Noel’s name will last as long as Calypso is there
Noel Ranasinghe with his banjo
The founder of Calypso, a rare genre of Sri Lankan music, Noel Brian Ranasinghe bid
farewell to music six years ago on June 5. Though he is gone, the golden music he created along with his iconic hits and more than anything else his innovative music style ‘Calypso’ with Batik sarong, shirt and reed hat will last for years to come.
Noel played a major role in shaping and forming one of the foundation music styles for Sri
Lankan pop music with his brainchild ‘La Ceylonians’ musical band. The band even won
international recognition for their unmatchable music with guitar, banjo and congo drum, a
tradition that continues even today. His style of music caught on like wild fire and won many fans. His evergreen songs ‘Hoiya Hooiya’, ‘Tharuna Jeewithe Ape’ , ‘Malee Ruwanmalee’, ‘Isle of Paradise’, ‘Vinoda Gamana’, ‘Kandy Perahera’ and many more which he wrote, composed music and sang will live in the hearts of Sri Lankan music lovers.
However Noel’s journey was not easy as his novel music with simple and humble outfit of sarong and hats were laughed at. But he proved that his music was far excellent and even could out do international standards when he reached the final five bands at the World Music festival in Japan in 1976.
A Christian by religion, English was the language he used more often. But it seemed he was much influenced by Buddhism which his wife Sriyani Mangalika followed. Noel was a true patriot and a true son of Sri Lanka and made almost all his songs to promote his motherland, its beauty, culture, tradition and even Sri Lankan cricket. Full of love for the country, Noel did a separate collection of songs titled ‘Sri Lankan Isle of Paradise’ to promote Sri Lanka’s culture, tradition and heritage.
Won the popular title as the ‘King of Calypso’ in honour of Noel’s contribution to the music and the country, he was bestowed with a state honorary award ‘Kalabushana’ by the
Cultural Ministry. Pleased by the honour received Noel had said “I am glad that finally the state has recognised what I have gifted to this country, a style of music that could not be found anywhere in the world,”.
La Ceylonians at the world popular song festival welcome party, November 1976 in Tokyo, Japan.
Die hard warrior for the rights, Noel had to fight many a battle to protect his creations against the vultures in the music industry that preyed on innocent musicians like he himself. Not only did he fight but he also encouraged other artistes to stand up for their precious creations and not to allow them to be misused. The battle helped him to win his rights internationally and he is one of handful of those Sri Lankan musicians who was a member of the British Performing Rights Society and received royalties.
Though a fighter for the rights, Noel had a golden heart that melted at the presence of pain and sorrow. Towards the last decades of his musical career, part of his evergreen song ‘Tharuna Jeewithe ape’ was used for an advertisement to promote the National Savings Bank. This was without any permission from him. Following complaints by a number of his close friends, Noel resorted to fight for the copyrights. But soon a young man from an advertising agency came to his home and started begging to ‘solve’ the issue as it would affect his job. Noel gave up the fight and when asked why he did so, his reply was, “I was feeling sorry for that young chap and his job,”.
Noel strongly believed in the true unplugged music that is not adulterated by electric gadgets and sound equipments. In his own words he spoke about this issue. “It’s time – musicians decide whether to be real, do it the real live way, or, be the slaves of machines. I love my music, and will always strive hard to keep it up – until I am carried away in a box”.