My greatest desillusion about the BBs..

[mathen_]

So, I guess everybody here knows The Ballad of Ole' Betsy, right? I mean, one of Brian's greatest melodies and of their greatest "ballad" vocals... So there I was, listening to that beautiful song and thanking God it was one of the few ones that had nothing to do with cars, surfboards and other 60's-teenage stuff (common, the Little Deuce Coupe album can be EXTREMELY tiring in that aspect...). To that point, everything was fine...

Then I saw the CD's booklet and decided to check it for the first time (it's the twofer version), and in the liner notes about the song was written: "this ballad to an aging auto..."

WHAT?? SO I'VE BEEN FOOLED MY WHOLE LIFE? The deep lyrics about loving/admiring a woman even though she's growing old are all about A CAR??? Yes, it can be a little strange thinking about Brian in love with an "old" woman in that time, but whatever! I'm really disappointed ):

Does anyone else has another frustration related to the Boys and/or their music?

(And sorry for eventual English mistakes, I'm from Brazil, haha)

[Rocker]

You thought "She may be rusted iron" was about a lady?
Hi and welcome to the board !

I just came across a '66 coverversion of that song, posted in the media section. Check it out here:
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,8890.msg320992.html#msg320992

[Aegir]

what is up with [ Ole' ] anyway? especially the apostrophe!

[mathen_]

You thought "She may be rusted iron" was about a lady?
Hi and welcome to the board !

I just came across a '66 coverversion of that song, posted in the media section. Check it out here:
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,8890.msg320992.html#msg320992

YES! Actually, i thought "rust in iron" it was a metaphor to an honest, trustworthy woman (I don't know, aged people can be very stubborn some times, haha)

But anyway, thanks for the hospitality!

[Lowbacca]

what is up with [ Ole' ] anyway? especially the apostrophe!

That apostrophe has been driving me nuts ever since I first put that song on a selfmade BBs compilation.  

Great, great tune though.... and hearing it live this year... phew! Can't wait for the new mix(es) on the reissue of Little Deuce Coupe.


Oh, and by the way - the song's intended to have a double meaning. 

[mathen_]

That apostrophe has been driving me nuts ever since I first put that song on a selfmade BBs compilation.  

Great, great tune though.... and hearing it live this year... phew! Can't wait for the new mix(es) on the reissue of Little Deuce Coupe.


Oh, and by the way - the song's intended to have a double meaning. 

Oh, I hope so! I actually had that in mind too... So possibly Brian had a more, "mature" lover by that time?? hahahahha (i love you Brian don't get mad at me)

[I. Spaceman]

So, I guess everybody here knows The Ballad of Ole' Betsy, right? I mean, one of Brian's greatest melodies and of their greatest "ballad" vocals... So there I was, listening to that beautiful song and thanking God it was one of the few ones that had nothing to do with cars, surfboards and other 60's-teenage stuff (common, the Little Deuce Coupe album can be EXTREMELY tiring in that aspect...). To that point, everything was fine...

*sigh*

My greatest disillusion with BB "fans" is their snobbiness toward the band's early material.

[Rocker]

Great, great tune though....

Indeed. I mentioned it a few months ago but gladly repeat again how much TWGMTR and Boob are in the same style. Even the harmonies on TWGMTR are reminiscing of Boob. I tried to describe it like this: TWGMTR is as much a new Boob as "Good timin'" was a new "Surfer girl"

[EgoHanger1966]

You really thought it was about a woman? That gives lines like "Betsy took some beatings but she never once complained" some new meaning!

[mathen_]

*sigh*

My greatest disillusion with BB "fans" is their snobbiness toward the band's early material.

All right, first of all: you shouldn't misinterpret things. And I AM a Beach Boys fan, don't ever try to question that! I never "snobbed" anything (for who am I to be snobbish with any of Brian music?) That's the thing about any group "fans", they should know the good AND the bad points about their idols music! I love their early material (musically speaking), but if BRIAN WILSON himself got tired of that fun-in-the-sun-with-hot-rods image/lyrics of the band, why can't I think it's a little bit superficial?

(Sorry if it offended someone, I'm not trying to cause any confusion, just defend myself!)

[mathen_]

You really thought it was about a woman? That gives lines like "Betsy took some beatings but she never once complained" some new meaning!

HAHAHAHAH indeed.. but that's all about interpreting, I thought those "beatings" were all about the bad moments that everyone goes through in life.

[Aegir]

All the lines in that song are supposed to be ambiguous.

[Jon Stebbins]

Wow...this thread premise is perfectly symptomatic of the continuing trend this board has taken. And that's saying it in as nice a way as I can.

Note* Just saw you are from Brazil, so you get a pass for not knowing that "Old Betsy" is a well-known Americanism for describing an old car. But Jesus, stop the narrow minded view of the surf/car/sun/fun themes. In the context of their place in time they are as deep and important as Columnated Ruins Domino...really.

[Lowbacca]

BOOB 






just to prove jon's point.....

[mathen_]

Wow...this thread premise is perfectly symptomatic of the continuing trend this board has taken. And that's saying it in as nice a way as I can.

Would someone mind explaining that to me? 

[Jon Stebbins]

Wow...this thread premise is perfectly symptomatic of the continuing trend this board has taken. And that's saying it in as nice a way as I can.

Would someone mind explaining that to me? 

I just edited my original post to try and do that.

[Compost]

It would seem that there's pray little to talk about except how to style your hair like Brian's or why the music that made them famous is inadequate.

In other words, the conversations are beginning to scrape the bottom of the barrel.

[Lowbacca]

[...] In the context of their place in time they are as deep and important as Columnated Ruins Domino...really.

Damn right. AMEN.

[mathen_]

I just edited my original post to try and do that.

All right pal... Yes, I know about that, it was a whole lifestyle thing and etc etc. but I just think that every band has to evolve from that kind of "innocent" thematic (as they, in fact, did). Wow, i can't see how a simple thread like this can make such a mess!

[mathen_]

There's another odd thing I've noticed... on the last tracklist page of the twofer booklet it's saying that "All songs are mono, except for 6, 13, 14, 23, 25, wich are stereo", it should be the reverse! haha

[buddhahat]

Welcome to the world of intense Beach Boys inverse snobbery, Mathen, where it is no longer OK to rate the surf/turf songs as inferior to more universally themed Beach Boys material, if you're a *true* fan.

Jeez, cut the guy some slack - he's a noob, has limited use of English and is cool enough to share this slightly embarrassing yet hilarious misinterpretation of the Betsy lyrics with us.

[Aegir]

It's not an embarrassing misinterpretation! It's supposed to have a double meaning!!!!!

[mathen_]

Welcome to the world of intense Beach Boys inverse snobbery, Mathen, where it is no longer OK to rate the surf/turf songs as inferior to more universally themed Beach Boys material, if you're a *true* fan.

Thanks! It's nice to have someone to give me tips so i can 'survive' on forums  

It's not an embarrassing misinterpretation! It's supposed to have a double meaning!!!!!

That's why God made metaphors!

[halblaineisgood]

Welcome to the world of intense Beach Boys inverse snobbery, Mathen, where it is no longer OK to rate the surf/turf songs as inferior

'Tis a good world.

[Jon Stebbins]

Welcome to the world of intense Beach Boys inverse snobbery, Mathen, where it is no longer OK to rate the surf/turf songs as inferior to more universally themed Beach Boys material, if you're a *true* fan

Yeah those songs about depression and wind chimes and worms are way more universally themed than the ones about beaches and girls and sun.