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Kenny Chesney has shared a touching cover of ‘A Pirate Looks at Forty’ by his late friend, Jimmy Buffett, following the ‘Margaritaville’ hitmaker's death on September 1.
Chesney accompanied the clip with a heartfelt tribute to his fellow Beach Country pioneer, “So goodbye Jimmy. Thanks for your friendship and the songs I will carry in my heart forever. Sail On Sailor”.
Amidst the sea of moving tributes pouring in for Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney's message and cover feel particularly poignant, given the unquestionable impact Buffett has had on Chesney's sound and creative direction over the years.
The song that first sparked Kenny Chesney's interest in a sun-soaked, island-inspired brand of country music was his 90's hit, ‘How Forever Feels’, during which he name-checks Buffett himself, “Coconut oil, tan and señoritas / Oh, now I know how Jimmy Buffett feels”.
The two artists collaborated on Kenny Chesney's revamped version of Buffett's 1974 fan-favourite, ‘Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season’, which appeared on Chesney's 2018 project, Songs for the Saints.
The decision to cover ‘A Pirate Looks at Forty’ as part of his tribute to Jimmy Buffett feels especially apt, with the wistful song exploring Buffett's changing perspective on life as grew older. Across the peaceful strum of his acoustic guitar, a barefoot, beachside Kenny Chesney looks out to sea as he delivers the wistful lyrics.
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