Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. I stay far, far away.

Happy Mardi Gras! I’m proud to say that I was born and raised here in the New Orleans metro area, and am essentially a part of “old” New Orleans. My family and ancestors have been a part of this great city since it’s inception. Growing up here I think it is really easy to take the culture and history for granted a bit, and it wasn’t until I was in college that I started to truly appreciate the rich traditions and history that we have as a state.

Naturally, Carnival season is one of those traditions! If you don’t know, Carnival starts on January 6th, which is Kings Day (or Twelfth Night) and goes through Mardi Gras Day itself (the date of which changes each year, depending on the date of Easter! Mardi Gras is scheduled to be 47 days before Easter.). I know, it’s kinda confusing, but in a nutshell it was a season created to “live it up” before Lent begins. It is such a fun and festive time of the year, and well, the fact that you can only buy King Cakes during Carnival Season doesn’t hurt either. (Can you say yummy?) I do want to say that the seedy side of the Carnival Season that is so often played up on TV and in the movies IS NOT how Mardi Gras really is to the people that live here. The flashing, drunkeness, excuse to do whatever you want type of attitude is one that sweeps into town along with the hoards of tourists, NOT the locals. As a matter of fact, we hate that you think that is ALL that Mardi Gras is!

As a native New Orleans girl, I grew up hearing the music of the city. During Carnival, that music takes on a very specific sound, and there is music that I know by heart – every beat, every tinkling of the piano keys, the sound of each horn – that has been ingrained in my soul since I was a child. It was never “forced” upon me, it just found its way into my heart by virtue of its mere existence. Then one day, not too long ago, I realized that people who aren’t from here have no idea what this odd sounding mix of music actually is! To think that it sounds foreign to your ears truly blows my mind! How can you not know what it means to Second Line, or to instinctively hum “Big Chief” under your breath?

So, with that, I give you Chic Tunes Tuesday – Mardi Gras style. All of the songs linked here have multiple re-makes, but these are the originals, and the best versions, in my opinion. Enjoy this fun mix of Jazz and Blues songs – and mostly enjoy hearing a little bit of Mardi Gras!

1. “Mardi Gras Mambo” by The Meters – Play this song and NOLA folk can’t help but dance. I promise we know every word!

2. “Carnival Time” by Al Johnson – Frequently played on the radio this time of the year, Carnival Time is a favorite, and yet another way that you know the season has arrived!

3. “Big Chief” by Professor Longhair – This song is very old, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the main Mardi Gras Anthems. There are words to the song, but most people just know it by the instrumental part. I was on the dance team when I was in High School, and we marched (for 3 straight weekends) in 6-8 parades a year. This song was one that our band played during the parades, and I can STILL remember the dance that we did to it.

My cousin and her husband Second Line at their French Quarter Wedding.

4. “The Second Line” by Stop, Inc. – A New Orleans tradition, but one commonly associated with Mardi Gras, the second line referred to the people drawn to the brass band processions because of the music. A sweet tradition at New Orleans weddings is to hire a brass band and “Second Line” to the reception, with all of your guests following behind you. My cousin Jennifer recently did this at her wedding, and it’s so much fun. (And it gave French Quarter tourists quite the eye full!)

5. “Hey Pocky Way” by the Neville Brothers – I have no idea what it means, but I groove to this song almost every year! One of my faves, and sure to get me dancing and acting silly!

Can’t get enough? There are SO many great songs that I associate with Mardi Gras, that it was hard to choose just five! You can also check out “Iko Iko“, and “Go To The Mardi Gras“.