The Smiley Smile Message Board

So, as Mike stated in the "Rolling Stone" article, he enjoys putting a positive slant on things and, had he taken part in the suite at the end, would have added a more hopeful ending.  He is Mr. Positivity, after all.  So, continuing on some of the great Lovesian revisions people have done to the suite in the "Rolling Stone" thread, let's reimagine the catalog (and other great songs) and finally do justice to these songs in a way only Michael can.

I'll come back with some of my own later, but there's been a few great ones already.  So let's keep it going!

If only Mike could've lectured Billie Holiday before recording Strange Fruit, it could use a punchup of positivity.

California trees bear good fruit,
fun on the leaves
   and sun to the root
hard bodies singin' in the Malibu breeze
strange fruit served with red wine and cheese

a happenin' scene never goes south,
pretty eyes and a cutie-pie mouth
scent of jasmine, so sweet and fresh
then the sudden smell of teenage flesh.

there's lots of fruit, the boys are in luck
 the surfers all gather when there's honeys to pluck
for the sun never sets, the waves never drop
life is so strange, a wonderful pop!

Or um, something like that.

(flails around uselessly)

I guess Mike missed the line in "Summer's Gone" that says "I’m thinking maybe I’ll just stay".

But I'm sure Carl didn't.

Mike Love reimagines "Dumb" by Nirvana

I'm just like them, don't need to pretend
The sun is here and I see the light
The day is won and I'm having fun
I think I'm fun

Maybe just happy
I think I'm just happy
I think I'm just happy
I think I'm just happy

My heart has spoke and I feel like new
Help me prevail and spend time with you
We'll surf so brave, hang out on waves
Then they'll crash down

Have a layover
Have a layover
Have a layover
Have a layover

Love the sun, fall asleep
Wish away, fun is cheap
Lesson learned, wish me luck
Feel the burn, lather me up

I'm just like them, don't need to pretend
The sun is here and I see the light
The day is won and I'm having fun
I think I'm fun

Maybe just happy
I think I'm just happy
I think I'm just happy
I think I'm just happy

I think I'm fun
I think I'm fun
I think I'm fun

Too bad Mike missed "Gloomy Sunday"

His definitive statement on the days of the week can be found in his helpful rewrite of the relentlessly pessimistic anthem "Manic Monday"

  It's just another calming Monday
      it doesn't have to be Sunday
           every day is funday
            doesn't have to be someday
    it's just another
           calming Monday

He could do 'Anarchy In The U.K.' as: 'Democracy In The U.K.'. That's what the youngsters of today really need.

And 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' can become: 'Love Will Keep Us Together'. Here the advantage is that there's a template already and a Beach Boys connection too.

So what's not to like?

Mike 'Buddy' Love can re-write the whole catalogue of pop, were it up to me. The world would become drug-free instantaneously. And there'd be no war any more.

From Kokomo To Back Again (Wilson/Love/Thomas)

Why don’t we run away
And catch the surfin' scene?
Down in Montego Bay
We'll forget all our interstescenes
Why don’t we cruise the way
We used to anymore?
Take my Woodie along the way
Where the California Girls stay
We'll Catch A Wave and surf along the shore

You’ve been thinking 'bout some things
But keep it cool
Levitate the gravity in front of you
The beach is where we belong, All Summer Long
Won’t you listen?

Don’t you understand the words
Are singing in the wind
I wish that we could get from Kokomo to back again

The surfing guys and gals are storming the U.S.A.
From the Florida Keys to wonderful Califor-ni-a
Girls in bikinis, could I just find a way
For them to just fall, just fall, just fall
Into the Love...

In our Summer In Paradise
Where we go to get away from it all
As America's Band, we stood tall
From Rhonda to Barbara Ann, we gave it all
And Marcella, oh, she's still so fine
I think it's surfing time

Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun
Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun
Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun...

Midnight's Another Sunny California Day (Wilson/Love/Bennett)


Found my way
As a teenage gambler
Was touched by Grace
While sitting in a Rambler

Took the dive and dove real well
Meditation makes me swell

When there's no morning
Without sun
We'll chase the darkness
With fun, fun, fun

Took the peanuts from my coal
Mulched the cornfield of my soul

All these Wrinkles
All these mammories
Made me feel so happy

Cousin Brian
Doesn't feel so crappy!

Under my hat
No shades of gray
That's 'cause I'm bald
Midnight's another sunny California day

Won't accept
My Pet Sounds fate
Vocals missing
On WIBN middle eight

Racked up too many
Ex-wives who want money
I had to chase every California honey

Doo-doo doo doo-doo (bow wow bow wow bow wow)
Doo-doo doo doo-doo (Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen)

All these lawyers
And Melinda
Worked out real good terms

All these groupies
Made me run out of sperms

Lost band in song
Give Foskett his way
Bruce is a dong
Midnight's another sunny California day

bibbly-shibbly-doo, bippity bip-bap bum

I would have Mike Love contribute his musical talents, as opposed to his commonly lauded lyrical talents, for this next one: Charlie Parker's 1946 recording of "Lover Man."

Parker was out in California and having a hard time scoring the heroin he needed, so to compensate, he drank his head off. Depressed and alone, he drank a quart of whiskey before heading to the studio one night. During the session, he was so drunk the producer literally propped him up to the mic. What followed is widely considered brilliant and among the best music Parker ever recorded, not because of its technique--it's sloppy, horribly sloppy--but because it's raw and undeniably emotive. That's a bunch of bosh, though! Mike Love knows that positivity sells. Mike is a bit of a sax man himself, so I'd like to think he would have cheered Bird up a bit with some of his own sunny riffs, maybe throw in a few riffs from "Kokomo" or "Surfin' USA" during the solo. Yes, Mike Love really could have helped that depressing, unlistenable piece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNJpes0XFGU

(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6005/5994663788_4946b76afb_z.jpg)

Mike, "brushing 'em like crazy"!

