Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases three YouTube videos of the United State's Old Time Music song "Shake That Little Foot, Sally" (or similar titles) and one YouTube video of the 1964 Rhythm & Blues song "Kick That Little Foot Sally".
Information about these performers are provided in this post.
Some information about Mento music is presented as an Addendum to this post as most of Harry Belafonte's records were from that genre of music and note from Trinidadian Calypso. The lyrics for Belafonte's performance of "Shake That Little Foot, Sally" that is featured in this post have their source in the United State's Old Time Music versions of that song.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those performers who are featured in this post for their musical legacies. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers for sharing these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Most of this post is a reprint of Part II and Part III of a three part 2017 pancocojams series on the "Shake That Little Foot song.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/03/shake-that-little-foot-sally-also-known.html for a 2020 reprint of Part I of that 2017 post. The only difference between the 2017 version of that post and the 2020 version is that the video of an Old Time Music version of "Shake That Little Foot,Sally" (by David "Stringbean" Akeman) was deleted from that 2020 post (and instead is featured here).
at 2020 post includes the links to Part II and Part III (2017). Those posts include the lyrics for their showcased songs.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS & PERFORMER'S INFORMATION
Example #1: Shake That Little Foot Sally Ann - David "Stringbean" Akeman
ClassicCountry1978, Published on Oct 28, 2015
-snip-
Here's information about David "Stringbean" Akeman from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_%22Stringbean%22_Akeman
"David Akeman (June 17, 1915[1] – November 10, 1973) better known as Stringbean (or String Bean), was an American singer-songwriter, musician, comedian, actor and semi-professional baseball player[2] best known for his role as a main cast member on the hit television show, Hee Haw, and as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Akeman was well-known for his "old-fashioned" banjo picking style, careful mix of comedy and music, and his memorable stage wardrobe (which consisted of a long nightshirt tucked into a pair of short blue jeans belted around his knees— giving him the comical appearance of a very tall man with stubby legs)/
[...]
Biography
Early life and career
Born in Annville, Jackson County, Kentucky, Akeman came from a musical family.[citation needed] He was taught to play the banjo by his father, James Akeman.[citation needed] He got his first banjo when he was 12 years old in exchange for a pair of prize bantam chickens.[3] Akeman began playing at local dances and gained a reputation as a musician, but the income was not enough to live on. He joined the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, building roads and planting trees.
[...]
Akeman kept his audience with his traditional playing and his mixture of comedy and song. He scored country-chart hits with "Chewing Gum" and "I Wonder Where Wanda Went".[4] Between 1962 and 1971, he recorded seven albums.[citation needed] The first, Old Time Pickin' & Grinnin' with Stringbean (1961), included folk songs (especially humorous animal songs), tall stories, and country jokes.
[...]
Genres Old-time, bluegrass, country, comedy”...
-snip-
David Akerman was a White American.
****
Example #2: Shake That Little Foot (Live)
Harry Belafonte – Topic, Mar 10, 2016
Belafonte at the Greek Theatre
℗ Originally released 1964. All rights reserved by RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Conductor, Composer, Lyricist: Howard Roberts
Producer: Bob Bollard
-snip-
Here's information about Harry Belafonte from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Belafonte
"Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is a Jamaican-American singer, songwriter, activist, and actor. One of the most successful Jamaican-American pop stars in history, he was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. His breakthrough album Calypso (1956) is the first million-selling LP by a single artist.[1] Belafonte is known for his recording of "The Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". He has recorded and performed in many genres, including blues, folk, gospel, show tunes, and American standards
-snip-
Read the Addendum below for information about Jamaica's Mento music which Belafonte and many others mislabeled "Calypso".
****
Example #3: Round Robin "Kick That Little Foot Sally"
NRRArchives, Apr 26, 2013
American Bandstand. October 03, 1964
-snip-
The R&B song "Kick That Little Foot Sally" is a R&B version of the (United States) Old Time Music song "Shake That Little Foot, Sally" (and other similar titles).
“Round Robin” was the stage name for an African American singer.
Here's information about "Round Robin" from https://www.discogs.com/artist/916677-Round-Robin
"Round Robin
Real Name: Robin Lloyd
Profile:
Round Robin (Lloyd) had been around a while in recording terms also. He had cut for Domain in the mid 60's and had appeared on the Lloyd Thaxton TV show. Round Robin's "Kick That Little Foot Sally Ann" had been a hit with UK mods in the mid 60's. His later outings on Stax's Truth label (the Round Robin Monopoly) have also garnered many fans down the years.”...
****
ADDENDUM: INFORMATION ABOUT JAMAICA'S MENTO MUSIC
...From http://www.mentomusic.com/WhatIsMento.htm
"Mento music had its beginnings in Jamaica in the 19th century, and was uniquely Jamaican fusion of African and European musical traditions. In mento's recorded history pre-history, from the 1920s through the 1940s, a number of Jamaican songs were put to wax by Caribbean jazz artists. In the 1930 and 1940s, Slim and Sam, a mento group who performed in Kingston, gained renown and are recalled today. They're remembered for their originals, and sold "tracts" -- printed lyrics -- at their performances. (The book "Reggae Routes" by Kevin O'Brien Chang and Wayne Chen lists the names of some of these originals, and has additional information and even a picture of Slim and Sam.)
But it wasn't until the early 1950s that true mento recordings first began to appear on 78 RPM discs. This decade was mento's golden age, as a variety of artists recorded mento songs in an assortment of rhythms and styles. It was the peak of mento's creativity and popularity in Jamaica and the birth of Jamaica's recording industry.
These recordings reveal mento to be a diverse musical genre, sometimes played with reckless abandon and other times with orderly precision. In addition to mento's African and European roots, by this time, it had also encompassed pan-Caribbean influences, as well as from American jazz. Although it was informed by a world of music, mento is clearly, uniquely Jamaican. And as Jamaica's original music, all other Jamaican music can trace its roots to mento.
Some styles of mento would evolve into ska and reggae. (As a matter of fact, some mento songs are still being recorded inna dancehall stylee today.) Other styles, while purely mento, seem to have done less to contribute to the development of later Jamaican music.
During this time, Trinidadian calypso was the Caribbean's top musical export, and the term "Calypso" was used generically applied to Jamaican mento as well. Far more often than it was called by its proper name, mento was called "calypso", "kalypso" or "mento calypso". Adding to the confusion, Jamaica had its own calypso singers that did not record mento, such as Lord Creator. (The Trinidad-born Creator later became a ska singer for Studio 1.) And mento artists would often perform calypso songs in the mento style, or record a mento song with calypso influence. Some mento artists followed the calypsonian practice of adding a title such as "Count" or "Lord" to their name. But make no mistake, mento is a distinctly different sound from calypso, with its own instrumentation, rhythms, pacing, vocal styles, harmonies, and lyrical concerns."...
-snip-
This excerpt is written as it was found in that online article.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label Mento music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mento music. Show all posts
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Caribbean Quadrille Dancing (Dominica, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, St. Lucia, & The Virgin Islands)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides brief information about the Quadrille dance and showcases seven videos of the Quadrille in the Caribbean nations of Dominica, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and the Virgin Islands.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
The Quadrille is also danced in some other Caribbean nations. Please share any links for Quadrille YouTube videos that you may be aware of from other Caribbean nations.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT QUADRILLE DANCING IN THE CARIBBEAN
From http://www.culturecrossroads.co.uk/about-quadrille-in-the-caribbean
"About Quadrille in the Caribbean
Posted on September 8, 2011 by Caspar James in Jamaican Quadrille
The below information has been provided by the leader of the group Beverley Bogle....
