Cheeseburger In Paradise
Encyclopedia
"Cheeseburger in Paradise" is a song written and performed by American
popular music
singer Jimmy Buffett
. It appeared on his 1978
album Son of a Son of a Sailor
and was released as a single, reaching #32 on the Billboard
Hot 100. "Cheeseburger in Paradise" has become one of Buffett's best-known songs and was selected as the first track on his greatest hits
album Songs You Know by Heart
.
, Tortola
, British Virgin Islands
, he was surprised to find a restaurant serving American cheeseburger
s:
In 2002, Buffett's company Margaritaville Holdings LLC licensed the name of the song to OSI Restaurant Partners as the name of the Buffett-themed Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant chain. As of 2006, the restaurant has 38 locations in 17 states in the United States
.
A Cheeseburger in Paradise is a menu item at Buffett-owned Margaritaville Cafes
located in the United States, Mexico
, Canada, and the Caribbean
, as well as being on the menu at his siser Lucy's restaurant "Lulu's" in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Also, another lyrical-confusion
is in the second chorus, during the line "medium rare with Münster would be nice"; the line is commonly mistaken as saying mustard
instead of Münster
.
, spending March and April playing along the east coast and then the mid-west. June brought California dates which included a few shows opening for Jackson Browne
in San Jose
and Angels Camp, California
. August brought a Florida stadium tour with the Little River Band
and the Steve Miller Band
along with three shows in Atlanta and Miami which were recorded for the live album You Had To Be There
. Jimmy then took some much needed time off during the fall.
" and "Why Don't We Get Drunk
"—however, You Had to Be There chronicles some unusual inclusions, such as: "Miss You So Badly
" replaces "Mañana"; a new song "Perrier
Blues" emerges later in the tour; a rare performance of "The Captain and the Kid
" appeared during the acoustic set; and "Cheeseburger in Paradise" was ironically missing. The shows opened with "Son of a Son of a Sailor
" and closed with "Tampico Trauma" every night; and the encore typically consisted of "Morris' Nightmare", "Dixie Diner" (Larry Raspberry And The Highsteppers cover) and "Last Line" (Keith Sykes cover) respectively, with "Morris' Nightmare" closing the show only when it debuted in Boston
.
Encore:
Encore 2:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
popular music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
. It appeared on his 1978
1978 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1978.-January–April:*January 14 – The Sex Pistols play their final show at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom....
album Son of a Son of a Sailor
Son of a Son of a Sailor
Son of a Son of a Sailor is the ninth album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was initially released in March 1978 as ABC Dunhill AA-1046 and later rereleased on its successor label, MCA.-Chart performance:...
and was released as a single, reaching #32 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100. "Cheeseburger in Paradise" has become one of Buffett's best-known songs and was selected as the first track on his greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album Songs You Know by Heart
Songs You Know by Heart
Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett's Greatest Hit is the 18th album and the first greatest hits compilation by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released in January 1985 as MCA 5633...
.
History
According to Buffett's Margaritaville web site, the myth of the "cheeseburger in paradise" was inspired by a boat journey Buffett once took in the Caribbean. Buffett states that while subsisting on canned food and peanut butter, he envisioned eating a "piping hot cheeseburger". He reports that upon finally arriving in Road TownRoad Town
-See also:* Government House, the official residence of the Governor of the British Virgin Islands located in Road Town-External links:*****...
, Tortola
Tortola
Tortola is the largest and most populated of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands that form part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. Local tradition recounts that Christopher Columbus named it Tortola, meaning "land of the Turtle Dove". Columbus named the island Santa Ana...
, British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
, he was surprised to find a restaurant serving American cheeseburger
Cheeseburger
A cheeseburger is a hamburger with cheese that has been added to it. Traditionally, the cheese is placed on top of the patty, but the burger can include many variations in structure, ingredients, and composition...
s:
- ...we gave particular instructions to the waiter on how we wanted them cooked and what we wanted on them -- to which little attention was paid. It didn't matter. The overdone burgers on the burned, toasted buns tasted like manna from heaven, for they were the realization of my fantasy burgers on the trip.
Chart performance
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 32 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 24 |
Restaurant
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
A Cheeseburger in Paradise is a menu item at Buffett-owned Margaritaville Cafes
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville is the name of a United States-based casual dining American restaurant chain and a chain of stores selling Jimmy Buffett-themed merchandise...
located in the United States, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Canada, and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, as well as being on the menu at his siser Lucy's restaurant "Lulu's" in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Mondegreen
According to the lyrics found on the vinyl sleeve, Buffett sings "cheeseburger is Paradise" twice throughout the song. It is unclear whether he is actually saying in or is, but "cheeseburger is Paradise" can clearly be heard during live performances. Whether this is a fact for the studio version hasn't been confirmed.Also, another lyrical-confusion
Mondegreen
A mondegreen is the mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase as a result of near homophony, in a way that gives it a new meaning. It most commonly is applied to a line in a poem or a lyric in a song...
is in the second chorus, during the line "medium rare with Münster would be nice"; the line is commonly mistaken as saying mustard
Mustard (condiment)
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant...
instead of Münster
Munster (cheese)
Munster or Munster-géromé, is a strong tasting, soft cheese made mainly from milk from the Vosges, between Alsace, Lorraine and Franche-Comté in France....
.
