POLKA PERCEPTIONS

There are basically three groups of opinions about polka music. One group holds up their noses, suggesting that unless its Chopin, Moniuszko, or one of those guys, it can’t be good. Another thinks it’s passé, an old musical form not relevant to the 21st century. The third just says it’s a heck of a lot fun.

I’m unabashedly with the third group. Polka music is fun and it sounds great. If you are breathing and devoid of one of the aforementioned prejudices, you will admit that it makes you smile, tap your feet and, if you know the words, sing out loud. Yeah, it’s a heck of a lot of fun and, unless the rules changed when I wasn’t looking, there is nothing wrong with having harmless fun.

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against the classical composers. I refer to persons like Chopin and Moniuszko, though, simply as "guys," not in disrespect, but they are simply just that … not gods, but human. Some of those classical guys even wrote polkas, although usually not the kind that are very exciting.

The truth is that those who consider themselves too sophisticated for polkas, actually are not. The true sophisticate would appreciate every form of music, from that of the masters to rock. It is all a form of expression and the real music lover would savor the variations in each. Snobs are boring, anyway. (You can exclude rap, of course, because if that is music, decayed garbage is art. On the other hand, if obscenity is your thing, you might be allowed to accept it as a low form of poetry, but not music, please.)

It is mainly the young who think of polka music as woefully out of date. That is just another form of snobbery, which differs only from the more senior form by reason of the offender’s age. They perceive jumping around to rock music as fun and, although slightly older than dirt, I share their enthusiasm for rock, from classic to the variety of contemporary forms. Nevertheless, youths apparently fail to realize that polka not only allows you to move your body in spectacular and innovative ways, but actually permits you to touch your partner while dancing.

Whoa, maybe that’s the problem … a youthful fear of actually interacting with another human, rather than existing in one’s "own space." Well, kids, get over it. Despite the singularity taught to us by our modern forms of communication, you’re going to have to relate directly to the rest of humanity somewhere along the line or find this a very dreary world. Believe me, youngsters, interacting can be pretty cool … and I’m sure you know what I mean.

And, one of the awesome things about polka music is that there are so many forms. Naturally, there are the numerous nationality types, such as German or Slovenian, but there are a great many variations just within the Polish genre, which might certainly be argued to be the largest of all the forms. It ranges from the traditional, early forms, to Honky and Push, and there are new styles in the making. Today’s polka bands are experimenting with mixtures of other musical styles. If country-western has rockabilly, we have polkarock and polkabilly, and more, and I’m not kidding about that. You name it and the long list of talented polka musicians will try it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but polka music is far from static – it continues to evolve.

Alright, it is pretty clear by now that I’m into polka music (as well as all other musical forms.) Maybe it’s because I have a good ear or maybe just because I love the happy, fun sound. Whatever the reason, I sincerely invite the "snobs" on both sides of the spectrum, from the senior sophisticates to the suspicious young. As they say, "Try it, you’ll like it."

The best part is that polka people are non-judgmental. You can join the dancers at a polka event and no one will pick you apart for using the wrong steps or moving your body in an incorrect way. You might even invent a new style … that’s fine, too. Or, join in the ever-growing numbers who just enjoy standing in front of the band, exactly as at a rock concert, hearing the great sounds and cheering on their favorite musicians.

As was observed above, polka music is a heck of a lot of fun. You are more than welcome to join in.