South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Jimmy Buffett takes musical shots at Republicans in West Palm Beach
Florida music legend Jimmy Buffett supported the Sunshine State’s Democratic ticket on Saturday, performing a free concert in West Palm Beach and changing lyrics to take shots at Gov. Rick Scott and President Donald Trump.
The singer embraced Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on stage after they delivered brief speeches urging the Parrot Head crowd at Meyer Amphitheater to vote on Tuesday.
“These are your guys,” Buffett said. “This is your ticket. … There are better days ahead.”
He then breezed through some of his best-known hits drawn from the Florida landscape. He started the show with “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” noting that it fit with the event’s theme.
On “Margaritaville,” he changed up the lyrics to take aim at Nelson’s opponent — “Some people claim there’s a red tide to blame, but I know it’s all Rick Scott’s fault.”
He sang during “Come Monday” that “it’s been two insane years, and it’s time to really switch gears.” He ablibbed during “Volcano” that he didn’t want to “land on no Mar-a-Lago.” Trump’s Palm Beach estate is just across the Intracoastal Waterway from the venue.
The crowd wore shirts reading “Gillum for governor,” “Dump Trump” and “Nevertheless She Voted.” They danced during Buffett’s performance and chanted “bring it home.”
The candidates delivered short speeches — not wanting to keep the audience from Buffett’s tunes.
Gillum, who is mayor of Tallahassee, acknowledged the shooting Friday at a yoga studio in his city that left two people and the Jimmy Buffett delivered a free performance Saturday in West Palm Beach to support Democratic candidates Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson.
shooter dead and five others injured. Gillum briefly left the campaign trail to meet with two people who had been wounded.
He said he talked with one person who had suffered six bullet wounds and another who had a bullet go through her back, collapsing her lungs, when she was in a down dog yoga position.
“It only for me underscores what we have to do just three days from now when we send an unapologetic message to the NRA that their time is up in the state of Florida,” Gillum told the crowd. “Enough is enough. … My opinion is simple: If you want the power of God at your waist belt, you ought to at least have a background check.”
Nelson, who is vying for a fourth term in the Senate,
came on stage dancing to “Eye of the Tiger.” He said, “You are here today because you know what is at stake.”
Republicans shot back, issuing a statement saying Nelson and Gillum haven’t accomplished anything “to make Florida a Parrot Head paradise.”
“No amount of time ‘wasted away again in Margaritaville,’ can erase that,” said Taryn Fenske, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.
Some in the crowd came for politics, but others just wanted to catch a free Buffett show.
Alice Josaphouitch, 67, of West Palm Beach, wore a button that read, “Parrot Heads for Gillum.”
“I am here for democracy,” she said. “I think it’s a shame the way things are
going.”
But Joe Berger, 62, of Lake Worth, said he was mainly interested in the show. He said he’s seen Buffett at least 10 times, dating back to the 1970s.
“It’s feel-good music,” he said. “Southern lifestyle. No cares. No worries.”
Buffett is no stranger to politics. On Aug. 23, he performed a free show in Hollywood to support former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, who lost in the primary to Gillum.
Buffett told the crowd he’s feeling optimistic about Election Day.
“There will be a party Tuesday night,” he said. “I promise.” The campaigns of Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum have not outlined how the winner of Tuesday’s gubernatorial election would travel when no longer driving and flying on the dollars of political contributors.