My Diane

[originals]

Is it safe to assume that this excellent song was written about Brian's wife's sister Diane?
Has Brian ever spoken specifically about this song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN7WFwRFid0

[runnersdialzero]

Odd that this one, "It's Over Now" and "Still I Dream Of It" are all basically from the same pool of songs. "My Diane" is indeed assumed to be about Diane. "It's Over Now" details a breakup and features Marilyn singing the bridge, what, a year within their divorce? How was that proposed? "Still I Dream Of It" seems to point to the two having separated, too.

Wasn't "Marilyn Rovell" from around this time, too? Sheesh.

[originals]

'My Diane' is such a heartbreaking song.

[Cabinessenceking]

I think by the Adult Child sessions, Brian was bleeding on tape, many of the songs from this period are about Brian's fracturing relationship with Marilyn and the complications with Diane and all. Must've been a very hard period for all of them.

[originals]

I concur.

[Alan Smith]

Is it safe to assume that this excellent song was written about Brian's wife's sister Diane?
Has Brian ever spoken specifically about this song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN7WFwRFid0

No assumption required.

"My Diane" is about Diane Rovell. AGD asked her - as per: http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,12172.msg244041.html#msg244041

[Autotune]

Odd that this one, "It's Over Now" and "Still I Dream Of It" are all basically from the same pool of songs. "My Diane" is indeed assumed to be about Diane. "It's Over Now" details a breakup and features Marilyn singing the bridge, what, a year within their divorce? How was that proposed? "Still I Dream Of It" seems to point to the two having separated, too.

Wasn't "Marilyn Rovell" from around this time, too? Sheesh.

Yeah. And "Let's put our hearts together", although pre-dates those songs is also interesting in its subject matter adn that it features a shared lead. In that case, when asked, Brian explained his choice of including Marilyn on his own inability to hit those notes.

[runnersdialzero]

I thought of that one after the post, too. I don't think it predates them by much, the piano demos include three of those songs. Brian could hit those notes - see his parts after the verses on "Aiplane", and one wonders why he wouldn't have someone else do the part. Strangeness all around.

Consider "The Night Was So Young" was about yet another person. Imagine being in such a situation.

[Alan Smith]

I thought of that one after the post, too. I don't think it predates them by much, the piano demos include three of those songs. Brian could hit those notes - see his parts after the verses on "Aiplane", and one wonders why he wouldn't have someone else do the part. Strangeness all around.

Consider "The Night Was So Young" was about yet another person. Imagine being in such a situation.

Yeah, and can I add - I'll Bet He's Nice - which I think draws on these same lyrical theme pool of love, loss, regret and self-doubt, generated from the scenario of stumbling through a deteriorating marriage while juggling time with an additional 2 lovers.

The Brian Loves You (maybe that's what the title means) cut really kicks when he hits the middle eight (as appreciated by those in the room at the time)

[Jaco]

Another one from Brian to Stevie Nicks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV0FqR6a2Q8

& this is from Christine McVie to Dennis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VwG0Dm4VBA

[Jason Penick]

I think "Matchpoint of Our Love" has to be about Marilyn.

[punkinhead]

I think Brian wrote Love is a Woman just so he could get lade 

[I. Spaceman]

My Diane, Stevie, Only Over You, all incredible songs.

[Aegir]

Stevie with a Carl verse vocal and a group chorus vocal would have been great.

[MarcellaHasDirtyFeet]

That link gave me my first listen of "Stevie," and I love it. I think it is easily among the best of the second-half-of-the-70s Brian compositions, if not the best.

[runnersdialzero]

I think "Matchpoint of Our Love" has to be about Marilyn.

Did Brian even have a hand in those lyrics? I mean it could've been a Pet Sounds-esque Brian dictates feelings, lyricist translates feelings into lyrics, but I can't see Brian being behind the tennis metaphors.

"Man... Marilyn and I... I just can't believe it... she wants me to sign the papers next week, I just can't do it. It's like..."
"... like a tennis game, and this is the matchpoint of your love, cousin Brian?"
"Uh... yeah, I guess."
"HEH HEH HEH... (Genius!)"

[seltaeb1012002]

I think "Matchpoint of Our Love" has to be about Marilyn.

Did Brian even have a hand in those lyrics? I mean it could've been a Pet Sounds-esque Brian dictates feelings, lyricist translates feelings into lyrics, but I can't see Brian being behind the tennis metaphors.

"Man... Marilyn and I... I just can't believe it... she wants me to sign the papers next week, I just can't do it. It's like..."
"... like a tennis game, and this is the matchpoint of your love, cousin Brian?"
"Uh... yeah, I guess."
"HEH HEH HEH... (Genius!)"

 

[Aegir]

That's what makes Brian/Mike collaborations so beautiful.

[Cabinessenceking]

That link gave me my first listen of "Stevie," and I love it. I think it is easily among the best of the second-half-of-the-70s Brian compositions, if not the best.

I cringe at the 'vibrations' part in the first verse. Simply do due to my immediate associationg with GV, and I am an ardent hater of refering to older songs (obviously this is hardly that, but I still think of it!).

[Ron]

My personal opinion, and I could be full of sh*t, is that Brian wrote it about Marilyn (of course) even though he was close to Diane, but at the last minute changed it to "My Diane" just to avoid putting something so intimate on record.

that "EVERYTHING IS WRONNNNG MAN, NOTHING IS RIGHTTT... I WANT YOU BACK WITH ALL OF MY MIGHTTTT"

is one of the most intimate things he ever wrote.


....except it's about his sister in law.  So it must just be a song, eh? 

[Alan Smith]

Interesting opinion, but I think you have to take it at face value - around that time Brian was seemingly compelled to put the most intimate (raw) shi* he could come up with on record, rather than avoiding or watering down subject matter.

But, yeah, incredible and gutsy lyrics, and more than just a song - either way.

[Rocky Raccoon]

My personal opinion, and I could be full of sh*t, is that Brian wrote it about Marilyn (of course) even though he was close to Diane, but at the last minute changed it to "My Diane" just to avoid putting something so intimate on record.

that "EVERYTHING IS WRONNNNG MAN, NOTHING IS RIGHTTT... I WANT YOU BACK WITH ALL OF MY MIGHTTTT"

is one of the most intimate things he ever wrote.


....except it's about his sister in law.  So it must just be a song, eh? 

I might be looking too much into it as well but I kind of see it as maybe Brian knowing he was done with Marilyn was looking to the next best thing, her sister.  Realizing that could never be as well, he had to accept that it was all really over.

[runnersdialzero]

Brian and Diane were known to be very close, though. Probably closer than we'll ever be made aware of. Replacing one person's name with her sister's doesn't add up - not only would it be needlessly confusing, but if you're gonna do that, why not just replace the name with someone who's not your wife or wife's sister/your, uh, girlfriend of sorts. I'm really thinking it's about Diane.

EVERYTHING IS WRRROOONNNGGG, MAAAAAN.

[Aegir]

is that line "man"? I thought it was "and".

[Andrew G. Doe]

is that line "man"? I thought it was "and".

Yer not wrong.