We Believe In Polkas: A Riot of Accordions and Good Vibes
Let’s cut to the chase—Eddie Zavaski Orchestra, with their trusty sidekick Polka Doll Mary Ann, dropped We Believe In Polkas back in ’76. And let me tell ya, this album is like that one quirky uncle at family reunions who insists on playing the accordion but somehow makes it work. Genre? Folk, World, & Country. Style? Polka all day, baby. This isn’t just music; it’s a cultural experience wrapped up in shiny vinyl courtesy of Ha-Lo Records. Shoutout to engineer Doug Clark for making sure those oompahs didn’t get lost in translation.
Now, I’m not gonna lie—when I first saw the tracklist, my eyebrows did a little polka dance themselves. Tracks like “Celebration” and “Polish And Proud” jumped off the page faster than pierogis sizzling in hot oil. But two songs really stuck with me: “Our Mary (Nasza Marysia)” and “Apples Polka.”
“Our Mary” feels like your grandma whispering sweet nothings about how awesome you are while she sneaks an extra meatball onto your plate. It’s heartfelt without being sappy, and Mary Ann’s vocals add this sugary charm that sticks to your soul like jam on toast. Meanwhile, “Apples Polka” is basically what would happen if Johnny Appleseed got into polka music—it’s bouncy, fruity fun that makes you wanna grab someone by the hand and spin ‘em around the living room until you’re both dizzy.
The rest of the album? Solid as a brick kielbasa. From the dreamy sway of “Polish Waltz Medley” to the cheeky vibes of “Wait Till I Tell Mother,” there’s never a dull moment. You can practically smell the perogies cooking and hear the clinking of beer steins as you listen.
But here’s the kicker: this record isn’t just some dusty relic from 1976. It’s alive. Like, weirdly so. Listening to it feels like stepping into a time machine where everyone’s wearing suspenders, dancing like nobody’s watching, and laughing loud enough to scare the neighbors.
Reflection time: If life hands you lemons, trade them for accordions and make polka lemonade. Or don’t. Either way, We Believe In Polkas proves that joy doesn’t need fancy packaging—it just needs heart, rhythm, and maybe a dash of chaos. So crank it up, grab a partner (or a chair), and polka your worries away. Your Spotify algorithm will hate you tomorrow—but hey, worth it.
