As Any Parrothead Knows, Picking One Best Buffett Tune is Not Easy Because It All Depends On One’s State of Margaritaville Mind
By Kevin Wilkerson, Jimmy Buffett Parrothead
I suppose, were I pressed to name my favorite Jimmy Buffett song to, say, enter a contest to win free concerts tickets for life (and wouldn’t that really be something!), that I would come up with an answer.
And it would probably be “Banana Republic.”
But the problem, as any true Parrothead will tell you, with coming up with that ONE SONG is not just that Buffett has several songs worthy of consideration from his considerable music portfolio, it’s that the real answer is much more diverse.
“Well, it all depends,” I say on those occasions when I am asked to name my favorite song.
For me, it depends on the type of mood I happen to be in at the time. The state of mind, as Buffett might say.
Right now, I’m in a relaxed frame of mind. I’m on a beach, the sun is shining and the Pacific Ocean is gleaming. It’s a good time to be relaxing and reflecting on the great things of life (beaches, boats, ballads and bars, right!?). “Banana Republic” perfectly fits the scene. So, too, do these songs: “A Pirate Looks at 40,” “The Captain and the Kid,” “Last Mango in Paris,” “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “Island Fever” and “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.”
But sometime later – especially on the days of a Buffett concert – my wilder side springs to life. Songs like “Fins,” “Volcano,” “One Particular Harbor,” “Boat Drinks” “The Tiki Bar is Open,” “Here We Are,” “Let’s Get Drunk (And Screw”) and yes, even “Margrativille” are the ones I like to hear the most.
At still other times, I enjoy listening to steel drums. (Those are best accompanied by boat drinks, of course.) For those times, there’s plenty of choices, led of course by “The King of Somewhere Hot” and the amazing “Creole.” Plus, Buffett has let Coral Reefer Robert Greenidge loose on several original songs such as “Desperation Samba.” And then when Jake Shimabukuro joins in, well, WOW!
This, of course, is just the salt on the rim on the margarita glass. The blender is full of more concoctions, and it’s constantly churning.
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