Toppa Top ’14: The Best Soca Singles of 2014

Words by Jam Central, Marcha M. Johnson, Tishanna Williams and Jesse Serwer

Machel Montano performing at the UN in June. Photo by Che Kothari

2014 was another groundbreaking year for soca, marked by its growing popularity not just in Caribbean nations, but worldwide. There was even a Carnival in Norway this summer, with mas bands chipping their way through medieval streets in Oslo.

The featured performer at that event, Bunji Garlin, had another big year full of crossover success, performing on 106 and Park and dropping the first album by a soca artist on a major label in a decade. When it came time for Trinidad Carnival, Machel Montano was still king, winning the Power Soca Monarch and Road March titles with “Ministry of Road (M.O.R.).” Barbados had something of a resurgence, led by upstart duo Lead Pipe & Saddis aka Porgie & Murda, who had hits in both of their highly entertaining guises. St. Vincent, too, made its presence felt, thanks largely to Vincy producer (and Major Lazer secret-weapon) Kubiyashi. All these positive developments made it tough to choose a Top 10 this year—we had to expand our scope to include 14 tunes just to capture the energy that was soca in 2014.

So how do we decide what to include? It’s not just about Soca Monarch contests and Road March wins. A few factors are considered: Which songs have crossover appeal beyond the particular island and Carnival from which they originate? And which have had the most staying power, generating a similar electricity in December, as they did at Carnival or Crop Over? Which ones do we really like? It’s those songs that are highest on this list. Of course, none of this is scientific so, let the jumping, waving, wining and debating begin…

Click here to start the list.

14. Denise Belfon— Chuku Chuku

Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon—aka Ms. Flexi-Back—reminded people once more why she is still the “Wining Queen” in 2014. Going over J Rod Records’ Chuku Chuku riddim, Belfon brought forth one of the most captivating female-voiced tunes this year with her Trini interpretation of the Nigerian classic “Sawale” —one of several notable songs which combined soca with Afrobeats this season. —Marcha M. Johnson

13. Flipo— Doh Tell Me Dat (Major Lazer Remix)

One of the Caribbean’s top post-Carnival songs, “Doh Tell Me Dat” illustrates what every masquerader feels during the final hours of the festivities. Flipo narrates his experiences through melodic and harmonious crooning on a track produced by Sweden’s Soca Dennis. In doing so, he has successfully written a song with great international appeal. It even drew the attention of Major Lazer who, along with So Shifty’s Jr. Blender, remixed it for a more EDM feel for the global club massive. —Jam Central

12. Benjai— Come Out To Play

Benjai left the ladies drooling when he performed “Come Out To Play” (a song that demands everyone “Leave yuh let yuh do it”) at the International Soca Monarch semi-finals, stripping down to his boxer briefs to show off his body and wining skills. That memorable moment, combined with an old-time brass vibe that fit in with the back-to-basics vibe of 2014, helped make it one of the year’s most unforgettable soca tracks. —Tishanna Williams

11. 5-Star Akil— To Meh Heart

Expressing a sentiment any soca fan could attest to, 5-Star Akil proclaims his dedication to all things Carnival on “To Meh Heart,” his successful successor to 2013’s similarly-themed “Partier”—No. 5 on last year’s soca list. The radio host and DJ may be new to performing but he has definitely found his niche in the field by combining vibrant instrumentals with narrative lyricism. “To Meh Heart” earned him a spot as a set list must-have, and leaves us anticipating what he may have up his sleeves this coming year as well. —Marcha M. Johnson

10. Skinny Banton— Soak It Good

Skinny Banton gave Grenada’s jab jab massive it’s most memorable anthem this year with “Soak It Good.” While perhaps not as big of a hit as last year’s big Spice Island export, Mr. Killa’s “Rolly Polly,” this addictive song’s double entendre-soaked lyrics could bring a smile and chuckle to anyone who knows both meanings of the word saltfish. —Jesse Serwer

9. Porgie & Murda — Benup 

Just when you thought there weren’t any more creative ways to sing about wining, Porgie & Murda’s bashment soca tune “Benup” proves otherwise. The Bajan comedic duo refer to female figures, figuratively, by encouraging them to recklessly reverse their bumpers into their partner. So you can only imagine the pile up that occurs when this tune plays. When not providing comic relief in their popular web series, they can be seen performing as Lead Pipe & Saddis while also writing tunes for other soca artists such as Patrice Roberts and Denise Belfon. For 2014, they decided to take their talents to the big screen, filming a feature length movie called Unusual Suspects that’s sure to boost demand for more tunes like “Benup” once it’s released. —Jam Central

8. Machel Montano—Ministry of Road

“Ministry of Road” was the Road March at Trinidad Carnival this year, and netted Machel the latest in a long line of Power Soca Monarch titles. ‘Nuff said. That the song, known as “M.O.R.” for short, also made a political statement—about Trinidadians’ hunger for an expanded and improved parade route at Carnival—added to its resonance, which has remained long after the last band crossed Queens Park Savannah on Carnival Tuesday. —Jesse Serwer

