The Smiley Smile Message Board

didn't see this mentioned anywhere here, but wes anderson's new stop motion movie "fantastic mr fox" has 3 beach boys songs featured prominently in it - "heroes and villains", "i get around" and "old man river"!  its a great movie as well

I knew "Heroes & Villains" was in it, but not the other two. "Old Man River", really? Hmm, I'm going to have to check the film out.

Yup, Heroes right at the begining, and River near the end, before his speech. Didn't expect to ever hear Old Man River (BBs version) in a film...

I think I've read that it's the "Hawthorne"-version of OMR, right? I totally love both versions. Wish Brian and the boys would have finished the concept

it's the hawthorne version with a bit of the 2001 2-fer instrumental tag thrown in at the end in the background (i think)

i love anderson, so i can't wait to see this.

also the boat that rocked/pirate radio has wouldn't it be nice and little saint nick

Yes, Richard Curtis almost ruined "God Only Knows" by sticking a version with a ridiculously-extended tag onto LOVE, ACTUALLY and now tarnishes "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by using it in his latest film. I was really looking forward to PIRATE RADIO (THE BOAT THAT ROCKED in the U.K.), given that the subject matter had such potential (illegal broadcasting of rock/pop music off the English coast in 1966), but was dismayed to find that Curtis jettisoned any historical interest in favor of doing "PORKY'S on a boat". As far as accuracy was concerned, I knew the film was in trouble when "Jumpin' Jack Flash" was cued up ten minutes in even though we were told specifically that the film takes place in '66.

   Excerpt from new SEATTLE TIMES review:

   The two stars of the "Fantastic Mr. Fox" soundtrack are The Beach Boys and Bobby Fuller.  "Heroes and Villains" (1966) is the key track, a chase-scene of a song that's almost a movie in itself, easily the Boys' most epic achievement next to "Good Vibrations."  Anderson's unearthing of The Beach Boys' gorgeous a capella version of "Ol' Man River" (1968) is an excellent find; like "Heroes and Villains," it's straight-faced Americana made by guys on LSD.

   The current era in indie-pop finds lots of bands trying Beach Boys-style vocal harmonies and arrangements — local group Fleet Foxes and New York City's Grizzly Bear chief among them — but none of them have anything on the Wilson family/friends.  "Heroes and Villains" and "Ol' Man River" should make people check for drug-period Beach Boys.

lol, are you serious when you say those songs are almost tarnished for you?

OK, I was exaggerating for effect! But it did bug me that the "God Only Knows" tag was looped so many times to fit the film sequence; it took some of the power out of it.

I loved that they looped the tag again and again.

i like that it also introduced a lot of new listeners to them.  i mean, it almost killed me when i was playing it in the car and a bunch of my friends who were girls said "looove actually!" but y'know.  that's ok.