What is Quadrille?
Quadrille is traditionally a Euro-centric ballroom dance, taken to the Caribbean in the 18th century by English and French slave traders/masters and regularly performed at grand occasions in great houses. European musicians were transported to the Islands for such occasions to provide specific background music. The dance, with its traditional musical accompaniment, normally commences with a Grand Entrance, followed by up to 5 set pieces called Figures, and end with a Grand Finale to exit the stage. Quadrille is normally performed by 4 couples (quad), but can be successfully accomplished with 2 or 3 couples. The couples, working in unison, perform repetitive movements (the drill), to create geometrical patterns (e.g. circles, rectangles, triangles, diamonds and squares) with their feet on the dance floor and use their arms and upper body to accentuate these patterns...
JANUKA’s interpretation of the history of Quadrille dancing in Jamaica
The enslaved Africans were stripped of their African cultural identity. They were forbidden to sing their own songs, play their own music, speak their own languages, or do their own dances, e.g. Etu, Gerreh, Dinki Mini, and Tambo. In order to endure their physical and emotional deprivation, and intense pain, they inwardly knew they had to find some form of creative activity (apart from working tirelessly on sugar plantations), to communicate with each other, to keep their spirits high, and to develop and maintain comradeships and community support.
The opportunity arose when the privileged “house slaves” observed and sometimes participated in the quadrille dance, during the grand balls held in the great houses. They secretly demonstrated the BALLROOM STYLE QUADRILLE to the “field slaves”. This was a square dance, performed by 4 couples, involving them moving in unison to the beat of the music, marching up and down in straight lines in upright military posture, and turning their heads and feet from side to side. A strict hierarchical structure of dancing was involved where 2 couples (the head and foot couples) would dance first, whilst the other 2 (side couples) would patiently watched until it was their turn to imitate the movements. The field slaves began to secretly and frivolously mimic and ridicule their slave masters’ and their guests, however they soon concluded that the ballroom quadrille dance was too restrictive and formal, was more for visual effectiveness and social acceptance, rather than enjoyment. They thought what their masters and guests were doing could not be called “real dancing”. They instinctively knew that when it came to rhythm and dance, embedded in their African culture, they had the upper hand. They began to discretely adjust their masters’ formal ballroom dance, eventually developing a new quadrille formation dance known as CAMP STYLE QUADRILLE. In this evolved form all couples, not restricted to 4, would dance simultaneously, in unison to be beat of the music, whilst in opposite straight long lines or circles. They adopted a more relaxed posture and added their own African flamboyancy, rhythm, individuality, style in bodily movements and expressions, with friendly boastful interactions between and among couples and with the emphasis on enjoyment.
When the slave masters heard that the field slaves were secretly dancing Quadrille in the fields, they were outraged at their “insolence and mockery”. Despite threats of harsh punishment if they were caught dancing quadrille the field slaves defiantly, fearlessly and purposefully continued dancing. They were determined to use their adapted Camp Style version as their new medium of community merry making to keep their spirits high, to have fun, to support each other’s struggle to survive, and more importantly to secretly and successfully communicate within the dance, their love for each other and their plans for emancipation.
In Jamaica, the enslaved Africans creatively used natural resources and discarded materials to make their own musical accompaniment, producing a distinctive African rhythm and beat called MENTO MUSIC. We therefore use MENTO as part of the musical accompaniment to our Camp style dance."...
-snip-
"Januka" is the name of a Jamaican group that dances "Camp style Quadrille".
****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS (Presented by nations in alphabetical order)
DOMINICA
Note:
These examples are from the Commonwealth of Dominica and not from the Dominican Republic. Dominica was colonised by the French while the Dominican Republic was colonized by the Spanish.
Example #1: Quadrille Dancers 14th June 2008
Uniquely Dominican Uploaded on Jun 15, 2008
http://dominican-diaspora.com - Dominica Oversea Nationals Association (DONA) - Quadrille Dancers
****
Example #2: Dominican Folk Dance
Proteousx4 Uploaded on Sep 15, 2009
A local dance featuring my friend Tyla at the world creole festival in dominica
****
Example #3: Quadrille Dance Finals Competition
BrBpTV Published on Mar 16, 2015
Quadrille Dance Finals Competition is a collaboration of different cultural dance groups that come together to show case the best of the best in this particular type of Dominican cultural dance.
****
GUADELOUPE
Example #1: Quadrille de Basse Terre .HD
clarismaro Published on Aug 31, 2012
Quadrille Guadeloupéen ; A la côte sous le vent de la Basse Terre,on danse le quadrille en ligne, Quadrille non commandé. C'est la tradition.
****
Example #2: Danse de Quadrilles par Karukéra Ka Dance de St Claude : (Vendredi 25 janvier 2013)
oxbowguadeloupe, Published on Jan 26, 2013
****
Example #3: Première figure : initiation à la danse de quadrille "pantalon"
Association Adékwat Published on Sep 1, 2015
Initiation à la danse de quadrille de guadeloupe, les commandements de la première figure décryptés pas à pas.
-snip-
Also, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mat-RHNeQlM for a video of a band from Guadaloupe playing Quadrille music.
****
JAMAICA
Example #1: Jamaica Independence Festival 50 Huddersfield 5 Aug 12 3 Quadrille Dance Troup
Huddersfield Festivals 2, Published on Aug 5, 2012
The event was in Greenhead Park Huddersfield West Yorkshire.
****
Example #2: QUADRILLE IN CARIBBEAN 2
Exploring Cultural Dance - Quadrille. JANUKA perform the Jamaican Camp Style Quadrille
Ken Breinburg Published on Mar 13, 2013
JANUKA perform the Jamaican Camp Style Quadrille
****
Example #3: Exploring Cultural Dance - Quadrille. NACRC dancers demonstrate Ballroom Style Quadrille
Ken Breinburg, Published on Mar 14, 2013
The NACRC Dance Troupe perform the Jamaican Ballroom Style Quadrille at Quadrille Live!
****
SAINT LUCIA
Example #1: Quadrille Dancing in Choiseul, St. Lucia
TameronEaton,U ploaded on Mar 6, 2008
This video shows traditional St. Lucia Quadrille dancing performed by the Dugard Primary students at the 2008 Choiseul Village Council swearing in ceremony. The students are wearing the St. Lucia flag colors rather than the traditional red plaid outfits known at madras.
****
Example #2: Exploring Cultural Dance - Quadrille. Anse La Raye dancers perform at Quadrille Live!
Ken Breinburg Published on Mar 14, 2013
The Anse La Raye dancers [St. Lucia] perform at Quadrille Live!
****
Example #3: Saint Lucia Folklore Cultural Dance 8/1/15
Massabba Konpa Published on Aug 2, 2015
Massabba Video ShineEye Productions 8/1/2015**live at Greater Hartford CT,53rd Anniversary west Indian Independence Celebration,10th Annual Caribbean Jerk Festival...Sign off Massabba
****
UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS
Example #1: We Deh Ya Cultural Dancers
EyesbyJe1, Published on Apr 29, 2012
"We Deh Ya" Cultural Dancers performing at the St. Thomas' 2012 Food Fair celebrating 60 years of Carnival
-snip-
Here's information about this Virgin Island dance group:
From https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY6EidKDqouMby1F9WgbFzw/about
"The We Deh Yah Cultural Dancers are based in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and specializes in the dance art form of Quadrille. Our motto is: "Quadrille is a serious thing that we enjoy doing!"
