Has Jimmy Lost His Knack At Songwriting?

Polls about Jimmy, his music, etc

Moderator: SMLCHNG

Has Jimmy's Songwriting Worsened Over The Years?

Yes, It's Worse
25
32%
No, It's Fine
40
51%
It's Stayed About the Same
14
18%
 
Total votes: 79

weirdo0521
Hoot!
Posts: 2034
Joined: November 5, 2002 6:19 pm
Number of Concerts: 50
Location: La Grange Park, IL
Contact:

Post by weirdo0521 »

LIPH wrote:I don't know if he's lost his knack for songwriting. I think, and this is just my opinion, music has taken a back seat to all the other crap the last few years. Bad tequila, bad beer, overpriced blenders, hotels, casinos, restaurants, shoes, ...

Notice what's missing? He's more a businessman than a musician now. Like that article in USA Weekend a few weeks ago said , he's become a "multimillionaire brand." That's the problem.
I agree with you. Same with the concerts. I don't feel the need to make every one like I did in the past. He's a bit of a victim of his own sucess.
Image
Dawn Beach, St. Maarten
http://www.LPRFC.com
RinglingRingling
Last Man Standing
Posts: 53938
Joined: May 30, 2004 3:12 pm
Favorite Buffett Song: Glory Days
Number of Concerts: 0
Favorite Boat Drink: Landshark, and Margaritaville products...
Location: Where payphones all are ringing

Post by RinglingRingling »

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:somehow i don't think jimmy's financial status or current "place in life" would preclude him from writing SOASOAS or CILCIA today. as long as parrotheads will buy anything he slaps his name on he only needs to go thru the motion and keep cashing all those "silly checks" as he calls them.

hell the last concert i went to, the first 5 songs he opened the show with were covers.
that was one of the nice things about the Houston show, he was 6 deep into the concert before he hit the first "Bucket List fans" song.
Tarheel Tail-Gator
Behind Door #3
Posts: 3507
Joined: April 22, 2004 11:16 pm
Favorite Buffett Song: A Pirate Looks at 40, Migration, Cowboy in the Jungle,,,,,,
Number of Concerts: 23
Favorite Boat Drink: Zaya, with Lime and 1 ice cube
Location: Carolina

Post by Tarheel Tail-Gator »

weirdo0521 wrote:
LIPH wrote:I don't know if he's lost his knack for songwriting. I think, and this is just my opinion, music has taken a back seat to all the other crap the last few years. Bad tequila, bad beer, overpriced blenders, hotels, casinos, restaurants, shoes, ...

Notice what's missing? He's more a businessman than a musician now. Like that article in USA Weekend a few weeks ago said , he's become a "multimillionaire brand." That's the problem.
I agree with you. Same with the concerts. I don't feel the need to make every one like I did in the past. He's a bit of a victim of his own sucess.
I don't think I'd consider Jimmy a "victim" in any sense of the word.
Image
LIPH
Last Man Standing
Posts: 67702
Joined: April 24, 2001 8:00 pm
Number of Concerts: 0
Favorite Boat Drink: my next beer, as long as it's not Blandshark

Post by LIPH »

If there are any victims, it's the fans. And like the old comic strip Pogo said "We have met the enemy and he is us." When you keep seeing people on here posting comments like, "I'll buy anything Jimmy sells" or "As long as he's still on the road, I'm happy" or "I like whatever Jimmy does" or, well, you get my point, we're helping to create the monster that we're complaining about. What incentive is there for him? Until he sees a sea of empty seats, or the lousy, overpriced products start bombing, nothing's changing. And it's our fault that nothing's changing because so many of us don't care. And I count myself in that group. But I'm starting to change my mind. I've been to almost 100 Buffett concerts. Of the 4 I've been to so far this year, I left early twice. I've never left a Buffett show early before.
what I really mean . . . I wish you were here
GumboPirate
License to Chill
Posts: 1129
Joined: March 24, 2007 12:36 pm
Number of Concerts: 0
Location: A Mile High in Youngstown

Post by GumboPirate »

I want to know where the "Boobies" option is in the voting [smilie=noeyedear-shrugging.gif]

Boobies get my vote!
ImageImage
Bryn
Nibblin' on sponge cake
Posts: 23
Joined: July 12, 2008 11:04 pm

Post by Bryn »

GumboPirate, is that picture from the St. Louis show?

