The Death of Modern Rock - With Mario R. Martin #2

“Caribbean Queen” – Billy Ocean – Suddenly (1984)

Ne -Yo...Naw, Billy Ocean!

Oh man, February is for lovers, and who better to croon the soundtrack for lovers than Mr. Billy Ocean?! Yeah! When Valentine’s Day rolls around, stay away from the Hallmark store. Don’t buy any stuffed animals. Just make sure you get your significant other the gift that keeps on giving – the definitive Billy Ocean collection.

Now, in order to know the songs Billy Ocean sang, we must know who Billy Ocean, the man, was. Ocean was born in Trinidad and was really one of the first Caribbean singers to emerge on the pop scene. He moved to London and quickly rose to the club scene circuit, started releasing records, and later became the vocal powerhouse he’s now known as today.

Billy Ocean’s draw is nothing more than good music; there’s no frills here. There’s no smoke or mirrors in a Billy Ocean performance. Billy Ocean’s appeal reminds me of Bruce Springsteen. You know the Springsteen draw don’t you? It’s hard-working middle-class music that works, whether you’re working, or letting loose with your old lady in front of the fire place waiting to lay down some romance before you give her some edible panties on V-Day.

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Even though there are tons of stand out tracks by Mr. Ocean, the one that comes to mind on every 80s compilation is “Caribbean Queen.” It’s no wonder that this song is always the one chosen in place of the slew of bangers Ocean has in his arsenal. “Queen” is one of those songs that are a longer title by way of parentheses. The full title is “Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run).” Now, to fully become part of the dream Ocean envisioned in the song, you have to understand the lyrics. They’re not double entendres, rather they’re so simplified for listeners, that it’s hard to miss that Ocean has found his queen; as he hangs up his on-the-run loves (i.e. one-night stands).

I mean, damn, this song is so perfect. Not to mention it was released in the promiscuous 80s, here’s a guy who laid down his playeration, and pronounces his readiness to be committed to the girl in super tight jeans (“She dashed by me in painted on jeans”). Man, if this isn’t the feel good song of yet ANOTHER
century, I don’t know what is.
Ladies, for all the smack you talk about music and how it puts down women, I beg you to start pumping Billy Ocean. After all, he’s the original player.

I was in search of a good time
Just running my game
Love was the furthest
Furthest from my mind

But, instead of playing out the ladies, here’s Billy Ocean singing about falling in love. He fell in love on accident, but he couldn’t fight it. Hell, he even wrote it into the title of one of his greatest songs! There is no more love on the run ladies. Not for Billy Ocean. Nope. I don’t know about Ne-Yo, but I don’t think he’s got enough “man” in him to utter the words, “no more love on the run.” Poetry.