"We Deh Yah" is a phrase in our native dialect that means, "We are here." We are definitely here!"
****
Example #2: St. Thomas Carnival "We Deh Yah" Quadrille Dancers April 24, 2013
Extremely Clever Published on Apr 25, 2013
We Deh Yah Quadrille Dancers Performing Live at the Carnival Food Fair in Emancipation Garden, in Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. April 24, 2013
****
Example #3: WDY Cultural Dancers - Cross Over & Form a Line (Friends of Denmark Society Gala)
Felicia Neale Published on Nov 9, 2014
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides brief information about the Quadrille dance and showcases seven videos of the Quadrille in the Caribbean nations of Dominica, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and the Virgin Islands.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
The Quadrille is also danced in some other Caribbean nations. Please share any links for Quadrille YouTube videos that you may be aware of from other Caribbean nations.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT QUADRILLE DANCING IN THE CARIBBEAN
From http://www.culturecrossroads.co.uk/about-quadrille-in-the-caribbean
"About Quadrille in the Caribbean
Posted on September 8, 2011 by Caspar James in Jamaican Quadrille
The below information has been provided by the leader of the group Beverley Bogle....
What is Quadrille?
Quadrille is traditionally a Euro-centric ballroom dance, taken to the Caribbean in the 18th century by English and French slave traders/masters and regularly performed at grand occasions in great houses. European musicians were transported to the Islands for such occasions to provide specific background music. The dance, with its traditional musical accompaniment, normally commences with a Grand Entrance, followed by up to 5 set pieces called Figures, and end with a Grand Finale to exit the stage. Quadrille is normally performed by 4 couples (quad), but can be successfully accomplished with 2 or 3 couples. The couples, working in unison, perform repetitive movements (the drill), to create geometrical patterns (e.g. circles, rectangles, triangles, diamonds and squares) with their feet on the dance floor and use their arms and upper body to accentuate these patterns...
JANUKA’s interpretation of the history of Quadrille dancing in Jamaica
The enslaved Africans were stripped of their African cultural identity. They were forbidden to sing their own songs, play their own music, speak their own languages, or do their own dances, e.g. Etu, Gerreh, Dinki Mini, and Tambo. In order to endure their physical and emotional deprivation, and intense pain, they inwardly knew they had to find some form of creative activity (apart from working tirelessly on sugar plantations), to communicate with each other, to keep their spirits high, and to develop and maintain comradeships and community support.
The opportunity arose when the privileged “house slaves” observed and sometimes participated in the quadrille dance, during the grand balls held in the great houses. They secretly demonstrated the BALLROOM STYLE QUADRILLE to the “field slaves”. This was a square dance, performed by 4 couples, involving them moving in unison to the beat of the music, marching up and down in straight lines in upright military posture, and turning their heads and feet from side to side. A strict hierarchical structure of dancing was involved where 2 couples (the head and foot couples) would dance first, whilst the other 2 (side couples) would patiently watched until it was their turn to imitate the movements. The field slaves began to secretly and frivolously mimic and ridicule their slave masters’ and their guests, however they soon concluded that the ballroom quadrille dance was too restrictive and formal, was more for visual effectiveness and social acceptance, rather than enjoyment. They thought what their masters and guests were doing could not be called “real dancing”. They instinctively knew that when it came to rhythm and dance, embedded in their African culture, they had the upper hand. They began to discretely adjust their masters’ formal ballroom dance, eventually developing a new quadrille formation dance known as CAMP STYLE QUADRILLE. In this evolved form all couples, not restricted to 4, would dance simultaneously, in unison to be beat of the music, whilst in opposite straight long lines or circles. They adopted a more relaxed posture and added their own African flamboyancy, rhythm, individuality, style in bodily movements and expressions, with friendly boastful interactions between and among couples and with the emphasis on enjoyment.
When the slave masters heard that the field slaves were secretly dancing Quadrille in the fields, they were outraged at their “insolence and mockery”. Despite threats of harsh punishment if they were caught dancing quadrille the field slaves defiantly, fearlessly and purposefully continued dancing. They were determined to use their adapted Camp Style version as their new medium of community merry making to keep their spirits high, to have fun, to support each other’s struggle to survive, and more importantly to secretly and successfully communicate within the dance, their love for each other and their plans for emancipation.
In Jamaica, the enslaved Africans creatively used natural resources and discarded materials to make their own musical accompaniment, producing a distinctive African rhythm and beat called MENTO MUSIC. We therefore use MENTO as part of the musical accompaniment to our Camp style dance."...
-snip-
"Januka" is the name of a Jamaican group that dances "Camp style Quadrille".
****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS (Presented by nations in alphabetical order)
DOMINICA
Note:
These examples are from the Commonwealth of Dominica and not from the Dominican Republic. Dominica was colonised by the French while the Dominican Republic was colonized by the Spanish.
Example #1: Quadrille Dancers 14th June 2008
Uniquely Dominican Uploaded on Jun 15, 2008
http://dominican-diaspora.com - Dominica Oversea Nationals Association (DONA) - Quadrille Dancers
****
Example #2: Dominican Folk Dance
Proteousx4 Uploaded on Sep 15, 2009
A local dance featuring my friend Tyla at the world creole festival in dominica
****
Example #3: Quadrille Dance Finals Competition
BrBpTV Published on Mar 16, 2015
Quadrille Dance Finals Competition is a collaboration of different cultural dance groups that come together to show case the best of the best in this particular type of Dominican cultural dance.
****
GUADELOUPE
Example #1: Quadrille de Basse Terre .HD
clarismaro Published on Aug 31, 2012
Quadrille Guadeloupéen ; A la côte sous le vent de la Basse Terre,on danse le quadrille en ligne, Quadrille non commandé. C'est la tradition.
****
Example #2: Danse de Quadrilles par Karukéra Ka Dance de St Claude : (Vendredi 25 janvier 2013)
oxbowguadeloupe, Published on Jan 26, 2013
****
Example #3: Première figure : initiation à la danse de quadrille "pantalon"
Association Adékwat Published on Sep 1, 2015
Initiation à la danse de quadrille de guadeloupe, les commandements de la première figure décryptés pas à pas.
-snip-
Also, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mat-RHNeQlM for a video of a band from Guadaloupe playing Quadrille music.
****
JAMAICA
Example #1: Jamaica Independence Festival 50 Huddersfield 5 Aug 12 3 Quadrille Dance Troup
Huddersfield Festivals 2, Published on Aug 5, 2012
The event was in Greenhead Park Huddersfield West Yorkshire.
****
Example #2: QUADRILLE IN CARIBBEAN 2
Exploring Cultural Dance - Quadrille. JANUKA perform the Jamaican Camp Style Quadrille
Ken Breinburg Published on Mar 13, 2013
JANUKA perform the Jamaican Camp Style Quadrille
****
Example #3: Exploring Cultural Dance - Quadrille. NACRC dancers demonstrate Ballroom Style Quadrille
Ken Breinburg, Published on Mar 14, 2013
The NACRC Dance Troupe perform the Jamaican Ballroom Style Quadrille at Quadrille Live!
