Tootle of a Devilish Song
Summary
Reported from Basel, this episode traces the global journey of the yodel from Alpine cattle calls to a defining element of American country music. The story explores how the vocal technique evolved through tourism, vaudeville, and the blues, highlighting its pivotal role in the work of Jimmie Rodgers. It also examines how Switzerland used yodeling for cultural identity during WWII and features modern artists blending the tradition with jazz and reggaeton.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Sachi Art and Kit Kat
Arrival in Basel and the Jodlerfest atmosphere
Interviews with yodelers and festival attendees
The history of yodeling and its global reach
The physiology and regional variations of yodeling
Origins: Cattle herders and early documentation
Theories on why herders yodeled
Tourism and the shift to performance yodeling
Mark Twain's experience and the challenge of notation
Yodeling spreads to Europe and the US
European yodelers in America and the field holler
Jimmie Rodgers: The jack-of-all-trades entertainer
Recording 'T for Texas' and blending blues with yodel
Jimmie Rodgers' massive popularity and legacy
Yodeling in early country music and Gene Autry
The lasting vocal flip in modern country music
Swiss yodeling during WWII and cultural defense
Modern resurgence and academic yodeling programs
New artists blending yodeling with other genres
Sponsors: Sachi Art, Kit Kat, Ro, and Certada
Deep cuts: Early US recordings of yodeling
Deep cuts: The 7 Musical Magpies and calliope yodels
Deep cuts: Black artists and the Yodeling Blues
Credits and sponsor: Angie
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