Calypso Music
CALYPSO MUSIC
Calypso is one of the most significant traditions in the Caribbean Music Industry. ‘Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana, daylight come and me wan’ go home,” are the words to a famous calypso song recorded by Harry Belafonte in 1956. The Free Dictionary defines calypso music as ‘a type of music that originated in the West Indies, notably in Trinidad, and is characterized by improvised lyrics on topical or broadly humorous subjects’. It can also be said that calypso is a certain style of music which incorporates rhythms that are typical of African music. This type of music is seen played during Carnival by Calypsonians, singers, who have prepared for the event all season long. These songs usually poke fun at anything and anyone in the community, from politics to gossip and on special occasions some controversial topics come about in these types of songs. This paper discusses calypso music: the factors which played a role in its existence, rise and decline. It then will look at the lives and impact of two well-known and exceptional calypsonians. It further goes into the examination how calypso songs are written which will be done through analyzing the type of poetry, repetition, rhyming schemes and piling that are found within the calypso lyrics. Finally, it will review and touch on the impact of Calypso music here on the island of St.Martin. There is a famous saying which states that ‘the past is the key to the present’. Therefore, it can be said that there must have been some past key which contributed to the present key of the calypso music industry of today. It is worldly known that ‘Calypso Music’ is famous for its sometimes humorous lyrics and social commentary. Calypso Music started off in Trinidad. Like several other Caribbean islands, Trinidad was colonized by Europeans. According to Tutwiler, what makes Trinidad’s colonial past unique is that it was colonized by the Spanish and later by the English, and also had a large
Calypso is one of the most significant traditions in the Caribbean Music Industry. ‘Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana, daylight come and me wan’ go home,” are the words to a famous calypso song recorded by Harry Belafonte in 1956. The Free Dictionary defines calypso music as ‘a type of music that originated in the West Indies, notably in Trinidad, and is characterized by improvised lyrics on topical or broadly humorous subjects’. It can also be said that calypso is a certain style of music which incorporates rhythms that are typical of African music. This type of music is seen played during Carnival by Calypsonians, singers, who have prepared for the event all season long. These songs usually poke fun at anything and anyone in the community, from politics to gossip and on special occasions some controversial topics come about in these types of songs. This paper discusses calypso music: the factors which played a role in its existence, rise and decline. It then will look at the lives and impact of two well-known and exceptional calypsonians. It further goes into the examination how calypso songs are written which will be done through analyzing the type of poetry, repetition, rhyming schemes and piling that are found within the calypso lyrics. Finally, it will review and touch on the impact of Calypso music here on the island of St.Martin. There is a famous saying which states that ‘the past is the key to the present’. Therefore, it can be said that there must have been some past key which contributed to the present key of the calypso music industry of today. It is worldly known that ‘Calypso Music’ is famous for its sometimes humorous lyrics and social commentary. Calypso Music started off in Trinidad. Like several other Caribbean islands, Trinidad was colonized by Europeans. According to Tutwiler, what makes Trinidad’s colonial past unique is that it was colonized by the Spanish and later by the English, and also had a large
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