****
SAINT LUCIA
Example #1: Quadrille Dancing in Choiseul, St. Lucia
TameronEaton,U ploaded on Mar 6, 2008
This video shows traditional St. Lucia Quadrille dancing performed by the Dugard Primary students at the 2008 Choiseul Village Council swearing in ceremony. The students are wearing the St. Lucia flag colors rather than the traditional red plaid outfits known at madras.
****
Example #2: Exploring Cultural Dance - Quadrille. Anse La Raye dancers perform at Quadrille Live!
Ken Breinburg Published on Mar 14, 2013
The Anse La Raye dancers [St. Lucia] perform at Quadrille Live!
****
Example #3: Saint Lucia Folklore Cultural Dance 8/1/15
Massabba Konpa Published on Aug 2, 2015
Massabba Video ShineEye Productions 8/1/2015**live at Greater Hartford CT,53rd Anniversary west Indian Independence Celebration,10th Annual Caribbean Jerk Festival...Sign off Massabba
****
UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS
Example #1: We Deh Ya Cultural Dancers
EyesbyJe1, Published on Apr 29, 2012
"We Deh Ya" Cultural Dancers performing at the St. Thomas' 2012 Food Fair celebrating 60 years of Carnival
-snip-
Here's information about this Virgin Island dance group:
From https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY6EidKDqouMby1F9WgbFzw/about
"The We Deh Yah Cultural Dancers are based in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and specializes in the dance art form of Quadrille. Our motto is: "Quadrille is a serious thing that we enjoy doing!"
"We Deh Yah" is a phrase in our native dialect that means, "We are here." We are definitely here!"
****
Example #2: St. Thomas Carnival "We Deh Yah" Quadrille Dancers April 24, 2013
Extremely Clever Published on Apr 25, 2013
We Deh Yah Quadrille Dancers Performing Live at the Carnival Food Fair in Emancipation Garden, in Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. April 24, 2013
****
Example #3: WDY Cultural Dancers - Cross Over & Form a Line (Friends of Denmark Society Gala)
Felicia Neale Published on Nov 9, 2014
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
"Hold 'em Joe" (examples & lyrics)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases four sound files of the Caribbean song "Hold' em Joe" ("My Donkey Wants Water"). As a bonus, a sound file of a Jazz rendition of this song by Sonny Rollins is also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer of this song, and thanks to all the featured artists for their musical legacies. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
LYRICS: HOLE' EM JOE (MY DONKEY WANTS WATER)
(composer: Sam Manning)
Hold 'em Joe, hold'em Joe, hold'em Joe
But don't let him go
Hold 'em Joe, hold'em Joe, hold'em Joe
But don't let him go
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe,
Spring 'round the corner, hold'em Joe
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe
Everybody want water, hold'em Joe
Fuma la catchimba, hold'em Joe
We on a journey he don't walk straight
And that is because he's so underweight
Donkey of mine he don't like weight
Put him on a cart he never walk straight
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe,
Spring 'round the corner, hold'em Joe
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe
Everybody want water, hold'em Joe
Fuma la catchimba, hold'em Joe
My ole donkey went courtin' one day
With a donkey named Melda across the way
She was twice his age, he put up a fight
Now he's cryin' every night
Oh lemme go, darling Melda,
You breaking my back bone
Lemme go, darling Melda,
You breaking my back
Some people say that my donkey is bad
an' that is because he's from Trinidad
Donkey of mine he won't work at all
All he want to do is break out him stall
Source: http://www.akh.se/lyrics/hold_em_joe.htm
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These videos are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest videos given first.
Multiple versions of a song are presented not to rank which one is best, but to showcase some of the different interpretations artists have given of this song.
Example #1: My Donkey Want Water (Hold 'Em Joe) [10 inch] - Mac Beth, the Great
TheRealDJGIBS•, Uploaded on Jun 29, 2011
Digital archive of Musicraft 78RPM single 434;
My Donkey Want Water (Hold 'Em Joe) by Mac Beth, the Great with Gerald Clark and his Original Calypsos
℗1945 Guild/Musicraft Records
-snip-
-snip-
Here are two comments from this sound file's comment thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSOkTAK2HEI
TheRealDJGIBS, 2013
For those who think Belafonte wrote this song... haha. It was first recorded in 1925 by Sam Manning (Columbia 2409-X) and while the original Columbia 78 credits Manning as the composer, it was a well known "Jamaican Digging Song".
****
Glenroy Joseph, 2013
in reply to TheRealDJGIBS
"Sam Manning was one of the earliest of the Trinidad calypsonians to gain international recognition in the early 20th century. The song may have been derived from a Jamaican digging song, but it is clearly period calypso, although there is a similarity to a Jamaican folk music called mento"
-snip-
Here's a comment that provides information about Macbeth The Great from the discussion thread of another sound file of this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYXjvC-lO4A
branMar2002, 2013
"Macbeth The Great is Patrick MacDonald, a calypsonian from Trinidad who became an important part of Harlem's important west indian community. Patrick's son was Ralph MacDonald, who became one of the most in-demand studio percussionists of all time. Ralph was also an important composer and producer with hits such as "Feel like Making Love" (Roberta Flack), "Mr. Magic" and "Just The Two Of Us" (Grover Washington Jr.). May they all rest in peace."
****
Example #2: Hold em Joe
FredCDobbs00, Uploaded on May 21, 2011
This is from The Brute Force Steel Band of Antigua B.W.I. album. This album came out in 1953 as far as I know. I recently learned the identity of the lead singer from his son. His name is Anthony Herbert Hobbs.
****
Example #3: Harry Belafonte - Hold 'Em Joe (1954 AND 1957)
PilotOfTheAirwaves1, Published on Mar 5, 2013
This recording charted TWICE. First a #30 Pop hit in 1954, then a #84 Pop chart entry in 1957. By the SAME guy who recorded "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" in 1956 (that was later featured in the movie "Beetlejuice").
****
Example #4: Ziggy Marley - "Hold Em Joe" | Family Time
Ziggy Marley, Published on May 7, 2013
Hold 'Em Joe", a track off the Ziggy Marley album, FAMILY TIME.
****
BONUS EXAMPLE
Sonny Rollins - Hold 'Em Joe
khimerak, Uploaded on Jan 26, 2011
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post showcases four sound files of the Caribbean song "Hold' em Joe" ("My Donkey Wants Water"). As a bonus, a sound file of a Jazz rendition of this song by Sonny Rollins is also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer of this song, and thanks to all the featured artists for their musical legacies. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
LYRICS: HOLE' EM JOE (MY DONKEY WANTS WATER)
(composer: Sam Manning)
Hold 'em Joe, hold'em Joe, hold'em Joe
But don't let him go
Hold 'em Joe, hold'em Joe, hold'em Joe
But don't let him go
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe,
Spring 'round the corner, hold'em Joe
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe
Everybody want water, hold'em Joe
Fuma la catchimba, hold'em Joe
We on a journey he don't walk straight
And that is because he's so underweight
Donkey of mine he don't like weight
Put him on a cart he never walk straight
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe,
Spring 'round the corner, hold'em Joe
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe
Everybody want water, hold'em Joe
Fuma la catchimba, hold'em Joe
My ole donkey went courtin' one day
With a donkey named Melda across the way
She was twice his age, he put up a fight
Now he's cryin' every night
Oh lemme go, darling Melda,
You breaking my back bone
Lemme go, darling Melda,
You breaking my back
Some people say that my donkey is bad
an' that is because he's from Trinidad
Donkey of mine he won't work at all
All he want to do is break out him stall
Source: http://www.akh.se/lyrics/hold_em_joe.htm
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These videos are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest videos given first.
