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

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.

New Orleans by Arthur Lubin: Farewell to Storyville

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.

What Is Mardi Gras About?

'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! :)

Complicated Life in the French Quarter by Preservation Hall

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.