I Write the Songs

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

IF BRIAN WILSON HAD COMPOSED and The Beach Boys recorded "I Write The Songs", Beach Boys' fans would be using the term "genius"

eh...no..no one could make that song good and it would be a horrible blot on BWs copybook as because its a hit, he would have to perform it at every show..could be useful though as barbara ann is too short for a toilet break 

[Shady]

BJ's music almost never does it for me, this song is no exception

[Mike's Beard]

IF BRIAN WILSON HAD COMPOSED and The Beach Boys recorded "I Write The Songs", Beach Boys' fans would be using the term "genius", it would be on all of our (and Reprise/Capitol) comps, we wouldn't be able to mention it without alluding to Frank Sinatra covering it, and Brian Wilson would probably be performing it at every concert.

If Brian Wilson had composed the Macarena song, Beach Boys' fans would be using the term "genius".

[punkinhead]

I was thinkng recently about what if Bruce was still with the band after So Tough...would they have put I Write the Songs out as a group or just Bruce? If so, what album? Obviously something around 15 Big Ones or so...I just don't know where it'd fit in

[retrokid67]

BJ's music almost never does it for me, this song is no exception

When I think of Bruce Johnston as a BB, I picture  a scrawny freshman nerd  , trying to fit in with the jr. and sr. jocks  .  it just doesn't work for me.  There's nothing rock and roll about him at all, and then he's gonna call them "surfin Doris Days"   .....that quote alone just ugh  .

[Marcella]

It's always just been a paycheck to me (or words to that effect) condemn BJ for life for me. Oh, and I do not get the love for Disney Girls. But no hate for Bruce, I rather like his vocals on At My Window & I like his tracks on Sunflower

[retrokid67]

It's always just been a paycheck to me (or words to that effect) condemn BJ for life for me. Oh, and I do not get the love for Disney Girls. But no hate for Bruce, I rather like his vocals on At My Window & I like his tracks on Sunflower

Disney Girls has slowly grown on me I have to admit  .  one thing I don't get is how there's nothing Disney about the song at all and the only girl who's mentioned is Patti Page, who never worked with Disney (unless someone out there knows something I don't then I'll take it back  )

[filledeplage]

It's always just been a paycheck to me (or words to that effect) condemn BJ for life for me. Oh, and I do not get the love for Disney Girls. But no hate for Bruce, I rather like his vocals on At My Window & I like his tracks on Sunflower

Disney Girls has slowly grown on me I have to admit  .  one thing I don't get is how there's nothing Disney about the song at all and the only girl who's mentioned is Patti Page, who never worked with Disney (unless someone out there knows something I don't then I'll take it back  )

Disney Girls is a metaphor for another era when those terms of courtship existed, and the conditions of life were perhaps simpler and well defined, and things are not as easily definable, today.  It perhaps represents an ideal that might not exist any longer but may be for some, an idyllic microcosm of that existence. I think some artists have covered this song. 

But, I still do like the concept of summer as well as winter days on old Cape Cod! 

[Marcella]

I don't like that Bruce has also stated he was inspired to write Disney Girls looking at the drug-using girls who attended their concerts and longing for simpler days. Pious much Bruce?

[Moon Dawg]

  For the definitive version, try Art Garfunkel's rendition from the 1975 BREAKAWAY album. (Not The Beach Boys' "Break Away" btw)

[Shady]

BJ's music almost never does it for me, this song is no exception

When I think of Bruce Johnston as a BB, I picture  a scrawny freshman nerd  , trying to fit in with the jr. and sr. jocks  .  it just doesn't work for me.  There's nothing rock and roll about him at all, and then he's gonna call them "surfin Doris Days"   .....that quote alone just ugh  .

Yeah, There is really nothing cool about the man at all, I find it hard to watch any show from the 80's on when Bruce Johnston is there, "How can I like a band that this guy is in"? I say to myself.

I accept all his bullshit though for his contributions to God Only Knows and California Girls alone.

[Niko]

It's Bruce Johnston...he is a force of nature. Complaining about it is pointless.

Dislike the hurricane that is his rage (random and destructive), cringe at the sunlight that is his voice, or even recoil at the flood that are his songs, he cannot be stopped by mortal means.

It's Brucey J, what are you gonna do


lolol

[retrokid67]

BJ's music almost never does it for me, this song is no exception

When I think of Bruce Johnston as a BB, I picture  a scrawny freshman nerd  , trying to fit in with the jr. and sr. jocks  .  it just doesn't work for me.  There's nothing rock and roll about him at all, and then he's gonna call them "surfin Doris Days"   .....that quote alone just ugh  .

Yeah, There is really nothing cool about the man at all, I find it hard to watch any show from the 80's on when Bruce Johnston is there, "How can I like a band that this guy is in"? I say to myself.

I accept all his bullshit though for his contributions to God Only Knows and California Girls alone.

Funny, California Girls was never one of my favorite songs.  I remember when I first heard it and thought "why do the harmonies sound so weird?" then later I find out that that's the first song Bruce sang on.....

