Post #431019 by Staredge on Tue, Jan 27, 2009 10:40 AM

I asked about it earlier, but no one picked up on it.

I've been a parrothead for 20+ years. I would never class Jimmy Buffett as 'tiki'. Having said that, I disagree with BBT (or maybe just misunderstand) as to Buffett's role in the Tiki Devolution. Margaritaville may have been a hit, but I don't think the whole beach bum trend really came until the early '80s. I do think that Vietnam played the biggest role. Another poster mentioned the idea of dressing up to go out, and the beach bum look then becoming popular. I don't blame that on Margaritaville.....I blame the hippies. Society has changed. People used to dress for travel. Now you wear comfortable clothes and slip-on shoes. I think too much credit is laid on Buffett's lap.

However.....I think he could reasonably be considered part of tiki revival. He certainly brings some tiki elements into his shows and music.

On 2009-01-24 15:43, bigbrotiki wrote:
So the identifying factor for TIKI STYLE is, what a surprise, that is contains depictions of Tikis.

His music and lifestyle may not (don't)fit with classic Poly-pop/tiki, but it could serve as a gateway drug. (did for me) You're dealing with a large population of adults with disposable incomes looking for a tropical getaway. Might be more of us out there than you know, looking to expand our horizons.

For the record, a WHOLE bunch of us that have been fans for years hate the same things you do about the parrothead lifestyle. Drunken fratboys were a large part of the reason I stopped going to concerts.