FALL 2018, Issue #123: THE BEACH BOYS - "Kokomo" and Beyond

About the Song

The Beach Boys, renowned for their sun-soaked harmonies and surf-inspired sound, transported listeners to a tropical paradise with their 1988 hit, “Kokomo”. This upbeat and infectious track is a celebration of escapism and the allure of exotic destinations.

“Kokomo” paints a vivid picture of a fictional island paradise, evoking images of crystal-clear waters, swaying palm trees, and endless summer days. The song’s lyrics, filled with evocative imagery and romantic nostalgia, invite listeners to join the band on a dream vacation.

The Beach Boys’ signature harmonies shine throughout the song, creating a sense of warmth and nostalgia. The catchy melody and rhythmic guitar riffs further enhance the song’s tropical vibe. The addition of steel drums and other Caribbean instruments adds an authentic touch, immersing listeners in the island atmosphere.

“Kokomo” became a massive commercial success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming one of The Beach Boys’ most popular songs. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its upbeat tempo, catchy chorus, and nostalgic lyrics. The song continues to be a beloved classic, often played on radio stations and used in films and television shows.

Whether you’re dreaming of a tropical getaway or simply looking for a feel-good song to brighten your day, “Kokomo” by The Beach Boys is the perfect choice.Kokomo: how The Beach Boys' most detested song was made

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Lyrics: Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya
Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego
Baby why don’t we go
JamaicaOff the Florida Keys
There’s a place called Kokomo
That’s where you wanna go
To get away from it all
Bodies in the sand
Tropical drink melting in your hand
We’ll be falling in love
To the rhythm of a steel drum band
Down in KokomoAruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take you to
Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama
Key Largo Montego
Baby why don’t we go
Ooh I wanna take you down to Kokomo
We’ll get there fast
And then we’ll take it slow
That’s where we wanna go
Way down in KokomoMartinique, that Montserrat mystique

We’ll put out to sea
And we’ll perfect our chemistry
By and by we’ll defy
A little bit of gravity
Afternoon delight
Cocktails and moonlit nights
That dreamy look in your eye
Give me a tropical contact high
Way down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take you to
Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama
Key Largo Montego
Baby why don’t we go
Ooh I wanna take you down to Kokomo
We’ll get there fast
And then we’ll take it slow
That’s where we wanna go
Way down in Kokomo

Port au Prince, I wanna catch a glimpse

Everybody knows a little place like Kokomo
Now if you wanna go to get away from it all
Go down to Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take you to
Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama
Key Largo Montego
Baby why don’t we go
Ooh I wanna take you down to Kokomo
We’ll get there fast
And then we’ll take it slow
That’s where we wanna go
Way down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take you to
Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego
Baby why don’t we go
Ooh I wanna take you down to

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?