Blowing Away the 'Leek Spin' Polka...
November 29, 2013 12:00 PM Subscribe
Every good Polka band* needs horns, right? Well, the fun-loving German** quartet Hoch Tirol has Konis Hupen (Koni's Honking)
(Short version for those of you who cannot handle more than 40 seconds of Polka.) (Live performance for those of you who think the video was all fancy editing and fakery) (Seven hour version because there are people on YouTube who do things like this) (Leek Spin Polka Previous)
*NOT an oxymoron
**also NOT an oxymoron
(Short version for those of you who cannot handle more than 40 seconds of Polka.) (Live performance for those of you who think the video was all fancy editing and fakery) (Seven hour version because there are people on YouTube who do things like this) (Leek Spin Polka Previous)
*NOT an oxymoron
**also NOT an oxymoron
This is what Ian Curtis should have done.
posted by gnuhavenpier at 12:27 PM on November 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by gnuhavenpier at 12:27 PM on November 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
MY EYES!!!!.... MY EYES!!!... WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY EYES?!!!!
posted by zaelic at 12:43 PM on November 29, 2013
posted by zaelic at 12:43 PM on November 29, 2013
Austria is not Germany.
posted by Slothrup at 12:51 PM on November 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Slothrup at 12:51 PM on November 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
I don't know much about polka, but between the bass and the male harmony, the non-honking parts sounded so norteño to me that I have to wonder whether there hasn't been a cultural feedback loop there.
posted by darksasami at 12:58 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by darksasami at 12:58 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Seven hour version won't load here, and I've got 500 mikes of Bear's White Lightning itchin' to go...
posted by Devonian at 1:00 PM on November 29, 2013
posted by Devonian at 1:00 PM on November 29, 2013
I don't know much about polka, but between the bass and the male harmony, the non-honking parts sounded so norteño to me that I have to wonder whether there hasn't been a cultural feedback loop there.
According to the Wikipedia article, Norteño music has some roots in polka (among many other influences), so there is a connection there.
posted by wanderingmind at 1:24 PM on November 29, 2013
According to the Wikipedia article, Norteño music has some roots in polka (among many other influences), so there is a connection there.
posted by wanderingmind at 1:24 PM on November 29, 2013
Note on the 7 hour version: My in-laws went 14:34 before they asked what we were listening to and when it would stop.
Somethings just need to be shared... geesh... killjoys.
posted by Nanukthedog at 1:38 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Somethings just need to be shared... geesh... killjoys.
posted by Nanukthedog at 1:38 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
All... those... lawn... gnomes...
posted by ardgedee at 1:41 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by ardgedee at 1:41 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm almost sure that as a small girl I might have passed by an act like this playing on a side stage at the Wisconsin State Fair or at Germanfest while searching for the stand that sold cream puffs.
posted by droplet at 1:49 PM on November 29, 2013
posted by droplet at 1:49 PM on November 29, 2013
That was bracing. YouTube then went on to recommend what appears to be a man of Asian descent doing 'chicken yodelling' in Tyrolean Garb.
posted by aesop at 2:00 PM on November 29, 2013
posted by aesop at 2:00 PM on November 29, 2013
It is all good with polka. You need to come to the midwest where your polka band absolutely KILLS on "Don't Fear the Reaper." When you see a polka band, there is a party always near by. Make fun of it, but it is the sounds of people having a good time and in these dark days, the practice of the dark tuba arts (Dutch style) is soothing.
posted by jadepearl at 2:08 PM on November 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by jadepearl at 2:08 PM on November 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
I feel like I'm watching a transcript of an Achewood script appear here. When will Ray get drunk and strap on the horns?
posted by aesop at 2:12 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by aesop at 2:12 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
These kinds of "Alpine Grand Old Opry" shows are actually quite common on Austrian and Bavarian local TV. I can just lose myself in a Youtube netherland of Alpine variety show bad taste on a weekend afternoon. Meine Damen und Herren, je vous presente... The Twinnies! Two accodion squeezing teen sisters on in-line roller skates!
