Escape

Rupert Holmes

About Escape

"Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" is a song written and recorded by British-born American singer Rupert Holmes for his album Partners in Crime. As the lead single for the album, the pop song was recommended by Billboard for radio broadcasters on September 29, 1979, then added to prominent US radio playlists in October–November. Rising in popularity, the song peaked at the end of December to become the final US number one song of the 1970s. The song is featured in many films and TV shows such as Shrek, Guardians of the Galaxy, Grown Ups, the Netflix movie Like Father, Third Watch, The Goldbergs, Splitting Up Together, Living with Yourself and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  


Year:
2005
91 
#1

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I was tired of my lady, we´d been together too long
Like a worn-out recording, of a favorite song
So while she lay there sleeping, I read the paper in bed
And in the personals column, there was this letter I read

"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"

I didn´t think about my lady, I know that sounds kind of mean
But me and my old lady, had fallen into the same old dull routine
So I wrote to the paper, took out a personal ad
And though I´m nobody´s poet, I thought it wasn´t half bad

"Yes, I like Piña Coladas, and getting caught in the rain
I´m not much into health food, I am into champagne
I´ve got to meet you by tomorrow noon, and cut through all this red tape
At a bar called O'Malley's, where we´ll plan our escape"

So I waited with high hopes, then she walked in the place
I knew her smile in an instant, I knew the curve of her face
It was my own lovely lady, and she said, "Oh, it´s you"
And we laughed for a moment, and I said, "I never knew"

"That you liked Piña Coladas, and getting caught in the rain
And the feel of the ocean, and the taste of champagne
If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape
You´re the lady that I´ve looked for, come with me, and escape"

"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

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Rupert Holmes

Rupert Holmes (born February 24, 1947) is a British and American composer, singer-songwriter, musician and author of plays, novels and stories. He is best known for his number one pop hit "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" (1979/1980) and the song "Him", which reached the number 6 position on the Hot 100 U.S. pop chart in 1980. He is also known for his 1985 Tony Award-winning musical Drood (originally The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and his 2007 Drama Desk Award-winning book for the Broadway musical Curtains, and for his television series Remember WENN. more »

2 fans

Written by: Rupert Holmes

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


20 facts about this song

Genre
"Escape" is a song in the genre of Soft Rock and Pop.
Release Date
Released on September 21, 1979, as an album track in "Partners in Crime."
Chart Performance
It was the number-one hit song on the hot 100 Billboard chart in the US, at the end of the year of 1979.
Songwriter and Singer
The song was both written and recorded by the British-born American singer Rupert Holmes.
Full Name of the Song
Although commonly referred to as "Escape," the full title of the song is "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" due to its memorable lyrics referencing the cocktail.
Unusual Achievement
“Escape” has the distinction of being the only song to ascend to the top position of the Billboard Hot 100 twice in two different years - 1979 and 1980.
Musical Style
Holmes has remarked that he used a Rupert Holmes type of chord progression in the song and characterized the instrumentation as having a "tropical lilt".
Inspiration
Holmes got the inspiration for "Escape" from an ad in a newspaper's personals column.
Other Recordings
The song has also been recorded by other artists like Jack Johnson, Tom Cruise, and Jason Derulo in different variations.
Movie Appearances
“Escape” has been featured in various movies including Guardians of the Galaxy, Shrek and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Onscreen Performance
Rupert Holmes performed “Escape” on the TV show 'Solid Gold' in 1980.
Parody
A parody of the song by “Weird Al” Yankovic called “Addicted to Spuds” was released in 1986.
Unexpected Ending
The song tells the story of a man who responds to a personals ad in a newspaper, only to find out in the end that it was his own partner who had posted the ad, alluding to the deeper connection the two share.
Album
It was included in the album "Partners in Crime" which was Rupert Holmes' seventh studio album.
In other Media
Besides movies,it has also been featured in a number of TV series and advertisements including The Simpsons and Tostitos.
Reference to a Drink
Despite its name, the Piña Colada was not popular in the US prior to the song and Holmes did not particularly like the drink. He chose it purely for its rhythm and exotic image.
Cover Versions
"Escape" has been covered by several artists, and has appeared on the albums of bands such as the Sugarhill Gang.
Critic's View
Despite its commercial success, the song received mix views from music critics with some viewing it as a catchy tune while others criticized it as fluffy and cheesy.
Replay
The song consistently reappears on Billboard charts decades after its release as it has seen spikes due to radio play during summer seasons.
Last Top Hit
"Escape" was the last number-one Billboard Hot 100 song of the 1970s.

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