Post #544044 by Vince Martini on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 5:46 PM

On 2010-07-21 17:10, phinz wrote:
Jimmy's actually a fan of Martin Denny, who played with him in Hawaii...

Parrotheads are exactly the same way. That is, there is this sense of entitlement that their music and their scene (both Deadheads and Parrotheads) applies to anything and eveything, whether that be the case or not.

You're borrowing Lucas's brush, aren't you Vince?

There were "tiki" bars long after tiki died its first death, and they weren't all Buffett-related, but most didn't fit the narrow, elitist "tiki" definition. Most people don't get the difference. Ranting about it and getting into a lather isn't going to make any difference. Doing so is just mental masturbation. It may feel good at the time, but it doesn't do anything but get messy.

Jimmy played with Martin Denny in 2004. I am fully aware of this. In fact, I am even aware of Buffet's quote from the occassion, are you? Jimmy said, "His [Denny's] music captured the magic of adventure and escapades. My own dreams used that music as a backdrop." It is a fantastic quote and one my friend, Dr. Greg House, shared with me when he gave me a Martin Denny collaborative CD for my birthday. You see, my friend, Dr. Greg is a HUGE Jimmy Buffet fan. In fact, he is above being a 'Parrot Head' he is more advanced than that!

I think emotionalism has crept into your responses (and perhaps Lucas' as well), Phinz. But, that is good. Emotionalism is the barometer of passion, and you are a passionate fan, obviously. But, to say I am using he same brush as Lucas is to suggest that I am not thinking for myself and just ringing his bell for some reason. I'll gloss over that insult, because I really don't think you meant to label me a mindless lackey for another's agenda. I know you to be differnt than that, Phinz -- especially after having the pleasure of becoming acquainted [with you] at Hukilau!

Re-read my post. Mine was not attacking Buffet -- or Parotheads. My post was emphasizing the point that the Parothead Nation and most tikiphiles are going in different directions. Wouldn't you say so yourself? My points were mostly comparing the crowds and not the artist, Jimmy Buffet. But, my one point about Buffet himself was focussing on the fact that he has always been a community action guy. Right? I mean, this is one of the wonderful things about Jimmy Buffet...saving institutions, promoting concerts for environmental causes, backing new artists. He uses his weight in very positive ways.

Ergo, I was noting that as an artist it does not seem that he (himself) has demonstrated a felt association to the tiki culture. If so, we would have seen him much more active and proactive within this culture. Jimmy Buffet doesn't dance around anything, he jumps in and gets immersed. Got that clarrified and out of the way.

My point about Parrot Heads and Deadheads is not at all disparaging...but very accurate. I mean, what else happens when a huge force of people merges into a fervant hurricane of shared interests? The group itself can go in many directions and adopt many 'other' things...like Deadheads becoming Phish fanatics.
Not me, I was a Deadhead, but can not stand Phish and all of their pretensions. You could not be a Deadhead unless you covered your body with patouli oil. I hated the damn stuff! There wwere certain unspoken dictates of the community. This community would take over certain instituitions, too -- like Bonnaroo...as the headless community searched desperately for its next Jerry Garcia.

This isn't always a bad thing. Parrot Heads have single-handedly been the driving force for saving manatees in Florida. Conversely, all of the 'save the manatee' efforts are now managed from mostly inside Jimmy Buffets fan groups...a prime exaple of taking over a cause, but in a positive way. Sometimes a crowd-force has a sense of entitlement...not the individual people involved, but the bigger, evolving body.

I don't begrudge you or any of my friends their Buffet CD's, the Buffet channel on Sirius or even a golden ticket to a Buffet concert -- SCORE! Parrot Heads are synonymous with good times -- as were Deadheads. Laissez les bon temps rouler!!! I just perceive it as being a differnt camp of enjoyment than that of the tiki tribes hanging out at Hukilau, Tiki Ohana, Tiki Oasis and at the average tiki bar. That is just my observation.