Are Parrotheads...

[-..__...]

Poll question: Are Parrotheads...

I could never understand the attraction with Jimmy Buffet (then again, I'm mostly a hard rock/punk/blues kind of person).

My impression of the Parrotheads is an eclectic mix of college slackers and well off semi-retired executive types looking for a lame excuse to drink, party and make asses of themselves.

For the most part, they're the docile and timid type who let down their hair on the occasion and transform into the Steve Martin "Wild and Crazy Guy" character.

This past Friday (and Sunday), they're having a big ho-down at Fenway Park in Boston. Their biggest lament is that the city is cracking down on their much publicized "tailgating partys". It was made well known months ago that tailgating and drinking (and urinating), in public would not be tolerated.

I can appreciate having a good time and partying as much as anyone else, but I draw the line at acting like a drunken buffoon with a stuffed parrot(lampshade), on my head.

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/buffett/

[Taverner]

1. I've met Dem Parrotheads, and Repub Parrottheads

For them, its much more about the lifestyle than politics. They all have one thing in common, and thats a love for the beach lifestyle.

For the record - Buffett is a big time environmental activist who has done a lot of work to protect the coral reefs, and keep jetskis out of the ocean.

[Old and In the Way]

10. Back in my sailing days (15 years ago), my boat was wired for

sound....and Jimmy was most definitely my favorite cruising music...

[Mojambo]

2. Coke, coke, and more coke! n/t

[MrScorpio]

3. Well Jimmy is Warren Buffet's baby boy

I think he appeals to a certain freeper element

[Old and In the Way]

7. Ah....no

But me and the Misses will be at Fenway tomorrow night. Say what you will, Jimmy has fun playing his music. It's damn infectious.

[jdj]

33. This can't be true...can it?

[AntiCoup2K4]

41. Not Warren's kid

I think they are distant cousins though.

[Philostopher]

4. He was very popular in Cincinnati ...

at least until he made it known he generally votes for Democrats. I really don't 'get it' with Buffett, either, but I credit him with having his career his own way, and not compromising just to make a buck.

Anyway, to the point: Mr. Nownow, who's always had a fairly liberal bent, apolitical friends of his and one that, but for the fact that he still has all his teeth would be right at home at Free Republic, all used to go to Buffett shows in Cinci.

Can't explain it, frankly, but I definitely think 'mixed bag' is the best description.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

6. seems to be a big Buffet fanbase in SW Ohio

I think its the myth&legend of sunny&carefree Florida working there....

Me,..not a big Buffet fan, but I do love the Gulf Coast...

[Philostopher]

14. I hadn't really heard much Buffett

until I was living in South Carolina. There was a rock station down there that used to play live concerts that had been taped in Myrtle Beach, over the years. They played an early live concert from Buffett that was a real corker -- an unedited version of 'Get Drunk And Screw' that was completely raunchy. Before that, I'd heard little but 'Who's The Blonde Stranger,' and wasn't impressed.

Okay, actually I like 'Cheeseburger In Paradise' and 'Fins,' and didn't know until a couple of years ago that 'Come Monday' was him. I'd liked the song for years and had no idea. But considering the depth of his catalog, that's not impressive. I don't know, as I've said -- I credit him with having the integrity to go his own way, whether it made him a lot of money or not, but I could also live a thousand years happy if I never have to sit through 'Margaritaville' again.

[gmoney]

5. Cult of Repubs who think it makes them "cool"

My ex-boss and a few of his cronies at my scary former employer were at least fair-weather parrotheads -- I think they just like sanctioned alcoholism and some sort of illusion they're "cool kids".

A friend has dragged me to two Buffett shows and they were both scary shit... one featured a short film where Buffett played like a bomber pilot who was somehow "blowing up" rap music and disco music (and maybe a couple others). I've managed to block the specifics, but it was REAL hateful.

It's just a cult... sorry Jimmy, I liked a couple of your songs, but you've been co-opted by dangerous idiots.

(Didn't Buffett play at Tyco Kozlowski's infamous birthday party for his wife?)

[Taverner]

8. And Bob Dylan and the Wallflowers played for Applied Materials once

A gig's a gig...

