Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Pittsburg Bar Infringes On Margaritaville Trademark
Check out this news story from wpxi in Pittsburg -
http://www.wpxi.com/news/18812939/detail.html

Jimmy Buffett Wants South Side Bar To Shut Down
Posted: 4:33 pm EST February 27, 2009
Updated: 6:23 pm EST February 27, 2009

PITTSBURGH -- A famous performer is involved in a bar battle with a Pittsburgh establishment. Jimmy Buffett's famous song coined the phrase "Wasting Away Again In Margaritaville."

Rich Rizzo and his son Brad said they're still in disbelief over the three page letter from Buffett's lawyers concerning their beloved South Side bar and restaurant.




Well honestly... what did they expect?

The idea of protecting a copyright is nothing new. Furthermore, it's not simple bullying. The idea of protecting a copyright, first and foremost, is to 1) protect your company's brand from individuals who may create confusion, 2) Control the flow of ideas and products that sport the brand name, and 3) ensure that the creator of the brand is adequately compensated for the time, effort and money that was spent on promoting the brand as a whole.



In this case, it's clear that the owner of the Pittsburg bar has, for some time now, enjoyed the benefit of relying on the good feelings and warm atmosphere that Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville has spent millions of dollars to create and maintain. It's not fair for one business to take a short cut and profit from the advertising efforts of another company. Otherwise, there's nothing stopping me from just renting a small space down the road and opening up my very own Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream parlor, regardless of how well I represent the name. In the short run it may not matter much to Ben & Jerry, but over time, as other ice cream parlors follow suit, confusion would run rampant, Ben & Jerry's would lose money and their image would suffer.



In this case, such a direct misuse of the company trademark, Margaritaville, is as egregious as it gets. The owner of the Pittsburg bar used the exact name of the company - not just a slogan, or a somewhat related reference. I'm at least liberal enough to think that a less confusing moniker may have sufficed, such as "Wasted Away", or "The Gypsie's Palace", or another less direct Buffett reference. The Parrotheads would get it, but the name would still be ambiguous enough as to not slight the Margaritaville company.



Just to be a rebel, I'm going to post the Margaritaville logo, with a link to the real cafe' and store.

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville

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posted by Pat Lewis @ 6:06 AM   0 comments
Friday, November 14, 2008
A Parrothead Balances Life And Lifestyle
To most, Parrotheads look very similar to one another at first glance. However, if you dig beneath the straw hats, t-shirts and beer bottles you'll see that while Parrotheads may look similar, we are as unique as fingerprints.

Having been a Parrothead now for a number of years (I can still count those years on one hand, however), I've seen my level of Parrotheadism bounce on the charts like the stock markets after a Bush speech.

I started out as a Buffett newbie, cranked it up a notch to being a Buffett enthusiast, then turned it up two more notches to being a Buffett fanatic. After a while, I leveled off to become a Buffett lover, and later cruised along as a Buffett student, finally landing (I think) as a Buffett graduate. For those of you who have maintained such enthusiasm for many years, I am sure you understand.

Like the tides, my life as a Buffett fan has an ebb and flow... sometimes seasonal, sometimes situational, somtimes even hormonal. One day I love Jimmy Buffett's music, and the next day I may love it a little less. Some days I find myself bored with the old stuff, but other days my wife and I dance in the kitchen to the yellow album.

As summer ends, the days shorten and the temperature drops. School kicks in and my kids are busier. Our pool goes into hibernation. We don't grill outside as much. We eat less seafood and I stay home more often. I recently started a new job and my mental vacationist attitude had to come home to reality for a while while I focused on my new surroundings. Sounds kind of sad, doesn't it?

Some Parrotheads even debate whether it's acceptable to "winterize" their Buffett albums. The debate is truly a hot one, with supporters camped on both sides of the issue.

The approaching Winter and fading Summer doesn't get me too down. Sure... I complain to my wife about it and I ache to lounge in my back yard pool area. I am saddened to see my hibiscus, ginger lillies and banana trees go into hibernation. I hate leaving before sun-up and returning home after dark five days a week. Still, even with all this, I know and understand and accept that it's good for me to have a break from the intense Parrothead lifestyle for a season. Indeed, I get to focus on other things and pay attention to new ideas. I get to look forward to the Spring and make plans with friends for next Summer. Oh... and my enthusiasm for Buffett music doesn't go away. I just tend to listen to more Buffett ballads that focus less on Summer and fun and more on life and relationships.

In the end, how we Parrotheads balance our life and lifestyle is as unique as our own fingerprint. The best part for me is simply knowing that Summer is coming, bay-fishing is only a few months off and it's ok to hunker down by the fire with a guitar and sing instead of hosting an outdoor gumbo cookoff. Winter is good. After all, like a sailor's appreciation and adherance to seasonal tradewinds and tidal changes... it is the same predictable rhythmic, seasonal changes that add constance and comfort to our Parrothead lives. At least it does to mine.