And I think that makes sense that he's busy running the businesses these days and not writing as much. Part of me thinks that's why I'm noticing the lackluster songs more. As someone else in this thread posted, he's starting to do more and more covers live and on his albums. When I saw him in Indianapolis a few years back, over 20% of the setlist were covers. I could really go without hearing Brown Eyed Girl and Southern Cross every night, but now I'm getting off topic.

And I'm taken aback by the user who called me a troll. I've been a fan since I was a kid and Jimmy has written some of my absolute favorite songs. "Tin Cup Chalice" and "The Wino and I Know" are both in my top 10 favorites by any artist. I own every album and I'll definitely keep seeing him in concert because I think he's still a great performer and I have a great time at his shows. It just kinda disappoints me that someone who wrote all of these amazing songs now seems to be turning on the cruise control with cookie-cutter novelty songs and nearly the same setlist every night.
SchoolGirlHeart
Last Man Standing
Posts: 76426
Joined: January 11, 2002 7:00 pm
Number of Concerts: 0
Location: Wherever the Music is Playing

Post by SchoolGirlHeart »

Bryn wrote:As someone else in this thread posted, he's starting to do more and more covers live and on his albums.
I don't so much mind covers on the albums because a) I often like his interpretation better than the original and b) I don't have to buy the album.

I DO mind an overload of covers in concert. JB could do setlist after setlist of his own stuff without hitting a clinker, so I hate it when he substitutes a song like Rainy Day Women ( [smilie=puker.gif] ) when he could do something like Wino and I Know, He Went To Paris, Tin Cup Chalice or a dozen others I could name instead......
Carry on as you know they would want you to do. ~~JB, dedication to Tim Russert

Take your time
Find your passion
Life goes on until it ends
Don’t stop living
Until then

~~Mac McAnally
GumboPirate
License to Chill
Posts: 1129
Joined: March 24, 2007 12:36 pm
Number of Concerts: 0
Location: A Mile High in Youngstown

Post by GumboPirate »

Bryn wrote:GumboPirate, is that picture from the St. Louis show?

And I think that makes sense that he's busy running the businesses these days and not writing as much. Part of me thinks that's why I'm noticing the lackluster songs more. As someone else in this thread posted, he's starting to do more and more covers live and on his albums. When I saw him in Indianapolis a few years back, over 20% of the setlist were covers. I could really go without hearing Brown Eyed Girl and Southern Cross every night, but now I'm getting off topic.

And I'm taken aback by the user who called me a troll. I've been a fan since I was a kid and Jimmy has written some of my absolute favorite songs. "Tin Cup Chalice" and "The Wino and I Know" are both in my top 10 favorites by any artist. I own every album and I'll definitely keep seeing him in concert because I think he's still a great performer and I have a great time at his shows. It just kinda disappoints me that someone who wrote all of these amazing songs now seems to be turning on the cruise control with cookie-cutter novelty songs and nearly the same setlist every night.
Yup...that's St. Louis..they tell me I had a wonderful time!
ImageImage
Tiki Bar
Thank God the Tiki Torch Still Shines
Posts: 23803
Joined: August 30, 2002 12:13 pm
Favorite Buffett Song: One Particular Harbour / Tin Cup Chalice medley!
Number of Concerts: 30
Favorite Boat Drink: Friends don't let friends drink tequila! Beer me!
Location: location location

Post by Tiki Bar »

Bryn wrote:And I'm taken aback by the user who called me a troll.
I don't blame you... I meant to say something earlier, but got called away from the 'puter. Sorry...

