Why do you hate Mike Love?

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

Iian Lee. Thread originator (his 4th post on this board)

No posts since.

Last active August 6 (about page 4 of this thread, now 25 pages)

Is this some kind of board record?

Either he saw what he unleashed and ran like Hell, or he knew exactly what he was doing and reads this thread every morning...laughing into his cornflakes...

[Rocky Raccoon]

Ever heard John Phillips' original demo of Kokomo?  Whatever your opinion on the song in general, you have to admit that what Mike and Terry Melcher did to it was a vast improvement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAuqngA9CuM

[CenturyDeprived]

Ever heard John Phillips' original demo of Kokomo?  Whatever your opinion on the song in general, you have to admit that what Mike and Terry Melcher did to it was a vast improvement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAuqngA9CuM

No doubt about it.

[chaki]

mike changed "that's where we used to go" to "that's where you want to go" and he LOVES to let people know that he made that amazing, mind blowing change any chance he gets.

[Rocky Raccoon]

mike changed "that's where we used to go" to "that's where you want to go" and he LOVES to let people know that he made that amazing, mind blowing change any chance he gets.

While I wouldn't call it genius, I think it does make a big difference in the tone of the song.  "That's where we used to go" makes Kokomo a long lost nostalgic memory.  "That's where we want to go" I think makes more sense, making Kokomo a mysterious and mythical place that nobody's ever been.

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

mike changed "that's where we used to go" to "that's where you want to go" and he LOVES to let people know that he made that amazing, mind blowing change any chance he gets.

While I wouldn't call it genius, I think it does make a big difference in the tone of the song.  "That's where we used to go" makes Kokomo a long lost nostalgic memory.  "That's where we want to go" I think makes more sense, making Kokomo a mysterious and mythical place that nobody's ever been.

Agreed. But the turnoff is he makes these minimal improvements to a song, like that and the "goodnight baby/sleep tight baby" in WIBN and things like that and acts like those small, helpful but not essential tips of his are somehow equal in weight to what the other collaborators did. Thats what ticks people off sometimes. And not to say Mike hasnt made more substantial contributions to other songs.

[Cam Mott]

Mike Love:   "Here's what happened with "Kokomo." The verses and the verse lyric was written by John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas. He wrote "Off the Florida keys, there's a place called Kokomo, that's where we used to go to get away from it all." I said, "Hold on. We used to go sounds like an old guy lamenting his misspent youth." So I just changed the tense there. "That's where you want to go to get away from it all." So that was the verse. And it was very lovely. But it didn't have such a groove, I didn't feel.

So I came up with the chorus part: "Aruba, Jamaica, ooo, I want to take you to Bermuda, Bahama, come on, pretty mama. Key Largo, Montego..." That's me, the chorus and the words to the chorus was Mike Love. The verse was John Phillips. The bridge, where it goes, "Ooo, I want to take you down to Kokomo, we'll get there fast and we can take it slow. That's where you want to go, down to Kokomo," that's Terry Melcher. Terry Melcher produced the Byrds and Paul Revere & the Raiders, very successful producer. But he actually produced that song and he wrote that bridge part, which Carl Wilson sang beautifully. And I sang the rest of it. I sang the chorus and the verses on that particular song.

I don't know what Scott MacKenzie's involvement was, I honestly don't, because all I know is John Phillips, Terry Melcher, and myself put that song together, all those different elements."

[The LEGENDARY OSD]

Ever heard John Phillips' original demo of Kokomo?  Whatever your opinion on the song in general, you have to admit that what Mike and Terry Melcher did to it was a vast improvement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAuqngA9CuM

Nope-like this version much better than myKe luHv's rendition. It's considerably less tacky, commercial, and sleazy(sorry, Carl). 

[Debbie KL]

You know, I'm going back to the original subject right now because I have a question.  I'm rather fascinated by the fact that anyone who objects to anything Mike does, or doesn't like some of his music is treated like a "Mike hater."  But those who attack Brian relentlessly, most often as some sort of misguided defense of Mike as it seems to appear, are never called "Brian haters." What's with that?

Granted, if you go to a concert with Mike's band, you're predominantly hearing Brian's music, so you must not hate his talents.  But some of you never give the man a break, even with that particular fact being part of the whole equation.

[SMiLE Brian]

Right on Debbie !