Multiple versions of a song are presented not to rank which one is best, but to showcase some of the different interpretations artists have given of this song.
Example #1: My Donkey Want Water (Hold 'Em Joe) [10 inch] - Mac Beth, the Great
TheRealDJGIBS•, Uploaded on Jun 29, 2011
Digital archive of Musicraft 78RPM single 434;
My Donkey Want Water (Hold 'Em Joe) by Mac Beth, the Great with Gerald Clark and his Original Calypsos
℗1945 Guild/Musicraft Records
-snip-
-snip-
Here are two comments from this sound file's comment thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSOkTAK2HEI
TheRealDJGIBS, 2013
For those who think Belafonte wrote this song... haha. It was first recorded in 1925 by Sam Manning (Columbia 2409-X) and while the original Columbia 78 credits Manning as the composer, it was a well known "Jamaican Digging Song".
****
Glenroy Joseph, 2013
in reply to TheRealDJGIBS
"Sam Manning was one of the earliest of the Trinidad calypsonians to gain international recognition in the early 20th century. The song may have been derived from a Jamaican digging song, but it is clearly period calypso, although there is a similarity to a Jamaican folk music called mento"
-snip-
Here's a comment that provides information about Macbeth The Great from the discussion thread of another sound file of this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYXjvC-lO4A
branMar2002, 2013
"Macbeth The Great is Patrick MacDonald, a calypsonian from Trinidad who became an important part of Harlem's important west indian community. Patrick's son was Ralph MacDonald, who became one of the most in-demand studio percussionists of all time. Ralph was also an important composer and producer with hits such as "Feel like Making Love" (Roberta Flack), "Mr. Magic" and "Just The Two Of Us" (Grover Washington Jr.). May they all rest in peace."
****
Example #2: Hold em Joe
FredCDobbs00, Uploaded on May 21, 2011
This is from The Brute Force Steel Band of Antigua B.W.I. album. This album came out in 1953 as far as I know. I recently learned the identity of the lead singer from his son. His name is Anthony Herbert Hobbs.
****
Example #3: Harry Belafonte - Hold 'Em Joe (1954 AND 1957)
PilotOfTheAirwaves1, Published on Mar 5, 2013
This recording charted TWICE. First a #30 Pop hit in 1954, then a #84 Pop chart entry in 1957. By the SAME guy who recorded "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" in 1956 (that was later featured in the movie "Beetlejuice").
****
Example #4: Ziggy Marley - "Hold Em Joe" | Family Time
Ziggy Marley, Published on May 7, 2013
Hold 'Em Joe", a track off the Ziggy Marley album, FAMILY TIME.
****
BONUS EXAMPLE
Sonny Rollins - Hold 'Em Joe
khimerak, Uploaded on Jan 26, 2011
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Lord Composer (Jamaican Mento) - "Hill 'N Gully Ride" (sound file & lyrics)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a three part series on the Jamaican song "Hill And Gully Rider (also given as "Hill 'N Gully Rider"). This post showcases a sound file of and lyrics for Lord Composer's Mento version of "Hill 'N Gully Ride". Information & comments about that song are also included in this post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/hill-and-gully-rider-general.html for Part I of this series.
Part I presents general information about Jamaican music, with special emphasis on Mento and Ska music. Part I also includes general comments about Mento music and three examples of folk lyrics for "Hill And Gully Rider".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-charms-jamaican-ska-hill-and-gully.html for Part III of this series.
Part III showcases a sound file of and lyrics for The Charm's Ska version of "Hill 'N Gully Rider". Selected comments from that YouTube sound file's viewer comment thread are also included in that post.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
GENERAL COMMENT ABOUT THIS EXAMPLE
From the editors of Mango Spice - 44 Caribbean Songs
"Hill an gully is a call and response work song which used to be sung by workmen constructing new roads. In its topical way it refers to the uneven and hazardous terrain through which the new road had to be cut. folk song which was sung as a work song (a digging song that was sung while building roads)"
-snip-
Multiple Mento and Ska versions of "Hill And Gully [Rider"} have been sung and recorded for social dancing. It appears to me that many if not all Mento and Ska versions of "Hill And Gully Rider" are dance instruction songs (songs whose lyrics for the most part or entirely consist of directions for dance moves.) Several comments about dancing are found in YouTube video viewer comment thread of The Charm's 1964 version of "Hill 'N Gully Rider". I believe that those same comments could apply to most if not all other Ska & Mento versions of that song. In contrast, the Dancehall Reggae versions of that song (by King Yellowman and Ini Kamoze, for example) are dance songs, but not dance instruction songs.
****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Hill and Gully Ride; Mandeville Road [10 inch] -Lord Composer and his Silver Seas Hotel Orchestra
TheRealDJGIBS, Uploaded on Oct 2, 2011
Digital archive of MRS 78RPM single 31A;
Hill and Gully Ride; Mandeville Road by Lord Composer and His Silver Seas Hotel Orchestra
℗1954 Stanley Motta Ltd.
Style: Jamaican Mento
Composer: Traditional Jamaican Digging Songs
Label: MRS (Motta's Recording Studio)
Matrix No.: SM.117
-snip-
Here's a definition of the word "gully" from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gully
"deep ditch or channel cut in the earth by running water after a prolonged downpour."
**
Lord Composer's 1954 recording of "Hill & Gully Ride" is the first recording of that song.
I believe that the first example of folk lyrics for "Hill And Gully Rider" (and perhaps also the other two examples) given in Part I of this series predate/s Lord Composer's version of this song. And it's very clear that the lyrics found in that first example greatly influenced the lyrics for Lord Composer's song.
In that MRS record, Lord Composer's version of the Jamaican folk song "Hill N Gully Ride" is combined with his version of the Jamaican folk "Mandeville Road" (also known as "Emmanuel Road" and "Go Down Manuel Road"). Click this page of my Cocojams cultural website for several versions of the lyrics to that song: http://www.cocojams.com/content/caribbean-folk-songs.
**
Here's some information about MRS and this recording from http://www.mentomusic.com/1scans.htm
..."Perhaps motivated by a desire to have recordings of local music to sell in his namesake department stores, Stanley Motta's MRS (Motta's Recording Studio) label released at least 70 tracks in the country and dance band styles by a variety of excellent artists on more than fifty 78 RPM singles , a few 45 . Mostly drawing from these, MRS released a five volume series of 10" LPs, called, "MRS - Authentic Jamaican Calypsos", as well as at least three other LPs and at least one "album" of 78 RPM singles.
MRS is the first mento label and the start of Jamaican's recording industry...
Lord Composer and His Silver Seas Hotel Orchestra:
Gal A Gully; Matilda
Hill & Gully Ride; Mandiville Road
This very popular pair of two-song medleys are early mento classics. Found on either side of a MRS 78 RPM single, they collect four Jamaican folk songs, set to the same music. But Composer's choice of material, strong keening vocal and tight instrumentation featuring virtuoso fife solos make these tracks an inexhaustible source of enjoyment. These tracks appeared on several different 1950s mento compilation albums. But, mysteriously, Composer never recorded anything that sounded like these sides. In fact, no one did, and these tracks stand unique in mento. Incidentally, in lieu of authorship, the label describes these folk songs as "Jamaican digging songs".
