"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 No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Cheeseburger in Paradise" became one of Buffett's signature songs, and was selected as the first track on his greatest hits album Songs You Know by Heart.[1][2]
| "Cheeseburger in Paradise" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover of the Japanese 7-inch single[a] | ||||
| Single by Jimmy Buffett | ||||
| from the album Son of a Son of a Sailor | ||||
| B-side | "African Friend" | |||
| Released | March 1978 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:51 | |||
| Label | ABC | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jimmy Buffett | |||
| Producer(s) | Norbert Putnam | |||
| Jimmy Buffett singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "Cheeseburger in Paradise" (studio version) by Jimmy Buffett on YouTube | ||||
| "Cheeseburger in Paradise" (live, 1999) by Jimmy Buffett on YouTube | ||||
| Live video | ||||
| "Cheeseburger in Paradise" (live) by Jimmy Buffett on YouTube | ||||
Content
editThe song is about a man who "is trying to amend his carnivorous habits" with health food such as sunflower seeds, but it was inspired by an experience that actually happened to Buffett: he had been forced to eat only canned food and peanut butter due to a boating mishap in the Caribbean, but eventually made it to landfall and managed to order the song's titular dish in paradise ("Roadtown on the island of Tortola").[1][2][3] A Jeopardy! contestant claimed on the April 29, 2024 episode that his grandmother's restaurant on Harbor Island in The Bahamas was the restaurant.[4] However, other burger restaurants in the Caribbean have claimed to be the inspiration for the song as well.
Reception
editCash Box praised the bass line and vocals.[5] Record World said that it "rocks with a hint of country, and has a hand-clapping segment that is especially appealing" and that it makes for "most amusing listening."[6]
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Top Singles[7] | 27 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 32 |
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[9] | 22 |
Diner
edit
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. In 2006, the restaurant had 38 locations in 17 states in the United States and one in Sydney, Australia. By 2018 only a single restaurant in Secaucus, New Jersey remained of the chain.[10] The last location closed in September 2020.
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 sister Lucy's restaurant "Lulu's" in Gulf Shores, Alabama.[11] [12]
Misheard lyrics
editAccording 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.[13] Whether this is a fact for the studio version has not been confirmed.
Also, another lyrical confusion is in the second chorus, during the line "medium rare with 'Muenster'd' be nice"; the line is commonly mistaken as saying mustard instead of Muenster.[14]
Footnotes
edit- ^ The U.S. single did not have a picture cover but was issued with a standard ABC Records cover.
References
edit- ^ a b "Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett". SongFacts. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
- ^ a b "FAQ". Margaritaville. Archived from the original on May 29, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
- ^ "Jimmy Buffett's Support Helps St. Barts Move Forward". New York Times. April 7, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ DeBianchi, Antonia (April 30, 2024). "Jeopardy! Contestant Says His Grandmother's Restaurant Inspired Jimmy Buffett's Song 'Cheeseburger in Paradise'". People. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 29, 1978. p. 28. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 29, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - June 17, 1978" (PDF).
- ^ "Jimmy Buffett Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ "Jimmy Buffett Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ King, Rebecca (December 28, 2018). "Cheeseburger in Paradise, a once-thriving chain, down to one location in New Jersey". USA Today. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ Lulu's – Our Story Archived November 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine lulubuffet.com
- ^ Best Cheeseburger recipe[permanent dead link] apnimauj.com
- ^ Jimmy Buffett – Cheeseburger In Paradise YouTube
- ^ Jimmy's Discography Archived April 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville