State of the surviving voices

[runnersdialzero]

People can't stand Brian's concerts when he sings all the way through.

They can't stand his concerts when other members of the band sing.

They don't like it when he tours a lot because he's forced to do it.

They don't like it when he doesn't tour, because they don't get to see him.

They don't like it when he records without autotune because he botches notes.

They don't like it when he records with it because he sounds fake.

They don't like it when he records all the vocals himself because he sounds like "robo Brian."

They don't like it when his band records vocals with him because it sounds bland.

There are honestly folks here who would not be satisfied unless Brian magically became 40 years younger, strapped on a bass, brought Carl and Dennis back to life and toured 300 days a year with the band -- while simultaneously staying home and recording avant garde masterworks while at the same time never collaborating with anyone except Mike on surfing classics.

Those rusty forks are looking mighty tempting ...

You're totally making blanket generalizations about the people here, really, and not being fair. I don't mind people singing at Brian's shows if they sound decent - Jeff doesn't. I'd rather an all Brian show than having Jeff do a lead, even if it means a good vocalist like Darian doesn't get to do anything, either. It's a Brian Wilson show after all. I don't want him to tour if he doesn't want to, I'd rather hear a few bum notes than autotune (or better yet, just do vocal comping), and while I enjoy his backing band and generally prefer them to Brian doing all vocals, they do get a bit too Broadway for my tastes at times.

It isn't so black or white, it doesn't have to be either 20 Brians or extreme cheese Broadway style vocals. It doesn't have to be an entire vocal ran through an autotune filter or just leaving Brian hitting a terrible note in. I don't think it's irrational in the least bit to complain about such things.

Point being that everyone has different opinions and you're making it sound like we're all hypocrites. Sorry, I cannot friggin' stand Jeff's voice and if the Beach Boys are gonna reunite (something that's kind of a big deal seeing as it's been about a decade and a half), I do not like the idea of Jeff singing leads. That's all, no need to take it further and make snap judgements about the fanbase over it.

[Ron]

I think there is a big difference between how some of the guys sound on studio recordings and how they can actually sing. I'm not sure I ever want to hear Brian attempt 'The Like in I Love You' live for example.

I think they're just more consistant in the studio because they staple together several takes to make one good one.  Brian pulls off some really great stuff in concert sometimes, other times not so much.  I think he could do "The Like in I Love You" no problem Live.  When he KILLED that Christmas song on Late Night iwth Jay Leno a few years back, I got a lot of respect back for his live vocals.  I haven't seen him in concert, or even heard recent recordings but he certainly can still go on a good night. 

[Amy B.]

Listen to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZf31lOrNSY&feature=related

1971 and you can hear a clear link between this and 2010 Brian.

Yes, I hear both 80s Brian and 2010 Brian in the falsetto. And this is also proof that even by the early 70s, Brian's voice had changed. He never sounded like this in the 60s.

[Amy B.]

It's true that there's no pleasing everyone. People on this board have been suggesting that Brian should give his band members some lead vocal duties for years. When he did, other people complained. Just a difference of opinion.

When I took my father and stepmother to see Brian in '09, I was curious to see what they'd think, since neither one really knows much about Brian or the BBs. They LOVED Jeff's voice and commented that "Brian isn't really that good of a singer, is he," to which I said, "He used to be better, but he also used to be worse." Having seen him in '04, I thought he had vastly improved. They felt Jeff should have done more leads. Personally, I don't hate Jeff's voice, but I don't love it either. I don't think it has much character. Loved Darian's "Darlin', though.

To be fair, Brian still sings the vast majority of leads himself. The band takes maybe 3 or 4 songs, if I remember right.

[Ron]

I'm sorry, but I just can't stand his voice. Dude absolutely ruins the BWPS versions of "Good Vibrations", too, and "Wonderful" isn't so good because of it, either.

OH NO YOU DIDN'T!

[Myk Luhv]

I think there is a big difference between how some of the guys sound on studio recordings and how they can actually sing. I'm not sure I ever want to hear Brian attempt 'The Like in I Love You' live for example.

