NY Times Article - Say it Aint So …

This is a nice little article that tells me at least a few things … Polkas are alive and well (Amen!) and Polka Music has a wide range of fans and followers, and that you don’t need to be Polish to love Polkas.

The article focuses on Czech Polkas in Nebraska, but alot of the things written can be applied to all different parts of the country.  Here are some of my favorite quotes from this article”

“Polka reflects their lives: their sense of humor and romance, and what they remember of Czech family ritual.”

Playing polka isn’t a living, although it could have been in the 1970s, when dances were much more plentiful.   “It’s a getaway from normal life,” said Mike Helgesen, 60, the Vyhlidal band’s tenor saxophonist.  Mr. Vyhlidal added: “A lot of it is about the heritage. Keeping it going. There are songs we know that have been around for a hundred years, and they’re still being played.”

“Polka people are happier people,” “I don’t think you see anyone around here with a long face.”

Long Live Polkas!!!  Stel