(And the garden gnomes are actually serious business in the Alpine lands. They "guard" one's home. I have seen families in public campgrounds in Austria hook up their RV camper and set out their camp garden furniture, and then emerge from the camper carrying a dozen garden gnomes which they then set around their campsite.)
posted by zaelic at 3:26 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
(And the garden gnomes are actually serious business in the Alpine lands. They "guard" one's home. I have seen families in public campgrounds in Austria hook up their RV camper and set out their camp garden furniture, and then emerge from the camper carrying a dozen garden gnomes which they then set around their campsite.)
posted by zaelic at 3:26 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
The 40-second version was more than enough.
Thanks for that.
posted by leftcoastbob at 3:30 PM on November 29, 2013
Thanks for that.
posted by leftcoastbob at 3:30 PM on November 29, 2013
As long as people more knowledgeable than I are dropping by here, please explain this, also performed by at least 3/4 of Hoch Tirol, but also in other versions on YouTube by other European performers.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:39 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:39 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
um, yeah, i think there's some kind of cultural feedback loop going on here
posted by pyramid termite at 4:27 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by pyramid termite at 4:27 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
ramba zamba und tequila
this is getting out of control
posted by pyramid termite at 4:34 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
this is getting out of control
posted by pyramid termite at 4:34 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is there anything quite as unnerving as the sight of a smiling German?
posted by five fresh fish at 5:06 PM on November 29, 2013
posted by five fresh fish at 5:06 PM on November 29, 2013
A honka honka burning love!
posted by islander at 5:45 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by islander at 5:45 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
That was a pretty righteous garden gnome lineup. And Austrians, yeah. I remember doing the Chicken Dance with an auditorium full of people at the Mozart Ball (no, not a Mozart Ball) that the Austrians at school threw.
I'd never done it before, and I've not done it since. Blame it on the Austrians.
posted by the sobsister at 6:22 PM on November 29, 2013
I'd never done it before, and I've not done it since. Blame it on the Austrians.
posted by the sobsister at 6:22 PM on November 29, 2013
It's sickening how the garden gnomes force their human captives to humiliate themselves.
posted by orme at 6:57 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by orme at 6:57 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
You need to come to the midwest where your polka band absolutely KILLS on "Don't Fear the Reaper."
Actually, my local polka band's specialty is "Head Like A Hole," but your point stands.
posted by nickmark at 7:13 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Actually, my local polka band's specialty is "Head Like A Hole," but your point stands.
posted by nickmark at 7:13 PM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
This is why we can't have nice polka.
posted by Foam Pants at 11:11 PM on November 29, 2013
posted by Foam Pants at 11:11 PM on November 29, 2013
Is there anything quite as unnerving as the sight of a smiling German?
Sorry I scared you. Will be over here, scowling.
posted by The Toad at 4:23 AM on November 30, 2013
Sorry I scared you. Will be over here, scowling.
posted by The Toad at 4:23 AM on November 30, 2013
In the live version, bonus points for the lady at the base of the stage dancing while smoking. You go, girl.
posted by jscott at 4:48 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by jscott at 4:48 AM on November 30, 2013
Is there anything quite as unnerving as the sight of a smiling German?
Yes. Comments such as "Is there anything quite as unnerving as the sight of a smiling German?" for example.
Haha! And the French are all cowards, amirite?
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 10:02 AM on November 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
Yes. Comments such as "Is there anything quite as unnerving as the sight of a smiling German?" for example.
Haha! And the French are all cowards, amirite?
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 10:02 AM on November 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
Toad: alternatively, carry a huge stein of beer with you. Context is important.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:03 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by five fresh fish at 10:03 AM on November 30, 2013
I'm 3/8 German and can unnerve with the right smile. But that may also be my 3/8 Irish.
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:13 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:13 AM on November 30, 2013
According to the Wikipedia article, Norteño music has some roots in polka (among many other influences), so there is a connection there.
Yeah, in the 1800s there were lots of German settlers in (what is now) Texas and Mexico, and even down into Guatemala. Explains a lot about Mexican regional pop music. You can also thank them for Texas-style barbecue and Mexican and Guatemalan dark lager.
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 1:09 PM on November 30, 2013
Yeah, in the 1800s there were lots of German settlers in (what is now) Texas and Mexico, and even down into Guatemala. Explains a lot about Mexican regional pop music. You can also thank them for Texas-style barbecue and Mexican and Guatemalan dark lager.
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 1:09 PM on November 30, 2013
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Koni knows from honking.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:08 PM on November 29, 2013