Calypso
Also known as Kaiso
A Trinidadian carnival-rooted song tradition built on wit, commentary, and a strong vocal center.
Origins and context
Trinidadian carnival culture, African-derived song traditions, and the older kaiso/cariso lineage described in historical and encyclopedic sources.
History
Calypso grew in Trinidad from African-derived song traditions shaped by the island’s colonial mix of French, Spanish, British, and other influences. Sources describe it as tied closely to carnival life and to older forms such as kaiso/cariso, with early calypsonians using extemporaneous, satirical lyrics as a kind of public speech. By the early 20th century, calypso was being recorded and gaining a wider audience beyond Trinidad; the Library of Congress notes that the first calypso recording appeared in 1914, and that the style’s international reach expanded through the 1920s tent culture and later through artists such as Harry Belafonte.
Notable artists
- MSMighty Sparrow
- HBHarry Belafonte
- CRCalypso Rose
- LKLord Kitchener
Essential listening
- 1
Mighty Sparrow
- 2
- 3
- 4
Explore connected genres
Sources and further reading
- Trinidad and Tobago - Music and Performing Arts
- encyclopedia.com
Historical sources connect calypso to kaiso/cariso and to extemporaneous satirical singing in Trinidadian newspapers of the 19th century.
- Introduction - American Folklife Center Collections: Trinidad and Tobago
- Spotify
Mighty Sparrow’s artist page documents his calypso prominence and connects him to 'Jean and Dinah'.
- musicbrainz.org
Harry Belafonte’s 1956 album 'Calypso' is documented by MusicBrainz and the Library of Congress as a major popularizing release.
- Harry Belafonte - MusicBrainz
- Mighty Sparrow - MusicBrainz