Tour
1978 saw Jimmy begin his own tour with the Coral Reefer BandCoral Reefer Band
The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Originally it was a fictional band consisting of the imaginary members Marvin Gardens, Kay Pasa, Al Vacado and Kitty Litter....
, spending March and April playing along the east coast and then the mid-west. June brought California dates which included a few shows opening for Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
in San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
and Angels Camp, California
Angels Camp, California
Angels Camp, also known as City of Angels and formerly Angel's Camp, Angels, Angels City, Carson's Creek, and Clearlake, is the only incorporated city in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 3,835 at the 2010 census, up from 3,004 at the 2000 census...
. August brought a Florida stadium tour with the Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
and the Steve Miller Band
Steve Miller Band
The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California. The band is managed by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals, and is known for a string of mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of the classic rock radio format.-History:In 1965, Steve Miller and...
along with three shows in Atlanta and Miami which were recorded for the live album You Had To Be There
You Had to Be There
You Had to Be There: Recorded Live is a live double album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was initially released in October 1978 as ABC AK-1008/2 and later re-released on ABC's successor label MCA...
. Jimmy then took some much needed time off during the fall.
1978 Coral Reefer Band
- Jimmy Buffett: Vocals and guitar
- Barry Chance: Guitar
- Harry Dailey: Bass and background Vocals
- Deborah McColl: Background vocals
- Greg “Fingers” Taylor – Harmonica and background Vocals
- Jay Spell – Piano
- Michael UtleyMichael UtleyMichael Utley, often credited as Mike Utley, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer for Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. He is the musical director of the band...
– Organ - Kenneth Buttrey – Drums
Performance
The set list changed nightly, mainly with an acoustic set between "MargaritavilleMargaritaville
"Margaritaville" is a 1977 song by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett from the album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes. This song was written about a drink in Austin, Texas, and the first huge surge of tourists who descended on Key West almost two decades ago. He wrote...
" and "Why Don't We Get Drunk
Why Don't We Get Drunk
"Why Don't We Get Drunk" is a novelty song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was a b-side to the first single from his 1973 album A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean...
"—however, You Had to Be There chronicles some unusual inclusions, such as: "Miss You So Badly
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes is the breakthrough 1977 album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. The album, his eighth, remains the best-selling album of Buffett's career, and contains his biggest single, "Margaritaville"...
" replaces "Mañana"; a new song "Perrier
Perrier
Perrier is a brand of bottled mineral water made from a spring in Vergèze in the Gard département of France. The spring is naturally carbonated...
Blues" emerges later in the tour; a rare performance of "The Captain and the Kid
Havana Daydreamin'
Havaña Daydreamin' is the seventh album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and his fourth regular major label album. It was produced by Don Gant and was initially released in January 1976 as ABC Dunhill ABCD-914 and later rereleased on ABC Dunhill's successor label ...
" appeared during the acoustic set; and "Cheeseburger in Paradise" was ironically missing. The shows opened with "Son of a Son of a Sailor
Son of a Son of a Sailor (song)
"Son of a Son of a Sailor" is a song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It's the opening track of the 1978 album of the same name...
" and closed with "Tampico Trauma" every night; and the encore typically consisted of "Morris' Nightmare", "Dixie Diner" (Larry Raspberry And The Highsteppers cover) and "Last Line" (Keith Sykes cover) respectively, with "Morris' Nightmare" closing the show only when it debuted in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
Setlist
An average set list:- "Son of a Son of a Sailor"
- "Pencil Thin MustachePencil Thin Mustache"Pencil Thin Mustache," originally released as "Pencil Thin Moustache," is a song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released as a single on Dunhill D-15011 in August 1974.It was first released on his 1974 album Living & Dying in ¾ Time...
" - "Wonder Why We Ever Go Home"
- "Landfall"
- "Mañana"
- "Livingston Saturday Night"
- "Margaritaville"
- "Grapefruit—Juicy FruitGrapefruit—Juicy Fruit"Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit" is a song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was first released on his 1973 album A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean and was his third single from that album...
" (acoustic) - "Banana Republics" (Steve GoodmanSteve GoodmanSteve Goodman was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. The writer of "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
cover) (acoustic) - "He Went to Paris" (acoustic)
- "God's Own Drunk" (Richard BuckleyLord BuckleyLord Richard Buckley was an American stage performer, recording artist, monologist, and hip poet/comic...
cover) (acoustic) - "Why Don't We Get Drunk" (mostly performed with the Coral Reefer Band, but occasionally performed acoustically)
- "Coast of Marseilles" (Keith Sykes cover)
- "Cheeseburger in Paradise"
- "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in AttitudesChanges in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes (song)"Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" is the title of a song written and recorded by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released as a single on ABC Dunhill 12305 in August 1977....
" - "A Pirate Looks at FortyA Pirate Looks at Forty"A Pirate Looks at Forty" is a song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was first released on his 1974 album A1A and "Presents to Send You" is the B-side of the single....
" - "Come MondayCome Monday"Come Monday" is the title a song written and recorded by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was first released on his 1974 album Living & Dying in ¾ Time and was his first Top 40 hit single reaching #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as #3 Easy Listening and #58...
" - "Tampico Trauma"
Encore:
- "Morris' Nightmare"
- "Dixie Diner" (Larry Raspberry And The Highsteppers cover)
Encore 2:
- "The Last Line" (Keith Skyes cover)