Search the Fresh Air Archive

Close Search

Carnival Music from Trinidad and Tobago

World music critic Milo Miles says that some of the first recorded black music in the United States was calypso, despite the fact that that the style originated in the Caribbean. Calypso, most often performed during Carnival, was known for being extremely topical -- performers were expected to improvise songs on the spot about current events.

06:56
Queue

Contributor

Related Topic

Other segments from the episode on July 27, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 27, 1990: Interview with Nicholas Cage; Commentary on calypso music; Interview with Bruno Kirby; Review of the home video release of the film "Harvey."
Queue
24:29

Film Actor Nicholas Cage on "Wild at Heart"

Cage stars in the upcoming David Lynch movie. The actor says he enjoyed Wild at Heart's dreamlike atmosphere, which allowed him to push the boundaries of his performance. He joins Fresh Air to discuss some of his earlier work, and the extremes he's gone to capture a character. Cage is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola; he changed his name to distinguish himself from his famous family.

Interview
Queue
11:25

Film Actor Bruno Kirby

Kirby has had prominent roles in films like Good Morning, America, The Godfather II, and When Harry Met Sally. He stars in a new, mob-themed comedy called The Freshman. His father is fellow movie actor Bruce Kirby.

Interview

Transcript

Transcript currently not available.

Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

You May Also like

Queue
06:55

Calypso's Evolution into Soca

World music critic Milo Miles returns to Fresh Air to discuss another popular genre from Trinidad and Tobago, called soca, which brought a faster, more danceable feel to calypso.

Commentary
Queue
51:48

Crossing Borders with Neil Bissoondath

The new novelist's book, The Casual Brutality, deals with a man from Trinidad who moves to Canada -- a narrative inspired by Bissoondath's own life. The writer is descended from Indian immigrants, and is the nephew of fellow author V.S. Naipaul.

Interview
Queue
23:22

A West Indian Poet Navigates Culture and Language

Caribbean writer Derek Walcott divides his time between Trinidad and Boston. While his work often focuses on his West Indian identity; Walcott writes in English--the language of the colonizers who suppressed and diluted is country's indigenous culture.

Interview

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

Learn How
Advertisement

Recently on Fresh Air Available to Play on NPR

52:30

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

43:04

This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

08:26

This Romanian film about immigration and vanishing jobs hits close to home

R.M.N. is based on an actual 2020 event in Ditrău, Romania, where 1,800 villagers voted to expel three Sri Lankans who worked at their local bakery.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

See All Recent Segments

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

Let us help you find exactly what you want to hear.
Just play me something
Your Queue

Would you like to make a playlist based on your queue?

Generate & Share View/Edit Your Queue