J is for Jimmy Buffett

I really struggled with a J band… Judas Priest, Journey, James Taylor? All of those I do love but I feel like Jimmy fits better with my life, even though I wouldn’t consider myself to have become a fan until maybe 2012 or 2013. It was around this time and maybe in the next couple years, that I would become a little obsessive over going to the beach and beach-like decor. I just felt it in my bones: I LOVE the beach. Now, I did grow up in South Florida and we went all the time. I almost took it for granted. And then, I got overweight and self-conscious and didn’t care to ever wear a bathing suit again. But in time, I lost weight and got back to a place where, because I love being in the sun, the ocean was the refuge for me. Sure, now that we live in the panhandle we really just frequent the Gulf but to be honest, I like it better.

Everyone knows Margaritaville and possibly Cheeseburger in Paradise or Fins or Fruitcakes. But the Jimmy Buffett songbook is SO much more extensive than that. Because I worked in a relatively quiet office, I was able to listen to music on Spotify a good chunk of each day. So I sought playlists and went from there. I couldn’t pinpoint which album most songs I like are on but I know the different sound and vibe of the album were I to hear a song from it. Most of his discography from the 70s through the 90s, I do love wholeheartdedly. Maybe not so much the ones that have that ragtime-y sound but some songs are good; I just have to be in that mood. I’d rather hear a song like this:

Or even this, as it is more upbeat and fun:

This song I loved so much, I titled a fanfiction after it:

I know you have no interest in said fanfic but it probably has more hits than any of my other ones. (The WWE universe has a lot of fans and people like the Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose pairing. I was just giving the people what they wanted.)

Here’s another sound of his I am fond of. A lot of his songs, too, have an upbeat, optimistic theme and I need that in my life sometimes.

In November 2017 I was able to see Jimmy in concert. He did a charity hurricane relief thing with other artists like Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney and I was so happy they came here! I attended with Ash and my mom and we had a blast!

There’s a feeling of… safety about his music. When I listen to it, I feel like I did when I was a kid or at least, more carefree. And as I said, because he is so much more than the basic songs we’ve all heard, I feel like it’s a treasure trove of options and when people say they don’t care for his music, I tell them to delve deeper because there’s got to be something for everyone in a career that started in the late 60s and he is still going!