During World War II, around 20,000 American GIs were stationed in Trinidad, ostensibly to deter any invasion. Unhappy with the situation, a local calypso musician named Rupert Grant, who went by the stage name of Lord Invader, wrote some lyrics commenting on how the American servicemen drank rum and coke, and then used their Yankee dollars to attract (or purchase the services of) the local women. The melody had been previously published as the work of Trinidadian calypso composer Lionel Belasco on a song titled "L'Année Passée," which was in turn based on a folk song from nearby Martinique. The track was a huge hit in Trinidad in 1943.
In 1945 the Andrews Sisters recorded a very similar song sung in hammy Trinidadian accents. It had the same title, general subject, and even some of the same lyrics but was stripped of its social commentary. According to Patty Andrews, "We had a recording date... we had some extra time and we just threw it in, and that was the miracle of it. It was actually a faked arrangement."
The Andrews Sisters' version became the biggest-selling song of the year and the third biggest of the decade in the United States. Despite its popularity, the song was controversial and was banned by network radio stations because it mentioned an alcoholic beverage and hinted at prostitution. The fact that it mentioned a commercial product by name also meant that it could be construed as free advertising when broadcast.
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