Friday Island Feel-Good Moment
Have you ever listened to Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" in the Florida Keys? Or Kenny Chesney's "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem" on Tortola? Or maybe you were enjoying a Caribbean getaway in Jamaica, and heard the perfect island song? I remember sitting at Rick's Cafe on the Negril cliffs, with my Island Runaways co-conspirator Zickie, a Red Stripe in my hand, when they started playing Bob Marley's classic reggae tune (and one of our favorites) Redemption Song. Life couldn't get much better than that...
(Photo (c) Trish Hartmann, Flickr)
A moment of happiness while you're looking at the ocean just got more blissful. Somehow, these tunes capture the scene, bottling up the warm sun and the sense of relaxation in their lyrics and guitar riffs. I'll never forget buying my first Jimmy Buffett album in Key West when I was 14 years old. (On cassette tape!) I'd never been a Buffett fan before, but after walking through the streets and getting into the Key West vibe, suddenly, songs like "Changes in Latitudes" made all the sense in the world.
The best part about discovering new island music while you're on an island runaway? When you return home to the mainland, every time you hear that song, you're transported instantly to the tropics. So, while unfortunately, we can't pack up Barbados or Jamaica into our suitcases to sneak back with us, we can bring the music.
Are you searching for some "Gulf & Western" beach tunes? Here's a link to what some consider the top 10 best. Click there and you'll see some good music videos. Want a quick MP3 download of an awesome Bob Marley album? Click here to visit the music store at the official Marley family website.
Hope you enjoy some cool tunes that bring the beauty of the islands flooding back to you. Happy Friday, fellow island lovers!