i crowdsourced the list below in response to Georgia Popplewell’s assertion that soca artists would
While she may have been speaking specifically of this year’s carnival tunes, there’s still a perception that soca artists don’t sing about love. Caribbean music man, Stefan Walcott, had this to say:
Well there are not many due to a space and function of the music. How many Bajan folk songs speak about snow?
Janine Mendes-Franco produced her own list of carnival love songs but it was too short a list.
Below is what my amazing facebook friends were able to come up with (thanks to Patrice & Kerryann who has an encyclopedic knowledge of soca).
Passion by Militant
All Is Yours by Onika Bostic
Dance With You by Machel and Mr. Vegas
Always Be by Patrice Roberts featuring Zan
Only You by Krosfyah featuring Tony Bailey
All Night Long by Donella Weekes
My Girl by Lil Rick
Kerryann also pointed me to other songs not available on youtube: Sweetest Thing by Coppa Dan, Sugary by Keann, Only You by Omar McQuilkin of Electrik.
The ways in which love and romance are scripted can often appear contrary to feminist ideals. I had to exclude one of the suggestions due to its homophobic lyrics. So after you’ve grooved to this playlist you may also want to check out Creative Commess’ feminist soca playlist which got a well-deserved shout out on Global Voices.
Caribbean music is all-occasions music. Enjoy!
Feminist Conversations on Caribbean Life 