This song marks my life in Trinidad. When Caribbean Queen hit the charts, Trinis everywhere felt a collective pride. It wasn’t just the title –it was the fact that the British singer behind it was born in Trinidad. Billy Ocean felt like one of ours.
We rejoiced in the idea that someone from our small island had broken through, had made it big enough to put Trinidad on the map. The song played everywhere, and with it came a quiet confidence, a sense that our corner of the world mattered too.
When I hear Caribbean Queen now, I don’t just hear an 80s hit. I hear national pride wrapped in melody, a moment when music told us that we were seen.