What is Calypso? Calypso is a style of music that came out of slavery in the Caribbean and is credited to Trinidad and Tobago. Some will disagree that calypso started in Trinidad, but just about every major achievement and every major event regarding this music genre are credited to Trinidad. The fact remains that any historical record of this genre originates in Trinidad. However, before we get into the substance of this post, let's take note of some of these achievements.
Did you know the following?
- Calypsoes were first sung in French Creole then a mix of Patois and English
- The Rhythm of Calypso (beat) is done in 2/4, 4/4 time (see "Meter" at this link for an explanation of Rhythm (beats in the music))
- The first-ever Calypso instrumental recording was done in 1912 by Lovey's Orchestra.
- In 1914, the "Duke of Iron" and Jules Sims recorded the first-ever vocal Calypso. “Iron Duke in the Land” is a calypso by Henry Julian (a.k.a. Julian Whiterose)
- The first-ever Calypso tent, opened in Port-of-Spain in 1921, was the "Railway Douglas Tent".
- The first-ever female to sing in a calypso tent was "Lady Trinidad" in 1935.
- The first-ever female Calypsonian to cut a record was "Lady Trinidad" in 1937.
- The first-ever "Young Brigade Tent" opened in 1947 by 24-year-old Lord Kitchener, featuring Lord Melody, Mighty Spoiler, and Mighty Viking.
That was a minor historical review of Calypso. If you want to get additional information, we recommend the Trinidad and Tobago government site NALIS. Additionally, you can review our Calypso post. Link to the post here: Trinidad's Calypso Music.
Now that we have your attention, it's possible that you are reading this article out of curiosity about this site or to gather information for a project. Maybe you just love the culture and want to learn as much as you can about it, especially from Calypso, the mother of SOCA music. This article provides information about the different categories of Calypso music. Within Calypso, there are different types of Calypso songs or categories.
This post will feature the following categories: political, social, and humor. The second post will feature the rest, Party, Extempo, and Nation Building. Now let's take a look at the six categories both post one and two will feature.
Calypso categories:
- Political
- Social
- Humor
- Party
- Extempore
- Nation Building
- Political Calypso songs are used to express political views and opinions. They are often used to criticize politicians and their policies.
- Social Calypso songs tackle issues like poverty, crime, and unemployment.
- Humorous Calypso songs are used to entertain listeners with witty lyrics and humorous stories.
Part two of the Calypso Music Categories can be accessed here: Party, Extempore & Nation Building
Let's take our culture places:
Our goal is to help promote the music and culture of our Caribbean artists. The singers, musicians, producers, songwriters, and all those involved in the creative process. Together we can promote and spread the culture by sharing these posts on all social media platforms. Thank you in advance.
Political Calypso:
If you consider the calypsonian the people's watchman or the voice of the people then it is easy to understand the role of political songs in the politics of the nation. Calypsonians have the ability to express bitterness and exert significant pressure on the ruling party. The opposition NAR used Gypsy's 'Sinking Ship' and Deple's 'Vote Dem Out' to unseat the PNM government. The people's voice, the people's champion, does more damage to a politician's future than articles in the daily newspapers. Many Calypsonians sang songs that made the politicians take notice. The Mighty Sparrow, Sugar Aloes, Duke, and many others influenced the way politicians conducted business. If you want to learn more on this subject, link to this article: credit BBC. The subversive power of calypso music.
The British, who ruled Trinidad during the formative years of Calypso music, tried to stifle the development of the music because the songs empowered the people. The British government at that time was not interested in those who could not read, hear, and understand the songs of the day. As mentioned above, the first Calypso tent opened in 1921, and because of the growth and popularity of Calypso, the ruling administration wanted to take control of the lyrical content of the songs. In 1934, a daily license fee was required from the tents; the enacted law was the 'Theatres and Dance Halls Ordinance' (1934-51). The purpose of the license was control! The British Colonial government required the tent owner to submit the lyrics of all songs for review. Any song that portrayed a negative view of the government was censored and could not be performed unless any content considered damaging was revised in the interest of the colonial power. (credit 'The Sun/Domica" for this information).
Social Commentary Calypso:
If you want to know what is going on in society today, the internet will provide more than you really want to know. However, there was a time when people depended on the daily newspapers and radio to record what was taking place. Those two formats were sometimes or most times overlooked by the general population, but that was not the case when a calypsonian decided to address a topic that was of interest to society. The social commentary could be filled with advice and warnings, but if the tone was bitter, the song's impact became the topic of conversation.
Social Commentary Calypsos for your listening pleasure
34 Funny Calypsos for your listening pleasure