Mike's switch from booze/mary jane to meditation killed his lyrics.

[runnersdialzero]

Pacific Ocean Blues is the best song on that album hands down. And considering that musically, it's just the blues progression, Mike singlehandedly wrote that song.

I like how this is presented as fact rather than opinion.

Perheps it should be engraved in rock somewhere.

Does everything really need "imo" attached to the end of it? Of course we know it's just Aegir's opinion, he's the one who posted it. imo.

[filledeplage]

Wild Honey was the last booze/pot album. If you want to say Mike had some moments here and there after, fine. But if you want to see how out of touch he got during this period, I point you to one "Student Demonstration Time".

Surfs Up impresses me as almost analogous to an "activist's" Pet Sounds or Smiley, to which Mike brought a certain audacity with Student Demonstration Time, which "kicked down the door" in a timely manner, giving a very 1970's era feel.  It was not a "feel good" era.  This week was a case in point; scary, harsh, and one of great debate and questioning. 

If there was one song that could characterize the crowd, in shock, distress, violence and death, it is this one.  Except to distinguish; here, the cops are the "good guys."

[Mike's Beard]

Pacific Ocean Blues is the best song on that album hands down. And considering that musically, it's just the blues progression, Mike singlehandedly wrote that song.

The chord changes are more or less standard blues changes, yes (apart from the penultimate chord, where rather than moving to a G as you'd normally expect, the chord stays on A but with a C# in the bass, but that's not exactly an unknown variant either). But the melodic phrasing is all over the place in that song, crossing bar lines all over the place.
If Mike wrote the melody as well, to the backing track, then he's responsible for everything good about that song. If he wrote the lyrics to Dennis' melody, then while the melody is ninety percent of what makes the track good, the fact that he managed to write such natural-sounding lyrics to a melody which has such odd phrasing is *staggeringly* impressive, even if the odd line is a bit clunky. And if Dennis wrote the music to Mike's pre-written lyrics, then Dennis deserves all the credit, because taken without the music those lyrics are both unimpressive and quite hard to write a melody around.

Apparently Mike wrote the words for POB in a few hours after Dennis played it to him down the phone. I remember reading this in a book by some guy who posts on here from time to time.

[AndrewHickey]

Apparently Mike wrote the words in a couple of hours after Dennis played it to him down the phone. I remember reading this in a book by some guy who posts on here from time to time.

I'm afraid it's been a few years since I read Jon's Dennis book, and that bit slipped my mind. Do you remember if he said he played the track or the melody, though? Because that would make a big difference...

[Mike's Beard]

Track. (and it wasn't Jon's book I was quoting from. wink, wink.)

[Sheriff John Stone]

Good topic, Murry. In my opinion, there is a direct correlation between Mike Love's lyrics and the material he is working with - both quality and quantity-wise. If that says a lot about Mike's lyrical abilities, so be it.

Did Mike's lyrics have a "falling off" after 1968-69? Yes. If you had to pinpoint a year when Brian Wilson severely reduced his role/output within the Beach Boys? 1968-69.  Coincidence? No. When Brian came up with a good post-1969 song ("All I Wanna Do") or Dennis ("Only With You"), Mike was able to come with a good lyric. Coincidence? No. Maybe that's why Mike was pining for so long to reunite with Brian. Because of his ego, he would never admit it, but Mike knew how much he needed the SONG to come up with the words. Don't forget, in addition to Mike giving himself credit, he usually gave the composer credit, too.

Yes, many of Mike's post-Endless Summer lyrics have been a parody and the references to Fun, Fun, Fun and Good Vibrations have become cringe-worthy. But, not ALL of his lyrics included those references. While they haven't exactly been works of art, Mike has made attempts at songs "outside the box". Not including his solo recordings, these are some post-Endless Summer songs that aren't parodies:

- "Everyone's In Love With You"
- "That Same Song"
- "Pacific Ocean Blues"
- "Belles Of Paris"
- "Pitter Patter"
- "Sumahama"
- "Getcha Back"
- "Kokomo"
- "Make It Big"
- "Lahaina Aloha"
- "Daybreak Over The Ocean"

[smilethebeachboysloveyou]

Good topic, Murry. In my opinion, there is a direct correlation between Mike Love's lyrics and the material he is working with - both quality and quantity-wise. If that says a lot about Mike's lyrical abilities, so be it.

Did Mike's lyrics have a "falling off" after 1968-69? Yes. If you had to pinpoint a year when Brian Wilson severely reduced his role/output within the Beach Boys? 1968-69.  Coincidence? No. When Brian came up with a good post-1969 song ("All I Wanna Do") or Dennis ("Only With You"), Mike was able to come with a good lyric. Coincidence? No. Maybe that's why Mike was pining for so long to reunite with Brian. Because of his ego, he would never admit it, but Mike knew how much he needed the SONG to come up with the words. Don't forget, in addition to Mike giving himself credit, he usually gave the composer credit, too.

Yes, many of Mike's post-Endless Summer lyrics have been a parody and the references to Fun, Fun, Fun and Good Vibrations have become cringe-worthy. But, not ALL of his lyrics included those references. While they haven't exactly been works of art, Mike has made attempts at songs "outside the box". Not including his solo recordings, these are some post-Endless Summer songs that aren't parodies:

- "Everyone's In Love With You"
- "That Same Song"
- "Pacific Ocean Blues"
- "Belles Of Paris"
- "Pitter Patter"
- "Sumahama"
- "Getcha Back"
- "Kokomo"
- "Make It Big"
- "Lahaina Aloha"
- "Daybreak Over The Ocean"

Just because the lyrics to "Everyone's In Love With You," "Belles of Paris," "Pitter Patter," and "Sumahama" don't contain references to earlier Beach Boys songs doesn't mean that they aren't terrible.

