The Smiley Smile Message Board

As we all know, there have been many songs written about Brian, so I was just wondering what everybody's favorite one was. My favorite has to be Mr. Wilson by John Cale.

1. Brian Wilson - Barenaked Ladies
2. Mr. Wilson - The Hormones

1. Brian's Back- Mike Love   ::)
2. I Write the Songs- Barry Manilow....er I mean Bruce Johnston

I was going to suggest this thread be turned into a 'favourite song about the Beach Boys' topic rather than focusing solely on Brian but then I reckoned there are probably no songs written and performed by other bands about, say, Carl or Al or probably even Mike!  (I know of one for Denny though -- "Everything! (A Song For Dennis Wilson)" by Pete Wylie.) Feel free to prove me wrong though. ;)

As for songs about Brian, I quite like "The Love Songs Of B. Douglas Wilson" by Splitsville off The Complete Pet Soul (rel. 2000).

OK........my favorite song about the Beach Boys?  

"Tribute To The Beach Boys '76" by Sands Of Time.  

Beach Boys afficianado and DJ Pete Fornatale helped write it.

1. "Dear Brian" - Chris Rainbow
2. "A Tribute To The Beach Boys 76" - The Sands Of Time (The Tokens)
3. "Mr. Wilson" - John Cale

Favorite BW tribute song: Brian Wilson - Barenaked Ladies

Favorite BB tribute song: REM - At My Most Beautiful (I've always understood that it was sort of a tribute to BW's Pet Sounds like production and writing style)

Sorry to quote myself, but:

I just looked at 'Sons Of The Beaches' at www.allmusic.com, and to my surprise the CD, released by Varese Sarabande, is much different from the original LP. Most likely that is why it gets 2 stars out of 5 (oddly enough, the review itself is much more sympathetic). The track sequence is significantly altered, and the CD is overlong IMHO. So, if you're interested, try to hunt down the vinyl at a record fair or a car boot sale.

In no especial order:

"Beach Boy" - Airwaves
"Dear Brian" - Chris Rainbow
"Mr. Wilson" - John Cale
"Brian's Back" - Mike Love

There are at least two songs called "Mike Love, Not War" - one by Oranger (lyrics "Mike Love floats over the ocean/Mike Love floats over the sea/Mike Love floats over the rooftops/please send Mike Love back to me") and one by Smudge.
A band called It's Only Roy did a great Carl Wilson tribute/soundalike called Gentle Soul.
Lindsay Buckingham did a tribute to Dennis called DW Suite
And Belle And Sebastian had a song called "I Love My Car" containing the lines "I love my Carl/I love my Brian, my Dennis and my Al/I can even find it in my heart to love Mike Love"

Its not specifically about Brian, but it is a 'Good Vibrations' pastiche with significant references to Brian and part of a loose concept album about how fame can damage a man.


Cannibal Surf Babe by Marillion.


Otherwise....sentimental fool that I am......Brian's Back.

Brian Wilson Said - Tears For Fears

Both songs -

"Brian's Back"...because the fans can sing along (and knew he was 'really' never gone)...the triumphant "Comeback Kid" theme...

and...

"I Write the Songs"...because it give you a place to appreciate that great "gift..."  ;)

Andrew Hicke mentioned Lindsey Buckingham's "D.W. Suite".  Very dark, but very good.  Here are some words about the piece that I found after a quick Google search. I shortened it up a bit.
 
"D.W. Suite," is the final song on Lindsey Buckingham's second solo album, Go Insane. In the three movements that surround this musical piece, Lindsey explores the feelings of what going insane feels like, while also paying homage to one of his strongest musical influences, the Beach Boys, and in particular, his feelings surrounding the death of Dennis Wilson. This combined with Lindsey's own feelings about loss and change, are tied together into this one, final homage.

"D.W. Suite" is not a song, it is a suite. According to Lindsey "it's three different movements and it's very cinematic. I like to think of it in that way because the threads that bind the three movements are quite cinematic." (Jim Ladd Interview, 1984). The whole of its elements including the vocal stylings, the production techniques, the three different movements of the suite, all merge together to create a message and feeling that far outweigh what the lyrics alone can communicate.

Lindsey had this to say about "D.W. Suite:" "D.W. Suite" really was written right after Dennis Wilson died. And uh, about two days after that happened - and I was quite upset by that - I locked myself in the studio and recorded this whole thing. I emerged a week later with the "D.W. Suite." It was, to me - the visual that I had - it can refer to anything obviously - going insane together- can refer to anything and anyone can relate to it in their own specific way. But I was thinking in terms of the Beach Boys, really, and the death of Dennis Wilson inspired the composing of this particular tune." (Jim Ladd Interview 1984).

With it's Irish and American-folk roots, the music of the three movements is uplifting at points and shadowed by darkness at others. It is reminiscent of youth turned sour, dreams gone bad, and happiness turned sad. The ending movement is enveloped by happiness with a joyous marching theme that completes the suite. "D. W. Suite" is not only a tribute to Dennis Wilson and all of the Beach Boys, but to everyone, including Lindsey, who has at one time or another felt a little insane and gone from this world.

