New Orleans Videos

What tourists may enjoy in New Orleans, Louisiana - video tour of highlights

2009-02-17T00:05:00.000-08:00

This New Orleans video features the major highlights for a 3-5 day New Orleans tour: from Napoleon House, through Galatoire's to the Aquarium, from the New Orleans Museum of Art through the Column Hotel to the Barber Shop Men, Children's Museum etc. - and of course jazz at all measure.

The genre of the video film is like a tour video clip and and advertisement/ infomercial for foreverneworleans.com.

Benjamin Button - film shot in New Orleans

2009-02-16T23:44:00.000-08:00

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was shot in several parts of New Orleans - yet again a film using the peculiar atmosphere of NOLA.

My favorite Rue de La Course Cafe (Rue on Oak) is not shown in the Benjamin Button film of course, but I recognized its corner and the former bank building with a characteristic clock on Oak Street in New Orleans immediately - I think it was shown in several scenes of the Brad Pitt & Cate Blanchette film.

And how could one forget the streets with the live oak trees and shotgun houses?

It is always a good feeling to recognize a place you loved and frequented in a nice film presentation.

Video of New Orleans Jacques Imo's Cafe & Restaurant

2008-11-30T01:26:00.000-08:00

One of the best dining experiences we had in New Orleans was at Jacques Imo's (thanks for the invitation, Grady and Elena!).

Although we had to wait in front of the restaurant for an hour to get in (in good weather take some mosquito repellent), it was well worth it. Great food, superb atmosphere, the cafe was crammed with happily eating-chatting people. It's definitely a place to go if you enjoy the continuous buzz of people feeling relaxed. No tie, no worries, no stuck-up ladies, exquisite food. You can feel at home immediately. A must see - must eat place in New Orleans.

Jacques Imos video made by InSearchOfRealFood may help you to decide if you want to check out this fantastic restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana. Unfortunately the video just misses to show the interior of the restaurant, but we learn how Jacques is picking different foods for different musician styles.
David Liebermann is welcome by Jacques Imo, the chef and owner of Jacques Imo's Cafe in New Orleans.
Jacques says: "I said, hey, if I can't be a rock star, I might as well party and serve the rock stars."

New Orleans Botanical Garden Video

2008-04-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick peep into the Botanical Garden of New Orleans. The Botanical Garden was opened in 1936 as New Orleans' first public classical garden. It is "as a showcase of three notable talents: New Orleans Architect Richard Koch, Landscape architect William Wiedorn, and Artist Enrique Alferez"

The site contains the recently renovated Conservatory of the Two Sisters, several theme gardens containing aquatics, ornamental trees and shrubs, perennials, and the new New Orleans Historic Train Garden. The garden also encompasses the Pavilion of the Two Sisters, the Garden Study Center, and the rebuilt Lath House.

(source: New Orleans City Park.com)

I like the garden designs in New Orleans very much, especially in the Garden District and Uptown New Orleans where we usually bike and make our errands. The patios, front yards are simply beautiful, and more and more people are coming up with exquisite garden designs.

Needless to say, we also enjoy the various concerts the city pleases its visitors with. The Last Straws, a Dixie Land and Traditional Jazz band, played this March as part of the New Orleans Botanical Gardens Twilight Concert series. And many concerts are free!

I hope to see a plantation tour with the old-old oak trees folding their branches before returning to Budapest Hungary.

New Orleans Exposed - NOX

2008-04-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

New Orleans Exposed directed by Dawayne Morgan is a film made in 2005, before Katrina changed the city. It was made at a time when New Orleans, the Big Easy was crowned the murder capital. The dark side of New Orleans housing projects without sugar coating but with real life New Orleans Rappers.

Gun was easy to come by, it was a product that made somebody a man in the ghetto, as the guys in the film explain. Some blame the bad education system, some the lack of jobs, or the lack of jobs that show beyond McDonald's. Some point out that there's a lot of retaliation going on, but almost all agreed that ghetto gunmen are/were not representing gangs, instead, " it's 'an individual mayhem.'"

"Enter the world of New Orleans. No, not the French Quarter or Mardi Gras, but the the gritty urban life that is live in New Orleans many projects. The harsh reality of the inner city exposed; drugs, guns, corruption, food, music, culture. This is the Big Easy as you've never seen it before. Features Juvenile, Sqad Up, B.G., 5th Ward Weebie, Tribute To Soulja Slim and more." The 2006 version is 30 min longer than the 2005 (including a bit on Katrina)

Another snippet of the film can be seen here.