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posted by Pat Lewis @ 6:03 AM   0 comments
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
More Tropical Movies These Days
Is it just me, or is the movie industry making more tropical-themed movies these days? I don’t know what the stats are, really… but it seems like it. No matter, I just hope the Parrothead movie trend continues. We need something to replace the fading interest in American Westerns, anyway, right?

Fools Gold - I loved Fools Gold! I really did. It was silly and fun. Where there was nothing remarkably artistic or moving, it was whimsical, had great visuals, included a fun, talented cast and a fast-paced storyline. I was impressed with the way the cinematography included the use of high-altitude panoramas to suck the audience into the Caribbean setting. Still, there was little moral value, but it was definitely worth the $8 movie ticket.

Nim's Island was really fun! I took my 9 year-old daughter the other night and she loved it. She really wishes she could live on an island like that... just like Nim did. I really bought into the whole anti-tourism message when Nim bravely defended the island against the invading cruise ship passengers. Again, nothing particularly meritorious about the movie, but definitely not a flop. As family movies go, I thought it was delightful.

The Heartbreak Kid - A funny remake of a 1972 hit starring Cybil Shepherd and Charles Grodin that takes place down on the Pacific Mexican coast. Typical Ben Stiller stuff... what can you say? Interestingly, Ben Still also played a starring role in Jack Johnson's video, Taylor.

Surf's Up - Possibly one of Disney's best ever, IMO (and my teenage daughter happens to be a fabulous artist/animator AND a Disney shareholder). The visuals were AMAZING. Just the best state-of-the-art animation methods and detail, right down to the array of colors in the foamy, up-close wave shots.

Hoot – Okay, okay. Not the best movie ever made. But, it shows the willingness of a big-time production company (Walden Media) to undertake a children’s movie project with a less-than-fantastic script on the hopes that it would sell based on the setting, music and people involved. It was fun to see Jimmy Buffett in a big-screen acting role, and the cameo by his daughter, Delaney, was a nice plus, too.

Fifty First Dates – A winner from top to bottom. A great comedy cast, a beautiful setting, wonderful music and a clever story with a memorable message. The soundtrack really leaned into the whole Hawaiian theme. I was particularly glad that much of the story took place inland and not just on the beach.

I hope that the tropical movie trend continues. I just heard that Jack Johnson's new CD, Sleep Through The Static just went to number 1. What does that have to do with anything, you ask? Well... I believe that it's just a barometer, indicating that more mainstream Americans have clued in to the lure of the tropics, the music and the fun. {{Sigh}} I'm still waiting for Hollywood to announce filming on Where Is Joe Merchant. We can always dream.

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posted by Pat Lewis @ 2:50 PM   1 comments
Friday, April 11, 2008
Winterizing Jimmy Buffett

Welcome to Spring. Weather in Houston is a nice, balmy 80 degrees and the relative humidity is 64%. My pool has warmed up an additional 4 point this week alone, and now simmers at a comfortable 77. Considering that the immediate forecast calls for lots of sun and warm temperatures, the time seems ripe for some outdoor steaks, a cold light beer and lots of music.

There's been a lot of discussion on http://www.buffettnews.com/ about whether Parrotheads "winterize" their Jimmy Buffett music or not. Once the question was posed, the forum attendees then turned to the task of defining "winterizing". Like many things in our life, the definition remains fluid, and runs from one end of the spectum to another.

Some BuffettNews.com members had no trouble at all admitting that at the first crack of Autumn, they pack the CDs and other Parrothead paraphernalia and hunker down for a long, Buffett-less winter. Others indicated that they just listen to Jimmy less. Others, still, proudly announced that they'd never "winterize" Jimmy, and described in emotional detail how the spirit of the music helps them maintain their mental summer vacation lifestyle year-round.

Personally, I would never put my Buffett tunes into seasonal hibernation. However, I do admit that there's a certain feeling that leaves me in the Fall and returns again in the Spring. Don't get me wrong... living on the Gulf Coast ensures that I have a reasonable amount of spring-like weather all year, including the winter months, and all it takes is a warm, southerly breeze flying in from the sea to instantly put me back in the mood.

Additionally, some Trop Rock artists have written songs to help inspire feelings of nostalgia for warmer weather and tropical climates in the cool season. Examples include Jimmy's own Boat Drinks and When The Coast Is Clear, and Jake & The Half Conched Band's Current Conditions. Those songs really do help on a cold day. God bless them for that!

But now that Spring is here, we don't have to fake it any more, do we? Concert season is kicking into full swing, warm temperatures are dominating, and the smell of backyard barbeques all combine to help put me into a good mood. And more importantly, I am so glad that I don't have to dig through my master closet to open up and dust off the music that has kept me happy through the dead season.

