Caribbean festivals (including Crop Over) are propelled by spirits with the biggest fuel being rum.
Over the years many artists have dedicated songs to this deity. Here are 10 of the best:
10.
Chutney Soca is possibly the rum genre of the Caribbean. This one by Ravi B from 2010 also manages to include the marriage scenario, another common theme. One of my favourite songs period.
9.
Contone was a part-time singer and full-time car washer from Barbados. Through the years he has scored some massive hits at Crop Over with his rum lyrics. This Bashment Soca number, “I Like Drinking Rum,” is fairly direct. You also get a two for one in this video as he throws in, “Fire in the Hole” (Live I may add).
8.
The first of our Christmas rum songs is sung by Barbadian DaCosta Allamby speaking of how important it is to consume rum in large quantities. *Warning, drinking a gallon of rum is never advised.
7.
Lord Kitchener, another artist from the Trinidad carnival canon, is not to be left out. This one is another Christmas song and rum classic. The name speaks for itself.
6.
This song from 2014 comes from the biggest soca artist from St. Lucia, Ricky “One to Dem” T. As it is new, it does not have the legacy of the others on this list. However, this is still a ‘big tune’ from the Helen of the West.
5.
The Mighty Sparrow is one of the most prolific artists in Calypso and Soca. This one is a favourite among the mature crowd throughout the English-speaking Caribbean and speaks to being drunk and disorderly. It won the Road March in 1972, showing that unruly behaviour fuelled by alcohol has always been part of carnival.
4.
USVI Soca has one of the most fascinating soca sub-genre scenes. This riddim is just called Rum and Rave.
3.
To back up my point about Chutney’s relationship with rum, here is another one by Adesh Samaroo where he confirms his “undying” relationship with it.
2.
Gorg is known as the drinks boss in Barbados and this song from 2014 is but one in his catalogue. Borrowing from the Chutney approach, Gorg uses the rum-troubled-relationship theme.
1.
Machel Montano is another massively popular Trinidadian artist. Here is Bottle of Rum, a soca song off the hugely successful 3Zero riddim from 2012. Love and/of rum are again the themes.
Can you add any more?
* Stefan Walcott does not condone mass consumption of spirits of any kind. This post was not sponsored by any beverage retailer, the Holy Spirit or any other related product (although a donation would now be welcomed…;)
stefanwalcott.com 
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