Midnight's Another Day

[Empire Of Love]

My thoughts, for the very little they are worth:

-Sounds "mature," musically and lyrically, for a BW song: agreed
-Beginning doesn't sound like BW: agreed (and I am not sure I like the beginning all that much)
-Rest of the song sounds pretty BW-esque: agreed
-Voice sounds good: agreed
-Would be nice to flesh it out with some additional instruments: agreed
-Something is missing, some "Brian-ness" some...something: agreed (but maybe it will grow on me)
-Background vocals: could someone please tell me that the final version will not have BW doing all of the background vocals?  That is the biggest flaw with this song as it stands now, imho

[Andrew G. Doe]

My thoughts, for the very little they are worth:

-Sounds "mature," musically and lyrically, for a BW song: agreed
-Beginning doesn't sound like BW: agreed (and I am not sure I like the beginning all that much)
-Rest of the song sounds pretty BW-esque: agreed
-Voice sounds good: agreed
-Would be nice to flesh it out with some additional instruments: agreed
-Something is missing, some "Brian-ness" some...something: agreed (but maybe it will grow on me)
-Background vocals: could someone please tell me that the final version will not have BW doing all of the background vocals?  That is the biggest flaw with this song as it stands now, imho

Brian doesn't do all the bvs on the demo, but in any case it doesn't matter - this time he's interested, and it shows.

[Wirestone]

Not just interested -- I would call the Xmas album interested (more than bits of Smile 04, honestly). Here he sounds positively enthused. He also does things vocally I've never heard him do before -- almost whispering some of the vocals. It makes his voice sound far smoother -- and more like Dennis at the same time.

[XY]

In contrast to other solo songs I wish Brian would sing all the bv on the final recording of "Midnight". His vocals underline the personal aspect of the song and just sound really good for this kind of song.

[buddhahat]

-Beginning doesn't sound like BW: agreed (and I am not sure I like the beginning all that much)
-Rest of the song sounds pretty BW-esque: agreed
-Voice sounds good: agreed
-Would be nice to flesh it out with some additional instruments: agreed
-Something is missing, some "Brian-ness" some...something: agreed (but maybe it will grow on me)

I  think with Brian Wilson, more than any other artist, there is always the question - is this really Brian or is it a forgery?! Which parts of it are definitely Brian?    I think this is because a lot of the fascination with him hinges on the question: Does he still have the ability to create another Pet Sounds or did his brilliance burn out? And the anxiety: Is someone else faking the brilliance on his behalf? I'm not criticising your post, mypetsounds, as I find the same niggling questions pop up for me too.

It seems to matter that everything is 100% BW, but even SMiLE, arguably his creative peak, has someone else's fingerprints all over it and we could just as easily ponder the 'Brian-ness' of that weird discordant ending to the My Children were Raised bit of Cantina Heroes (to my ears that sounds completely VDP, hence, I suspect, its absence from the 45 version). A lot of his greatest work has been the result of a collaboration.

BWPS seems to raise more 'is this Brian' questions than any other of his music. For my money (and it may seem naiive); if the melody moves me in a way that no other music does then I feel confident that's largely down to BW himself. This is true for the 'new' melodies in BWPS and is certainly true for this new composition.

[SloopJohnB]

Here are the real lyrics (lyric sheet courtesy of Scott Bennett) if somebody's interested in 'em...

Lost my way
The sun grew dim
Stepped over grace
And stood in sin

Took the dive but couldn't swim
A flag without the wind

When there's no morning
Without you
There's only darkness
The whole day through

Took the diamond from my soul
And turned it back into coal

All these voices
All these memories
Made me feel like stone

All these people
Made me feel so alone

Lost in the dark
No shades of gray
Until I found
Midnight's another day

Swept away
In a brainstorm
Chapters missing
Pages torn

Waited too long
To feel the warmth
I had to chase the sun

All these voices
All these memories
Made me feel like stone

All these people
Made me feel so alone

Lost in the dark
No shades of gray
Until I found
Midnight's another day


That's pretty good if you ask me! 

[Rocker]

Thanks SJB !
I hope he'll play "Warmth of the sun" in those concerts (not as part of TLOS of course). I think that would fit pretty nice....

