Barbados presents Calypso

More popularly known as the small island in the sun, Barbados proudly produces internationally recognized artists such as Grammy Award singer Rihanna. It has been continuing to show the world that their diverse musical landscape contributes and influences the development of music around the world.Genres that clearly stand out in this Caribbean island are the Reggae and Calypso.  Most of us are already familiar with the Reggae because of the famous African artists that have popularized a number of reggae songs.  Calypso, on the other hand, is not that quite prominent.  The development of the Calpyso was traced to the rhythms derived from the arrival of the first African slave to Barbados and its neighboring islands in the Caribbean going back as far as the 17th century.  The Calypso is a unique form of music that has been embodied in the Barbadian cultural landscape combing the skills of story-telling, instrument-making and singing.  This art form has since been a great influence by Caribbean, European, and North American cultures.Over time, it has distinctively developed thru the inclusion of social commentary.  It is characteristically defined as an infectious beat with a humorous satire mostly played on social and political events which they say is a wake-up call.    In 1974, the revival of the Crop Over Festival has been a gateway to highly organized Calypso in Barbados. Since then it has become a fundamental part of the festival where Barbadians prepare for one of the most significant events – the Pic-O-De-Crop Calypso Competition.

Those who are on Barbados holidays, they have a chance to witness the competition that brings together organized groups of Calypsonians that competes for the first level.  That level is the semi-finals in which Calypsonians are asked to perform several times a week. Those who forward to the semi-finals get to challenge the previous year’s winner.  Another good thing about this is that children also take part in this affair.  They get to be trained thru the set-up of a Junior Calypso Monarch competition.