I think they're just more consistant in the studio because they staple together several takes to make one good one.  Brian pulls off some really great stuff in concert sometimes, other times not so much.  I think he could do "The Like in I Love You" no problem Live.  When he KILLED that Christmas song on Late Night iwth Jay Leno a few years back, I got a lot of respect back for his live vocals.  I haven't seen him in concert, or even heard recent recordings but he certainly can still go on a good night. 

Any way to hear him singin' whichever Christmas tune you're referrin' to? It doesn't seem to be on YouTube, which I found strange!

[Wirestone]

Guessing he means this, which is actually Jimmy Kimmel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrD4zfgO6kI

I'm pretty sure it's lip-synced, which all of the Christmas album promo appearances were, for some reason.

[Amy B.]

Guessing he means this, which is actually Jimmy Kimmel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrD4zfgO6kI
I'm pretty sure it's lip-synced, which all of the Christmas album promo appearances were, for some reason.

I think at the time, Melinda or Michael DeMartin got on the blueboard and swore up and down that it was live, and that Brian had the band practice over and over so it would be perfect.
How strange-- I was just thinking about Brian and his brothers, and my iPod (in the dock) turned itself on and started playing Still I Dream of It. Freaky.
 

[Ron]

Nope, it was on the Tonight Show with Leno, who doesn't allow lip syncing.  There was a big hub bub about it at the time, and Melinda specifically said on the blue board that it most definately was live and not lip synced.  

Some people think she's a liar though; so if you think she's a liar, you probably will think that he lip sync'd it.  LOL

It was December 6th, 2005, and was announced kind of at the last second.  Melinda said later that Brian & the band showed up really early, practiced all day, then nailed the song that night.  

I saw the Youtube Jimmy Kimmel clip, which was two weeks later, same song, and obviously lip synced, so who knows?  I do know that Jay has a history of not allowing people to lip sync on  his show... but I can't ignore the evidence of the Jimmy Kimmel clip.

I remember at the time everybody was adament that he wasn't lip syncing, but apparently the video is lost to the ages...

Edit: What Amy said...

[Wirestone]

Jeff F. swore up and down in 1999 that Brian's teleprompters didn't display his lyrics.

[Ron]

I think anytime anybody makes a declarative statement like that they're in trouble.  Brian's teleprompters probably don't always show his lyrics, but I'm pretty sure I've seen a picture or video or something of them displaying lyrics. 

[Ron]

Here's Brian doing "God Only Knows" 1 year ago fully in key and it's pretty damn good. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnZ53d2tYT0

I'd say he's close to as good as he is in the studio live. 

Check out the expression with his hand, and the tremor in his voice @ 2:00

LOL  He forgets the words shortly before that as well.  Guess the teleprompter was turned off that night. 


He looks SO FUCKING SAD on stage, though. 

[Wirestone]

Ron -- I nearly posted a BW GOK performance myself -- but it's from a month or so ago. Even better.

And of course Brian has lyrics on his teleprompter (not that he always looks at them). That's why it was so silly that Foskett bothered to deny it -- even at the shows in 99, people could see that there were lyrics scrolling on the screens. And who cares?

It's one of those things -- the denials always make people look worse than just admitting it. So what, he uses a teleprompter. So what, he lip syncs now and then. Who cares? Denying it just makes everyone look like they have something to hide.

[Ron]

Yeah, I don't really care one way or the other about either, or about autotune, or any of that.

The problem with the insinuation is that it implies, sometimes, that he uses all of that as a crutch, and takes away from his talent.  So I think that's why his people get defensive about it. 

Years ago, R.E.M. did MTV Unplugged (famously).  Michael Stype (? spelling?) pulled out a sheet of lyrics for "The End of the World as We Know It" and was like "Who the hell can remember all those words?"  lol or something like that. 

If I were a 60 year old who had written hundreds of songs, hell i'd want the lyrics somewhere.

