Is SMiLE a Rock Opera?

[filledeplage]

It is said that Pete Townsend of The Who, coined the expression. "rock opera." Wherever or whomever the term originated, I wonder if  SMiLE, or even Smiley Smile was the first "authentic" Rock Opera.  An opera is a "story (work- from opus) set to music."  In its "Brian, et al" performed scheme, it impresses me as such.  I am also impressed that most of it was performed, whether in whole or in "parts" which may be found on different albums, by the Beach Boys. 

And, I approach this theory, as I look at the Smiley Smile French edition, which includes several extra tracks which were not included on the original LP but are on the SMiLE DVD.  There are also tracks which are on the Good Vibrations Box Set, which was offered as a sort of "anthology" in the early 1990's, which are from the Smile project. There may be "lyric" changes, but not serious "melody" changes. 

It is even more an "epic tale" than Pet  Sounds, with the whole Americana theme, and Plymouth Rock Pilgrim theme to the West Coast "destination," and migration across the country by the "family" (Wilson.)  I wonder it it had been marketed as such, whether it might have made a difference in the marketing approach as well as the sales. 

This is despite the fact that it is also 'in its entirety' performed, by Brian more recently; but not "assembled with the unique assemblage of the voices of the Beach Boys," as is the 1967 version.  It might make an interesting release, with Carl and Dennis' voices, sort of a Box Set, the way Pet Sounds Sessions was released, even if only on a download format.

It would also make an interesting model for music students, which interests me, with my background as a teacher.   


         

[Andrew G. Doe]

Opera... no. Song cycle, oratorio, yes.

[The Heartical Don]

Hmmm...

(i) I take your post to be a vanity statement that you are in the possession of a collectible French extended version of Smiley Smile, and that is not the first time, ma'am. I am sure the global moderators won't be too friendly on you, given that your offense is of a repetitive nature.

(ii) personally, I associate the term 'rock opera' with all kinds of horrific and pretentious projects, such as The Wall, or The War Of The Words, or I, Robot, or other such miserable and pompous works, that only serve to hide the fact that the band in question is on drugs and its leader has seized the opportunity to get up there with the likes of Wagner and Strauss. Which attempt is bound to fail, of course.

(no, really. I think an opera is some more direct type of musical play, with a storyline about humans confronting one another. Mostly the male lead gets stabbed by a rejected lover in the end, and he's singing all through his violent death at that.)

[filledeplage]

Opera... no. Song cycle, oratorio, yes.

Oratorio has a church connotation, perhaps "Operetta" which is somewhat lighter and popularized by Offenbach during the Second Empire...

It "feels thematic," at first impression.  

A "song cycle" is a group of songs to be performed in a sequence as a single entity, generally with one composer.  SMiLE is not that model, (as there is more than one lyricist,) and it returns to the original song them, as I would think an "overture" at the end to the beginning song, which confers unity to the work.  [I realize that Van Dyke Parks released something entitled Song Cycle in 1968.]  

My impression is that SMiLE or Smiley Smiley, is somewhat of an operetta, at the least, despite the later billing of "Tommy" by The Who, later in that 1960's decade.

At any rate, my impression is that the Beach Boys had an "unconnected" version, via album release, more or less, the entire project.  It was the "presentation" that was "buffed up" for the 2004 release.  In the time alloted for concert performance in the late latter 1960's, the presentation of Smiley Smile might have been impossible.  But, the studio work appears to be there, but in "chunks of track," here and there.  

JMHO  

[filledeplage]

Hmmm...

(i) I take your post to be a vanity statement that you are in the possession of a collectible French extended version of Smiley Smile, and that is not the first time, ma'am. I am sure the global moderators won't be too friendly on you, given that your offense is of a repetitive nature.

(ii) personally, I associate the term 'rock opera' with all kinds of horrific and pretentious projects, such as The Wall, or The War Of The Words, or I, Robot, or other such miserable and pompous works, that only serve to hide the fact that the band in question is on drugs and its leader has seized the opportunity to get up there with the likes of Wagner and Strauss. Which attempt is bound to fail, of course.

(no, really. I think an opera is some more direct type of musical play, with a storyline about humans confronting one another. Mostly the male lead gets stabbed by a rejected lover in the end, and he's singing all through his violent death at that.)