No sir. I'll never "winterize" Jimmy Buffett.

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posted by Pat Lewis @ 11:14 AM   0 comments
Friday, January 11, 2008
What Stage of Parrothead-ism are you in?
The authorities at the Palm Beach Parrot Head club wrote a small piece that constitutes the definitive work on what actually constitutes a Parrothead. This is an excerpt from that piece entitled:

10 Stages of A Parrot Head

1. Jimmy Who...Who the hell is Buffett, oh that guy who did (choose one)
a. Margaritaville
b. Cheeseburger in Paradise
c. Why don't We Get Drunk and Screw.
d. Spells Buffett with one "t"

2. Oh it's with two "t's"
Buys "Songs You Know by Heart" because he heard "that one song" at a party. Starts hearing all about the wild concerts and openly declares to the world that he/she is a parrot head. Goes out and buys thatHawaiian shirt they wanted all their life, or at least since last week.

3. Look at me, I'm a parrot head.
Goes to a Jimmy Buffett concert and is amazed by all things parrothead. Loved the show but can't remember any of it through the alcoholic haze.

4. One Particular Parrot
Decides they should buy a few more albums so that the old timers will stop laughing at them when Jimmy plays "One Particular Harbour" and he/she says "that's a great song, I've never heard it."

5. Domino College
Buys the box set so they don't have to buy all the old albums. Still gets laughed at or ignored because they've never heard "Migration", and "Cowboy", The good news is she/he knows "Fins" well enough to move his/her hands the right way at the concert.

6. Buffett is God
Starts collecting the albums, buys a couple more Hawaiian shirts, maybe even a coconut bra. Has two concert tees, and a subscription to the Coconut Telegraph. Suddenly has a burning need to find out allthat is Buffett. Considers Buffett to be GOD, 'though they've never heard the song "God's Own Drunk". Actually believes Buffett is a beach bum.NOTE: Some people never get passed this stage...

7. Say it Ain't so Jimmy.
Is reading everything there is on Buffett and is getting a little disillusioned. They are closing their ears and screaming "say it ain't so" when people criticize their "hero". No one stays at this stage for very long They either punt and return to Stage 6 or move to Stage 8.

8. Screw Buffett...
Accuse Buffett of being a heretic, Accuse him of selling out ... and all the concerts sound the same...Screw Buffett; This is also a dead end stage for many fans. Cancel subscription to CT, complains aboutconcerts and new records and every other money grubbing venture Mr. Margaritaville is wrapped up in. Hates it when his/her non parrothead friends label him/her a parrot head.

9. My name is ...... and I listen to Buffett music.
Comes to the realization that Buffett is human, and deals with it, with the help of other Buffett fans or some internal strength. Understands the myth, and to some degree, the man who created it and finds compromise somewhere between stage 6 and stage 8. Can't buy anymore albums because they have them all, already. Enjoys the music for what it represents, which is why they bought it in the first place and ignore all the other bullshit as best as possible, without forsaking their own moral standards.

10. [Settled In]
If you reach stage nine and still continuously listen to Buffett and enjoy the concerts and the lifestyle....you, my friend, are a Parrothead.

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posted by Pat Lewis @ 7:51 AM   1 comments
Thursday, January 10, 2008
My Parrothead Conversion Story



I suppose my love for tropical music began about 2 and a half years ago. My older brother had come down for a visit and insisted that I listen to some Buffett tunes with him in the mall parking lot while we waited for our wives to finish shopping. By the end of the 3rd track of Don't Stop The Carnival, I knew I had found something special.

Soon after, I bought Buffett's Barometer Soup album and learned every word to every song. The themes and stories behind the songs told me that this wasn't just novelty music. This was sophisticated storytelling wrapped in sweet guitars and steel drums.


I had always liked country music, but I just never shared the American Country Music scene's affinity with horses, rodeos, cowboys, rednecks, big hats and pickup trucks. So while I liked the music, the subjects never really struck a responsive chord within me. However, being a child of the water (I grew up on the Gulf Coast. My family actually had a small shrimp boat when I was a teenager, and I had spent great time near the ocean in the Coast Guard) I immediately understood the connection between the country sound and ocean life.

Growing up, my life was filled with music. My dad was an old-style honky-tonk singer in the early 60's, touring the North Texas bar circuit. At the age of 12 I seriously began playing guitar and played in bands until my marriage at the age of 21. After that, my performances were typically limited to campfire gatherings or just entertaining my kids and their friends in the living room.

Not long ago, my boss gave me a Martin D-38 for Christmas (I know) and I fell in LOVE with the sound. Also, I've begun playing the ukulele, and guess what? I'm pretty darned good! :-) In fact, I play my uke way more often lately. I even took the ukulele to Jamaica with my family in November and my daughter and I sang Bob Marley's Three Little Birds in the resort talent show together. It really was magical.