I thought you asked a legitimate question, which sparked some debate. The troll analogy seemed to come from left field to me.

Welcome to BN, Bryn! :D
You’re still grinning, we’re still winning, nothing left to say
I’m still gliding as I go flying down this endless wave
Wino you know
God's Own Drunk
Posts: 21467
Joined: February 5, 2002 7:00 pm
Favorite Buffett Song: Far Side of the World & Somewhere Over China
Number of Concerts: 105
Favorite Boat Drink: Beaujalais Villages French Burgundy
Location: Plowin' straight ahead, come what may

Post by Wino you know »

Jimmy hasn't lost ANYTHING.
He's the same fantastic songwriter he's always been.

He still "has it," he's ALWAYS "had it," and he'll always "have it."
Left Field ParrotHead
Under My Lone Palm
Posts: 5441
Joined: May 12, 2005 1:31 am
Number of Concerts: 18
Favorite Boat Drink: Perfect Margarita from the M'ville in Las Vegas!!
Location: Across the street, having a beer with the neighbours

Post by Left Field ParrotHead »

CaptainP wrote:Without reading comments from anyone else....



Jimmy has not lost his knack for songwriting.
His lifestyle has simply changed.

To elaborate...
When he was in his 20s, he lived on the beach, had the beach bum lifestyle, and wrote about it. These are the songs we love from A-1-A and such.
Now, he's a very rich man, lives in large houses, has a wife and 3 kids.
His life experiences are much different, and therefore, the tone and subject matter of the songs he writes.
Very well said.

If Jimmy says 90% of his songs are autobiographical, what's there to write about now?

I passed out in my hammock,
God, I slept way past noon.
Stood up and tried to focus,
I hoped I wouldn't have to look far.
I knew I could use a Bloody Mary,
So I stumbled next door to the bar.

One of my favourite songs...

How often does Jimmy pass out in a hammock all hungover in his front yard and stumble to the bar next door these days?
Dumb and drunk as I was, you know I would do it all again.
conched
Last Man Standing
Posts: 31408
Joined: June 26, 2001 8:00 pm

Post by conched »

I can't help but think about the comment Jimmy made after a guy at a record label listened to The Captain And The Kid and told Jimmy that it had potential, but the old man can't die in the end...

Jimmy claimed he was turned down by 23 record companies and recalls that he took that one rejection personally.
conched
Last Man Standing
Posts: 31408
Joined: June 26, 2001 8:00 pm

Post by conched »

Wino you know wrote:Jimmy hasn't lost ANYTHING.
He's the same fantastic songwriter he's always been.

He still "has it," he's ALWAYS "had it," and he'll always "have it."
Totally agree. And many, many people KNOW IT.
dnw
Last Man Standing
Posts: 42078
Joined: March 3, 2004 6:50 pm
Number of Concerts: 0
Location: South Georgia

Post by dnw »

conched wrote:
Wino you know wrote:Jimmy hasn't lost ANYTHING.
He's the same fantastic songwriter he's always been.

He still "has it," he's ALWAYS "had it," and he'll always "have it."
Totally agree. And many, many people KNOW IT.



ditto
Image


Debbie
changingchannels
License to Chill
Posts: 1278
Joined: September 18, 2002 1:37 am
Number of Concerts: 0
Location: Long Island

Post by changingchannels »

as a whole i would say its worse because the amount of songs he writes for each album has decreased.when you look at crap like simply complicated, conky tonkin',everybodys on the phone, hokey pokey its hard to argue otherwise.

but then you look at coastal confessions, farside of the world, coast of carolina, a salty piece of land, breath in, breath out,move on. then you would say absolutely not. he has written some incredible tunes the last 8 years but its been very very limited.
"I enjoy this life as a jester
Seems to keep me moving around
Like the wind that blows, tides that flow
I have my ups and downs"
SchoolGirlHeart
Last Man Standing
Posts: 76426
Joined: January 11, 2002 7:00 pm
Number of Concerts: 0
Location: Wherever the Music is Playing