[Andrew G. Doe]

You know, I'm going back to the original subject right now because I have a question.  I'm rather fascinated by the fact that anyone who objects to anything Mike does, or doesn't like some of his music is treated like a "Mike hater."  But those who attack Brian relentlessly, most often as some sort of misguided defense of Mike as it seems to appear, are never called "Brian haters." What's with that?

Granted, if you go to a concert with Mike's band, you're predominantly hearing Brian's music, so you must not hate his talents.  But some of you never give the man a break, even with that particular fact being part of the whole equation.

It's not so much the objecting, more the juvenile manner in which some posters here elect to convey their displeasure*. The likes of Hey Jude, Century Deprived & sweetdudejim (to name but three) can express the problems they have with Mike in measured terms and in a logical manner. Other are evidently unable to emulate them, hence the tediously one-note posts. I don't think anyone here actually hates Mike, but some want to believe they do. The larger problem is that they're allowed to, without censure, which may be why some folk are posting less. Some of the 'defences' of Mike are similarly... lamentable.

[* - I'm irresistibly reminded of a kid who used to come into a store I used to manage many years ago, age of maybe nine, ten. Every day - every single school day - he'd come in, and as he walked past the candy racks would go "don't like that, don't like that, that's horrible, HATE that" ad nauseum. I put up with it for maybe three weeks until one day when the store was empty, when, as he commenced his tedious litany, I grabbed the little sh*t by the collar and, as I ejected him from the premises, informed him in no uncertain manner that not only was he never to set foot in the place again, but the world didn't require a soundtrack from him. I feel there's much the same level of mental acuity being demonstrated here...]

[CenturyDeprived]

You know, I'm going back to the original subject right now because I have a question.  I'm rather fascinated by the fact that anyone who objects to anything Mike does, or doesn't like some of his music is treated like a "Mike hater."  But those who attack Brian relentlessly, most often as some sort of misguided defense of Mike as it seems to appear, are never called "Brian haters." What's with that?

Granted, if you go to a concert with Mike's band, you're predominantly hearing Brian's music, so you must not hate his talents.  But some of you never give the man a break, even with that particular fact being part of the whole equation.

+1, Debbie.

One can have an appreciation for his contributions, like a ton of music he's been involved with, including some material sans Brian's involvement (good material is good material, regardless of who wrote it), yet nobody should be called a "hater" for standing up to ridiculous, blatantly over-the-top pro-extremism.  

[SMiLE Brian]

This video is why I don't like Mike Love. It's all about him and cheep tacky sexual crap, not the BBs music. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zIJTHUkjLVo

[Mike's Beard]

Show me one person on here who 'hates' Brian.

[Mike's Beard]

Ever heard John Phillips' original demo of Kokomo?  Whatever your opinion on the song in general, you have to admit that what Mike and Terry Melcher did to it was a vast improvement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAuqngA9CuM

The differences between the original Kokomo and Somewhere Near Japan compared to what Love and Melcher did to them is like night and day. Vast improvement is an understatement.

[CenturyDeprived]

This video is why I don't like Mike Love. It's all about him and cheep tacky sexual crap, not the BBs music. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zIJTHUkjLVo

Mike did mention "Fuller House" onstage on that video, so it's on his radar for sure... just a matter of time before M&B are on the show, I just know it.

[SMiLE Brian]

Yeah, funny how he never judges Stamos for his recent DUI and trashes BW for decades old abuses.

[Ang Jones]

I don't think all of those who are accused of so-called 'Mike-bashing' are juvenile. In fact, even the term 'Mike-bashing' needs to be closely examined. Is any criticism of the man 'bashing'? Not in my opinion. And whilst I also doubt there are any here who hate Brian, there are those who present him as a kind of puppet who is manipulated (not by Mike of course, Heaven forbid!) and whose word cannot be trusted (unless he says something they want him to). It wouldn't be hard to find actual instances of such behaviour.

Humans come with imperfections but once is an accident, twice a coincidence, three times a pattern. The things Mike has done wrong don't make him the Devil Incarnate and Brian may have forgiven them but they are cousins. Most of the fans don't have that balancing perspective. Perhaps if Brian was less patient with some of Mike's behaviour, we would feel less hostile to Mike.

[drbeachboy]

You know, I'm going back to the original subject right now because I have a question.  I'm rather fascinated by the fact that anyone who objects to anything Mike does, or doesn't like some of his music is treated like a "Mike hater."  But those who attack Brian relentlessly, most often as some sort of misguided defense of Mike as it seems to appear, are never called "Brian haters." What's with that?