[runnersdialzero]

What if Brian's new album has a song on it called "No, *I* Write The Songs, BITCH"?

[donald]

How many of you were adults when I write the Songs  was at the top of the charts?  I was.  I was dating my wife of 37 years at the time.  Barry Manilow was huge at the time.  and this is arguably his biggest hit.  Now, I will say this song was not my favorite piece of music, not the music that was pushing my buttons at the time,  guess I was listening to Little Feat at the time when I could.  but, Little Feat was not on the radio.  Bruce's song was.  And it was way better than the disco schlock of the day that was on my a.m. Radio in the car.  It was romantic, soaring, and melodic.  I'm sorry that Bruce hasn't been allowed to do this with the Beach Boys after all these years.  I recall Bruce sitting through the audience booing when Mike was setting up his Disney Girls performance, the audience booing cause IWTS was not cool according to Johnny Fever, who also hated the Carpenters and any number of other fine music ofmthentimes.   seems it would have been more expedient to diss kc and the sunshine band or some of the other acts of the day doing disco music of the worst kind just  to sell records.  at least Bruce was being Bruce, doing his style of music and succeeding.  How about  those pretentious Laurel Canyon weenies trying to get a disco hit back in the day?   

[Mr. Wilson]

Laurel Canyon weenies..!! ??  I think my feelings have been hurt.. Is Topanga Canyon next.. 

[Disney Boy (1985)]

'd still rather insert hot iron spikes into my eardrums than listen to her music.

I bet, if it came down to it, you would choose awful music over getting hot iron spikes inserted into your eardrums. Can you imagine?

You underestimate my dislike for Celine Dion.

[Smilin Ed H]

A sappy song, but I would have liked to hear a BB version. I suspect if Manilow and Cassidy hadn't covered it, there wouldn't be so much hate for it. I quite like Bruce's own version. One of the better tracks on that album, though that's not saying a lot.

[retrokid67]

How many of you were adults when I write the Songs  was at the top of the charts?  I was.  I was dating my wife of 37 years at the time.  Barry Manilow was huge at the time.  and this is arguably his biggest hit.  Now, I will say this song was not my favorite piece of music, not the music that was pushing my buttons at the time,  guess I was listening to Little Feat at the time when I could.  but, Little Feat was not on the radio.  Bruce's song was.  And it was way better than the disco schlock of the day that was on my a.m. Radio in the car.  It was romantic, soaring, and melodic.  I'm sorry that Bruce hasn't been allowed to do this with the Beach Boys after all these years.  I recall Bruce sitting through the audience booing when Mike was setting up his Disney Girls performance, the audience booing cause IWTS was not cool according to Johnny Fever, who also hated the Carpenters and any number of other fine music ofmthentimes.   seems it would have been more expedient to diss kc and the sunshine band or some of the other acts of the day doing disco music of the worst kind just  to sell records.  at least Bruce was being Bruce, doing his style of music and succeeding.  How about  those pretentious Laurel Canyon weenies trying to get a disco hit back in the day?   

I love disco, I liked it before I liked rock and I wish that they had burned rap CDs like they did disco albums (when disco died, rap came in  ) but speaking of the subject guess whose bright idea it was to have a rock band (BB) sing and old tune of theirs in the disco style (when it was on it's way out)......yup the same guy folks    I love both disco and rock but not combined  .  I never liked the Carpenters either except for "Close to You" they're too depressing for me

[retrokid67]

'd still rather insert hot iron spikes into my eardrums than listen to her music.

I bet, if it came down to it, you would choose awful music over getting hot iron spikes inserted into your eardrums. Can you imagine?

You underestimate my dislike for Celine Dion.

I never liked Celine Dion either  she's one of those artists who you either like or don't .

[Mike's Beard]

I don't like that Bruce has also stated he was inspired to write Disney Girls looking at the drug-using girls who attended their concerts and longing for simpler days. Pious much Bruce?

The guy was in a band with a dude who hung out with The Manson Family for a year, who wouldn't be put off by drug taking hippie girls?

[retrokid67]

I don't like that Bruce has also stated he was inspired to write Disney Girls looking at the drug-using girls who attended their concerts and longing for simpler days. Pious much Bruce?

The guy was in a band with a dude who hung out with The Manson Family for a year, who wouldn't be put off by drug taking hippie girls?

Again with Manson 

[Mayoman]

I'd like to point out that if you check out Bruce's Spotify page the first album is called "Unleash The Beast!!!" which I assume Bruce probably had no involvement in. 

[zachrwolfe]

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[MarcellaHasDirtyFeet]

Ugh. Just listened to this song for the first time (Going Public version) and I rather like it. Incredible cheese, yes. But also very heartfelt and interesting enough to hold your attention-- there are a few fun things going on there, and the modulation for the final chorus tag is a classic Wilson move. Otherwise, I don't really think it sounds like a Brian song, or even a BB song, aside from the backgrounds (which are perfect, naturally).

I would have liked a version from the Boys back in the day. Did any of them lend a hand on this one?