New Orleans by Arthur Lubin: Farewell to Storyville

2008-04-08T09:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a scene from Lubin's film 'New Orleans' made in 1947. Farewell Storyville performed by Billie Holiday (aka Lady Day), Louis Armstrong the band-leader, Woody Herman, etc..

The lyrics of Farewell to Storyville:

All, you old-time queens, from New Orleans, who lived in Storyville
You sang the blues, try to amuse, here's how they pay the bill
The law stepped in and called it sin to have a little fun
The police car has made a stop and Storyville is done
Pick out your steamboat, pick yourself a train - a slo-ow train
Pick out your steamboat, pick yourself a train - a slo-ow train
They made you close-up they'll never let you back - won't let you back
Go buy your ticket or else you walk the track

No use complaining, blue sky's follow rain - the cold-old rain
No use complaining, blue sky's follow rain - the cold-old rain
Just say farewell now and get your one last thrill - your one last thrill
Just say farewell now, farewell to Storyville

No use complaining, blue sky's follow rain - the cold-old rain
Just say farewell now, farewell to Storyville

Just say farewell now and get your one last thrill - your one last thrill
Just say farewell now, farewell to Storyville

Storyville was the infamous red light district of New Orleans from 1897 through 1917. The image was made by Ben Ledbetter architect

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"Some early jazz writers suggested that Storyville was key in the development of jazz and that its closing was responsible for New Orleans musicians leaving for Chicago; but this is now regarded as inaccurate. Some people from elsewhere continue to associate Storyville with the origins of jazz. It was tradition in the better Storyville establishments to hire a piano player and sometimes small bands." (wikipedia)

And indeed, "how about one more tune before we leave?" I like the lady throwing a farewell stone at the window.

Doug Kershaw Louisiana Man Performed by Glenn Campbell and Rick Nelson

2008-04-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

The song Louisiana Man was written by Doug Kershaw while he was in the Army, and recorded, with his brother, in 1961. Doug Kershaw is also known as the 'The Ragin Cajun' for his extreme fiddle playing. Apparently, the song was covered by more than 800 artists, including Johnny Cash. What's more, according to wikipedia, "in November 1969, "Louisiana Man" was broadcast back to earth by the crew of the Apollo 12 moon mission."

Here's Louisiana Man performed by Glenn Campbell and Rick Nelson in this pretty good vintage video recording.

Lyrics of Louisiana Man by Doug Kershaw

At birth mom and papa called their little boy Ned
Raised him on the banks of a river bed
A houseboat tied to a big tall tree
A home for my papa and my mama and me

The clock strikes three and papa jumps to his feet
Already mama’s cooking papa something to eat
At half past papa he’s ready to go
He jumps in his pirogue headed down the bayou

He’s got fishing lines strung across the Louisiana rivers
Gotta catch a big fish for us to eat
He’s setting traps catching anything he can
He’s gotta make a living, he’s a Louisiana Man
He’s gotta make a living, he’s a Louisiana Man

He’s got Muskrat hides hanging by the dozens
Even got a lady Mink, a Muskrat’s cousin
Got ‘em out drying in the hot, hot sun
Tomorrow papa’s gonna turn ‘em into mon(ey)

They call mama Rita and my daddy Jack
My little baby brother on the floor that’s Mack
Bren(da) and Lin(da) are the family twins
And big brother Ed’s on the bayou fishing

On the river floats papa’s great big boat
That’s how me and papa goes into town
It takes every bit of a night and a day
To even reach a place where people stay

I can hardly wait until tomorrow comes around
That’s the day my papa takes his furs to town
Papa promised me that I could go
He’d even let me see a cowboy show

I saw the cowboys and Indians for the first time then
I told my pop I’ve gotta go again
Papa said son we’ve got lines to run
We’ll come back again but first there’s work to be done

He’s got fishing lines strung across the Louisiana rivers
Gotta catch a big fish for us to eat
He’s setting traps in the swamp catching anything he can
He’s gotta make a living, he’s a Lousiana Man
He’s gotta make a living, he’s a Louisiana Man

And here is the original Doug Kershaw with his fantastically energetic and original fiddle playing. You can buy CDs from him on his site

Battle of New Orleans Video & Lyrics - Johnny Horton's version

2008-04-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

Johnny Horton performs "The Battle of New Orleans," a song detailing the 1815 Battle of New Orleans written by Jimmie Driftwood history teacher and high school principal. This song is a mini history lesson from the viewpoint of an American, who is fighting alongside General Andrew Jackson against the British. The peace treaty was already signed for two weeks but the news about it did not reach New Orleans... (Treaty of Ghent)

The song is from the album Classic Country: 1950-1964.

Lyrics of Battle of New Orleans

In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.

