"That's Why God Made the Radio" lyric video (full official song on Youtube)

[pixletwin]

The song sounds like it's from the early '90s, both the tune and the production. 

Really? In what way would you say the production of this differs from Brian's last 3 albums?

[Wirestone]

The song sounds like it's from the early '90s, both the tune and the production. 

No, it doesn't. Unless self-consciously retro homages to 1964 Beach Boys were all the rage in the early 90s.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

gonna file this in the guilty pleasure section cos if im honest...Its something I enjoy listening too but it wouldnt stand up to any critical analysis.

very poor lyrics, awful middle 8

expecting more of the same but worse from "Think About The Days,” “Beaches In Mind,”and “Summer’s Gone.”

happy enough though as I had no expectations particularly when I heard Joe Thomas was involved.

still...cant wait for the concert

[Too Much Sugar]

It's strange, but as I listen to the full song more, I'm more conflicted about it.  

There's a lot of things I like about it.  For instance, Brian sounds great and youthful.  The harmonies are quite good and the tag at the end is great.  The verses are quite nice with a good chord progression, albeit a bit derivative, but, musically, the song is, for the most part, nicely developed and catchy.  The production is tasteful.  A little slick for my tastes, but it's not "Imagination" either and it's their best production since "Light Album".  So I'm cool with all of that.  It's definitely the most "Beach Boys sounding record" since, perhaps, "Good Timin'".  That stuff is good.  

But then there's things that bug the crap out of me.  Musically, the song is nostalgia in a tasteful sense, but lyrically, it's nostalgia in the worst way; over sentimentalism and kitschy.  I can live with a little corniness (I am a Beach Boys fan, after all), but, outside of a few lines, the lyrics are cringe worthy and simplistic.  Writing a song as an ode to radio (even if it's dead) can be a potentially interesting concept for a band from that era.  But I think it could have been executed much, much better with a bit more depth than cheesy platitudes.  

And then there's the bridge.  On one hand, I quite like the way it transitions to the tag, but I utterly loathe the circa "Summer In Paradise", Mike Love-esque "new generation" line, which is not only too wordy for the melody, but, when combined with the cliche key change, makes it the most cringe worthy part of the song.  I can just see people waving their hands in the air, with their lighters out.  For a song that's supposed to sound like vintage Beach Boys, that middle eight sounds anything but.  

Overall, despite the song's deep flaws, it's not bad.  There's a lot to like, and there's a really solid tune, arrangement, and good vocals behind it.  That alone makes the song, relative to the past 30 years, an easy A (albeit not the highest of praises).  As a song by itself, I'd give it a B-/B.  It's good, has great moments, and exceeded my expectations.  It certainly won't hurt their legacy.  

[Wirestone]

Matthew: You capture a lot of my feelings about the song. The bridge almost sounds like a joke. It's like ... really? The guitars get THAT LOUD for like five seconds? It's almost like Jim Peterik demanded that his contributions be audible in some way.

The lyrics don't bother me much ... kitschy and corny is really par for the course with this band. I mean, Brian solo wrote a song "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl." And that was his title and line.

I think your final grades are fair. Probably their best single since Getcha Back.

[EgoHanger1966]

The drums and bass sound like they came straight from the Imagination sessions. I wonder.....

There's a lot to like here though. The vocals are fantastic. Different than classic BB's. They vocals are closed in by the music, probably to cover up some things. If it was mixed like the 60s BB records were, the vocals would be a lot airier, but then, would they sound as good?

What's up with the really loud, obnoxious guitar as the chorus makes it's way to the bridge? It's oddly out of place.

[endofposts]

The song sounds like it's from the early '90s, both the tune and the production. 

No, it doesn't. Unless self-consciously retro homages to 1964 Beach Boys were all the rage in the early 90s.

It has a glossy MOR production style that really hasn't changed much in the last 20 years and reminds me of "Imagination" (also DT produced).  It's very processed and in that way it reminds me of the early '90s. Or even the 80s. It reminds me of Huey Lewis's "If This Is It."  It also made me think of a couple of songs that were tribute/nostalgia that were popular around the early '90s, "Black Velvet" and "Walking in Memphis." I could see it being played between "Walking In Memphis" and Brian's daughters' "Hold On" from that time period and fitting in.

[?]

I checked out the full song on youtube and I have to say I don't like it at all.  I'm not hearing what most of you guys are apparently.

[Wirestone]

The song sounds like it's from the early '90s, both the tune and the production.  

