March, 1957, this Harry Belafonte hit made # 11 on the Billboard Charts. D-Js in Chicagoland were playing it continuously, not surprisingly. I wonder what the result would be today: Deep concern? Seething demonstrations? Upheaval and rioting? I don't think the song title is shown; "Mama Look at Bu Bu". Frank
@Patsy Faye He is using a slang derogatory phrase referring to folks of color, implying they are ugly. It was all in fun, then...... Frank
Back then as well now one rule seems to stick for people of color...those of color can say (or sing) anything they want about their color, etc. but those outside of that color...can't! I don't want anyone to think I am saying the above in a derogatory way because I'm not. When my husband worked at Valero's when we first moved back to Louisiana he had a lot of guys of color come in the store all the time...and they are the one who told him this was the rule.
Harry Belafonte has always been one of my favorite singers, too, although I prefer the ballads to the calypso songs. My favorites are Scarlet Ribbons, and Green Grow the Lilacs. Here is the words to the song that @Frank Sanoica posted. It is supposed to be a funny song about a man grumbling to his wife because their kids are disrespectful to their father. http://www.songlyrics.com/harry-belafonte/mama-look-at-bubu-lyrics/
@Yvonne Smith Finally, I got to understand all the words! Thank you! Even back when it was popular, (and I could still hear!), parts of it escaped me. Frank
I think that goes for a 'lot' of things Babs - a Mother can say her child is behaving badly, a relative dare not A wife can say her Husband is mean, a relative dare not - nothing unusual there ...............
Thanks so much Yvonne - the Jamaicans are known for putting their daily life into songs - FAB ! Scarlet Ribbons - so beautiful (cry)
Every so often, this particular song pops into my mind. I brought it up quite a long time ago, and newcomers might find it, er.....interesting. Today, PC-ers would lash out, maybe a riot or two might ensue, certainly litigation would begin rampantly. The song is Calypso, a Black man admonishing his kids for addressing him as "Boo-boo" (in Chicago, the term meant a Black person, disparagingly). It played very often when popular, disc jockeys not holding back. The record charted at #11 on the Billboard Top 40! March, 1957. Whaddaya think? (Forgive me if I mis-spelled Belafonte. Cannot change title, or know not how)
Belafonte was no stranger to controversy, this duet with Petula Clark in 1968 was considered controversial because of the lyrics and close physical contact between a black man and a white woman. IMO these things get the silent majority talking and help to break down barriers thrown up by the more vocal minority.
Harry Belafonte has always been one of my favorite singers, although I didn’t care for all of his songs, mostly just the ballads. Jamaica Farewell was probably the first one I remember, as well as the Banana Boat Song, which was one that I didn’t care for. Then came Scarlet Ribbons, which I really liked, and Turn Around, which I used to sing to Robin when she was a little girl. Back in the old days, I used to have at least one of his albums, and now just listen on Spotify. This is a very sad song, but it is my very favorite Belafonte song of all.