(Chorus)
We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin.
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began to runnin' on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

We looked down the river and we see'd the British come.
And there must have been a hundred of'em beatin' on the drum.
They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring.
We stood by our cotton bales and didn't say a thing.

(Chorus)

Old Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise
If we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked 'em in the eye
We held our fire 'til we see'd their faces well.
Then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave 'em ... weeell

(Chorus)

Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

We fired our cannon 'til the barrel melted down.
So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round.
We filled his head with cannon balls, and powdered his behind
And when we touched the powder off, the gator lost his mind.

(Chorus)

Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

And here's Theodore Roosevelt's account of the Battle of New Orleans from the Naval War of 1812.

Baby Boy's New Orleans Saints Video & Lyrics

2008-04-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Who dat? Video tribute to New Orleans Saints made by mdrproductionz featuring this Baby Boy track - Saints version.

Baby Boy - The Way I Live Saints Version

The Saints comin back
Tom Visher were u at

Baby boy da Prince
Katrina couldnt stop us New Orleans
A number one playin

(Chorus)
This is the way we live
New Orlean Saints number 1 on the field
Katrina couldnt stop us and thats real
Beatin these teams its no big deal big deal big
This is the way we live
New Orlean Saints number 1 on the field
Katrina couldn't stop us and that's real
Beatin these teams it's no big deal big deal big
This is the way we live

I said who is they sayin they goin to beat them saints
U cant do that then u cant beat them saints
We got players like Reggie Bush and Duece mac
offensive line just push them to the back
defensive line just blitz them get a sack
Drew Brees got arm man throw it to the mac
Joe Horn goin long Touchdown thats a fact
The best team in the league whatch u no bout that
A we the saints and we go all the way
A we the saints and win hard today
Charles Grant a monster how he bust through the line
Teams better beware when they see the saints eye

(Chorus)
New Orleans Saints number 1 on the field
Katrina couldnt stop us and thats real
Beatin these teams its no big deal big deal big
This is the way we live
New Orleans Saints number one on the field
Katrina couldnt stop us and thats real
Beatin these teams its no big deal big deal big
This is the way we live

I I's its the saints we go all the way
katrina couldnt stop us and we here to stay
at home in the dome and we ready to play
undefeated in the league that is all i gotta say
now who let the dogs out must be Sean P.
straight to the endzone we eleven deep
Then comes Carney with a field goal
now the saints on the way to the super bowl

(Chorus)
New Orleans Saints number 1 on the field
Katrina couldnt stop us and thats real
Beatin these teams its no big deal big deal big
This is the way we live
New Orleans Saints number 1 on the field
Katrina couldnt stop us and thats real
Beating these teams its no big deal big deal big
This is the way we live

What Is Mardi Gras About?

2008-04-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

'What Is Mardi Gras About?' is a fantastic video made by a fifth-grader teen called Kalypso. There are great pics of the Zulus, the floats, beads, dancers, the Muses, but most importantly, just after 6 months after hurricane Katrina made a huge destruction in the city, here comes a beautiful video narrative of what Fat Tuesday festivals, krewes, parties are all about - and what is New Orleans about, what was Katrina about.

The simple under-dramatized child tone makes the film very powerful. I loved it a lot. In fact, it is the very best post-Katrina (post-K) film I have seen so far. Thanks Kalypso! :)

Clint Maedgen: I Can't Give You Anything But Love

2008-04-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

And another video in the French Quarter music series, this time Clint Maedgen sings "I Can't Give You Anything But Love,"(written originally by Jimmy McHugh in 1928) with Preservation Hall and Ben Jaffe.

It's the 2nd music video they made for Made in New Orleans: The Hurricane Sessions. This music video - made for Valentine's Day - was directed by Ron Rona & Clint Maedgen.

There are very nice shots of New Orleans French Quarter and typical New Orleans visions and images. I especially like the colors in this video. Anyway, it's a great video Valentine postcard. :)

And the lyrics (from Dorothy Fields):

I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the one thing I've plenty of, my baby.
Dream a while. Scheme a while.
And you will find,
Happiness, and I guess
all those things you've always pined for.

How I'd like to see you looking swell,
My little baby
Diamond bracelets Woolworth's never sell, my baby.
But till that lucky day you know darn well, my baby.
I can't give you anything but love.

I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the one thing I've plenty of, my baby.
Dream a while. Scheme a while.
And you will find,
Happiness, and I guess
all those things you've always pined for.

How I'd like to see you looking swell,
My little baby
Diamond bracelets Woolworth's never sell, my baby.
But till that lucky day you know darn well, my baby.
I can't give you anything
I can't give you anything
I can't give you anything but love.

and the bells ring...

