Calypso is a style of music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean during the early 1900s. Calypso songs feature catchy rhythms, clever wordplay, and lyrics that often comment on current events, social issues, or everyday life with humor and wit. The music typically uses steel drums, guitars, and other percussion instruments to create an upbeat, danceable sound.

Calypso grew out of the traditions of enslaved Africans, who used music to communicate news and share stories when they weren't allowed to speak freely. Over time, it evolved into a vibrant musical style that spread throughout the Caribbean and eventually around the world. Famous calypso musicians like Harry Belafonte helped introduce the music to American audiences in the 1950s with songs like “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song).”

The word Calypso can also refer to a nymph in Greek mythology. In Homer's Odyssey, Calypso is a beautiful nymph who lives alone on an island and keeps the hero Odysseus there for seven years, preventing him from returning home to his family.