-snip-
My interpretation of the statement that "But, mysteriously, Composer never recorded anything that sounded like these sides" is that Lord Composer never combined those two pairs of songs together. However, I may be wrong about that interpretation.
****
LYRICS FOR "HILL 'N GULLY RIDE"
(Lord Composer, 1954)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
And if you broke your neck
you gonna to hell.
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
[instrumental]
Oh, ah hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you right see saw oh
And if you broke your neck
you gonna to hell.
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
And then me say you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
Ah then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round
(Hill an' gully)
[instrumental]
-snip-
The song "Mandeville Road begins at 1:44 of that sound file.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from that recording. Italics mean that I'm not certain of those words. Additions and corrections are welcome.
If I'm correct that those words in italics are "And then you right see saw oh", those words may serve as dance instruction to move to your right and dance up and down in imitation of the movement of a see-saw ("See-saws" used to be very widely found playground equipment that has since been removed from playgrounds because they are considered unsafe.)
****
This completes Part II of this series.
Thanks to Lord Composer for his musical legacy. Thanks also to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part II of a three part series on the Jamaican song "Hill And Gully Rider (also given as "Hill 'N Gully Rider"). This post showcases a sound file of and lyrics for Lord Composer's Mento version of "Hill 'N Gully Ride". Information & comments about that song are also included in this post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/hill-and-gully-rider-general.html for Part I of this series.
Part I presents general information about Jamaican music, with special emphasis on Mento and Ska music. Part I also includes general comments about Mento music and three examples of folk lyrics for "Hill And Gully Rider".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-charms-jamaican-ska-hill-and-gully.html for Part III of this series.
Part III showcases a sound file of and lyrics for The Charm's Ska version of "Hill 'N Gully Rider". Selected comments from that YouTube sound file's viewer comment thread are also included in that post.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
GENERAL COMMENT ABOUT THIS EXAMPLE
From the editors of Mango Spice - 44 Caribbean Songs
"Hill an gully is a call and response work song which used to be sung by workmen constructing new roads. In its topical way it refers to the uneven and hazardous terrain through which the new road had to be cut. folk song which was sung as a work song (a digging song that was sung while building roads)"
-snip-
Multiple Mento and Ska versions of "Hill And Gully [Rider"} have been sung and recorded for social dancing. It appears to me that many if not all Mento and Ska versions of "Hill And Gully Rider" are dance instruction songs (songs whose lyrics for the most part or entirely consist of directions for dance moves.) Several comments about dancing are found in YouTube video viewer comment thread of The Charm's 1964 version of "Hill 'N Gully Rider". I believe that those same comments could apply to most if not all other Ska & Mento versions of that song. In contrast, the Dancehall Reggae versions of that song (by King Yellowman and Ini Kamoze, for example) are dance songs, but not dance instruction songs.
****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Hill and Gully Ride; Mandeville Road [10 inch] -Lord Composer and his Silver Seas Hotel Orchestra
TheRealDJGIBS, Uploaded on Oct 2, 2011
Digital archive of MRS 78RPM single 31A;
Hill and Gully Ride; Mandeville Road by Lord Composer and His Silver Seas Hotel Orchestra
℗1954 Stanley Motta Ltd.
Style: Jamaican Mento
Composer: Traditional Jamaican Digging Songs
Label: MRS (Motta's Recording Studio)
Matrix No.: SM.117
-snip-
Here's a definition of the word "gully" from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gully
"deep ditch or channel cut in the earth by running water after a prolonged downpour."
**
Lord Composer's 1954 recording of "Hill & Gully Ride" is the first recording of that song.
I believe that the first example of folk lyrics for "Hill And Gully Rider" (and perhaps also the other two examples) given in Part I of this series predate/s Lord Composer's version of this song. And it's very clear that the lyrics found in that first example greatly influenced the lyrics for Lord Composer's song.
In that MRS record, Lord Composer's version of the Jamaican folk song "Hill N Gully Ride" is combined with his version of the Jamaican folk "Mandeville Road" (also known as "Emmanuel Road" and "Go Down Manuel Road"). Click this page of my Cocojams cultural website for several versions of the lyrics to that song: http://www.cocojams.com/content/caribbean-folk-songs.
**
Here's some information about MRS and this recording from http://www.mentomusic.com/1scans.htm
..."Perhaps motivated by a desire to have recordings of local music to sell in his namesake department stores, Stanley Motta's MRS (Motta's Recording Studio) label released at least 70 tracks in the country and dance band styles by a variety of excellent artists on more than fifty 78 RPM singles , a few 45 . Mostly drawing from these, MRS released a five volume series of 10" LPs, called, "MRS - Authentic Jamaican Calypsos", as well as at least three other LPs and at least one "album" of 78 RPM singles.
MRS is the first mento label and the start of Jamaican's recording industry...
Lord Composer and His Silver Seas Hotel Orchestra:
Gal A Gully; Matilda
Hill & Gully Ride; Mandiville Road
This very popular pair of two-song medleys are early mento classics. Found on either side of a MRS 78 RPM single, they collect four Jamaican folk songs, set to the same music. But Composer's choice of material, strong keening vocal and tight instrumentation featuring virtuoso fife solos make these tracks an inexhaustible source of enjoyment. These tracks appeared on several different 1950s mento compilation albums. But, mysteriously, Composer never recorded anything that sounded like these sides. In fact, no one did, and these tracks stand unique in mento. Incidentally, in lieu of authorship, the label describes these folk songs as "Jamaican digging songs".
-snip-
My interpretation of the statement that "But, mysteriously, Composer never recorded anything that sounded like these sides" is that Lord Composer never combined those two pairs of songs together. However, I may be wrong about that interpretation.
****
LYRICS FOR "HILL 'N GULLY RIDE"
(Lord Composer, 1954)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
And if you broke your neck
you gonna to hell.
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
[instrumental]
Oh, ah hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you right see saw oh
And if you broke your neck
you gonna to hell.
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
And then me say you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
Ah then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round
(Hill an' gully)
[instrumental]
-snip-
The song "Mandeville Road begins at 1:44 of that sound file.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from that recording. Italics mean that I'm not certain of those words. Additions and corrections are welcome.
If I'm correct that those words in italics are "And then you right see saw oh", those words may serve as dance instruction to move to your right and dance up and down in imitation of the movement of a see-saw ("See-saws" used to be very widely found playground equipment that has since been removed from playgrounds because they are considered unsafe.)
****
This completes Part II of this series.
Thanks to Lord Composer for his musical legacy. Thanks also to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go (Sound Files, Lyrics, & Comments)
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision: September 8, 2019
This post showcases a sound file of & lyrics for the original composition of the Jamaican Mento song "The Naughty Little Flea" by Lord Flea (Norman Thomas). This song that is commonly known as "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go". Information about Lord Flea is also included in this post.
This post also showcase a sound file of & lyrics for a Ska version of this song by the Jamaican group "The Maytals". Information about The Maytals is also included in this post.
In addition, this post also includes my comparison of the lyrics to this song as sung by Lord Flea's & The Maytals with the same lyrics to this song that are sung by Harry Belafonte and by Miriam Makeba.
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: The Naughty Little Flea [10 inch] - Lord Flea and His Calypsonians
TheRealDJGIBS,Uploaded on Nov 25, 2011
Digital archive of Capitol 78RPM single 3659A;
The Naughty Little Flea by Lord Flea and His Calypsonians
(c)1956 Capitol Records, Inc.
