It's getting me excited that summer is just around the corner. I know we're predicted frost soon, but in good faith I have been getting out some of my favourite summertime artists to listen to.
One of the best is Harry Belafonte. Nothing screams summer like one of his albums (except the Christmas ones - although even they have a somewhat tropical feel....).
The first time I heard Harry Belafonte was in his song 'Jump In The Line' for the movie 'Beetlejuice' and it's still one of my favourite songs. Me and the kids dance around the kitchen to it A LOT. Apparently he is best known for the Banana Boat song though.
Although Harry was a brilliant singer, song writer and actor, perhaps one of the most significant parts of his career is that he has been a social activist fighting for civil rights and humanitarian causes since his rise to popularity in the 1950s. In fact, Belafonte was one of Martin Luther King Jrs friends and confidants - raising thousands of dollars in concerts to bail him and others out of prison on numerous occasions.
Despite being a massively interesting guy, politically and socially, he is also responsible for bringing Caribbean style music to US popularity.
This is one of our family favourites - The Coconut Women. It's a fun song, especially the tonuge in cheek parts about drinking rum making you 'dance like a gypsy'. My kids love it and we always end up dancing and giggling when we listen.
Hope you enjoy it in preparations for summer.
Posts
