Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” is one of the most recognizable and beloved songs of the late 70s and early 80s. Released in 1979, the song was a massive hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming a timeless classic. The song’s catchy melody and clever lyrics have made it an enduring favorite, and it is still enjoyed today.
Rupert Holmes’ "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)"
The song was written and performed by singer-songwriter Rupert Holmes. It was released as a single from Holmes’ fourth studio album, Partners in Crime. The song soon became a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and Canada, and staying there for ten weeks. The song was also a hit in the UK, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart.
Exploring the Song’s Lyrics
The song follows the story of a man who is looking for a new romantic connection after becoming bored with his current relationship. The opening lines of the song are: “I was tired of my lady, we’d been together too long / Like a worn out recording, of a favorite song”. The man then places an ad in the newspaper, asking for someone with “the qualities he misses so much”.
The chorus of the song is perhaps the most memorable part. It goes: “If you like piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain / If you’re not into yoga, if you have half a brain / If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape / I’m the love that you’ve looked for, write to me, and escape”.
The man in the song then goes in search of his potential love interest, and finds her at a local bar. He soon discovers that she is looking for the same thing he is, and they end up spending the night together. The song ends with the man and woman together, having found what they were looking for.
Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” is an enduring classic, and its clever lyrics and catchy melody have made it a timeless favorite. The song’s story of a man and woman finding each other, despite the odds, has resonated with listeners for decades, making it one of the most beloved songs of its time.
Known in popular culture as “the Piña Colada Song”, Escape (The Piña Colada Song) was released in 1979 by Rupert Holmes and it remains one of the most recognized love songs of all time. The lyrics, written by Holmes, tell of a man in an unhappy relationship who resorts to placing a personal ad in an attempt to rekindle the excitement he once had.
The song starts with the man essentially telling the reader of the ad that he is far from satisfied in the stale relationship he finds himself in and goes on to describe his ideal mate. He is specific in his search for a woman who enjoys the same activities and interests and who shares the same love of epicurean delights as he does. He also mentions that even after all these years, he still finds his companion is a stranger and can only bring to mind “vague memories” of the more exotic times they’ve spent together.
The chorus of the song represents the man’s idea of the perfect getaway from the dull relationship he’s stuck in. He vividly dreams of the two of them engaging in a tropical paradise, sharing a piña colada, and enjoying making love “all morning take to me away”.
The song was an instant international success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks in December of 1979 and winning the 1979 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. While the song remains a classic and regularly makes top song lists, the author himself has disavowed any attempts to replicate its success, saying he has nothing to add to a masterpiece that’s complete in its own right.
Escape (The Piña Colada Song) is a timeless classic that has touched hearts, captured imaginations and aims to transport the listener to an exquisite tropical paradise. Whether listeners are fellow travelers, in an unsatisfactory relationship of their own or simply fans of romance and travel, Escape (The Piña Colada Song) has something for everyone.