Heavy metal must ne one of the least positive genres around. If only Mike would have been there when it was born! So here goes: forget Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath, this is Surfing Saturday!

What is this that dances, dances, dances before me?
Girl in bikini which points at me
Get around quick and start the fun, fun, fun
Find out I'm the chosen one, oh yeah

Big Ford woodie with burning tyres
Taking people where they desire
Girl's sitting there, she's smiling
Watches those waves get higher and higher
Oh yes, yes, please God only knows!

Is it the end, my friend?
Woody's coming 'round the bend
People running 'cause they feel vibrations
The people have fun and feel excitations
Yes, yes, please, yes

After Mike takes over the abandoned SMiLE, he retools the lyrics back to that boy-girl thing that everyone can relate to, y'know? Let's say a guy is waitin' for his chick to get ready for their big date, but man...it's takin' soooo long. It could almost be a prequel to "She's Goin' Bald". Or maybe a commercial jingle for you-know what.

Here we go:

HERBALESSENCE

Wash your hair so fine and yellow,
Herbalessence' smell, so mellow,
Makes so sweet like a peach.

Washed and dried, I comb your mane there.
Bounce and body so insane there.
I'll give you a home on the beach.

Who ran the shower so long?
Who ran the shower so long?
Who ran the shower so long?
Who ran the shower so long?

I want to watch you blow-dried, spraying
Down your beehive, no hair straying
Hope you'll stay always in reach.

Now that you have got your hairdo,
Off we go, but don't know where to
Maybe stay home on the beach.

Who ran the shower so long?
(Shuck-jivin' man do what you can)
Who ran the shower so long?
(High-tail your pouch off the couch)
Who ran the shower so long?
(Out of Final Net, or just the gas, man)
Who ran the shower so long?
(I cannot roam, she's gotta comb)
Who ran the shower so long?
(Up and down her locks)
Who ran the shower so long?
(With the hairpins and brush)
Who ran the shower so long?
(C'mon babe, gotta rush)
Who ran the shower so long?
(In the cool night, where it's right)
Who ran the shower so long?
(In the hairnet it's set; ready yet?)
Who ran the shower so long?
(Ditch that spray can)

Have you seen the wild honey workin' on her hairdo?
Have you seen the wild honey workin' on her hairdo?
Have you seen the wild honey workin' on her hairdo?

Over and over,
The brush strokes go teasing her hair-bun.
Over and over,
I think that you're just about there, hon'.

Over and over,
The brush strokes go teasing her hair-bun.
Over and over,
I think that you're just about there, hon'.

Over and over,
The brush strokes go teasing her hair-bun.
Over and over,
I think that you're just about there, hon'.


Well, well, you're welcome. -onkster

I had this dream,
suing all my cousins...

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEn I find myself, in financial trouble,
Brian Wilson comes to me,
testifying poorly,
Let It Be

And when the surfing's right, he is throwing,
money, right at me.
testifying poorly,
Let It Be


Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be,
testifying poorly, Let It Be

And when all the broke-ass frontmen, living in the world agree,
just sue Brian Wilson,
Let it be

For though there may be lawyers, there is still a chance that they don't see,
and let him give the answers,
let it be

[CHORUS]

And when the apple juice is cloudy, there is revenue that comes to me,
because i sued Brian Wilson,
Let it be,

I wake up, to the smell of money,
and maharishi's dungarees,
because i sued Brian Wilson,
Let it be.


Let it be, let it be, let it be,
Just sue Brian Wilson, Let it be.



Don't sue me, Mike

You need to record this now! 8)

I admit, I was playing with the chords earlier! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.......

Till I die I'll be having fun, fun, fun
Spreading good vibrations across the nation

Like a leaf on a windy day, we'll be surfin U.S.A
Like a rock in a land slide, tanning our hides

I think Mike first needs to reimagine this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ62IpNq5VE

OK, sorry, last one...

Mike Love: "So when I was meditating with the Maharishi in India, Paul came up to me with this song of his called "Yesterday" to see what I'd think about it. So he played it, and it was nice, but I couldn't help but tell him: Gee, Paul, this is a good song, but it makes me feel kind of depressed, y'know? [Mike makes the shape of a gun with his fingers and pulls the trigger at his temple.] And it's all this "yesterday" stuff constantly. Yesterday, yesterday, yesterday.

And so Paul's like:[Mike adopts a fake British accent] 'I know Mike, that's why I thought I'd toss it off to you for a good go-around. You're Mr. Positivity, right? Help me!'

I'm like, OK Paul, calm down. [laughs] Look, the first thing we need to do is take this out of the past tense. How about changing it from just being about all this sorrow over yesterday - you know, boohoohoo [Mike pretends to wipe tears from his eyes] -  and turning into this concept where it turns into positivity every single day. So it's not so boring, dull, and depressing. And Paul's just like 'woah, man - great!', and gives me a hug. [chuckles] And so then we changed a few more words around, and finished the song in like 10 minutes. And wouldn't you know it, it shot up straight to #1. Actually, Paul still sends me Christmas cards to this day, because of that song."

"Yesterday" (McCartney/Love)

Yesterday, all the good times seemed so close to me
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in every day

Suddenly, I'm double the man I used to be,
There's the sunshine hanging over me.
Oh, every day comes suddenly.

Why she had to surf, I don't know, she wouldn't say
I said something right, now we might surf every day.

Yesterday, love was such a hard game to play.
Now we got a place to surf away.
Oh, I believe in every day.