Another thing to think about is Brian doing something like that is only representative of he and his people trying to put on the best show they can.  Brian has mental issues, if he forgets the words the show is going to fucking suck, I think they should do whatever they can to make sure the show doesn't suck. 

[Ron]

Another great story that's floated around for a few years about this...

Several years ago, Brian for a few years recorded Christmas songs, then gave them away for free on his website.  This would have been in the early to mid 2000's.  So, one was "Christmas Day" which was awesome and i'm sure previously released, then one was "Joy to the World" which was amazing.  I'm not saying that's the best version of that song, but it's very complex and has a completely incredible harmony part before the verse... I know everybody's heard it, but that "Bum, bum, bum bum... bum, bum, bum, bum" with him in the background going "diddit... dup diddit... dup diddit" or whatever in my opinion is one of the strangest and most hauntingly beautiful things he ever did.  Just amazing.

So anyways, the caliber of songs he was releasing for free on Christmas was pretty damn good.  So everybody started kind of expecting this each year on the BlueBoard.  So one year, he released "Silent Night".  I don't really like his version, it's just not all that good... and so a bunch of others apparently didn't like it that much either, and started actually COMPLAINING about it on the blue board!  I mean straight up talking sh*t about it, after it was recorded.  Bitching about how it was acapella, and parts sounded off, and maybe if he would have recorded it with the band, and blah blah blah.

So apparently, at the time Melinda was in the habit of responding to people's posts, or responding AS Brian, or at best typing out what Brian wanted to say to people's posts. 

Brian posted the following, which ties into the lip sync, teleprompter, etc. debate. :

Come on Everyone.......It's Christmas....... Melinda told me what has been going on here and it is really sad and not at all what I intended to have happen when I started this cool site. When I recorded Silent Night the other day in the studio, it was just a cool little Christmas message to you guys. I am not sure why someone would judge my abilities by a simple little Christmas tune I sang to bring some love and Christmas cheer to my fans. Then I read that someone said they wouldn't kid themself into thinking I did it for the listening pleasure for the Blueboarders......I can't imagine what I have done to make you think that way......The most hurtful part of this entire event is that it now seems as though I am expected to show you if I still have it? That's crazy. What's even more scary is that some of you are now fighting over what I considered to be a Christmas card to my fans. It would be like me sending you a real Christmas card and having you return it and say it's not as good as the one I sent you last year or the year before. Why are you judging me? All I wanted to do it wish all of you a very Merry Christmas......and look what's happened. I would hope that the events of 9/11 would have taught us all that there are far more important issues than whether Brian Wilson still "has it". Let's please put all this behind us and try to love and understand one another not only during this holiday season but from this point forward. You guys have to know when you write things on this board that Melinda and I read them. Do not be hurtful to her and please respect me. For those of you who appreciated my holiday message........many thanks and for those who didn't, just throw the card away. Love and Mercy, Brian"


BRILLIANT

[Myk Luhv]

I wish Brian would talk like that [at all|more] in general!

[Wylson]

Another great story that's floated around for a few years about this...

Several years ago, Brian for a few years recorded Christmas songs, then gave them away for free on his website.  This would have been in the early to mid 2000's.  So, one was "Christmas Day" which was awesome and i'm sure previously released, then one was "Joy to the World" which was amazing.  I'm not saying that's the best version of that song, but it's very complex and has a completely incredible harmony part before the verse... I know everybody's heard it, but that "Bum, bum, bum bum... bum, bum, bum, bum" with him in the background going "diddit... dup diddit... dup diddit" or whatever in my opinion is one of the strangest and most hauntingly beautiful things he ever did.  Just amazing.

So anyways, the caliber of songs he was releasing for free on Christmas was pretty damn good.  So everybody started kind of expecting this each year on the BlueBoard.  So one year, he released "Silent Night".  I don't really like his version, it's just not all that good... and so a bunch of others apparently didn't like it that much either, and started actually COMPLAINING about it on the blue board!  I mean straight up talking merda about it, after it was recorded.  Bitching about how it was acapella, and parts sounded off, and maybe if he would have recorded it with the band, and blah blah blah.