(1) It seems upon second glance, that the tracks on my "vanity" collectible are the same ones on the Good Vibrations Box Set, among the 4 CD's.  I am happy to have that édition.

(2) "Offenses" are not "divergences of opinion" but, if you glance at the ground rules of the board, but more or less offensive remarks, which I did not make. 

(3) A Rock opera does not have to be a horrific connotation - your second definition is preferable..."back in the day" when I was teaching 4 and 5 year olds, I found a delightful "Peter Rabbit" - "work to music" with Beatrix Potter's original writing "put to music" which I used nearly every year with my students.  It is essentially a "themed work" with or without the "blood and guts" or tragedy theme...And, I would still call it an "operetta!"  I told the children that it was a "story that we could sing!" I taught in a very poor school system and don't hold the tenet that fine art and music are only for the "rich and entitled."  Every kid should be exposed to the great work of Beatrix Potter.  And the work of classic composers. (off my soapbox!)

I can maintain that Smiley Smile fits that bill and it is my prerogative to do so.  And, incidentally I listed the track list from the French edition and it was not responded to up to this point.  AGD has many demands on his expertise and research resources.  I do maintain that they were "first" with this work. 

JMO       

[SloopJohnB]

Hmmm...

(i) I take your post to be a vanity statement that you are in the possession of a collectible French extended version of Smiley Smile, and that is not the first time, ma'am. I am sure the global moderators won't be too friendly on you, given that your offense is of a repetitive nature.

(1) It seems upon second glance, that the tracks on my "vanity" collectible are the same ones on the Good Vibrations Box Set, among the 4 CD's.  I am happy to have that édition.
     

To be honest I wouldn't call this one a "collectible" - "Magic records" issued many 60s CDs, filled with bonus tracks. For instance, they released a few CDs by the Shadows, containing the original tracks, plus singles and various alternate takes. Nice packaging, nice bonus tracks, nice price, there's no denying they were good value (which is why I bought them all!)

I've seen the "Magic" Smiley Smile in low-price record bins many times here (in France, obviously), so it seems to me they had printed lots of them and were having trouble selling them, which is understandable as that the Beach Boys aren't really that well known (liked?) in France. And "Smiley Smile" isn't exactly the kind of album a casual listener would randomly pick up from the record bin.

Anyway, I don't think it's a collectible. Just my two eurocents 

[PongHit]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_opera:

A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include metal opera and rap opera (sometimes also called hip-hopera). A rock opera tells a coherent story, and may involve songs performed as if sung by separate characters in a drama, as in classical opera.

A rock opera may or may not be presented in a staged performance. In recorded form it can be similar to a concept album (of which it is a subset), though the latter may simply set a mood or maintain a theme.

[filledeplage]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_opera:

A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include metal opera and rap opera (sometimes also called hip-hopera). A rock opera tells a coherent story, and may involve songs performed as if sung by separate characters in a drama, as in classical opera.

A rock opera may or may not be presented in a staged performance. In recorded form it can be similar to a concept album (of which it is a subset), though the latter may simply set a mood or maintain a theme.

OK - there is the "opera" definition...Thanks!

This begs the question...is it an "operetta" and wikipedia addresses that query...

It is likely long after we are all gone, that some music or other doctoral student will try to unearth the evidence as to first,  whether it was or wasn't originally more or less, "completed" by the Beach Boys in 1967 and, second, whether the "work" conforms to a rough definition or whether it is a "popera" (pop music/instead of rock music)(that is my definition, sorry)  in a "story to music" criteria.

As I compare the two - 2004 and 1967; the  1967 + whatever version with  "bonus tracks" on my "bon marché" CD I don't see is much of a difference...And, the "value" is not "monetary" - it is the "personal" value that I attach to it.

And, down-the-line, without all this "faction" factored in, I think that it will have been found to be a complete "opus" with "tracks" from other releases (or not) factored in.  Someone will analyze this issue as they have analyzed Offenbach, and his "operettas" in a detached and clinical manner.  S/he will get a doctorate for the study.

Shouldn't we be clear about "what it is?"   

[Smilin Ed H]

Hope not.  I've suddenly had a vision of someone in a curly perm and leotard strutting about the stage...