[Sydnie]

9. Going out on a limb here but

I will admit that I love Buffets music. Most of his music is of a "feel good" ir "make fun of the establishment" type music. If you listen to the words of some of his songs, he usually has a message in there and mostly progressive messages at that.

He is very environmentally friendly, supports his band well and donates well to many progressive causes.

His music is an aquired taste if you typically listen to more hard pounding music, but you can hum along and occassionally find something to laugh about in his delivery.

As for the true parrotheads that tailgate and swim in their kiddie pools in the parking lot, they are trully harmless souls just looking to escape for a while. Sort of like Halloween parties for adults, with a steel drum calypso beat.

Ever heard the words to his song Fruitcakes?

Fruitcakes
By: Jimmy Buffett, Amy Lee
1994
--Spoken:
"You know I was talking to my friend Desdemona the other day she
runs this space station and bake shop down near Boomtown. She told
me that human beings are flawed individuals. The cosmic bakers
took us out of the oven a little too early. And that's the
reason we're as crazy as we are and I believe it."

"Take for example when you go to the movies these days, you know.
They try to sell you this jumbo drink, 8 extra ounces of watered
down cherry coke for an extra 25 cents. I don't want it.
I don't want that much organziation in my life.
I don't want other people thinking for me.
I want my Junior Mints. Where did the Junior Mints go in the
movies. I don't want a 12 lb. Nestle's crunch for 25 dollars. I
want Junior Mints."

"We need more fruitcakes in this world and less bakers!
We need people that care! I'm mad as hell! And I don't want to
take it anymore!"

Chorus:
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (Fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (Fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin' naked through the crosswalk
In the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (Cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (People on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us

Paradise, lost and found
Paradise, take a look around
I was out in California where I hear they have it all
They got riots, fires, mud slides
They've got sushi in the mall
Water bars, brontasaurs, chinese modern lust
Shake and bake life with the quake
The secret's in the crust

Chorus:
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (Fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (Fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin' naked through the crosswalk
In the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (Cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (People on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us

--Spoken:
"Speakin' of fruitcakes, how 'bout the government?
Your tax dollars at work."

We lost our Martian rocket ship
The high paid spokesman said
Looks like that silly rocket ship
Has lost its cone shaped head
We spent 90 jillion dollars trying to get a look at Mars
I hear universal laughter ringing out among the stars

Chorus:
Fruitcakes in the galaxy (Fruitcakes in the galaxy)
Fuitcakes on the earth (Fruitcakes on the earth)
Struttin' naked towards eternity
We've been that way since birth
Half-baked cookies in the oven (Cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (People on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us

--Spoken:
"Religion! Religion! Oh, there's a thin line between Saturday
night and Sunday morning. Here we go now.
Alright, alter boys."

Mea Culpa Mea Culpa Mea Maxima Culpa
Mea Culpa Mea Culpa Mea Maxima Culpa

Where's the church, who took the steeple
Religion is in the hands of some crazy-ass people
Television preachers with bad hair and dimples
The god's honest truth is it's not that simple
It's the Buddhist in you, it's the Pagan in me
It's the Muslim in him, she's Catholic ain't she?
It's the born again look its the WASP and the Jew
Tell me what's goin on, I ain't gotta clue

--Spoken:
"Now here comes the big ones. Relationships! We all got 'em, we
all want 'em. What do we do with 'em?
Here we go, I'll tell ya."

She said you gotta do your fair share
Now cough up half the rent
I treat my body like a temple
You treat yours like a tent
But the right word at the right time
May get me a little hug
That's the difference between lightning
And a harmless lightnin' bug

Chorus:
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (Fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (Fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin' naked through the crosswalk
In the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (Cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (People on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us

--Spoken:
"The future. Captain's log, stardate two thousand and something."

We're seven years from the millenium
That's a science fiction fact
Stanley Kubrick and his buddy HAL
Now don't look that abstract
So I'll put on my Bob Marley tape
And practice what I preach
Get Jah lost in the reggae mon
As I walk along the beach
Stay in touch with my insanity really is the only way
Its a jungle out there kiddies
Have a very fruitful day
Hey.