So apparently, at the time Melinda was in the habit of responding to people's posts, or responding AS Brian, or at best typing out what Brian wanted to say to people's posts. 

Brian posted the following, which ties into the lip sync, teleprompter, etc. debate. :

Come on Everyone.......It's Christmas....... Melinda told me what has been going on here and it is really sad and not at all what I intended to have happen when I started this cool site. When I recorded Silent Night the other day in the studio, it was just a cool little Christmas message to you guys. I am not sure why someone would judge my abilities by a simple little Christmas tune I sang to bring some love and Christmas cheer to my fans. Then I read that someone said they wouldn't kid themself into thinking I did it for the listening pleasure for the Blueboarders......I can't imagine what I have done to make you think that way......The most hurtful part of this entire event is that it now seems as though I am expected to show you if I still have it? That's crazy. What's even more scary is that some of you are now fighting over what I considered to be a Christmas card to my fans. It would be like me sending you a real Christmas card and having you return it and say it's not as good as the one I sent you last year or the year before. Why are you judging me? All I wanted to do it wish all of you a very Merry Christmas......and look what's happened. I would hope that the events of 9/11 would have taught us all that there are far more important issues than whether Brian Wilson still "has it". Let's please put all this behind us and try to love and understand one another not only during this holiday season but from this point forward. You guys have to know when you write things on this board that Melinda and I read them. Do not be hurtful to her and please respect me. For those of you who appreciated my holiday message........many thanks and for those who didn't, just throw the card away. Love and Mercy, Brian"


BRILLIANT

Amazing story - thanks Ron. Do you think that was really Brian writing, or Melinda?

[the captain]

I think the teleprompter complaint is one of the weakest ones imaginable. Musicians are not necessarily, inherently memorizers--those are different talents. Are we mad if a good songwriter, singer, or player doesn't run fast enough? Can't dunk a basketball? Then why that s/he needs to jog the ol' memory to remember some words, chord changes, or whatever? I would guess that fans may have emotional connections to these songs and consider it a slight to their bonds with those songs that the performer fails to have that same connection.

[Ron]

I think Melinda typed roughly what Brian wanted her to type in that instance.  It sounds an awful lot like him in my opinion.  It's an interesting little post because it has all of Brian's self-doubt, even though he proclaims he's not trying to prove anything, he still asks why people are judging him.  Plus the last little line is classic Brian.  He's a pretty clever person sometimes. 

[Jason]

Man, I remember reading those exchanges on the blueboard back when Brian put Silent Night up as a stream. That was one of my early hints of the bullshit on that cesspool of a forum. And that post that Brian put up, of course Melinda typed it. But the wording is completely Brian.

Christ, who remembers the incident back when some fan went apeshit on the blueboard, saying Brian should just retire? I forget the exact gist of that post, but I'm reliably told that Brian himself actually considered it at one point until the cavalry came out.

[Alex]

Listen to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZf31lOrNSY&feature=related

1971 and you can hear a clear link between this and 2010 Brian.

Sounds like it's halfway between his 60s falsetto and his MIU-era falsetto.

[hypehat]

I never thought that was Brian....

[Mr. Cohen]

Yeah, when I said there was a link between "Awake" and Brian's voice now, it didn't say it was a direct link. I'm just saying that it's easy to imagine this voice sounding like Brian's voice after the man singing it has aged 30+ years. There are certain qualities in his phrasing and tone I hear in Brian now. Now, if you listen to 1960s Brian, that can be a lot harder, because he hadn't started snorting cocaine and smoking more cigarettes. And at the same time, this 1971 voice is still very easy to imagine as being the Brian we heard in the 60s. All IMO, of course.

[Wylson]

I've always thought Brian's low part on Cool, Cool Water sounds pretty much like modern day Brian, and is the clear link between the voices.

[runnersdialzero]

I don't hear the connection between an "Awake" Brian and current Brian. The furthest back I can hear current Brian is the 1985 self titled album and absolutely nothing before. Prior to that, it sounds like one or two completely different people.