province of Novia Scotia. When Great Britain acquired their country in 1713, they wanted to remain loyal to their French homeland. The British ordered them to pay homage to the English Queen and to give up their Catholic religion. The Acadians (later shortened to "Cajuns") refused and began what could be termed the longest "sit in" in history. The disagreement lasted 42 years until 1755. September of that year the entire Acadian population -- over 10,000 people, was loaded onto prison boats. Families were sent to colonies and the British Isles as prisoners of war. Many hundreds died in route. Many more found hope in stories of a place far to the south where they would be understood. As they escaped they made their way to the heart of Louisiana. They built their farming paradise on what appeared to be unworkable swamps and barren grasslands. It is this spirit of survival against all odds, a unique spirit that could only come from hardship, that gives Cajun music its own personality and character.

Today the Cajuns are basically a very earthy, happy people and a lot of folk call their music "happy people music". But if you could speak Cajun French you might be surprised at what the music has to say. The happy tunes often contain words of tragedy, the slow mournful tunes might capture a story of joy. Their songs are about life, love, loss, home, family, death, and "a fate worse than death"... life without love. The music almost always tells a tale or spins a yarn but the best part is you don't have to understand to enjoy.