Dear Editor,
Calypso is the folklore music for the majority of people across the Caribbean region. It is characterized by culture, poetry, humor, and a lot of love for the artists and their contributions to the music world. Calypso has been a type of folk music for a long time. It is truly a symbol of wonderful Caribbean inspirational music entertainment. Once ago ABS, ZDK, and Radio Antilles were the favorite radio stations promoting and playing calypsos on a regular basis across the Caribbean. Now, due to changes in operation calypso music hardly broadcast around the region.
Today, calypso music is also under political scrutiny. If the artist chooses to sing against a political party, or certain politicians, a few radio stations will not play his tune, and others might ban his song. During the lock down crisis, I listened to a lot of old time inspiring calypsos. I even forget there were imposed restrictions on both sides of the borders. The lyrical contents of these amazing classical masterpieces made me very happy. I was so overwhelmed by the humor and musical rhythm of these tunes that I forget we are in a COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Many calypsonians expressed their stories in songs and poetry, presenting their thoughts and opinions in tunes the audience wants to hear. Calypso music connects to other beats across the world. The “Talking Drums of Africa” is an art expressing a form of folk calypso rhythm in story-telling. Calypso involved itself in commercial advertising activities, stage competitions, carnival parades, and many other social activities or events. It hurts my heart to see a culture of inspiration dying a slow death. The music is great for the young and the elderly. The older generation enjoyed the tunes for mostly listening pleasure. The younger folks used it for dance hall entertainment.
Some calypsos expressed vulgarity, humor, fantasy, politics, identity and culture. Others about love, education, freedom, slavery, sadness, poetry and country. Here is a list of well-known memorable tunes from top calypsonians from around the Caribbean region for great listening pleasure: The Mighty Sparrow, one of the greatest calypso artists of all times. Song the “Death of Kennedy,” Verse: The world never missed a man so since the death of Christ; Lord, it was terrible, oh what a sacrifice; he gone and without a doubt not one word he said; when a Texan Gunman shot him in his head, and he dead; November 22nd was the day he died; when I got the news how I cried; he was a man of great personality, brings lot of hope and equality; he was a man among men, we all missed a friend. Chorus: The world never missed a man so since the death of Christ.
Other famous tunes by Sparrow are “Honesty” and “Education.” In “Honesty”, “If a poor man wants to find happiness, he has got to learn to be dishonest.” With his super tune in “Education”, verse: Children go to school and learn well; without an education in your head; your whole life will be in misery or you better off dead; there is no room in this whole wide world for a non-educated little boy or girl.
His songs like “Jean and Dinah,” “May May,” “Congo Man,” “Salt Fish,” and “Mr. Ben Wood” are typical vulgarity tunes.
Another serious calypso song came from King Elli Matt out of St. Kitts. His song, the “Poor can’t take no more.” Verse: If a poor man is right, he getting wrong; if he fights they shoot him down; father, tell me when the pressure will end. Chorus: The poor can’t take no more, that’s cried from shore to shore.
Another big tune out of the Federation is by King Star Shield. His song “Justice on the Ole Hog.” Verse: If a man is caught exploiting the revenue of any island; no police should just warn him and set him free because of a high position; he should be treated just like any other man; he should be sent to jail and clean off his head, if he’s condemned; what a big disgrace! Chorus: This is a story of a man called Gunuh.
Another superb calypsonian is Latumba, out of Antigua. His popular tune: “Liberate You Mind.” Verse: How can we be liberated, when we’re so confused; this country is so divided; there are so many different views; this system has got to go or we will suffer more; crying shame and shouting blame, we all are guilty just the same. Chorus: We in this little country must live in love and harmony, working for prosperity in this little country. Lust and greed is keeping us back, crippling the state, we have to rise to the occasion and demonstrate to the world that we all are one.
De King Arrow, out of St. Maarten came up with this chart-buster here in Paradise. He called this one “Arise”. Verse: Would you stand up and see your country dying and never lend a helping hand; how could you sit by idly and watch your country politically with maladministration going on and on. Chorus: Arise, this country is yours, all yours, it is yours.
Another bombshell to hit the world is “Mother’s love” by the Mighty Sparrow. Verse: Certain men should hide their faces the way they treat their mothers is a disgrace. They neglect their mothers for donkey years, and when she died they crying crocodiles’ tears, and hoping that their names come out in the will. Chorus: When their mothers were alive and now that she’s dead they want to buy a casket big like Hilton Hotel, and retribution will kill any man who treats their mothers that way.
Calypsonians such as Lord Nelson with his big hit tune “Norman and Audrey,” Lord Blakey, “Hold de Pussy,” Lord Canary, “Dr. Beckles,” King Obstinate, “Children Melee and Fat-man dance,” are more on the humor side of calypso. Chalkdust out of Trinidad and Tobago with his super classic, “Identity and You can’t judge culture,” Gypsy, “Sinking ship,” and Mighty Swallow, “Children of the universe” are serious calypsos with excellent messages.
Bahaula De Meek from Nevis took calypso music to a different level by producing his own Cadre beat. He said Cadre music is good for your soul, people should dance to beat to keep the culture alive.
Calypso tells great stories and jokes of past calypsonians: In stories: Lord Nelson with “Dove and Pigeon,” and “Stella.” In jokes: Sparrow said if ugliness was sin Lord Melody couldn’t go to heaven, and Christo will be Superman. They usually sing about interesting topics and important situations like capitalism, slavery, friendship, coup de etat, carnival, and education.
Many excellent tunes have been lost because some of the artists could not afford to put their songs on wax, cassette tape or CDs. The main reason for this was the lack of capital. In real life, some people who are familiar with some of these lost tunes have many regrets they can’t listen to them or purchase them anymore.
The late Maestro once said, “The first thing that is a shame is African people with European names,” and urges Caribbean people to change their names to form a true historic state.
Many people of the Caribbean region love the inspirational lyrics of old time calypsos. These classical songs inspired people across the region and other parts of the world. I must pay tribute to the Gay-lords of Dominica for their three wonderful tunes that shook the Caribbean and made them famous. Their tunes: “Pray for the black man”, “Hit me with music,” and “Dreams of Africa.”
People of the Caribbean listen to calypso music for pleasure, advice, inspiration and love. Kaiso Genius out of St. Maarten with his tune, “Stay home” was a super hit. King Stunky, “Where’s your culture gone” is another serious hit. Other St. Maarten greats: King Bratt, “A model nation.” King Bobo, with “Broke again,” and King Timo, “White wash” are fantastic tunes for listening pleasure and for paying serious attention to the lyrics of these songs.
In summary, in the years ahead, calypso music will live on. Institutions of further and higher education should see the music as an important part of Caribbean history and culture. Profiles about the artists and their songs should be studied and presented to students to help keep the culture alive. Calypso outlived spooge, merengue, rocksteady, and cadence music. It also outlasts other original dance hall music such as la pachanga; the twist; the ska; samba; rumba; and the bossa nova to become the number one dance hall music in the region. Long live calypso music!
Joseph Harvey