Style: Jamaican Mento
Composer: Norman Thomas
Label: Capitol
Matrix No.: 21353
-snip-
Here's information about Lord Flea & Mento music from an IMDb Mini Biography that was written by Jon C. Hopwood http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0281360/bio
"The singer/composer Lord Flea, whose performance was the highlight of the 1957 film "Bop Girl Goes Calypso (1957)_, was the leading proponent of the Jamaican music genre "mento", which is a precursor of reggae and ska. Sadly, he died in 1959 at the peak of his popularity, having made mento a cross-over genre globally.
Although mento was marketed as "calypso" (a music genre native to Trinidad) in the U.S., it was quite a distinct genre and thrived until eclipsed by American rhythm and blues (R&B) and the development of reggae in Jamaica. .. Though mento was first recorded in the 1920, it wasn't until the 1950s that the genre began to be recorded in earnest. That decade is the "Golden Age" of mento music, and Lord Flea was its superstar.
Lord Flea was born Norman Thomas in Kingston, Jamaica in 1932. He studied music at the conservatory in Kingston, and became a trained dancer. The 18-year-old Thomas moved to Miami, Florida in 1950, and the following year, he married Catherine Anderson, an American citizen, with whom he had had three children: Katherine, Norman, Jr., and Henry.
His signature hit was "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go?" The title [Lord that] he bestowed on himself was keeping in accordance with calypso custom, whose musicians typically elevated themselves to musical royalty...
Lord Flea died in Miami on May 18, 1959 from Hodgkin's Disease in Jackson Memorial Hospital, after a hospital stay of many months. He was 27 years old...
-snip-
LYRICS: THE NAUGHTY LITTLE FLEA
(Norman Thomas/Lord Flea)
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
There was a naughty little flea
He crawls up on the donkey’s knee
He crawls some here, he crawls some there
He crawls over everywhere
Where does the naughty little flea go
etc.
Where does the naughty little flea go
He flea went up, he flea went down
Upon his face there was a frown
He started up, and then he plan
Upon the dog his body land.
Where does the naughty little flea go...
Then from a little shelter tree
Came that little naughty flea
For he had found a little nest
Where he could get some food and rest.
Where does the naughty little flea go...
He bit him here, he bit him there
He bit him almost everywhere
It was so nice, he wanted more
He had never bit this dog before.
Where does the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
He bit him here, he bit him there
He bit him almost everywhere
As just as he was drawin near
He jump and said “Killroy was here”
Where did the naughty little flea go...
There was a naughty little flea
He crawls up on the donkey’s knee
He crawls some here, he crawls some there
He crawls over everywhere
Where did the naughty little flea go...
Nobody know, nobody know
Nobody know, nobody know
[fade out]
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file. Additions & corrections are welcome.
Notice that the use of the word "does" for "did" in some of the lines, for example "Where does the naughty little flea go".
****
Example #2: The Flames ( Toots and the Maytals) - Little Flea - Island records 136 -1966 Ska
Kingstoned - soundzz, Published on Apr 30, 2009
the flames ( toots and the maytals) - little flea - island records 136 ska ....more ska more toots ...enjoy!!!
-snip-
Here's information from a discussion thread for another YouTube sound file on the Maytals version of "Little Flea" that is no longer available:
"...the Toots and the Maytals version was released on the Prince Buster label in 1966, out of Kingston, Jamaica. I believe it was released in the UK by Island record"
Here's some information about "The Maytals"/"Toots And The Maytals"
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toots_and_the_Maytals
"Toots and the Maytals, originally called simply The Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group and one of the best known ska and rock steady vocal groups. According to Sandra Brennan at Allmusic, "The Maytals were key figures in reggae music. Formed in the early 1960s when ska was hot, the Maytals had a reputation for having strong, well-blended voices and a seldom-rivaled passion for their music. Frontman [Toots] Hibbert's soulful style led him to be compared to Otis Redding...
Toots & the Maytals hold the current record of number one hits in Jamaica, with a total of thirty-one."
-snip-
LYRICS: THE LITTLE FLEA
(C. Campbell)*
[Introductory lines]
Nobody know, nobody know
Nobody know, nobody know
[Chorus]
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
There was a naughty little flea
(Nobody know, nobody know)
Went down to town, someone to see
(Nobody know, nobody know)
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
[instrumental]
Nobody knows, nobody know
[instrumental]
The flea went up, and the flea went down.
(Nobody know, nobody know)
Upon his face there was a frown
(Where did he go, nobody know)
For he have found a little nest
(Where did he go, nobody know)
Just where he could get some food and rest
(Where did he go, nobody know)
I said, Where did the naughty little flea go
Where did he go, nobody know
Where did the naughty little flea go
Where did he go, nobody know
Where did he go, nobody know
[fade out]
-snip-
*This is the composer's name that is given on that record
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file. Italics mean that I'm uncertain about this transcription. Additions & corrections are welcome.
****
COMPARISON OF THE VERSIONS GIVEN ABOVE WITH THE LYRICS SUNG BY HARRY BELAFONTE & MIRIAM MAKEBA
The title that is most commonly used for "Naughty Little Flea" song, "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go", comes from the chorus' first line. However, the title its composer Lord Flea used was "Naughty Little Flea" and the title for that song which The Maytals used was "Little Flea".
With the exception of this pancocojams blog, to date, it appears that all the lyrics for "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go" that are available online are for the version of this song that is sung by Miriam Makeba & Harry Belafonte. An example of Harry Belafonte's performance of "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go" doesn't appear to be on YouTube.
An example of Miriam Makeba's version of this song can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp4-XOJmh-4. There's a lot of online websites that give the lyrics to "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go" as sung by Miriam Makeba. I'm not sure why her version is so popular online. In my opinion, that version is quite bland and lacks any authenticity. Miriam Makeba appears to have directed this song to a different audience than many of her other records.
Lord Flea's Mento version & The Maytals' Ska version of this song uses simplified lyrics that focus on the actions of a flea-flying, crawling, biting, "searching for someplace he could find some food and rest". In contrast, the Belafonte/Makeba lyrics include more verbiage. Those "naughty little flea" lyrics take much of the focus off of the flea, and instead provide funny, witty social commentary about certain aspects of Western (American/Western European) culture. For example, from http://www.lyricstime.com/miriam-makeba-the-naughty-little-flea-lyrics.html
He saw a lady round and fat
He smiled a smile and tipped his hat
He said oh yes I’m goin’ have a ball
Man look at all that cholesterol...
The naughty flea went to the zoo
Saw a skunk and bit him too
He bit him in the usual place
And said Holy Macro what a taste
Sum up friends well can you see
The big advantage of being a flea
Just remember what ever you do
That what you bite is what you chew
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the musical legacy of Lord Flea & The Calypsonians and The Maytals.
Thanks to the composers of this song & the musicians who performed on these featured sound files. Thanks also to the uploaders of these featured sound files.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
Latest revision: September 8, 2019
This post showcases a sound file of & lyrics for the original composition of the Jamaican Mento song "The Naughty Little Flea" by Lord Flea (Norman Thomas). This song that is commonly known as "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go". Information about Lord Flea is also included in this post.
This post also showcase a sound file of & lyrics for a Ska version of this song by the Jamaican group "The Maytals". Information about The Maytals is also included in this post.