[shelter]

In contrast to other solo songs I wish Brian would sing all the bv on the final recording of "Midnight". His vocals underline the personal aspect of the song and just sound really good for this kind of song.

I don't like it when lead singers do their own backing vocals as well. It just sounds unnatural...

[Ron]

I hope that really is Brian posting on the BlueBoard. He really is getting a lot of love. He even responded to one of my posts! 

Well, I guess nobody knows but when he posts on the blueboard, it sure sounds 'in character'...plus, Brian has his own Brianisms that I don't think Melinda would think up off the top of her head.  He has a peculiar quality to him.  Like the quote about being a cool shark.  And he calls people "man".... which is something he does in interviews frequently.  More than likely, I see it as Brian Walrus'd up in bed telling Melinda what to type on the computer, lol.

[Ron]

I think because of Brian's general insanity people aren't really giving him a break on the ambition of this crap he's pulling in Europe in September.  From what we've seen here:

- He gets bored because his wife's out of town, calls up a songwriter in his band and starts working on new songs (This from a guy who cynics say has no ambition anymore, and doesn't create any of his music)
- They write a bunch of interesting stuff, then spend a few weeks making demos (Just like he's always done... there's what, 10,000 unreleased Brian Wilson Demos?)
- He somehow gets the idea to make the songs linked together with interspersed new-age spoken word stories to tie it all together
- He gets Van Dyke Parks to write the stories between the songs
- He decides to include an old standard, "That Lucky Old Sun" in the work

This is typical Brian Wilson.  He's done this same exact type of ambitious work for decades, he just usually doesn't finish it.  Now he has the maturity to finish his ideas.  Basically, his mo in the musical realm is to do whatever the hell pops in his mind.  Most other people wouldn't even think of something this ambitious... and it might not be any good.  You've got to give him tons of props though for doing things different. 

BTW, I love the song... I've liked all of his music since SMiLE, the Christmas Album was excellent in my opinion.  The only thing he's recorded since then that I didn't enjoy much was the Spirit of Rock and Roll.  This song falls right in line with "What I Really Want For Christmas", "Christmasy" "Walking Down the Path of Life", etc. 

[Amy B.]

I agree with you, Ron.  Some people say that Brian is put up to everything he does. I really, really don't see "the wife and managers" telling him to do a narrative based on "That Lucky Old Sun." This has "another-of-Brian's-crazy-genius-ideas" all over it.  It's like Mount Vernon and Fairway. A kind of off-the-wall, how'd-he-think-of-doing-THAT thing. Plus, as you mentioned, he called Scott when the family was out of town. He was bored, and he didn't decide to go eat birthday cake. He decided to work on music. Melinda wasn't there to stop him or start him.

And with the blueboard posting thing, I also think it was Brian this last time. They'd posted one of his new songs. When Brian is excited about a project, he loves to hear what people think. I would think he probably said to Melinda, "What are they saying on the message board??" He probably wanted to hear each message just for validation. Plus, there were pauses between his postings. I would think that's the time when Melinda reads him a message and he decides what he wants to say and tells her so she can type it in. It's certainly not someone (Melinda?) just reading and typing back in an imitation of Brian's speaking style.

[Dr. Tim]

It's pleasant listening, and bodes well for the rest of the completed piece.  It does sound like a demo, though, note the synth bass and the unpolished nature of the lead vocals.  The horn is a nice touch, definitely a keeper.  Just remember Scott played that too, being the brass player in the band, so that's why it's in the demo.  It will be interesting to see how this fits into the final sequence, i.e., will it segue to or from something else.

[LostArt]

From what we've seen here:

- He gets bored because his wife's out of town, calls up a songwriter in his band and starts working on new songs (This from a guy who cynics say has no ambition anymore, and doesn't create any of his music)
- They write a bunch of interesting stuff, then spend a few weeks making demos (Just like he's always done... there's what, 10,000 unreleased Brian Wilson Demos?)
- He somehow gets the idea to make the songs linked together with interspersed new-age spoken word stories to tie it all together
- He gets Van Dyke Parks to write the stories between the songs
- He decides to include an old standard, "That Lucky Old Sun" in the work 

Where does the part about Brian being commissioned to write the piece fit in to this scenario?