"It starts out almost with a death wish, which is D.W., and says 'If we go insane, we can all go together.' I see all of the Wilson's as having gone insane together... Of course, Brian Wilson had always been such a big influence on me that when Dennis died, it got me thinking about the Beach Boys and the rough time that they've had all around, really, and the fact that Brian went from a very commercial format into a far more experimental and how he suffered for it. That, plus the things I'm trying to do, were all sort of floating around . . . ." (Lindsey Buckingham, Illinois Entertainer, November 1984).

Musically, the first part of the suite, "The Wish", starts out with a child-like innocence, masking the darkness of the lyrics. However, by the end of the fading lyrics, the music is much more reminiscent of a path followed by fear and pain. The child has disappeared and the feeling of insanity has begun.

"If we go, go insane
We can all go together
In this wild, wanton world
We can all break down forever . . ."

"I want to go, go forever
I want to go, go forever
It's just a memory
It's just a memory
It's just a memory . . .
Gone forever . . .
Gone forever . . ."

Movement two, "The Prayer" is a reflection of the feelings and emotions felt when someone you care about is gone. Lindsey is no stranger to writing dark lyrics with joyous musical overtones or vice versa. He is a master at mixing his songs to match any range of feelings that may stem from himself at that time. If you listen carefully, you will hear the definite Beach Boys-style harmonies and background vocals in this movement of the song.

"The closing of a chapter
The opening of a door
Brings forth life
Where there was no life before
I won't be here; I'll be watching from above
Always do you should
Always be good
And when push comes to shove."

"Pray for guidance from above
Shadow all your hopes with love
Live your life without a doubt
Outside in, inside out
Pray for guidance from above
Shadow all your hopes with love
Never be afraid, never be afraid
Pray for guidance from above."

"The closing of a chapter
The opening of a door
Brings forth life
Where there was no life before."

The last and final movement, "The Reflection" is the traditional Irish music with a flute, like a wake, getting faster and faster like the realization that life goes on. It is a dance of joy and a dance of insanity for those lost to the world. In Lindsey's own words, "let's pause for a moment.. but then life must go on."

Another good one.

"My life, nothing was easy till now
Hope like the morning will paint the dawn
More than ordinary ( deep down )
Make it more than merry ( deep down )
Take me to the jamboree ( deep down )
And shine a light on me
Draw back the curtains and smile
Everything's wow !"

"Girls are ten penny Janet, Joy and Jenny, Judy, Joan and Jackie G
Hear me now I warn you
Girls from California break your heart and set you free
My life"

"Shame to rely, but I swear it's the best I can do
Like a flame, like an i with a dot I am not you
Call me guilty I swear I'm a man who can fly (deep down)
I keep coming back, I'll get back to you"

"My life, nothing was easy till now"

Forgot about the obvious, and my favorite: "Brian's Back" - Mike Love

For Brian, my favorite is "Brian's Back".

For the Beach Boys though, I have give a nod to Dave Edmunds with "Beach Boy Blood (In My Veins)".

There's also that song by one Napoleon XIV, what was its title again?

It's got to be Mr. Wilson by Cale - 'Wales is not like California in any way' is such a wonderful line.

I absolutely love the Sands of Time song. In terms of flow some the lyrics may sound a bit awkward but the singing itself is just stellar and a very worthy tribute to the BB.

Never been a fan of the Barenaked Ladies song. Too clichéd.

Carl's "Like a Brother" by Beckley-Lamm-Wilson.

The Barenaked Ladies song has always been a favorite, love that group in their prime, but I think my favorite and the best one is the John Cale song "Mr. Wilson," he just nails the vibe completely.

I heard a song from youtube called F*** You Mike Love.

FUML far outshines anything Brian has done in the last 50 years. Why he's never officially released it has left BB scholars incredibly f u b a r. ;D

 Lost Dogs -"Jesus loves you Brian Wilson".    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0OhPBKoHUE
 

 I love "Like a brother". The line "wait for your wave ,they'll be another " has come true for Brian.

Wishbone Ash - "Surfing a Slow Wave"  ;D

Obviously Barenaked Ladies- Brian Wilson I remember loving that tape when I was a kid.

Tears for Fears- Brian Wilson said

Carl Wilson suite here:http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bikeride4 is a small clip of the song, I love it.

Beaver Brown (from Eddie and the Cruisers) sprinked Brian/Beach Boy references throughout a lot of their music.  

Unfortunately a lot of it was never released:

- "Wild Summer Nights" includes the lyric "let those lake pipes roar".  The tag of the sounds Brianish
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AIRYwQRvB4  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AIRYwQRvB4)

- A song (never recorded but played often) called "Out on the Beach" included the lyric "and then "Brian Wilson said do it again".

- A song they closed their show with called "on the Radio" ended with the opening of "Dance, Dance, Dance".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ8UkWp3pGo&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ8UkWp3pGo&feature=related)

- John Cafferty was quoted as saying he thought that "Eddie and the Cruisers" was inspired by the SMiLE saga and the beginning of the final song on the album ("Season in Hell - Fire Suite") has definite "Mrs. O' Leary's Cow" vibe to it.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avPGk-XXEfE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avPGk-XXEfE)

As soon as I saw this thread I was gonna jump in with this one.  What a pleasure to see it the first one mentioned, and also the one mentioned more than any other.  I LOVE this song.  Nails the vibe, and unlike so many other BBs tributes, zero cheese factor.

Another interesting fact:  Cale's "Antarctica Starts Here" and "Long Promised Road" are very, very similar...and both released in '71.  Influence, or great minds thinking alike?