Harry Belafonte, Day-O (Banana Boat Song) | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 92^nd edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)” by Harry Belafonte.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 92^nd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)”, performed by 🎙 Harry Belafonte.

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“Day-o, day-ay-ay-o / Daylight come and me wan’ go home.” In 2023, the world lost a legend in 🎙 Harry Belafonte. The 🏆 Grammy-winner was a tremendous talent: singer, actor, and activist.  He was best known for his 1956 pop hit, 🎵 “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” (sometimes referred to as “Banana Boat”).  Even though Belafonte landed a hit with “Day-O” as the opener on his album, 💿 Calypso, the song is a traditional Jamaican folk song, performed in Jamaican patois. Furthermore, it is in call and response form (“Work all night on a drink a rum / (Daylight come and me wan’ go home)”).  The first time you hear “Banana Boat,” it is infectious as albeit.

“Banana Boat” commences with a dramatic performance by Belafonte, emphasizing the “Day-o” in a slow tempo. His tone and powerful pipes stand out to say the least. Soon enough, the calypso percussion kicks in in all its glory.  He leads the charge as the leader (the call), while the chorus masterfully responds with signature Daylight come and me wan’ go home lyrics.  Perhaps the most memorable moment besides dramatic opening and closing moments by Harry is the verse, “Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot, bunch.” Memorably,  🏆 Grammy winning rapper 🎙 Lil Wayne samples this portion for his own hit, 🎵 “6 Foot 7 Foot”.  What more is there to say about 🎵 “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” – the music speaks for itself.

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🎙 Harry Belafonte • 💿 Calypso • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1956

Harry Belafonte, “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 92 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]