On the other hand, I do like the lyrics to "Pacific Ocean Blues" quite a bit.  I also think we should distinguish between lyrics that are terrible and painful to listen to ("Summer of Love") on the one hand and those which are merely lazy ("Beaches in Mind") on the other.

[Rocker]

Good topic, Murry. In my opinion, there is a direct correlation between Mike Love's lyrics and the material he is working with - both quality and quantity-wise. If that says a lot about Mike's lyrical abilities, so be it.

Did Mike's lyrics have a "falling off" after 1968-69? Yes. If you had to pinpoint a year when Brian Wilson severely reduced his role/output within the Beach Boys? 1968-69.  Coincidence? No. When Brian came up with a good post-1969 song ("All I Wanna Do") or Dennis ("Only With You"), Mike was able to come with a good lyric. Coincidence? No. Maybe that's why Mike was pining for so long to reunite with Brian. Because of his ego, he would never admit it, but Mike knew how much he needed the SONG to come up with the words. Don't forget, in addition to Mike giving himself credit, he usually gave the composer credit, too.

Yes, many of Mike's post-Endless Summer lyrics have been a parody and the references to Fun, Fun, Fun and Good Vibrations have become cringe-worthy. But, not ALL of his lyrics included those references. While they haven't exactly been works of art, Mike has made attempts at songs "outside the box". Not including his solo recordings, these are some post-Endless Summer songs that aren't parodies:

- "Everyone's In Love With You"
- "That Same Song"
- "Pacific Ocean Blues"
- "Belles Of Paris"
- "Pitter Patter"
- "Sumahama"
- "Getcha Back"
- "Kokomo"
- "Make It Big"
- "Lahaina Aloha"
- "Daybreak Over The Ocean"

Speaking of song references, "Make it big" mentions "Johnny B. Goode".
Mike definitely did write good at times even great lyrics. Unfortunately that seems to not be the case anymore when writing for the Beach Boys. But I've said it before, imo his power is to come up with great commercial, catchy hooks (lyric wise or melody wise) that get you. None of the other boys could've come up with "round round get around I get around" or "help me Rhonda, help, help me Rhonda". Even "Daybreak over the ocean" (and although I really like that song I believe Brian could've written something even better around that chorus) has one of the strongest hooks/choruses on TWGMTR. The biggest problem though is that Mike's understanding of what the Beach Boys are and what made them great is so disturbed. But what he can still bring to a song is great ("Isn't it time" started out with his bassline IIRC), he just needs a lot of help for the lyrics by now.

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

Let's all 20 of us sneak backstage at at Mike and Bruce show and put all kinds of pot in Mike's hummus, or whatever that guy eats, and see what happens!
It needs to be done!

[SMiLE Brian]

deleted

[Shady]

Let's all 20 of us sneak backstage at at Mike and Bruce show and put all kinds of pot in Mike's hummus, or whatever that guy eats, and see what happens!
It needs to be done!

That would be awesome..

Next album will be called "Psychedelic trip with beaches in mind"

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

Let's all 20 of us sneak backstage at at Mike and Bruce show and put all kinds of pot in Mike's hummus, or whatever that guy eats, and see what happens!
It needs to be done!

That would be awesome..

Next album will be called "Psychedelic trip with beaches in mind"

Or
Fun, Fun, Gettin' Hungry

[Sheriff John Stone]

The biggest problem though is that Mike's understanding of what the Beach Boys are and what made them great is so disturbed.

It is a problem, and HAS BEEN a problem since Brian "left" in 1968-69. It never mattered until then.

If you asked each individual Beach Boy what their understanding of what the Beach Boys are, you would get five different answers, and Brian's would change on a daily basis. It's a shame they don't have a manager or associate or someone who could work out issues - like conceptual or lyrical differences - so they get on the same proverbial page. There was a time where I believe that was possible. That time has probably passed.

[SMiLE Brian]

Could somebody put into words what Mike's understanding of the BBs.

[filledeplage]

 

 

[hypehat]

Could somebody put into words what Mike's understanding of the BBs.

ARUBA, JAMAICA, OOH I WANNA TAKE YOU

[SMiLE Brian]

I know that part of the Mike Love persona , I really meant what is the underlining motivation going on his head.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Could somebody put into words what Mike's understanding of the BBs.

To quote Blondie Chaplin in his YouTube radio interview, Mike thinks he is the only original member of the Beach Boys.

[oldsurferdude]

I know that part of the Mike Love persona , I really meant what is the underlining motivation going on his head.

Most likely to be heralded as the genius behind the (real) Beach Boys and even with that moniker, his screwed up ego would not be fully nourished or satisfied. Just one in the volumes of reasons this malcontent is not well liked by most.

[Puggal]

Really, were Mike's lyrics ever "good"?

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Really, were Mike's lyrics ever "good"?

For sure! POB is awesome!

[Lonely Summer]

Hey, remember way back in the day

When havin' fun, fun, fun meant smokin' a J

Ballin' Barbara Ann and Rhonda, hey

until Maharishi showed a better way

[SMiLE Brian]

I say give them acid in a cup of water.

That is sinister. 

I deleted it.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

I say give them acid in a cup of water.

That is sinister. 

I deleted it.

Good move man.

Life will be a lot more boring when ML is no longer around.

[EgoHanger1966]

Really, were Mike's lyrics ever "good"?

Do you think Please Let Me Wonder is "good"?