St. Thomas Carnival Means ... All Things Calypso

This is the second week of carnival, and it's really rolling, now. This evening, a star studded Calypso Revue will bring the biggest international (those who travel to Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and the mainland U.S. to perform), and local Calypsonians together on the VI carnival stage. This event is in my top three.

Calypso is the unofficial (official) music of the Virgin Islands, particularly during carnival. There are several different kinds of Calypso, but what you'll find in the VI, for the most part, is Soca (basically dance music with an uptempo), and old style Calypso. Not that there aren't other forms of music, like Reggae and others.

Old style Calypso is what made the genre famous and has been around since slaves first arrived on the island's shores. The story told in the song is the most important feature of the music. The lyrics can be stingingly satirical, laugh-out-loud funny, or down-right bawdy.

Calypsonians are poets, singers and entertainers. They mostly write their own material, and are known for their entertaining presentations. The best of the best can sing extemporaneously (compose and sing songs on the spot), and are masters at double entendre (songs that have a double meaning).



Some of the famous entertainers, who hail from all parts of the Caribbean include: The Mighty Sparrow, Short Shirt, Lord Kitchner, Louis Ible, Jr., Whaddablee, Lord Nelson, King Obstinate, Calypso Rose, The Mighty Chalkdust, Singing Francine, and so many more, it is impossible to name them all.

Calypso Revue generally runs for two nights, and is incredibly entertaining. The outfits are generally glitzy, particularly on the second night, and props are used to give emphasis to the songs. It's theatre at its best.

My greatest challenge in my first two carnivals in the Virgin Islands was simply understanding the accents of the singers. If you don't know what's being said, you feel real left out when every one is screaming with laughter, singing chorus, or participating in call and response. I learned super fast.

Calypso is a unique art form that has influenced many genres of music. Think about it this way, Calypsonians were rapping long before there was anything called rap.

So, tonight Lionel Roberts Stadium will be rocking with some of the best Calypso on the planet, and I may not be there physically, but I'm going to be there in spirit ... with that chicken leg, and Red Stripe.