Post by SchoolGirlHeart »

Left Field ParrotHead wrote:If Jimmy says 90% of his songs are autobiographical, what's there to write about now?
These days I'm up about the time I used to go to bed
Living large was once the deal now I watch the stars instead
They're timeless and predictable unlike most things that I do
I tell the wind and my old friend I'm headed home to you


:wink: 8)
Carry on as you know they would want you to do. ~~JB, dedication to Tim Russert

Take your time
Find your passion
Life goes on until it ends
Don’t stop living
Until then

~~Mac McAnally
Bryn
Nibblin' on sponge cake
Posts: 23
Joined: July 12, 2008 11:04 pm

Re: Has Jimmy Lost His Knack At Songwriting?

Post by Bryn »

With the debut of the new songs this summer, I figured I'd bring this up again. How do you guys feel they stack up against the rest of the catalog?
changingchannels
License to Chill
Posts: 1278
Joined: September 18, 2002 1:37 am
Number of Concerts: 0
Location: Long Island

Re: Has Jimmy Lost His Knack At Songwriting?

Post by changingchannels »

Bryn wrote:With the debut of the new songs this summer, I figured I'd bring this up again. How do you guys feel they stack up against the rest of the catalog?
i would say they are on par with what he has always done.they're better than "we're still here" and "simply complicated" but not as good as countless others.i will say this, i miss hearing a lot of steel drums and acoustic guitars ala the fruitcakes and barometer soups albums.
"I enjoy this life as a jester
Seems to keep me moving around
Like the wind that blows, tides that flow
I have my ups and downs"
Tiki Torches
At the Bama Breeze
Posts: 4374
Joined: October 23, 2006 5:15 pm

Re: Has Jimmy Lost His Knack At Songwriting?

Post by Tiki Torches »

Bryn wrote:With the debut of the new songs this summer, I figured I'd bring this up again. How do you guys feel they stack up against the rest of the catalog?
The songs I've heard from the current tour are downright horrible. It's hard to believe they come from the same guy that's given us so many precious gems in the past. When and if Buffet Hotel is ever released it's very likely going to be the first Buffett album I take a pass on. His decline into self-parody has been embarrassing to witness.
daddymention
I Love the Now!
Posts: 1553
Joined: April 24, 2002 8:00 pm
Favorite Buffett Song: Tryin' to Reason With Hurricane Season & Cowboy in the Jungle
Number of Concerts: 31
Favorite Boat Drink: Pizza Port Carlsbad- Poor Man's IPA & Zombies
Location: San Diego, CA

Re:

Post by daddymention »

weirdo0521 wrote:
LIPH wrote:I don't know if he's lost his knack for songwriting. I think, and this is just my opinion, music has taken a back seat to all the other crap the last few years. Bad tequila, bad beer, overpriced blenders, hotels, casinos, restaurants, shoes, ...

Notice what's missing? He's more a businessman than a musician now. Like that article in USA Weekend a few weeks ago said , he's become a "multimillionaire brand." That's the problem.
I agree with you. Same with the concerts. I don't feel the need to make every one like I did in the past. He's a bit of a victim of his own sucess.
I agree also...one show a year is good enough for me...I started buying the $86 ticket or the $30 lawn instead of the $130 ticket...the value just hasn't been there for me...the products are overkill and my t-shirt collection is shrinking...and the last time we were in Vegas - we skipped Margaritaville. Earlier this year, a couple of my friends asked me if I had heard the new song "Summerzcool"...and for one of the first times in my Buffett life....I was pretty embarassed to say yes...

...in fact, I'd rather have no more Buffett....than Summerzcool Buffett...just my take.
1ST CONCERT: SAT. AUG 6, 1988 - PACIFIC AMPHITHEATRE, COSTA MESA, CA - LOGE 11 SEC 2 ROW U SEAT 42 $20.35
SHOWS: DAVID-31, STEFANIA-27, SHANE-11, EMMA KATE-7
PARROT HEAD SINCE 1984
Post Reply