Roaring Lion Calypso Foundation. [ Ссылка ]

This Calypso may be of interest to the public. Listen to the style of music at the end of each verse. Could this musical phrasing have influenced Ska in any way? We are asking experts, musicologist musicians/producers and you to kindly give an opinion- are there any similarities between this Calypso from 1938 and Ska of the late 1950's early 1960's in Jamaica?

What is the connection between Calypso, Ska and Reggae, if there is any? Calypso dominated the Caribbean Dance Halls during the 1930's and 1940's.

The lyrics are also very interesting for several reasons. Lion expressed in the past that Ba Boo La La was an "Anti- Colonialist". Cinemas and theaters were vital instruments of British colonial propaganda. Short "News Film Reels" and Radio broadcasts about the state of the Empire occurred on a weekly basis all over the Colony. Thus Ba Boo La La could/may have targeted the London & Empire theaters for political purposes. This took place just before World War 2.
(Ba Boo La La may be a pseudonym that Lion uses.)

Searching the Web recently I found one "mini" short article about the actual incident. It indicated that the arsine attempt was just an insurance scam. Is this the truth?. RLF has a typed written song text by Lion which fits the melody but the lyrics are different than the Ba Boo La La recording. In this song text Lion chastises the arsonist but on the record he does not really attack or condemn the so called perpetrator of the "crime". The record version starts by Saying:

Burn down the London theater
Burn down the big Empire (Repeat)

Ba Boo La La made an attempt to burn down the theater
Made an attempt to burn down the theater severing seven down at Carrera
Ba Bo La La made an attempt to burn down the theater

Ah never see such conspiracy burn the theaters in this colony
Ba Boo La La made an attempt to burn down the theater.

Why did Lion write two different versions of the same song? Did he have "Grass roots" info that differed from the Government's official opinion? Maybe some one out there can enlighten us about Ba Boo La La?

-What is Lion really saying here? Is it an anti Colonial Calypso?

Kindly bear in mind that in 1938 the Sedition Laws were being effectively enforced by the Colonial government and Calypsonians were one of it main targets.

This video is for educational purpose only. All copyrights of the pictures used belong to their respective owners.

Band: Harmony Kings Orchestra
Recording: Decca Port-of-Spain, Trinidad; 25 February 1938
Band: Harmony Kings Orchestra
Rounder Records
(Copyrights Roaring Lion)

Posted by RLF (Roaring Lion Calypso Foundation)
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