The recent death of the gifted Jamaican-American singer Harry Belafonte at the age of 96 inevitably sparked memories of when his biggest hit "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" swept the globe, including Britain.
It was 1957 and I recall on the bus to school along with other children trying to sing the tricky but very catchy "Day-O" bits from the song and totally wrecking it in the process. It's scary to think that was more than 60 years ago.
I vaguely recall seeing Belafonte on black and white television singing the song with people in the studio dancing around rather sad-looking fake banana palms. I admit to not fully understanding the lyrics at the time and had no idea what a "tally man" was.
It is definitely an iconic song and I wouldn't mind betting most readers have tried to sing bits of it, possibly after a few drinks. Apparently American baseball fans who get impatient when a game drags on into extra innings remind the players with the song's refrain "daylight come and me wanna go home".
Many people will associate the song with that memorable scene in Michael Keaton's bizarre film Beetlejuice when the cast suddenly start dancing around the table singing "Day- O". You can see it on YouTube and it's quite a fun scene.
Indeed, "The Banana Boat Song" is a wonderful sing-along number and if you happen to be sitting at a breakfast table this morning what better way to start the day than with a quick burst of "Day-O, Day-O" although it might possibly frighten the children.
Have a banana
The Belafonte song was so popular in Britain it helped boost the sales of bananas. Bananas had first become popular at the turn of the 20th century thanks to a vigorous campaign by chief importers Elders and Fyffes. The catchphrase "have a banana" became a household favourite.
One of the most popular songs during that era was "Let's All Go Down the Strand" and for some reason at the end of the first line people would sing "have a banana" even though it wasn't in the lyrics. Elders and Fyffes naturally encouraged the playing of the song as it was a free advertisement for their product.
The company was also delighted when the song "Yes We Have No Bananas" became a big hit in the early 1920s. Fyffes latched on to it by setting up posters at fruit outlets announcing "Yes! We Have No Bananas On Sale Here."
Beating the heat
It was Oscar Wilde who commented "conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative". He had a point but that puts me high up in the dullness department as I can't recall having a conversation in recent weeks without a reference to the heat. It has definitely been "a bit on the warms side" or as they would say in Sheffield, "intitot?" while the Sun newspaper might prefer "Phew, what a scorcher!". Tak provincial town even recorded a record 45.4C last month.
I have to admit the humidity and heat have made me become increasingly lethargic, sluggish and slothful of late. The odd rain shower temporarily cooled things down a bit and gave me an all too brief injection of energy before returning to the more familiar state of inertia. Not to worry, it's all good training for being transferred to an inactive post.
Long march
Speaking of the heat, while most of us are probably relaxing at home this Sunday morning spare a thought for James Valentine who is sweating it out in the middle of an exhausting 1,000km charity walk from Pattaya to Phuket.
The Englishman, 59, is raising money for the "Take Care Kids" organisation which has performed invaluable work in protecting abused orphans and young women. With the debilitating heat at this time of the year it is a real endurance test for Valentine. A member of the Pattaya Hash House Harriers and known by the nickname "Wild Wolf", Valentine is hoping to raise 1 million baht.
He set off from Pattaya on April 20 and today was expected to be approaching Hua Hin. As he perspires his way down Highway 4 he keeps his spirits up by singing along to his favourite pop music. However, I don't know how he shuts out all those vehicles hurtling past on the highway.
The walk can be followed daily on the Facebook group Take Care Kids Walk. Donations can be made through the Take Care Kids Thailand Foundation account 584-2-05272-8 at the Kasikorn Bank.
Short stroll
Frankly I wouldn't last 1 kilometre walking in this tropical heat. But "Wild Wolf's" admirable trek prompted memories of the longest walk in which I participated back in England when I was 15 … and it wasn't very long.
In sharp contrast to what "Wild Wolf" is experiencing it was a leisurely spring stroll in the countryside from Reading to Henley-on-Thames and back. I was in the Boy's Brigade and one of the requirements to earn a "wayfarer's badge" was to walk 20 miles (32km).
Hardly a gruelling trek and we actually took a scenic cross-country route so probably walked more like 40km. Very pleasant it was too, keeping off main roads and walking through the charming Chiltern foothills and woods full of bluebells.
I still suffered a few blisters though.
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