Complicated Life in the French Quarter by Preservation Hall

2008-04-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

This 2005 video clip of the song Complicated Life is set in the French Quarter (lower Decatur Street). It is very heart warming. The song was written by Ray Davies of the Kinks, here performed by New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and acted and sung out by Clint Maedgen coming complete with the New Orleans Bingo! Show.

Hey, one thing is sure, it will make you feel at ease. :) The don't worry - be happy effect kicks in.

Sing along with Clint - here's the lyrics of Complicated Life:

Ladi dah di dahdah, ladi dah di dah dah,
Ladi dah di dahdah, ladi dah di dah dah.

Well I woke this morning with a pain in my neck,
A pain in my heart and a pain in my chest,
I went to the doctor and the good doctor said,
You gotta slow down your life or you're gonna be dead,
Cut out the struggle and strife,
It only complicates your life.

Well I cut down women, I cut out booze,
I stopped ironing my shirts, cleaning my shoes,
I stopped going to work, stopped reading the news,
I sit and twiddle my thumbs cos I got nothing to do,
Minimal exercise,
To help uncomplicate my life.

Gotta stand and face it life is so complicated,
Ladi dah di dahdah, ladi dah di dah dah,
You gotta get away from the complicated life, son,
Life is overrated, life is complicated,
You must alleviate this complicated life.

Like old Mother Hubbard
I got nothin' in the cupboard,
I got no dinner and I got no supper,
Holes in my shoes, I got holes in my socks,
I can't go to work cos I can't get a job,
The bills are rising sky high,
It's such a complicated life,
Take it away.

Gotta stand and face it,
Life is so complicated.
Ladi dah di dahdah, ladi dah di dah dah
Gotta get away from the complicated life, son,
Life is overrated, life is complicated,
Must alleviate this complicated life.

Gotta get away from the complicated life, son,
Gotta get away from the complicated life.

An Atmospheric Video of New Orleans French Quarter

2008-04-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

This great video montage made of New Orleans French Quarter conveys a lot from the local atmosphere. I like walking in the French Quarter especially when the weather is fine. There is jazz swirling in the air, easy going atmosphere, and lots of time on your hands, smiles on the faces. I like to hear 'sweetheart' when buying a cake, hear the ships on the Mississippi river, and, just to be, exist, listen, learn, talk, dream, have fun.

If you wish to learn more about the history of New Orleans French Quarter, check out this site for further info. In a nutshell:

Founded as a military-style grid of seventy squares in 1718 by French Canadian naval officer Jean Baptiste Bienville.

In 1762 the indifferent Louis XV transferred Louisiana to his Bourbon cousin Charles III of Spain.

Francophile colonists staged a revolution in 1768, squelched by Alejandro O'Reilly with a firing squad at the Esplanade fort.

1803 Louisiana Purchase transferred the colony to the US

The "glorious victory" of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans fixed loyalty to the American nation.

Golden era followed as cotton, sugar and steamboats poured into the city. American, Irish, German, African and "Foreign French" immigrants swelled the population of New Orleans

Civil War and Reconstruction: creoles moved to Esplanade and later Uptown, and famine-driven Sicilian immigrants found cramped lodging in the grand spaces of French Quarter mansions of the 1890s.

The 1900 birth of jazz in nearby Storyville nurtured musical legends Louis Armstrong, Buddy Bolden, Nick LaRocca, and other jazz and ragtime greats.

By 1920 the legacy of a storied past attracted artists in increasing numbers. William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote etc. were attracted to the French Quarter for its creative stimulus.

1936 marked the onset of regulatory controls in the form of the state-sanctioned Vieux Carré Commission to preserve the quaint and distinctive character of the old Quarter.

1960s traditional jazz in decline, Preservation Hall emerged to serve beleaguered musicians.

2005 Hurricane Catrina

Historical facts based on the Brief History of French Quarter by Sally Reeves

The History of New Orleans Mardi Gras King Cake

2008-04-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

This video on Mardi Gras King Cake answers the question 'What is the origin of the purple green and gold colored bread of the Mardi Gras carneval, the King Cake made of cinnamon dough?' Producer Anne-Marie Berger went to New Orleans to find out the origin of the Mardi Gras King Cake. "This old tradition started as a pagan ritual in Europe to select a king or queen for the day... This cake is a fun tradition that is gaining popularity with Mardi Gras observers in St. Louis."

Purple representing justice, green representing faith and gold symbolizing power. Plastic babies hidden inside!

Here's an easy king cake recipe with great photo illustrations of each step if you feel like making one!