[Wirestone]

And how is that any different from having a recording contract in the 1960s?

He has to come up with something. So he comes up with something unusual. I doubt the commission was for a piece specifically called "The Lucky Old Sun." I expect they let him do whatever he wanted.

[Jim McShane]

It's pleasant listening, and bodes well for the rest of the completed piece.  It does sound like a demo, though, note the synth bass and the unpolished nature of the lead vocals.  The horn is a nice touch, definitely a keeper.  Just remember Scott played that too, being the brass player in the band, so that's why it's in the demo.  It will be interesting to see how this fits into the final sequence, i.e., will it segue to or from something else.

I've never seen Scott play brass instruments with the band, it's either Probyn Gergory or Paul von Mertens who does. Maybe Scott can play brass instruments too (he can play everything else it seems!) but I don't think it was him.

[PMcC]

I think it's beautiful. Not as happy with some parts of the backround harmony, but this melody is so nice, and Brian sings his heart out, and love that high part in the chorus....smooth sailing ...

[pixletwin]

Does anyone else agree that this is the most enthusiastic vocal from Brian since Break Away?

[grillo]

The best thing about this song is Brian's singing, which, although its kinda tattered sounding, at least has some emotion, unlike anything he's done since, oh...Love You. I agree that there are hints of Carl in his voice, and Denny in the arrangement, but the song itself doesn't really stick in my mind. Definately sounds better (underproduced) than his recent albums, but the songwriting itself isn't very interesting. Still, at least it doesn't totally blow...

[the captain]

It's kind of interesting that anyone would pass much judgment on the actual vocal performance or production when we've been told this is just a demo. I think we can gather some insight from it, but let's be realistic: the final verison could be just as overproduced or souless as so many people say GIOMH was. We really aren't in a position to comment on anything but the quality of songwriting, the basic arrangement and, while it may be a waste of time, the production or performance of a demo

[pixletwin]

It's kind of interesting that anyone would pass much judgment on the actual vocal performance or production when we've been told this is just a demo. I think we can gather some insight from it, but let's be realistic: the final verison could be just as overproduced or souless as so many people say GIOMH was. We really aren't in a position to comment on anything but the quality of songwriting, the basic arrangement and, while it may be a waste of time, the production or performance of a demo

How is a demo any less a performance then the final product. Obviously this new song has moved a lot of people and that is a palpable thing. Just because its a demo doesn't negate the impact its created. The fact that it has had an impact proves that is something which should be discussed.

One of my favorite John Lennon tracks (Real Love from the Imagine: John Lennon soundtrack) is just a demo, yet it send chills down my spine every time I hear it.

Besides Brian himself said this recording may end up as the official version.

[the captain]

I think all of us enjoy or have views on certain demos and unreleased recordings. I'm just bringing back that fact that I think is being pushed aside somewhat in the rush to praise (yet another of?) Brian's comebacks. I like the song, and I like the demo. But it might end up being another should've/could've been, that's all.

Just to answer your question, though, a demo is less a performance in the artist's eyes (or label's, or management's, I suppose, depending on the situation) by definition--otherwise it would be the final, released product.

[Ron]

It's kind of interesting that anyone would pass much judgment on the actual vocal performance or production when we've been told this is just a demo. I think we can gather some insight from it, but let's be realistic: the final verison could be just as overproduced or souless as so many people say GIOMH was. We really aren't in a position to comment on anything but the quality of songwriting, the basic arrangement and, while it may be a waste of time, the production or performance of a demo

Hmmm.... or we could say if we liked the song.  I liked the song.  How's that? 

[Amy B.]

Does anyone else agree that this is the most enthusiastic vocal from Brian since Break Away?

Nope. I'd say it's his most enthusiastic vocal since the 2005 Christmas album. And I mean that in a good way.

[Aegir]

I thought Carl and Al sang Break Away...

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Brian sang on the (ha!) demo.

Some people say that Brian is put up to everything he does. I really, really don't see "the wife and managers" telling him to do a narrative based on "That Lucky Old Sun." This has "another-of-Brian's-crazy-genius-ideas" all over it.

Maybe that's why this turned out so well...