Escape (song)

"Escape" (later known as "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)") was the highest-charting hit for Rupert Holmes, and is one of the most easily-recognized songs of the past few decades. To this day, Holmes regards the song with a mixture of pride and chagrin; while it has made him wealthy and famous, as one of his friends described it, it is "the success that ruined his career", drawing attention from his more serious and heartfelt musical works. Ironically, Holmes does not care for piña coladas.

Career

After its release as a single, the song became immediately popular, though sales were slow due to the song's actual title, "Escape" going unnoticed in the place of the oft-repeated cocktail. Holmes reluctantly agreed to rename the song "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)". The song shot up through the charts, becoming the last #1 Billboard hit of the 1970s and the first of the 1980s, and has made appearances in such movies as Shrek and Mars Attacks!. While Holmes has since had a successful career as a playwright and novelist, and many feel affection for his other musical works, this song remains his most recognizable trademark. Holmes himself joked "No matter what else I do, my tombstone will be a giant pineapple."

Related Topics:
Single - 1970s - 1980s - Shrek - Mars Attacks! - Playwright - Novelist

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