According to Wikipedia, fado (Portuguese: destiny, fate) is a music genre which can be traced from the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor. However, in reality fado is simply a form of song which can be about anything, but must follow a certain structure. The music is usually linked to the Portuguese word saudade which means to miss or to long for someone or something. Angus is feeling a little saudade. A little dose of calypso is probably just the thing to cheer him up.
Hamish said what a shame we no longer have any of Dad's collection of calypso recordings (all sadly destroyed in the Ash Wednesday bushfires). So I checked out Readings' world music section. Only one calypso cd. Dad would be appalled. No Fabulous McClevertys. No Calipso Carnivale. Not even any Harry Belafonte. Disappointing. However Legends of Calypso does have some old favourites, such as Harold "Digby" McNair's Zombie Jamboree, Calypso Mama's risque Don't Touch Me Tomato, Andre Toussaint's Yellow Bird, and this recording of Mighty Panther singing Barbedos Carnival. I think Dad would have approved.
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