Chorus:
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (Fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (Fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin' naked through the crosswalk
In the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (Cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (People on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us

--Spoken:
"That's right, you too. Yeah those crumbs are spread all around
this universe. I've seen fruitcakes. I saw this guy in Santa
Monica rollerskate naked through the crosswalk. Down in New
Orleans in the French market there are fruitcakes like you cannot
believe. New York, forget it. Fruitcake city. Down island, we've got
fruitcakes. Spread them crumbs around. That's right, we want
'em around. Keep bakin' baby. Keep bakin'."

[Old and In the Way]

12. Great album!

Everybody's got a cousin in Miami" is another great tune.

Buffett is a troubadour....he never took himself too seriously, but he's written some of the most memorable lyrics and melodies of any musician I've listened to.

[eyesroll]

11. Whereas I am quite drunk right now...so the corrollary to that seems

appropriate...

I cannot stand Jimmy Buffet.

And I own parrots. And they can't stand Jimmy Buffet either.

[-..__...]

13. Parrots rule!

Well, mine rules me anyways.

[eyesroll]

15. Yes. Yes they do.

Mine:

Olive the parrotlet:


Logos the Meyer's parrot:

[-..__...]

17. I love parrotlets.

Gram for gram they can be feisty little birds when they want to be.

As much as I love my Senegal (Attila), I doubt I'd take a chance giving him a "toe scratch" (and he lives for being scratched) :)

[eyesroll]

18. Our parrotlet weights less than an ounce, but don't tell her that.

The "toe scratch" wasn't really intended -- she just bolted down (she has a thing for feet) and bit hedges' toe and that was that. He knew who was boss. I just happened to be taking pictures at the time.

[Kat45]

19. Don't tell my parrotlet, Grace, either.

She's the ruler of the roost. Hi Olive. :hi:

[jdj]

35. That's too funny.

My conure was CRAY-ZEE about Tina Turner, he would dance back and forth to her.

And my best friends cat gets completely stoned on Luther Van Dross.

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. We Parrotheads are great people!

CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ATTITUDES Jimmy Buffett
I took off for a weekend last month
Just to try and recall the whole year.
All of the faces and all of the places,
wonderin' where they all disappeared.
I didn't ponder the question too long;
I was hungry and went out for a bite.
Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum,
and we wound up drinkin' all night.

It's those changes in latitudes,
changes in attitudes nothing remains quite the same.
With all of our running and all of our cunning,
If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane.

These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes;
Nothing remains quite the same.
Through all of the islands and all of the highlands,
If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane

Reading departure signs in some big airport
Reminds me of the places I've been.
Visions of good times that brought
so much pleasure
makes me want to go back again.
If it suddenly ended tomarrow,
I could somehow adjust to the fall.
Good times and riches and son of a bitches,
I've seen more than I can recall...(to chorus)

I think about Paris when I'm high on red wine;
I wish I could jump on a plane.
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean.
God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Oh, yesturdays are over my shoulder,
So I can't look back for too long.
There's just too much to see waiting in front of me,
and I know that I just can't go wrong
with these...(to chorus)

[UpsideDownFlag]

21. i prefer 'fins' and 'manana'

"don't try to describe a kiss concert if you haven't seen it..."

[TahitiNut]

32. You called?

"Even the best navigators don't know where they're going 'til they get there." (Frank Bama, my hero)

It's impossible to name my favorite Buffett tune ... or album. While I detest most C&W music, I like his. I've never met a parrothead I didn't like.

[greatauntoftriplets]

37. I've even had a beer at "Le Select" on St. Barths....

which is said to be the dive he wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise" about. Not that I've ever eaten a cheeseburger there. All that French food and spiny lobster to boot? No way.

[TahitiNut]

39. It was back in Spring of '94, I think, when I was in Tahiti ...

... at the Club Med on Moorea. I ran into Geno Michellini (KLOS drive-time radio disc jockey). Geno had a pre-release copy of Jimmy's "Fruit Cakes" album. We spent a lot of time in the late afternoons enjoying it on the bar patio, discussing Jimmy (who was also an occasional visitor to that Club Med) and his music and solving the problems of the world. We formed a small ad hoc international discussion group. When it came out later that year, I got my copy and still enjoy it - bringing back that two weeks of diving, tanning, and resurrecting the Algonquin Roundtable tradition in the South Pacific. There were parrotheads from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and France on that patio during those weeks. Jimmy brings out some of the best in people.

Parrotheads are like deadheads, but without the 'edge.'

