Longing for Transylvania under the palm trees

Immigrants to the United States and Canada often sing about the homeland left behind. Mexicans sing corridos, or ballads, the Irish have songs about the Emerald Isle they left and Vietnamese immigrants pass their traditions down from generation to generation through song and dance.

How about Hungarian immigrants?

Thanks to József Baki in California, we have a Hungarian example of this genre. He sings about his lost Transylvanian homeland, the river Maros, and the pine trees of his beloved Carpathian Mountains.

József Baki sings about his lost Transylvanian homeland under the palm trees in Los Angeles.

József Baki sings about his lost Transylvanian homeland under the palm trees in Los Angeles.

Some of you may find the music cheeky, his libretto a bit kitschy and his Hungarian dancers amusing as they perform Hungarian folk dances under the palm trees. But remember, Baki follows the American tradition of immigrant music and deserves praise.

The video was made in 2011 with the help from dancers of the Kárpátok ensemble in Los Angeles.

Enjoy!

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