Here are some reflections on “Girls Wine” (sometimes spelled “Girls Whine”) by Shabba Ranks:

“Girls Wine” is a dancehall track that brings in the classic motif of male desire, celebration of feminine movement (i.e. “wining”), and the allure of women dancing with confidence. The title itself works in a kind of wordplay: “wine” / “whine” in Jamaican patois often describes the gyrating, undulating motion of the female body in dance. The song thus invites women to dance, to express themselves, and to move — the dance floor is a space of allure, rhythm, connection.

In the lyrics, Shabba essentially extols the beauty and appeal of women who wine — their curves, their motions, their presence. There is a flirtatious tone: he watches, invites, admires. But more than mere objectification, the song gives respect to the female dancers’ agency: their motion, their sensuality, their power on the dancefloor. The song is not a lament or heartbreak song, as many of his others are; instead, it is celebratory, energetic, and tuned to party atmosphere. (The track is included in his Caan Dun: The Best Of Shabba compilation. (Apple Music - Web Player))

Musically, “Girls Wine” has the energetic production typical of mid‑1990s dancehall: crisp drum programming, a tight bassline, digital keyboards, and space for vocal variation and improvisation. Its tempo and groove allow dancers to feel the rhythm and respond with body movement. The production doesn’t overwhelm the voice; it supports Shabba’s bold, rhythmic delivery and gives room for the hook (“Girls wine / wine / wine …”) to resonate. The song was officially released around November 23, 1995. (Dancehall UK)

One interesting feature is how “Girls Wine” fits into Shabba’s broader catalogue: he often shifts between more serious, moralizing, or romantic songs and pure dancefloor tracks. Girls Wine leans toward the latter, occupying that space where dancehall is about rhythm, expression, flirtation, and the body. In a live or party context, it likely serves as a high point—something to get the crowd moving, to spotlight dancers, and to break the tension with pure musical enjoyment.

In cultural terms, songs like Girls Wine reflect the centrality of dance, movement, and embodied sensuality in Jamaican popular music. In dancehall especially, the body (male or female) is not passive — it is a locus of expression, identity, and sociality. Girls Wine celebrates the female dancer not just as visual object, but as agent of rhythm, movement, and allure.

~AI

Girls Wine by Shabba Ranks from on Records # BPM 03:21 Reggae