The Smiley Smile Message Board

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGYbvZ7OFX8


What's the story behind the video? I'd like to know who directed it, wrote the concept, etc. Why are they dressed like coke dealers/pimps?



(http://oi45.tinypic.com/4iyez8.jpg)

Ladies & gentlemen, THE BEACH BOYS!!!

It's an awful video, as most of their MTV era vids were. I don't hate their 80's music, as many fans here do, but those videos make me cringe.

Do you think Carl always wears those sunglasses in these awful 80's videos so that we can't see his eyes saying 'You know, I wrote Feel Flows...'

I want to bully that video and steal it's lunch money.

I actually kind of like it in a John Waters kind of way.

But somebody should have talked Al out of that hairstyle.

I love the song ... never heard it before so to me it is a Beach Boys song.  :lol

The video is so depressing, though.

I like the girls in the video. Could do without the guy wearing the giant crocodile head.

The BBs version of the song is better than the original, I think.

The video is a work of arte next to Happy Endings.

You're insane.

Al's voice suits this a lot, mind.

Yeah Al sounds awesome on it but nothing beats the original.

it's pretty bad in comparison to the original.

Personally it bugs me to see Carl just sort of bopping in the background not contributing a whole lot to the song.

As a fan of both the Beach Boys and Elton John I just have to say the video and the Beach Boys version of Crocodile Rock are terrible

Their cover is actually pretty representative of that whole Elton tribute album from which it comes. Even "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" by the Who is pretty tame (although Pete somewhat cleverly interpolates "Take Me to the Pilot" as a bridge, even though they have nothing whatsoever in common thematically). That said, Wilson Phillips' version of "Daniel" comes from that album, and is pretty decent. Ironic that the kids could do it properly while the older family members just seemed like the crazy uncles who want to be hip (which I suppose they were).

Except not at all.

Did not know Elton's orignal had as many fans. I think it sucks, really.

I think it's a competent cover, in a long line of Jardine competent covers. I sorta like it.

The video (and it's wardrobe) should be burned.

director: DJ Webster
producer: Joe Charbanic

I'm actually not a fan of Elton's original either. But I still think this version's worse.

http://www.filmbug.com/db/341977

And this

http://articles.latimes.com/1991-10-12/local/me-17_1_beach-boys

If the BBs version was recorded like 15 years earlier it would vbe superior to the original version. But the gated drum sound and synthy production kill it. (what's new....)

I'll echo the above statements that Al's vocal is really good, though.

This song , once again, has the band splitting the lead vocals between Al and Carl (the bridge).. I think this song would have worked better if Al had sung the whole thing.

IMHO I hated  the bands habit of splitting up the leads in the 80's and 90's 

it's only a video...it's only a video...keep watching...keep watching... can't wake up...can't wake up...what's happening...keep watching...aaahhhh!!!  :ahh

I'd argue that video was actually ahead of it's time. Looks exactly like every single mid-90s ska music video.

Which isn't much of a prophetic accomplishment for 1991ish, is it?

The complete video might be OK but that loop is a little scary.

must keep watching...must keep watching...what's happening....can't wake up.....aaahhhhhh!!!  :ahh

Totally agree.  That cut is the best one on the album.

Carl doesn't look like himself in this video, wearing that hat. David Marks wears shades a lot, too, so maybe their fondness for shades is a Beach Boys lead guitarist thing. :p

Stamos' intention was to make the "Croc Rock" video look as cheesy as possible in a "camp" (deliberately tongue-in-cheek) manner. In that regard, I don't think he quite achieved the "camp" element.

Well, if a key component to something being camp is for the audience to be aware that it's camp...no, I think he didn't. That's a tricky balancing act, though, even with people who have experience directing camp successfully.

Well, and the 60s and 70s. Right back in the beginning it was often Mike on verses and Brian on chorus. Pet Sounds certainly has tracks where the lead singer changes every verse or so.

Al looks pretty silly, BUT OH MY GOD CARL LOOKS RIDICULOUS

Isn't it awful? This is part of what makes me sad for Carl, that his last few projects with his band were so...well, not anything that's going to end up in their career highlights.