(2002-10-12) — Harry Belafonte, the performer whose string of solid-gold hit songs has spanned five decades, called Secretary of State Colin Powell “a tragic failure” yesterday.
Belafonte, who popularized the Calypso sound that has dominated American culture like no other style, said he meant no offense when he referred to General Powell as a “house slave” on George Bush’s plantation.
“However,” Belafonte said, “speaking on behalf of so many African American citizens, I have found Colin Powell to be a tragic failure.”
Belafonte’s first hit, Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) was followed by a string of dozens of chart toppers like She Loves Me Day-O-O, Lucy in the Sky with Bananas, Don’t Rock the Banana Boat, Day by Day-O, I Heard it Through the Banana Vine, Lady Banana, and many more.
The Secretary of State, who like Mr. Belafonte is of Jamaican descent, said, “Who can argue with Harry’s success? Compared with him, I am a tragic failure. I have spent my career comparing myself to him, and have resigned myself to life in Harry’s shadow.”

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