[greatauntoftriplets]

43. Oh that sounds like a lot of fun.

Parrotheads are too laid back to have the deadhead's edge.

"A Pirate Looks at 50" came out the year I turned 50. It was a great read at the right time.

[UpsideDownFlag]

20. jimmy buffet is the fucking MAN.

awesome, chillin music.

[-..__...]

22. If you say so.

What's his position on the AWB? O8)

[UpsideDownFlag]

25. i do say so.

and he's probably a fan of the AWB

(average white band)

[TexasBushwhacker]

23. I don't get it either ....

but then I didn't understand the appeal of the Grateful Dead. I think that the camaradarie of the fans is probably more than 50% of their appeal. It becomes an "event" that everyone shares and the people look forward to seeing their fellow Parrotheads at concerts, etc. I've found it pretty easy to make friends through attending concerts because music appeals to the emotions more than the intellect.

[EstimatedProphet]

24. Perhaps

but IMO the Dead played some good music. Never liked Buffet.

[Taverner]

27. I think part of the appeal of Buffett

Is the fact that a lot of his fans live in cold places like Ohio, Illinois, etc...and a man's gotta dream, right?

I think his stuff is catchy, but not exceptional. Good 70's pop, and he's fairly uncomprimising.

[rednek_Liberal]

29. Agreed prophet.... But then id say your biased as Fox.

:hippie:

[EstimatedProphet]

36. Yeah, I am. No argument.

But it's not every concert that I have been to where I saw God either. To my knowledge that doesn't happen at Buffet shows...

[-..__...]

26. Lyrics... schmerics!

Just pass the bong/bottle opener.

[UpsideDownFlag]

28. jimmy buffet is cool because he personofies

relaxed, caribean good times.

[rednek_Liberal]

30. So do Corona Ads...Big whoop

[UpsideDownFlag]

31. no, corona ads try to.

but they cant quite pull it off.

[Bridget Burke]

34. His music is amusing but not my favorite.....

However, he supports progressive causes & he's written a couple of decent books.

Isn't the modern Puritan "upset that somebody, somewhere might be having fun"? If the parrotheads aren't pissing on your own front yard, why be so offended? Feel free to dress in black & listen to Joy Division all night long. Or sit posting online on a Saturday night!

[CRK7376]

38. I've been a Parrothead since

1973....Love the tunes, environmently friendly, doesn't worry about being a top 40 band or tunes on the radio....Although I'm not a beach person, hate the beach in fact, Love Buffet and the concerts are fantastic parties! Don't have to drink to have fun at a Buffet concert. Not to mention the great Tourist shirts one wears. It's an attitude.

[DiverDave]

40. BEST CONCERT...EVER

Saw him in Phoenix at the Dessert Sky Pavilion, scored great seats, met some groovy girls...
Under the stars, nice warm night.
The stuff of legends.

[TahitiNut]

44. One of Jimmy's best concerts was at The Gorge at George in 1994(?)

Four concerts in 48 hours (Fri nite thru Sun aft) alongside the Columbia River in mid-Washington. People came from far and wide - I saw license plates from three Canadian provinces and eight states. The amphitheater was sold out for all four concerts and the weather was perfect. It was a whole weekend of wallowing in the human diversity of parrotheadedness - rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight, greaser and frat, conservative and liberal, old (over 80) and young (under 2) and every age in-between - all accepting of and enjoying one another. When a parrothead gets drunk, he giggles even more. Sociopaths don't attend a second time. (Jimmy was later quoted as saying it was the best weekend of his tour.)

[OnionPatch]

42. I always thought

Buffet was pretty much a leftie. I read not long ago that he had been interested in the Vote For Change concert and possibly would join that effort but I don't see him on the list. Still, just knowing he was interested and knowing the lyrics to his songs makes me pretty confident that he's on our side.
BTW, I LOVE most of his music (although it's not my favorite genre; I'm also a hard-rock and blues fan.) His music just makes me feel good and forget about the problems of the World for awhile. As for the drunken antics....so what. I'd probably join in and put a parrot on my head too if I were there.

[mitchum]

45. Not a Parrothead, but I think the lifestyle is great

I love drink, drugs and the beach

Why does the music have to be so lame?

[CPUSA04]

46. ,,,

all of the above?