Trini Thursday Soca Music that Shaped the Early Years of My Life

Trini Thursday Music that Soca Shaped the Early Years of My Life

Earlier this week my brother tagged me in a post on Facebook and I was immediately taken back to my life in Trinidad. This time it was on a soca music video for one of our favorite songs as kids. My siblings and I usually tag each other on posts about food and fruits we grew up with all the time. The video loaded, the intro started and then the words easily belted out my mouth. I couldn’t believe I remembered any of the words but to my surprise, I remembered most of them.

I don’t have many photos of myself or my family from when we lived in Trinidad. I also realize that I don’t share much about my time as a child growing up there except for a few recipes like my popular Curry Chicken and Coconut Roll recipes. Since seeing that music video I wanted to share some of the music that I grew up with as a child. Songs that I know all the words for off the top of my head. The ones that still make me dance and sing and remember what it was like growing up there.

Chutney Bacchanal by Chris Garcia

Soca Baptist by Super Blue

One of my favorite soca music artist of all time is Super Blue. I remember my father playing his songs all through the house when we were kids. One of my all time favorites from Super Blue is “Get Someting And Wave.” For years his music was the soundtrack to my life.

https://youtu.be/Eb5G2BhYHBQ

Honestly, the videos I share don’t do this music justice. You have to hear it live and see it for yourself. It’s intoxicating on so many levels.

Dollar Wine by Byron Lee

When I was a little girl I was in a dance group. We did African, Indian, and Caribbean dance. My first solo was a part of a Carnival showcase to the song Dollar Wine. I was one of the dollar bills because I could wine my waist off.

Hot, Hot, Hot by Arrow

You’ve probably heard this song before because of its crossover success. It’s another classic that ruled over my younger years.

Sugar Bum-Bum by Lord Kitchener

Lord Kitchener falls into the Calypso genre of music, and by the time I was born he was most popular with my parents’ generation and older, but as an adult, I do appreciate his music more than I could as a child.

Compilation – Mighty Sparrow

I’m adding the songs from Sparrow because just like Lord Kitchener he’s a legend according to my mom. I couldn’t make a list without one of her favorite artists.

GhettoFlex & Denise Belfon – Wine Bend Over

I wanted to add a song from Denise Belfon because she’s known for her provocative lyrics and her waist. This woman can wine her ass off and she makes music to make people dance and have a great time.

https://youtu.be/qJ8fbAMMjiM

Denise’s most recent song she dubbed herself the Wining Queen. You can clearing see from the video she does it well. I’m always excited when artists I know from my childhood still create music and songs for us to enjoy.

Destra Garcia – Call My Name

https://youtu.be/QKl1nKTnMbE

Destra is a new artist to me, I wasn’t living in Trinidad when she started making music, but I’ve heard great things about her. I love all the songs I’ve heard from her and she definitely should be on any Soca Music playlist.

Machel Montano

There’s no soca music list that doesn’t mention Machel Montano, and if you find out I would question their taste in the music. Machel has been making music since he was a young child and he’s been creating fans just as long. He made history when he sold out Madison Square Garden a few years ago, being the only Caribbean artist to do so at the time.

Big Truck is one of my favorite songs from Machel Montano. I remember playing this song for months after he was released back in the day. It’s still a great song today and I’m sure it could still win awards during Carnival even though it’s 20 years old.

Who’s your favorite Soca or Calypso artist? Who would you add to the list? If this is your first time hearing this music, which was your favorite?