Brian - Stream of Consciousness Songs

[originals]

Some of my favorite Brian songs are the ones that seem to have a 'stream of consciousness' narrative: Busy Doin' Nothing, I'd Love Just Once To See You, Still I Dream of It......
There is something highly clever yet very innocent and touching about these songs - - they are whimsical and deep at the same time, with Brian just sort of telling us his thoughts and observations as they are occuring. Brilliant, brilliant songs.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I find almost the entire Beach Boys Love You album falling into that category. Those songs speak to you, which is one of the main reasons it's in my Top 5 BB albums and I never get tired of listening to it.

I felt that's the way Brian wrote it. He simply sat down at the piano and wrote what he was thinking, what he was feeling. Funny? Yes. A little creepy? Yes. But so honest and so brilliant. The communication of feelings in songs. An honest snapshot of Brian Wilson at that moment in time.

[originals]

I'll have to buy it.

[EgoHanger1966]

I'll have to buy it.

If you haven't heard any clips from this album yet, prepare it to be a little jarring. It's not like any other Beach Boys album - but since you are a fan of quirky Brian, you'll dig it eventually at least. Happy listening!

[originals]

I'll have to buy it.

If you haven't heard any clips from this album yet, prepare it to be a little jarring. It's not like any other Beach Boys album - but since you are a fan of quirky Brian, you'll dig it eventually at least. Happy listening!

I've been listening to songs from that album online and....I LOVE IT!

[Slow In Brain]

Brian writes the best lyrics imho 

[Kirk]

Best stream of consciousness line ever IMHO: A cigarette butt when you throw it in the water goes "ssst".... It's like straight out of Waiting for Godot or something.

[Jukka]

Best stream of consciousness line ever IMHO: A cigarette butt when you throw it in the water goes "ssst".... It's like straight out of Waiting for Godot or something.

Make that just plain best line ever. This one has got to be on the box or I'll... rant about it on some message board!

[runnersdialzero]

Best stream of consciousness line ever IMHO: A cigarette butt when you throw it in the water goes "ssst".... It's like straight out of Waiting for Godot or something.

Make that just plain best line ever. This one has got to be on the box or I'll... rant about it on some message board!

I have to wonder if folks in the Brian camp are more interested in burying this stuff than releasing it. Hope not.

[filledeplage]

Best stream of consciousness line ever IMHO: A cigarette butt when you throw it in the water goes "ssst"....

More like onomatopoeia - the sonority of the reference...The cigarette butt going "ssst."

The stream of consciousness is a psychology term derivative of "interior monologue" often skips around and is difficult to follow... Think "columnated ruins domino" or A diamond necklace played the pawn...hand in hand some drummed along...to a handsome man and baton...

Jumps around...sometimes hard to follow...(this term became a literary term of writing style reference from a medical terminology domain.)

But not devoid of some artistic merit.   

[Kirk]

Actually, Andrew in his book calls these "slice of life" songs... maybe that's the best term.

[cablegeddon]

 I'd Love Just Once To See You .............. - didn't Mike Love write the lyrics to that song? 

[originals]

Thank you all for encouraging me to listen to the 'Love You' album - - - IT'S GREAT!!

By the way - what is the title of the 'cigarette butt' song some are mentioning?

[Summer_Days]

I don't know. But it's a reference to Carnie Wilson talking about her father writing a song about cigarette on the spot in the I Just Wasn't Made For These Times 1995 documentary.

[originals]

Oh right, I remember that.

[Kirk]

It' "Everybody Wants to Live" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP1O-iuF21o

Pretty gospel, actually.

[Aegir]

if At My Window was sung by Brian instead of angel-twee-boy-voiced Bruce Johnston, people would be all over it.

[Aegir]

I definitely like Bruce's vocal on it, gives the song a really innocent feel, which I guess is what Brian was going for. But Brian singing it would've driven home the "crazy Brian narrating his life" thing people seem to enjoy so much.

[Myk Luhv]

Brian's increasing lack of lead vocals around this time is partially what I find interesting: You get these weird songs about sleeping or seeing a bird at your window or eating healthy -- which are (co-)written, (co-)arranged, and (co-)produced by Brian -- but it's not necessarily obvious he did these things, or if he's even on the track or vocals anywhere! It adds to the feeling of Brian appearing briefly to sing a multi-part harmony about having waffles for breakfast just then, and being so excited he just had to share!

[Sheriff John Stone]

Brian's increasing lack of lead vocals around this time is partially what I find interesting: You get these weird songs about sleeping or seeing a bird at your window or eating healthy -- which are (co-)written, (co-)arranged, and (co-)produced by Brian -- but it's not necessarily obvious he did these things, or if he's even on the track or vocals anywhere! It adds to the feeling of Brian appearing briefly to sing a multi-part harmony about having waffles for breakfast just then, and being so excited he just had to share!

You bring up a point that is not discussed as much as other issues in Brian's life/career, which is his alarming lack of lead vocals from 20/20 through Holland. On most of the songs he wrote, he gave the lead vocals to others. Why? I don't believe I have ever seen/heard that question posed to him, not that we would get a true answer anyway.

[pixletwin]

I assumed it was because he was starting to be embarrassed by his "unmanly" vocals.