[Sam_BFC]

Oddly enough, Brian Wilson does refer to Smile as a rock opera in the BWPS DVD interviews

[Roger Ryan]

Brian has also referred to it as a "cantata" which I think is a little more accurate (although the terminology is not that different than "opera").

For better or worse, Townshend's description of TOMMY as a "rock opera" seems appropriate since there are multiple characters featured who "sing" the dialogue which propels the story forward. SMiLE, on the other hand, is just a good ol' concept album as far as I'm concerned.

[Andrew G. Doe]

SMiLE, on the other hand, is just a good ol' concept album as far as I'm concerned.

Works for me.

[filledeplage]

Oddly enough, Brian Wilson does refer to Smile as a rock opera in the BWPS DVD interviews

The "Master" (Brian Wilson) speaks!  Bravo!

Smiley is not "Men in Tights!"

Thanks!

It is not so much the "interpretation" so much as the fact that it is a "concept/theme," put to music..."capable" of this style of interpretation.  It is the "structure," not necessarily the "application."

"out in the Barnyard..."

Didn't the singers all sing a part...of an farm animal...?

or "You're under arrest!"

If Brian says it is - then, it must be so...

Happy Thanksgiving All who celebrate and Good Wishes to those who don't!

 

[Andrew G. Doe]

He also referred to it - back in 1966 and before he'd recorded one note - as "a teenage symphony to God". Works for me too.

[Jonas]

He also referred to it - back in 1966 and before he'd recorded one note - as "a teenage symphony to God". Works for me too.

Exactly. What the Who fan's call their "rock opera" we call "a teenage symphony to God" 

[filledeplage]

He also referred to it - back in 1966 and before he'd recorded one note - as "a teenage symphony to God". Works for me too.

Andrew - that is exactly the characterization that Brian gave it...

We know it became something much larger with a lasting impact.

The Beach Boys know/knew that, too, I think.

If the Smiley Smile sessions are ever released, I think it will be apparent that the studio work was more or less, "completed" by the Beach Boys...the Beach Boys' vocals are unrivaled.  Few voices compare, or ever will, with that of Carl Wilson.  Those voices were trained by Brian, from their youth. Smiley or whatever Brian has written had those voices in mind.

Brian's Band did perform it very artfully; the orchestration was equal to the work.  

I'll bet that God has heard Brian's music (his symphony or opera)...and is pleased.          

[Mahalo]

SMiLE! is a Pop Rockpera.

[absinthe_boy]

SMiLE, on the other hand, is just a good ol' concept album as far as I'm concerned.

Works for me.

That works for me.

And what on earth is wrong with Jeff Wayne's Musical War Of The Worlds?

Some concept albums and rock operas certainly were/are pretentious and don't consist of story/concept working with the music....but that ain't one of them!

[A Million Units In Jan!]

I love the phrase 'Teenage Symphony To God'. Much better than Spectors' 'Little Symphonies for the Kids'. Which is obviously where Brian got his phrase from.

[Jason]

The War Of The Words

The tragiseriocomic story of the lives of THREAD starters on the Smiley Smile message board...

[Bicyclerider]

without a storyline or recurring characters, it's definitely not a rock opera. 

Symphony is a good description because it references the recurring musical themes, which are an esssential part of a symphony, as well as the controversial "movements" (be they a 90's creation or a 60's idea in Brian's brain that was abandoned or never developed).

Pop music art (or musical pop art) is another way to categorize the work, and that describes Sgt. Pepper as well.

I'm not convinced it's a "concept" album, just because there are four different themes or "concepts" and usually a concept album has only one overriding theme.  Like - all songs about rain (Jan & Dean), songs performed by a different band named Sgt. Pepper (OK, that's what the Beatles wanted us to think but in fact that concept only applied to three songs), Ogden's Nut Gone Flake side 2 with it's quest for Happiness Stan, the Pretty things S.F. Sorrow.  It would have been closer to a concept album if instead of "movements" the album had been sequenced so as to spread the "Americana" songs throughout the album, and have "Heroes" sections repeat as link tracks - and of course this is what was initially assumed when all the Smile fragments and Heroes sections first came out in the early 90's, but in fact the sections were all recorded for specific songs and the plan had always been for a 12 track/song album according to both Van Dyke and Brian.