7. Bunji Garlin— Truck On D Road

2014 was another big year for Bunji Garlin, and his Asylum Family. Given the overwhelming success of 2013’s “Differentology,” his contribution for this year was highly anticipated, and did not disappoint. The current Soca Viking (and former “Spaniard”) teamed up once again with Jus Now, the UK/Trinidad-based production duo known for their percussive rhythms (and for producing last year’s “Savage”), for “Truck on D Road.” Jus Now’s signature sound and Garlin’s vocals and energy made for the perfect banger both on D Road and in fetes, during the season and after. He even got to perform it on 106 and Park with rapper A$AP Ferg, as he continued his tradition of bringing soca where it never has before. —Marcha M. Johnson

6. Major Lazer feat. Machel Montano — Sound Bang

“Sound Bang” is what occurs when calypso and EDM clash. The song, produced by the always genre-bending Major Lazer with vocals by soca superstar Machel Montano, conveys the level of excitement you’ll find at both a carnival fete or EDM festival, and underscores how the two cultures are blending and increasingly resembling one other. The initial energy of the song is reminiscent of a calypso sung by the likes of The Roaring Lion or Lord Kitchener but quickly evolves into an adrenalin-filled head banger that could play at any rave. The crossover appeal is undeniable—we hope to hear more collaborations like this in the near future. —Jam Central

5. Farmer Nappy — Big People Party

Any true Caribbean reveler (over a certain age) remembers the days of full brass sections accompanying performers on their soca tracks and the stage. In contrast to the the current environment of studio-made riddims and electronic sounds, Farmer Nappy and De Red Boyz hit us with a blast from the past on “Big People Party,” a tune that lit up the fetes and had even young partiers trying their hand at a few long-time dance steps. —Tishanna Williams

4/3 Kerwin Du Bois — Press Ah Button/Too Real

A “drum and fiddle-style” beat never made us dance so hard. What can we say? Kerwin’s feelgood groovy vibe just always hits the right spot, and “Press ah Button” is one of his best. The party anthem’s vocal melody, along with the buoyant Coconut Shell riddim (produced by Andrew Hitz Phillip, who also co-wrote the track with Kerwin) blend like a perfectly mixed drink. Now, in true Kerwin fashion, he gave us more than one epic song this year. Remember our “Do’s and Dont’s of Wining”? With “Too Real,” the winning entry at this year’s Groovy Soca Monarch competition, Kerwin illustrated our Rule #7: If it looks dangerous, maybe you should take a pause before you tackle it. —Tishanna Williams

2. Leadpipe & Saddis — Ah Feeling

“Ah Feeling” is a track that truly lives up to its title. Lead Pipe & Saddis’ groovy soca anthem has an infectious and distinctive energy capable of immediately upping the mood wherever it plays. If there were any doubts that the duo behind comedic soca characters Porgie + Murda were capable of making a serious hit, this track laid them to rest. Still picking up steam after running Crop Over in Barbados (where it was named Tune of De Crop) this summer, we’d be surprised if “Ah Feeling” isn’t one of the biggest anthems at Trinidad Carnival as well come February. —Jesse Serwer

1. Machel Montano — Happiest Man Alive (H.M.A.)

Among Machel Montano’s laundry list of releases for this year’s Trinidad Carnival, “Ministry of Road” was definitely the most popular. With Power Soca Monarch and Road March titles up for grabs, that’s where everyone’s attention tends to gravitate at Carnival time. And Machel is good at it—he seems to have a not-so-secret recipe for jump-and-wave soca that never fails. But when you listen to “Happiest Man Alive” and take in the production and the songwriting, there was no better representation of the Trinidadian people and Carnival culture as a whole. When I hear that song, I identify with it as a West Indian and a Trinidadian. It’s an anthem and a declaration.

Soca gets better every year and 2014 was no different—it was an amazing year for collaboration and experimentation with other sounds and cultures. “H.M.A,” which was written with St. Vincent’s Skinny Fabulous and produced by fellow Vincy, Kubiyashi, encompassed that all, showing that nothing is more powerful than celebrating an identity and culture (while also embracing EDM elements, interloping it with the percussions and drums of our rhythm sections). “H.M.A” is progressive soca at its best and, if one song represented this year, it’s this one. —Marcha M. Johnson

HONORABLE MENTION: Olatunji-Ola

While our countdown is for 2014 contributions only, we had to acknowledge this song for getting 2015 Carnival off to its start. Olatunji jumped into the 2015 Carnival race early, practically cutting a new lane with his track “Ola”. Continuing the Afrobeats trend seen this year, when Machel linked with Timaya and Denise Belfon gave us “Chuku Chuku,” the Kan Kan Riddim has mixed in those Caribbean Creole undertones, and we are loving it. If this is Olatunji’s first contribution for the season, we really want to see what’s coming next. —Tishanna Williams