Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MUSIC
The Virgin Islands have a rich musical heritage rooted in West African folk music and drum-
ming, and tinged with colonial influences from England, Ireland, Spain, France, Denmark
and Holland.
Reggae and calypso are the two types of music heard most often. Their catchy tunes blast
from vehicles and emanate from shops, restaurants and beach bars. Quelbe and fungi (pro-
nounced
foon
-ghee, like the island food) are two types of Virgin Island folk music.
The best time to hear local bands is during major festivals like carnival on St Thomas and
St John, the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival and St Croix's quarterly 'jump up' street parties,
to name just a few.
Best Fests for Island Music
» St Thomas Carnival
» St John Carnival
» BVI Emancipation Festival (Tortola)
» VI Fungi Fest (Tortola)
» Cruzan Christmas Fiesta
Calypso
This music originated in Trinidad in the 18th century as satirical songs sung in a French
patois by slaves working the plantations. Many of the songs mirrored slaves' discontent and
mocked their colonial masters, while other songs were competitions in which two singers
tried to top each other's insults. Lyrics were generally ad-libbed. Contemporary calypso is
almost always sung in English and composed and rehearsed in advance. The most popu-
lar songs contain biting social commentary, political satire or sexual innuendo, laden with
double entendres and local nuances. In most cases, the melodies and rhythms of the songs
are well established. Mainly the lyrics change from song to song.
Calypso and carnival have been linked for well over 100 years in Trinidad, and that link
is equally strong in the Virgin Islands, where festivals always feature a contest for the 'King
of Calypso.' Among the classic calypsonians popular throughout the islands are the Mighty
Sparrow, Shadow and David Rudder, who are all from Trinidad. Foxy Callwood of Jost Van
Dyke is the BVI's legendary 'calypso mon.'