No, it doesn't. Unless self-consciously retro homages to 1964 Beach Boys were all the rage in the early 90s.

It has a glossy MOR production style that really hasn't changed much in the last 20 years and reminds me of "Imagination" (also DT produced).  It's very processed and in that way it reminds me of the early '90s. Or even the 80s. It reminds me of Huey Lewis's "If This Is It."  It also made me think of a couple of songs that were tribute/nostalgia that were popular around the early '90s, "Black Velvet" and "Walking in Memphis." I could see it being played between "Walking In Memphis" and Brian's daughters' "Hold On" from that time period and fitting in.

Fair enough. I don't agree with a word of it -- this sounds virtually nothing like Imagination, and Joe Thomas hasn't been credited with producing it either, but whatever. Everyone was interested in writing doo-wop style harmony ballads in the early 90s. And this sounds like Huey Lewis and Marc Cohn.

Yeah. Sigh.

[runnersdialzero]

No doubt in my mind now that Brian is being doubled by someone in the verses after hearing this. Guy sounded great on TLOS and the Gershwin album, thus this puzzles me.

[othereric]

"Damn the Beach Boys still sound f'n good. How do these guys still sound 20 at 100? Amazing."

- My 30  yr. old Brother who is a very casual listener.


Us hardcore fans might find a lot to get picky about in the track but I think the general public is really gonna dig this. This song is meant to reintroduce the public to the boys and I think it does an amazing job. Outside of this board no one knows or cares who Joe Thomas or any of those other clowns are. I think we'd do best to just kick back and enjoy this reunion.

[runnersdialzero]

Us hardcore fans might find a lot to get picky about in the track but I think the general public is really gonna dig this.

I really don't know about that.

[juggler]

The new song is okay.  Pleasant.  Harmless.  Nice vocals.  Reminds me a bit of "Keep an Eye on Summer."

I have to laugh a bit as I recall comments from one of the Beach Boys (Mike, I think) to the effect that this song "would be as good as anything we've ever done."  

Uh, no.

In terms of quality of songs in the Beach Boys' canon, I'm not sure this would crack the Top 100.

[Wirestone]

The new song is okay.  Pleasant.  Harmless.  Nice vocals.  Reminds me a bit of "Keep an Eye on Summer."

I have to laugh a bit as I recall comments from one of the Beach Boys (Mike, I think) to the effect that this song "would be as good as anything we've ever done."  

Uh, no.

In terms of quality of songs in the Beach Boys' canon, I'm not sure this would crack the Top 100.

What are they supposed to say? "This new song will be pleasant but disposable"? These guys are old hands. They know how to hype, and they would hype it like that regardless of its quality.

The one thing this song has -- regardless of anything else -- is an earworm chorus hook. That counts.

As for its place in the canon, it's way too soon. The band has recorded some real stinkers, and not just lately. Throughout their career. They put a friggin' drum solo on a record to fill space! Snap judgement? I'd say this easily makes their top 100. Top 50? That's a different story.

[Runaways]

Us hardcore fans might find a lot to get picky about in the track but I think the general public is really gonna dig this.

I really don't know about that.

NPR called it their best single in 40 years heh.  But I agree with Eric, I bet you more casual fans will like this more than hardcore fans.  Same with casual listeners

[othereric]

I predict a hit. It's not like a zillion people have to buy it for them to have a hit. Madonna had the number one album in the country last month and hardly anyone actually bought a copy--she just gave it away with concert tickets.  I'm not saying it's going to get so huge that it gets remixed for the club or something but I do imagine there's enough Beach Boys nerds and old nostalgic people to get a hit outta this tune.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

The new song is okay.  Pleasant.  Harmless.  Nice vocals.  Reminds me a bit of "Keep an Eye on Summer."

I have to laugh a bit as I recall comments from one of the Beach Boys (Mike, I think) to the effect that this song "would be as good as anything we've ever done."  

Uh, no.

It was kind of a clever rhetoric trick that Mike used there - he didn't say it's as good as everything we've done but "anything." In other words, that could be translated as, "It's not the worst thing we've ever done."

At any rate, did you really expect it to be as good as California Girls? Wouldn't It Be Nice? Sail on Sailor?

Either way, it's still a really good tune.

[runnersdialzero]

Us hardcore fans might find a lot to get picky about in the track but I think the general public is really gonna dig this.

I really don't know about that.