In addition, this post also includes my comparison of the lyrics to this song as sung by Lord Flea's & The Maytals with the same lyrics to this song that are sung by Harry Belafonte and by Miriam Makeba.
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
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FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: The Naughty Little Flea [10 inch] - Lord Flea and His Calypsonians
TheRealDJGIBS,Uploaded on Nov 25, 2011
Digital archive of Capitol 78RPM single 3659A;
The Naughty Little Flea by Lord Flea and His Calypsonians
(c)1956 Capitol Records, Inc.
Style: Jamaican Mento
Composer: Norman Thomas
Label: Capitol
Matrix No.: 21353
-snip-
Here's information about Lord Flea & Mento music from an IMDb Mini Biography that was written by Jon C. Hopwood http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0281360/bio
"The singer/composer Lord Flea, whose performance was the highlight of the 1957 film "Bop Girl Goes Calypso (1957)_, was the leading proponent of the Jamaican music genre "mento", which is a precursor of reggae and ska. Sadly, he died in 1959 at the peak of his popularity, having made mento a cross-over genre globally.
Although mento was marketed as "calypso" (a music genre native to Trinidad) in the U.S., it was quite a distinct genre and thrived until eclipsed by American rhythm and blues (R&B) and the development of reggae in Jamaica. .. Though mento was first recorded in the 1920, it wasn't until the 1950s that the genre began to be recorded in earnest. That decade is the "Golden Age" of mento music, and Lord Flea was its superstar.
Lord Flea was born Norman Thomas in Kingston, Jamaica in 1932. He studied music at the conservatory in Kingston, and became a trained dancer. The 18-year-old Thomas moved to Miami, Florida in 1950, and the following year, he married Catherine Anderson, an American citizen, with whom he had had three children: Katherine, Norman, Jr., and Henry.
His signature hit was "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go?" The title [Lord that] he bestowed on himself was keeping in accordance with calypso custom, whose musicians typically elevated themselves to musical royalty...
Lord Flea died in Miami on May 18, 1959 from Hodgkin's Disease in Jackson Memorial Hospital, after a hospital stay of many months. He was 27 years old...
-snip-
LYRICS: THE NAUGHTY LITTLE FLEA
(Norman Thomas/Lord Flea)
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
There was a naughty little flea
He crawls up on the donkey’s knee
He crawls some here, he crawls some there
He crawls over everywhere
Where does the naughty little flea go
etc.
Where does the naughty little flea go
He flea went up, he flea went down
Upon his face there was a frown
He started up, and then he plan
Upon the dog his body land.
Where does the naughty little flea go...
Then from a little shelter tree
Came that little naughty flea
For he had found a little nest
Where he could get some food and rest.
Where does the naughty little flea go...
He bit him here, he bit him there
He bit him almost everywhere
It was so nice, he wanted more
He had never bit this dog before.
Where does the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
He bit him here, he bit him there
He bit him almost everywhere
As just as he was drawin near
He jump and said “Killroy was here”
Where did the naughty little flea go...
There was a naughty little flea
He crawls up on the donkey’s knee
He crawls some here, he crawls some there
He crawls over everywhere
Where did the naughty little flea go...
Nobody know, nobody know
Nobody know, nobody know
[fade out]
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file. Additions & corrections are welcome.
Notice that the use of the word "does" for "did" in some of the lines, for example "Where does the naughty little flea go".
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Example #2: The Flames ( Toots and the Maytals) - Little Flea - Island records 136 -1966 Ska
Kingstoned - soundzz, Published on Apr 30, 2009
the flames ( toots and the maytals) - little flea - island records 136 ska ....more ska more toots ...enjoy!!!
-snip-
Here's information from a discussion thread for another YouTube sound file on the Maytals version of "Little Flea" that is no longer available:
"...the Toots and the Maytals version was released on the Prince Buster label in 1966, out of Kingston, Jamaica. I believe it was released in the UK by Island record"
Here's some information about "The Maytals"/"Toots And The Maytals"
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toots_and_the_Maytals
"Toots and the Maytals, originally called simply The Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group and one of the best known ska and rock steady vocal groups. According to Sandra Brennan at Allmusic, "The Maytals were key figures in reggae music. Formed in the early 1960s when ska was hot, the Maytals had a reputation for having strong, well-blended voices and a seldom-rivaled passion for their music. Frontman [Toots] Hibbert's soulful style led him to be compared to Otis Redding...
Toots & the Maytals hold the current record of number one hits in Jamaica, with a total of thirty-one."
-snip-
LYRICS: THE LITTLE FLEA
(C. Campbell)*
[Introductory lines]
Nobody know, nobody know
Nobody know, nobody know
[Chorus]
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
There was a naughty little flea
(Nobody know, nobody know)
Went down to town, someone to see
(Nobody know, nobody know)
Where did the naughty little flea go
Nobody know, nobody know
[instrumental]
Nobody knows, nobody know
[instrumental]
The flea went up, and the flea went down.
(Nobody know, nobody know)
Upon his face there was a frown
(Where did he go, nobody know)
For he have found a little nest
(Where did he go, nobody know)
Just where he could get some food and rest
(Where did he go, nobody know)
I said, Where did the naughty little flea go
Where did he go, nobody know
Where did the naughty little flea go
Where did he go, nobody know
Where did he go, nobody know
[fade out]
-snip-
*This is the composer's name that is given on that record
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file. Italics mean that I'm uncertain about this transcription. Additions & corrections are welcome.
****
COMPARISON OF THE VERSIONS GIVEN ABOVE WITH THE LYRICS SUNG BY HARRY BELAFONTE & MIRIAM MAKEBA
The title that is most commonly used for "Naughty Little Flea" song, "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go", comes from the chorus' first line. However, the title its composer Lord Flea used was "Naughty Little Flea" and the title for that song which The Maytals used was "Little Flea".
With the exception of this pancocojams blog, to date, it appears that all the lyrics for "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go" that are available online are for the version of this song that is sung by Miriam Makeba & Harry Belafonte. An example of Harry Belafonte's performance of "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go" doesn't appear to be on YouTube.
An example of Miriam Makeba's version of this song can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp4-XOJmh-4. There's a lot of online websites that give the lyrics to "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go" as sung by Miriam Makeba. I'm not sure why her version is so popular online. In my opinion, that version is quite bland and lacks any authenticity. Miriam Makeba appears to have directed this song to a different audience than many of her other records.
Lord Flea's Mento version & The Maytals' Ska version of this song uses simplified lyrics that focus on the actions of a flea-flying, crawling, biting, "searching for someplace he could find some food and rest". In contrast, the Belafonte/Makeba lyrics include more verbiage. Those "naughty little flea" lyrics take much of the focus off of the flea, and instead provide funny, witty social commentary about certain aspects of Western (American/Western European) culture. For example, from http://www.lyricstime.com/miriam-makeba-the-naughty-little-flea-lyrics.html
He saw a lady round and fat
He smiled a smile and tipped his hat
He said oh yes I’m goin’ have a ball
Man look at all that cholesterol...
The naughty flea went to the zoo
Saw a skunk and bit him too
He bit him in the usual place
And said Holy Macro what a taste
Sum up friends well can you see
The big advantage of being a flea
Just remember what ever you do
That what you bite is what you chew
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the musical legacy of Lord Flea & The Calypsonians and The Maytals.
Thanks to the composers of this song & the musicians who performed on these featured sound files. Thanks also to the uploaders of these featured sound files.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
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