Jon Batiste: Freedom
You will rarely hear me talk about music because I don’t have a savage breast that needs to be soothed, but Paula sent me a link to this video and I think this Freedom video by Jon Batiste is the best expression of New Orleans’ joie de vivre that I have seen in a long while.
I know a thing or two about New Orleans.
I’m going to tell you something that I don’t tell strangers until they witness it on their own. It’s not that exciting, but it is something that I tend to keep to myself until I can’t. It becomes obvious if you go to the movies with me. Here it is: I have the gift of tears.
If you are curious enough to know exactly what I mean, here is a link, but basically, when I am touched by something I find beautiful, my eyes well up and overflow and I can’t help it. I’m not sad or happy. I am deeply touched. Some people say I am touched in the head anyway.
Anyhow, I love this video of Jon Batiste’s Freedom. It is pure New Orleans. Welcome to my world. Thank you for sending this my way to share here, Paula. You already know you have a friend on Esplanade Avenue but this is further proof we are simpatico.
It is a pleasure to witness a work of art that expresses what I feel every day. I try in my own way, but a blog post and a bunch of Facebook and Instagram posts will never equal the impact of a professional music video with a full cast of characters. This really is what it is like to live here. It is New Orleans through-and-through.
If you watch this video of Jon Batistes’ Freedom and you get a little mist in your eye, too, well, thank God for you, mister—-you’re a New Orleanian.
If you want to visit the neighborhoods where this was filmed, I know most of the locations. This is where I live. When you visit New Orleans you should visit New Orleans like you live here, too. If you want to do it right, there is only one place to stay: LaBelleEsplanade. You should read the rest of this blog, too. The archives are deep with enchantment.
Home is where the heart is.
We look forward to sharing our part of New Orleans with you.
Update: Here is a review of the video from the local newspaper. It’s unanimous. This video is pure New Orleans at its best.
À votre santé, your friends at—-