This week's installment of the Polka Hole features a cassette tape my beautiful girlfriend Danielle purchased for me for my birthday. How exciting! The title of this tape is Slovenefest Potpourri "Polkas and Waltzes", or at least that's what I thought it was. While uploading the tape, I realized that Slovenefest Potpourri wasn't the name of one single act, but, as a matter of fact, was a compilation featuring several different polka musicians. Ooops. I figured it wouldn't be that big of a deal if I didn't list every single musician. This way, the album can be downloaded in a single, tiny package. Now isn't that nice? I thought so too.
So you may be asking yourself, "What is Slovenefest?". Well, Slovenefest is an annual festival held by the Slovene National Benefit Society, also known as the Slovenska Narodna Podporna Jednota, or the SNPJ. According to the SNPJ's website, the organization was founded in 1904 with the intent to offer affordable life insurance to Slovenian immigrants. Cool! Polkaing against Polio. Book it.
So, back to the tape. Lots of good stuff on here. In fact, it even features Canada's Polka King, Walter Ostanek. Judging by the album cover, I assume he's the one in the bottom left hand corner. That guy looks like he should be a king. I wonder how he acquired that title. I assume that with all the beer our best buds in Canada enjoy there must be A LOT of polka musicians.
I made sure to get this tape up in time for a pretty good reason, the final song on the album. Titled "Night in May Waltz", I didn't know of a better time to release this to your ears. Pop this song onto your MP3 player or into your Walkman and enjoy the rest of this beautiful month!
Download it here:
I find your blog to be both entertaining and informative. You sir, are likely to succeed as an author of fun and educational articles. I feel as if I would find great joy reading a piece written by a man such as you, with your charm and your wits. The brevity of your previous entries leading up to this entry is so beautifully ambiguous that it breaks down the walls of familiar literary style that we have all been force fed for centuries. We, the people as a whole, are indebted to you, Polka Jake, for your altruistic literary contributions to society. In short, thank you Polka Jake. Thank you.
ReplyDelete-Tiny (Polka) Dancer
Well, I‘m having a somewhat difficult time trying to figure out if that was supposed to be sarcastic. Thanks either way!
ReplyDeletePolka Jake,
ReplyDeleteAs a great philosopher once wrote;
"Why drink the water
from my hand?
Contagious as you think I am
Just tilt my sun towards
your domain.
Your cup runneth over again.
Don't scream about
Don't think aloud
Turn your head now baby
Just spit me out
Don't worry about
Don't speak of doubt
Turn your head now baby
Just spit me out
Why follow me to higher ground?
Lost as you swear I am.
Don't throw away your basic needs,
Ambiance and vanity.
December promise you gave unto me
December whispers of treachery
December clouds are now covering me
December songs no longer I sing"
I think you know what this means.
-Tiny (Wizard of Vase) Dancer
Oh me oh my. I love you so much, sir. I somehow knew it was you. I don‘t know how, but I did. It is that beautiful mental connection that we share.
ReplyDeleteNice blog I'm doing a similar thing but for the polkas recorded in Slovenia and Austria.
ReplyDeleteDo you have more stuff like this to share?
ReplyDeleteHey, I totally let this blog fall under the wayside, so to speak. I regret to inform you that I really don‘t have any plans to update this anytime soon.
ReplyDelete