Music

Music:
Calypso, Reggae and Rap

	(Left) Bamboo musical instruments (《拉丁美洲》182). (Above) Turning oil drums into musical instruments, which sounds like zylophone (《拉丁美洲》187).
Calypso (加力騷): e.g. The Mighty Sparrow a type of folk music that comes from the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean. Calypso songs are in the 2/4 or 4/4 time, with a strong beat similar to the rhythm of African songs. . . . Some think [the word Calypso] comes from the African word Kai-so, meaning bravo, used to praise a good singer. The words of a calypso are more important than than the music. Cleverness in choosing words and in making up rhymes on the spot marks the champion calypso singer. The lyrics may express a personal phylosophy or comment on local eents and gossip. Calypso songs with nonsense verses are called bracket. Songs about serious subjects are known as ballode. Musical Instruments: Almost any instrument may be used for calypso music. Early instruments included bamboo pieces and rattles. Many calypso singers today use drums, flutes, guitars, saxophones, and rattles for accompaniment. Development: Calypso originated in the songs of African slaves who worked in the plantation fields of Trinidad. They were forbidden to talk to each other, and used calypso to communicate feelings and information. To fool their masters, they sang in a French-creole dialect called patois. Annual calypso singing competitions were held at carnival time. AFter slavery was abolished in the 1830's, these competitions became more popular and attracted many visitors to Trinidad. World Book Vol 3: 61-62 "Calypso, which satirizes current events and political personalities, has always reflected the mood and social conscience of the people. But in recent years, especially as the music has gained international attention, critics say calypso has become nothing more than what's known here as "jump up'' and "boom-boom'' music. Boom-boom refers to the local slang for the part of the body upon which one sits." (Racy Calypso Appeals to Wider Audience By SHELLEY EMLING 1997 Cox News Service ) Links: Mighty Sparrow, the Calypso King: biography Bajan Calypso Barn, including lyrics, music archive, reviews, map of Barbados, Patois Dictionary, etc. TRINIDAD CALYPSO TENT: Facts About Calypso And Soca Music, Featuring Artists from Trinidad and Tobago, with musical examples
Reggae: e.g. Bob Marley Bob Marley and Jamaica External Links: Bob Marley: bio and pictures Bob Barley Site	Bob Marley (left) Boot, p. 120 (above)Boot, p. 162 .
Rap: e.g. WyClef Jeans and the Fugees Carnival--Lyrics (local) from the Hip-Hop Lyrics Archive WyClef Jeans and the Fugees--a Hatian hip-hop band, which produces the Carnival.