"Surfing in a Hurricane"
Song by Jimmy Buffett
from the album Buffet Hotel
ReleasedDecember 8, 2009
Recorded2009
GenrePop rock, Surf rock
Length4:26
LabelMailboat
Songwriter(s)Jimmy Buffett, Will Kimbrough
Producer(s)

"Surfing in a Hurricane" is a song performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, and written by Buffett and Will Kimbrough. It is the ninth track from his 2009 album Buffet Hotel.[1]

Live performances

The song had been introduced to setlists over eleven months before its studio recording release on Buffet Hotel. Its live debut was on January 13, 2009 at the Anegada Reef Hotel in Anegada, British Virgin Islands. "Surfing in a Hurricane" would remain in the setlist for every show during that year's Summerzcool Tour,[2] where it would be promoted as Buffett's first surf song. While "Surfing in a Hurricane" was Buffett's first penned surf song, he actually did a surf rendition of "Up on the House Top" on his 1996 Christmas album Christmas Island.

Hurricane Florence

"Surfing in a Hurricane" gained notability in September 2018 when Buffett tweeted that he would join Folly Beach surfers for one last ride before Hurricane Florence would hit. News outlets immediately noted Buffett's tweet as him bringing "Surfing in a Hurricane" to fruition; some fans responded to the tweet with concern for his safety, while others criticized Buffett for potentially influencing others to attempt a dangerous act. Shannon Green of the Orlando Sentinel called Buffett's tweet irresponsible, and noted that someone with such a large fanbase should be more careful how about influential his words are.[3] However, some of this criticism is thought to derive from people not realizing his tweet was a direct quote from his song "Surfing in a Hurricane", and that he was not encouraging such reckless behavior.[4] Buffett immediately sent an updated tweet, advising that nobody should attempt anything dangerous, respect mother nature and abide by the authority's warnings.[5][6][7][8]

Notes

  1. ^ "Buffet Hotel – Mailboat Store View". Mailboat Records. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "Surfing in a Hurricane by Jimmy Buffett Song Statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  3. ^ Green, Shannon (September 13, 2018). "Jimmy Buffett South Carolina surfing photo sends irresponsible message about hurricane safety". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  4. ^ Mortiz-Rabson, Daniel (September 14, 2018). "'I AIN'T AFRAID OF DYING': JIMMY BUFFETT GOES SURFING IN SOUTH CAROLINA BEFORE HURRICANE FLORENCE". Newsweek. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  5. ^ Leasca, Stacey (September 14, 2018). "Jimmy Buffett Goes 'Surfing in a Hurricane' in Most Jimmy Buffett Move Ever". Travel and Leisure. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  6. ^ Wilson, Samantha (September 14, 2018). "Jimmy Buffett, 71, Braves Hurricane Florence To Surf in Dangerous Conditions: 'I Ain't Afraid Of Dying'". Hollywood Life. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  7. ^ "'Surfing in a Hurricane': Jimmy Buffett surfs in SC ahead of Florence". ABC News 4. September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Thebault, Reis (September 13, 2018). "It's hurricane-o'clock somewhere and Jimmy Buffett just lived out a lyric thanks to Florence". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
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