BEST CARNIVAL SONGS OF THE YEAR

TOP CARNIVAL AND SOCA SONGS IN 2023

The 10 Best Songs of 2023: We ask the paper’s FRIENDS to Picks 'Em

It is a tradition that almost all newspapers follow when one year ends and another begins. What were the best songs of the year just ended? Some list the 10 best, others shoot for 100. With hip-hop no longer dominating the music world, drawing up the list isn’t as easy as it looks. Of course, there are big names that continue to churn out the road marches, but it is the 'where did they come from' that makes it all fun.
This tone-deaf writer is the last person who should put together anything related to new music. So for this year's article, I have done it differently. I have looked at the songs that I heard on the Lakeshore and at the launches and the fetes, and what was happening at carnival events in the Caribbean and the UK. Then, I went to the experts to see what they thought of 2023, and of course, we went with them."
It is a tradition that almost all newspapers follow when one year ends and another begins. What were the best songs of the year just ended? Some list the 10 best, others shoot for 100. With hip-hop no longer dominating the music world, drawing up the list isn’t as easy as it looks. Of course, there are big names that continue to churn out the road marches, but it is the 'where did they come from' that makes it all fun.
This tone-deaf writer is the last person who should put together anything related to new music. So for this year's article, I have done it differently. I have looked at the songs that I heard on the Lakeshore and at the launches and the fetes, and what was happening at carnival events in the Caribbean and the UK. Then, I went to the experts to see what they thought of 2023, and of course, we went with them."
"Notting Hill Carnival Has 7 Favourites
The Notting Hill Carnival is one huge, Caribana-like parade near London, UK, that takes place in August. They couldn’t just have five hits this year; they had to have seven, which were supplied to the Caribbean Camera by UK Apple.
1. Whine and Kotch by J Capri, Charly Black
2. Bruk off Yuh Back by Konshens
3. Wine Raw by Cham
4. Party Shot by Popcaan
5. Heads High by Mr Vegas
6. Follow the Leader by the Soca Boys
7. Get Busy by Sean Paul
Actually, there should be an eighth song added. Appearing in front of the 2 million or so revelers was Shaggy. “Thirty years after the release of ‘Oh Carolina,’ I wanted to get back to my roots and celebrate in the streets where everything took off. My latest EP ‘In The Mood’ is all about the party and community of our culture – people coming together to celebrate life. It’s dancehall, soca, reggae, and dance music all wrapped up in one musical explosion.”
The Ottawa Rapper Sends a Vote Gregory Porter’s Way
Saukrates is a Canadian rapper, singer, and record producer. His top five for Year 2023 include one song he actually appears on.
1. Harlem - Gregory Porter
2. Faithful - Raphael Saadiq
3. Someone I knew - TOBi
4. Atomic Dog - Sir George Clinton
5. W.A.Y (we are young) - Sistema Toronto (featuring Saukrates)
Jai Ojah-Maharaj, the long-time host and producer of the Caribbean Connection Show on CHIN radio, pitched in to help create this list. “I checked around with different DJs,” he said, “this is what I got!”
1. Hard FETE - Bunji Garlin
2. Engine Room - Olatunji
3. Like Yourself - Patrice Roberts and Machel Montano
4. Moods - Kess and Shaggy
5. Come Home - Nailah Blackman and Skinny Fabulous
Just One Song Tops Darling Nikki’s List
“Literally one of the best RnB songs of the year is ‘Make Me Say It Again, Girl’ by the Isley Brothers, and I’ve never heard FLOW 98.7 play it once. Thank you WBLK in Detroit for keeping this song in heavy rotation; I love it!
This summer, On the Road, Thea Jackson’s section Rated-R was turning eyes with some skimpy costume and cranking up the volume with three favorite Toronto carnival songs:
1. Stage is Yuh Name - Fay-Ann Lyons
2. Danger - Skinny Fabulous & Problem Child
3. Right Down - Trinidad Killa
The theme song for Rated R was 'Right Down' by Trinidad Killa.
Today Radio Now For Best Back Then
It used to be called Flow, but now CFXJ 93.5 fm goes by the moniker Today Radio. We tried to reach the self-described adult hit music station to find out what their top five songs are. We did get a message back saying that whatever they play is the top five! Well, as of Monday, that would be:
1. Theory of a Deadman - Santa Monica
2. Destiny’s Child - Bootylicious
3. Ed Sheeran - Eyes Closed
4. Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer
5. Famba - Swear to God
Dr. Jay knows what the favourite songs of 2023 are. Every time he gets up on stage, the fans yell out what they want to hear the most. We asked him what the top 3 are in his mind. He didn’t have to think long and hard; he told us:
1. Horn Me by Mario Benn (Toronto/St Vincent)
2. AList by Pompa
3. Engine Room by Olatunji
Back in the Motherland
Bunji Garlin's 'Hard Fete' has taken the 2023 Road March title for Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2023, beating back Nailah Blackman's 'Come Home' and Machel Montano's 'Like Yuh Self.'
Quan De Artist has won the 2023 Tune of the Crop title. The Road March winner, Quan De Artist, took the crown at Crop Over in Barbados last summer. His popular track called 'Waistline' is Quan De Artist's first road march win."
The Last Word belongs to me!
My favourite song of 2023 'We Don’t Want to Know,' written by the Carlisle Bailey and sung by macromere fifi. Her soulful rendition won her the Calypso Monarch crown for a record breaking seven times.