Recently the Grammy Awards dropped the category “Polka Albums” from their 2010 list. The reason, according to their website posting, is to “ensure the awards process remains representative of the current musical landscape.”

            Wow. Where do these people hang out? I have news for them. Polka is alive and well. A blogger wrote not too long ago about riding the N Train in NYC and a Mexican Polka band jumping on the train at one stop, entertaining everyone with their Spanish language polka tunes, and jumping off at the next stop. Mexican Polka? Yes, there is such a thing, sort of, in a genre called Banda.

            Polka is alive and kicking, literally, if you get the picture. What about the Chicago based band called the Polkaholics that combined rock with polka. It’s energy plus, to say the least, and definitely not just for old grannies and geezers.

            I’ve been to wedding receptions where the polka band played the traditional songs complete with a grand march for the guests. Recently I attended a reception where a polka band played country western music. Nothing like seeing the bride and groom dance to “Could I have this dance for the rest of your life” to a polka beat. Talk about fun.

            Current musical landscape? Oh, yes. We’re dancing the polka out here.

Have you introduced your wee one to the beauty of polka yet?

Granny Gretchen