American tourism-oriented singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, best known for his hit song Margaritaville–an escapist tribute to semi-tropical life– has died at the age of 76.
“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” a statement posted to Buffett’s official website and social media pages said late on Friday. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”
The statement did not say where Buffett died or give a cause of death. Illness had forced him to reschedule concerts in May and Buffett acknowledged in social media posts he had been hospitalised but provided no specifics.
Margaritaville, released on February 14, 1977, quickly took on a life of its own, becoming a state of mind for those “wastin’ away” – an excuse for a life of low-key fun and escapism for those “growing older but not up”.
The song is the unhurried portrait of a loafer on his front porch, watching tourists sunbathe while a pot of shrimp is beginning to boil. The signer has a new tattoo, a likely hangover, and regrets over a lost love.
Somewhere there is a misplaced salt shaker. This is possibly a reference to making a cocktail called a margarita that consists of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Margaritas are often served with salt on the rim of the glass.
“What seems like a simple ditty about getting blotto and mending a broken heart turns out to be a profound meditation on the often painful inertia of beach dwelling,” Spin magazine wrote in 2021.
“The tourists come and go, one group indistinguishable from the other. Waves crest and break whether somebody is there to witness it or not. Everything that means anything has already happened – and you’re not even sure when.”
The song – from the album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes – spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at Number 8. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016 for its cultural and historic significance, became a karaoke standard, and helped brand Key West, Florida, as a distinct sound of music and a destination known the world over.
“There was no such place as Margaritaville,” Buffett told the Arizona Republic in 2021. “It was a made-up place in my mind, basically made up about my experiences in Key West and having to leave Key West and go on the road to work and then come back and spend time by the beach.”
Other well-known songs including titles like “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and “Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes”
His special Gulf Coast mix of country, pop, folk and rock added instruments and tonalities more commonly found in the Caribbean, like steel drums. It was a stew of steelpans, trombones and pedal steel guitar.
Buffett’s incredible ear for hooks and light grooves were often overshadowed by his lyrics about fish tacos and sunsets.
Source: Al Jazeera.