So, two years after the mall parking lot experience, I've got 2 Buffett concerts under my belt, I've visited 4 different Margaritaville Cafe's in 2 different countries and I've built a website to monumentalize the genre that feeds my soul.

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posted by Pat Lewis @ 6:09 AM   0 comments
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Where Is Your Own Personal Margaritaville?

Jimmy talks a lot about his early days in the Catholic church and how he grew up fearing for his eternal soul.

Similarly, I was also a member of a large, organized, world-wide church. Everything I had (my time, my talents, my energy and mostly, my money) went to fund the ideas and dreams of others, who supposedly knew better than I, what I should be doing with my life. It seemed that everything was scripted for me.

Then, one day a couple of years ago, I decided to live by the choices and virtues that I felt were right and good rather than by those imposed upon me by old white men who were convinced they had an "in" with God.

Everyone needs their own personal Margaritaville. So where is my Margaritaville? I think I've found it. My own personal Margaritaville is a small, square office without windows where I spend roughly 50 hours per week to pay for the things I need on my own trip around the sun. The weather is always fine... a brisk 72 degrees and an endless supply of diet coke from the soda machine next door. I have a fan, a comfortable chair, and a never-ending resource of music, courtesy of Radio Margaritaville. I also get to see what other Parrotheads are up to by checking in at BuffettNews.com.

I'm thankful that at this season of my life I've discovered how to live easier, while loving more and worrying less. Over the last few months, I feel like I've FINALLY started to learn how to live. And, I've learned that living isn't about what you're doing... it's about how you're doing. And right now, I'm doing just fine.

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posted by Pat Lewis @ 3:49 PM   0 comments
What IS Trop Rock, Anyway?

Someone recently asked me "What IS Trop Rock, anyway?"

Errr... not such an easy answer, when you think about it, I guess. But, being an ambassador of the lifestyle, so to speak, I've given it some thought and I think I finally know the answer. In short, Trop-Rock is a group of musically similar styles that appeal to those who feel a strong affiliation or connection to the tropics.

Trop Rock is broken up into a subset of tropical genres that can be identified as:

Tropical Jazz - as in Jimmy Buffett's Creola, Gene Mitchell's Tropical Express or James Taylor's Only A Dream In Rio. Cool, smooth jazz and sophisticated chord progressions create a soft mood with equatorial rhythms, accentuated by subtle percussion sounds with easy stylized melodies.

Island Country – exemplified by Buffett's classic, Margaritaville, Alan Jackson's It's Five O'clock Somewhere, and any tune from Brent Burns' CD, Ragtops And Flip Flops. Although the instruments and chord progressions are certainly derived from American Country music, the lyrics and percussion instruments used to create the tropical, vacation-like mood are evident. It's usually within this realm that newbie Parrotheads discover their tropical side. As one veteran Bubba follower once said, "Just go to the store, buy the A1A CD and learn every word. The rest will happen on it's own".

Latin-Tropic or Spicy Island – This is a relatively new and experimental area for Trop Rock troubadours, usually reserved for the most experienced and secure artists. Jimmy Buffett's Party At The End of The World, Kelly McGuire's It's A Mystery, and Captain Quint's Port Royal are a few that exemplify this wonderful set. Distinctively Latin rhythms and island percussionists drive emotionally charged, exciting songs, usually in a minor key. The chord progressions are typically very sophisticated as compared to the more traditional Island Country subset. If you want to get a Parrothead party going from the get-go, just throw on Everybody's Got A Cousin In Miami and let it rip.

Island Rock – This is an easy one and easily the favorite of many Buffett fans. Not only did Jimmy Buffett invent this style, he has continued to hone and perfect it, setting the standard for other budding artists like him. Funloving, flavorful tunes that incorporate the most familiar instruments, rhythms and sounds include, Coconut Telegraph, Lage Nom Ai, One Particular Harbor, Jolly Mon Sing, Havana Daydreamin' and the like.

Ultimately, it's up to every island enthusiast to determine his or her own set of standards for what constitutes a true Trop Rock song. New artists are already breaking into the scene, creating their own unique styles and gaining their own following. A good example is Jack Johnson. How could anyone ever classify Jack Johnson? I certainly can't. And then there's the new invasion of the Pacific Islanders led by Jake Shimabukuro, Jeff Peterson and Bobby Ingano.

The good news is that there's really no end to all the good that world music can bring. In the immortal declaration of Rufus (referring to the music of Ted "Theodore" Logan and Bill S. Preston, esquire) he states that [their] music would help peace come to the world, there would be no more poverty, the planets would come into alignment, and there would be universal harmony. Personally, I'd like to think there's something to that.

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posted by Pat Lewis @ 11:08 AM   0 comments
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