YOUNG CROWDS MARK THE
BRAZILIAN POLKA SCENE

Chicago (PMN)—A member of the internet’s polka newsgroup has reported that not only is Polish-style polka music alive in Brazil, particularly in the heavily Polish southern region, but it appears that Polish polkas there have the most youthful, enthusiastic crowds seen anywhere. Checking YouTube, the polka fan found that the "Old Country Polka," by the Maestro's Men is popular in both France and Brazil.

The notes of the first video of the Polish Brazilian group "Coracao Nativo" mentioned "Old Country Polka." Looking a little further into the Brazilian phenomenon, it is not only this particular talented and youthful band that gets support. Check out the Polish-Brazilian pierogi festival videos. The first one that appears when you search "Festa Pierogi" on YouTube will "take you there" for a unique polka experience, the like of which we’ve hardly ever seen in the U.S., but with familiar tunes. They even do a sort of "polka march" that culminates in dancing.

The atmosphere is a bit different somehow with a sort of unsophisticated flavor, an interesting combination of South American and rural Polish "ambiance." Anyone watching a few of these videos will also be struck by the hand-clapping and yelling phenomenon: The whole crowd always polkas around the halls in a circle, as in the U.S., but every couple of verses, they all let their partners go and go into a march step, clapping their hands and shouting in rhythm (and some occasionally do "conga lines.")

The Brazilian YouTube videos are fascinating insights into another "Polka World" that exists in a sort of parallel dimension with a vitality to be admired.

The polka fan who made the discovery of Brazil’s polka life suggested emulating the polka march, as well as a battle of the bands between a good Polish-American group or two and a couple of their popular bands, on their home turf via a Brazilian Polka Tour.