Granted, if you go to a concert with Mike's band, you're predominantly hearing Brian's music, so you must not hate his talents.  But some of you never give the man a break, even with that particular fact being part of the whole equation.

Please be so kind as to point me in the direction of anyone who hates Brian? I have been here for years and nobody treats Brian in the manner that Mike is treated. Not even close. Some of us do not think Brian saintly, as you do, but on the whole, we understand Brian's importance and understand the struggles he has endured. Personally, I don't know any of the guys enough to hate any of them. I don't think any of the bandmembers hate each other, either.

[drbeachboy]

I don't think all of those who are accused of so-called 'Mike-bashing' are juvenile. In fact, even the term 'Mike-bashing' needs to be closely examined. Is any criticism of the man 'bashing'? Not in my opinion. And whilst I also doubt there are any here who hate Brian, there are those who present him as a kind of puppet who is manipulated (not by Mike of course, Heaven forbid!) and whose word cannot be trusted (unless he says something they want him to). It wouldn't be hard to find actual instances of such behaviour.

Humans come with imperfections but once is an accident, twice a coincidence, three times a pattern. The things Mike has done wrong don't make him the Devil Incarnate and Brian may have forgiven them but they are cousins. Most of the fans don't have that balancing perspective. Perhaps if Brian was lee patient with some of Mike's behaviour, we would feel less hostile to Mike.

We know your pattern too. Brian's treatment of Mike is the perfect reason not to treat Mike so hostile. If anyone had to a reason to hate or be hostile it would be Brian, but he doesn't, and we shouldn't either.

[rab2591]

And whilst I also doubt there are any here who hate Brian, there are those who present him as a kind of puppet who is manipulated (not by Mike of course, Heaven forbid!) and whose word cannot be trusted (unless he says something they want him to). It wouldn't be hard to find actual instances of such behaviour.

Exactly this. Just within the last three days: One poster sarcastically called Brian a demi-god and called No Pier Pressure a steaming pile of dogshit. Another poster alluded to this ridiculous idea that Brian is some kind of puppet needing to be coached. Hate probably isn't the right word. Abnormally irritated, maybe.

[Mike's Beard]

And whilst I also doubt there are any here who hate Brian, there are those who present him as a kind of puppet who is manipulated (not by Mike of course, Heaven forbid!) and whose word cannot be trusted (unless he says something they want him to). It wouldn't be hard to find actual instances of such behaviour.

Exactly this. Just within the last three days: One poster sarcastically called Brian a demi-god and called No Pier Pressure a steaming pile of dogshit.

That would be me! I have no problem with Brian, it's some of his overbearing, hero worshipping fanboys (and girls) that I take issue with.

[rab2591]

And whilst I also doubt there are any here who hate Brian, there are those who present him as a kind of puppet who is manipulated (not by Mike of course, Heaven forbid!) and whose word cannot be trusted (unless he says something they want him to). It wouldn't be hard to find actual instances of such behaviour.

Exactly this. Just within the last three days: One poster sarcastically called Brian a demi-god and called No Pier Pressure a steaming pile of dogshit.

That would be me! I have no problem with Brian, it's some of his overbearing, hero worshipping fanboys (and girls) that I take issue with.

Ahhh gotcha. Well I'm sure Brian would be thrilled to the moon by your comparing his album to fresh canine feces.

[chaki]

This video is why I don't like Mike Love. It's all about him and cheep tacky sexual crap, not the BBs music. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zIJTHUkjLVo

*shudder* major douche chills

[Mike's Beard]

And whilst I also doubt there are any here who hate Brian, there are those who present him as a kind of puppet who is manipulated (not by Mike of course, Heaven forbid!) and whose word cannot be trusted (unless he says something they want him to). It wouldn't be hard to find actual instances of such behaviour.

Exactly this. Just within the last three days: One poster sarcastically called Brian a demi-god and called No Pier Pressure a steaming pile of dogshit.

That would be me! I have no problem with Brian, it's some of his overbearing, hero worshipping fanboys (and girls) that I take issue with.

Ahhh gotcha. Well I'm sure Brian would be thrilled to the moon by your comparing his album to fresh canine feces.

Yes, I'm sure it's giving him endless sleepless nights.