Friday, February 10, 2023

The Andrews Sisters "Rum And Coca-Cola" reaches #1 1945



Rum and Coca-Cola, composed by Lionel Belasco and lyrics by Lord Invader, was recorded by the Andrews Sisters in 1944 and went to #1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, February 10, 1945.  I didn't realize how the song alludes to US soldiers debauching young women on the island of Trinidad.  The song hints at how women prostituted themselves for the soldiers:

Since the Yankee came to Trinidad
They got the young girls all goin' mad
Young girls say they treat 'em nice
Make Trinidad like paradise
The song goes on to say:
From Chicachicaree to Mona's IsleNative girls all dance and smileHelp soldier celebrate his leaveMake every day like New Year's Eve

The Andrews Sisters were asked about the song's lyrics, but they said they were given the song the day before they recorded it, and didn't have a chance to give the lyrics much thought.  Many radio stations in the US refused to play the song since it mentions 'rum' in the title.  

Despite the boycott, Rum and Coca-Cola stayed at #1 for seven weeks.  


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