Versatility in Caribbean Music: English Speaking Caribbean
Welcome back to our Versatility in Caribbean Music series!
Just to recap from our last blog post, we were introduced to the concept of versatility, how it is expressed throughout the Caribbean region and a personal insight of being a versatile Caribbean native like myself.
Caribbean musical and its cultrual impact goes far and wide beyond its islands and can be felt or featured in almost every music genre.
In this post, we will look at Versaility in the English Speaking Caribbean countries and the impact it has had on the world. Let's dive into this versatile gere and see what we uncover!
The Beginning
The Caribbean as we know it today is known for relaxation and pristine, sandy white beaches but it is also a force to be recknoned with the musical arena. Caribbean music was made from struggle and hardship, but it evokes so much joy, peace and freedom in the lyrics and rhythm of its melodies. Stemming from the enslavement era of African cultures, indigenous people, and colonialism, the music incorporates a mix of elements from these backgrounds.
Within the all-embracing genre of Caribbean music, there are several sub-genres that help to shape an structure the influence that Caribbean music has. The sub-genres in the Caribbean music genre include that of calypso, reggae, soca, rake-and-scrape, fungi, quelbe, goombay, junkanoo and many others. I want to highlight two of these genres, Calypso and Reggae.
Calypso
Calypso is an Afro-Caribbean tune style that commenced withinside the country of Trinidad andTobago and spreaded in the course of the West Indies. Calypso is an upbeat style primarily based totally on call-and-reaction making a song and a synocpated beat referred to as the calypso rhythm. Calypso has additionally spawned in lots of subgenres like soca tune, mento, ska, and chutney. If that isn't versatility, then I don't know what is!
Calypso song first emerged withinside the eighteenth century in Trinidad some of the groups of African slaves. The musical fashion changed into of the evolution of West Africa`s kaiso. Over time, calypso advanced from a aggregate of French, English, Spanish, and Africa. Documented calypso song may be dated again to 1912 whilst Lovey`s String band did a recording in New York City. More current calypso stars covered the likes of Julian Whiterose, Lord Invader, Attila the Hun, and Roaring Lion. Calypso Rose have become the primary woman calypsonian for Trinidad and Tobago.
Here is a video of the Calypso Queen which is ironically also the title of the song sang by Calypso Rose herself. I beleive this song/video depicts the calypso genre strongly because Calypso Rose is the first woman Calypso artist and she talks about how long her reign as Calypso Queen has been and what she has endured during the time. Issues such as discrimination and judgement from male Calypsonian artists but she didn't let that stop her and she has proven to be the QUEEN BEE that she is. Carry 👏🏿on 👏🏿Calypso👏🏿 Queen 👏🏿!
Reggae
Everything irie? Well with Reggae, it's bound to be!
Although reggae has spread throughout the Caribbean, the United States, and the world at large, it is truly and fundamentally a Jamaica art form. Starting out in the native lands of Jamaica in the 1960s, reggae music was considered to be a mixture of musical styles, namely mento, ska, rocksteady, calypso, and hints of American rhythm and blues. This genre is known for its pulsating percussion, hypnotizing bass lines, and rhythmic guitar called skant beat. Reggae is closely tied to the Rastafarian religion and social movements.
Reggae artists often sing of Rastafari themes or social injustice and the socially-conscious lyrics have gone on to inspire other music styles. Reggae bands use the same core instrumentation as American rhythm and blues bands. Such common reggae instruments are drums, bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboard, vocals, and horns. Reggae music has been blessed with artists such as Don Drummond, Bob Marley (Reggae King himself), Ken Boothe, Jimmy Cliff among many others.
Music was the only thing that the slave owners and oppressors couldn't take from us. Music was our blood, sweat, tears, and livelihood during the most daunting times of our Caribbean history. It is what kept us together and united as ONE.
Here is a video of the Reggae King himself (Rip) singing one of his most famous songs Redemption Song which talks about freeing ourselves from mental slavery and not being afraid to think and do things for ourselves. We shouldn't have anything or anyone holding us back from our potential. Though he may not be here with us, his music to this today still resonates and applies to what is going on in the world. Thank you for blessing us with your music for a lifetime Bob 💓!
Clothing
Versatility is not only in our music, but our clothing as well! Caribbean fashion is inspired by the many cultures that contribute to Caribbean culture. In addition to cultures, the climate (which is HOT 🔥24/7/365), local designers, and our own bit of Caribbean spice and attitude have helped to shape fashion trends. You can see African, European, and even some Asian influences as a result of the slavery time period that we were forced to undergo.
Climate and environment are key factors in our clothing because, throughout our history, there have been fabrics that were created to be worn well in the hotter weather (again 🔥), since the region can be hot and humid year-round. People have used materials that were grown locally such as cotton and banana fibers. And no Caribbean country's fashion is the same. Each Caribbean country has its unique twist and style on traditional dress. For example, The Bahamas has its own national fabric known as the Androsian Print which of course is locally sourced and made in the island Andros.
In Lyndsay Archer's video, Traditional Dresses of the Caribbean showcases a few traditional dresses from some of our Caribbean nations and a common link that is shared amongst them. That common link is the African roots. Though our ancestors had to be stripped of everything near and dear to them during that time, it was a blessing that they were able to carry on their African heritage and history for generations to come through clothing and fashion.
My Caribbean and African roots made me what I am what you are today. They're the reason we are from Guyana, Haiti, The Bahamas, Jamaica and everywhere in between. They're the reason we exist at all. To these roots, I owe everything.
Until we meet again!
References:
Gangelhoff, C., & LeGrand, C. (2020. Tour de Force: A Musical Journey of the Caribbean (1st ed.). Sound Caribbean
“Calypso Rose - Calypso Queen (Official Video).” YouTube, uploaded by Calypso Rose, 19 May 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-j-tPbOfYQ.
“Bob Marley - Redemption Song.” YouTube, uploaded by Isabel Carvalho, 22 Dec. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOFu6b3w6c0.
“Traditional Dresses of the Caribbean | CAHM EPISODE 6.” YouTube, uploaded by Lyndsay Archer, 23 June 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk_GAYSRVG0.
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