NPR called it their best single in 40 years heh.  But I agree with Eric, I bet you more casual fans will like this more than hardcore fans.  Same with casual listeners

Anyone calling it their best single in 40 years probably hasn't heard more than two or three of their singles for the past 40 years and are probably thinking "Kokomo" is a good representation of those 40 years.

But fair enough, I s'pose. I see it doing well, but about as well as every other mediocre reunion single from an ancient band will always do, which is not saying much.

[endofposts]

It's hard to have a hit these days because radio is going extinct in the States, the audience is fragmented, the music video channels play very few music videos anymore, less people are into music in general, and even when people like a song, there's illegal downloading.  It will be a success if enough people hear it, and it might take some creativity to get it heard.  The QVC thing is a good idea.  The older audience that the Beach Boys is likely to appeal to most watches QVC and the home shopping networks have helped a lot of mature acts sell actual hard copies of CD's, which is difficult to do even if they get radio play on whatever format they fit into now.  The Walmart deal is good, too, because that is one of the few places where people might pick up a CD, and the hits collection they're releasing there will have good synergy with the new release.

Many people are saying the song reminds them of some other song(s), and the songs reminded of vary by person.  I'm not sure that's a bad thing, because it has a ring of familiarity when people hear it, but it seems to be hard to pin down what it is it sounds like.  People are more likely to like or at least be open to a song if it seems familiar or comfortable on first hearing.  I'm not blown away by it, but it's not bad.  It could grow on me.  I like the actual tune more than the production.  

[Zander]

This is not a time for criticism, enjoy the moment.

I love it. Catchy, great vocals and a wonderful chord structure. Well done guys! More of the same please...  

[Too Much Sugar]

Matthew: You capture a lot of my feelings about the song. The bridge almost sounds like a joke. It's like ... really? The guitars get THAT LOUD for like five seconds? It's almost like Jim Peterik demanded that his contributions be audible in some way.

The lyrics don't bother me much ... kitschy and corny is really par for the course with this band. I mean, Brian solo wrote a song "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl." And that was his title and line.

I think your final grades are fair. Probably their best single since Getcha Back.

Agreed about the guitars.  It's funny how they put these loud, "rocking" guitars over the cheesiest lines of the song.  The bridge is also a let down because I was anticipating that to be the most BW part of the song.  But it definitely screams Peterik.  

I agree that lyrics have mostly never been the band's strong suit.  Although I think there's different degrees of cheesiness, and the lyrics on this song push the boundaries of my cheese/kitsch tolerance.  Even something like "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl," while cheesy in its own right, has a bit more imagination.  The rhyming schematic is a bit more fluid and, while it's surely not poetry, it at least comes off somewhat poetic, and doesn't fall into an overly simplistic rhyming scheme for nearly every line of the song.  

Although, as we both agree, there are things to like about the song.  And, on that note, I think the band succeeded in what it wanted to do.  The song is catchy and has several elements that remind people what they love about the Beach Boys.  I think, with that, it restores some of the band's credibility with some of the public.  While the single itself might not blaze trails on the charts, I think it will do enough (combined the the tour, CBS, QVC stuff) to drive album sales.  

Should be fun...  

[Ron]

Searching on twitter, google, etc. and it seems lots, and lots, and lots of people are talking about the song and the show last night, and most of them don't sound like fans... but they're all talking positive about it.  Even some Gangstaz sending tweets to their girlfriends telling them to listen to it, lol.  Unbelievable. 

I think there's been a pretty large media blitz the last 24 hours or so to push the single, so it's got a lot of people talking about it.

Ironically, the only static I've heard about it are from hardcore die hard fans. 

[Too Much Sugar]

By the way, one other note I forgot to mention.  At around 3:00 in, there's a voice that says "That's why..." that sounds a bit like Carl.  At least in that brief second.  Whose voice is that?  

[the captain]

Ironically, the only static I've heard about it are from hardcore die hard fans. 

What's new...

[debonbon]

Ok, I've listened to this song about 8 times in a row now (I just got up and saw it was out). Right now it isn't quiet as bad as it was the first time I heard it but only about 3% less sucky. If and I assume this is the best song on the album the rest is going to be so so bad. I like others can hardly hear anyone on this thing save for Brian and Bruce's lines. I don't hear Mike or Al at all and there are voices I don't recognise which irks me.  I do like that Bruce still sounds like he did all those years back.

Overall this is about what I expected. I see myself listening to the album once just out of morbid curiosity and probably to have a laugh at with my fellow BB fanatics. Oh well.