Not sure if anyone has made this point, but for a song to be eligible for an Academy Award, it has to be specifically written for the movie it appears in. Thus, Love & Mercy could not be nominated for Song of the Year and was apparently just a placeholder in the version of the film shown at SXSW and a couple of other festivals. Since One Kind of Love is new and composed for the film, there's a decent chance that Brian could have an Oscar nomination next January/February.

[either]

Here's a fun thing to do: sing the lyrics from a verse of either Little Deuce Coupe OR Little Saint Nick to the verses of On The Island. It works much like the way you can make a nice medley of Lay Down Burden and The Right Time.

I'm not a genius, I'm just a hard-working guy.

Papa-Oom-Meow-Meow.

Quincy Jones was a talented trumpet player...until a brain aneurysm nearly killed him and meant that he could no longer play the horn. He became one of the greatest record producers ever. When you buy a Quincy Jones album, you're not gonna hear him singing, and he's not going to be the composer of most of the songs...but his stamp is what makes those records awesome.
I've long believed that this was the direction Brian was heading. He's a great producer and arranger...and—unlike Q—he writes great songs, too. Brian's "instrument" — that golden voice — may not be what it used to be (although he's come a LONG way in the past ten years), but it's always gonna be a BRIAN WILSON record, regardless of how many lead vocals he passes out to guest stars.
On the first BB bootleg I ever owned — the plain white album cover with photocopied artwork, a live show from 1971 — you can hear an audience member shout out "Where's Brian?" And Bruce, I think, says, "Brian's in the music."
Thus has it ever been...so may it ever be. Brian is an artist, a genius composer...not a natural performer. I'm just grateful he's still wanting to make music.

No, I don't remember hearing a new song, either.

I'm surprised he mentioned writing a new song for the movie...cuz I don't remember a new song at all.

Sorry for the duplication; I see it's posted in the new album thread already.

Just saw this on Facebook:

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/03/23/brian-wilson-sail-away-no-pier-pressure/?mod=WSJBlog&mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Speakeasy

Q: What do you consider the best songs on Dennis' solo album?


A: You and I thats my favorite because I liked his vocal. Great vocal

QL: You had a very well publicized battle with depression for a part of your life. What do you credit with helping you break out of it and getting your drive to make all that great music back?
Many thanks for all that music, Brian.

A: My doctor turned me on to exercise, running was what helped break me out of my depression and get me back to songwriting. That among other things.

A new answer for Brian's favorite movie!

"The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock because it had a sense of humor. Some guys car blew up and he got killed and it made me laugh for some reason running from the birds."

I was not as impressed with the keyboard player, whom I had not seen before.

In which case you've not seen a show since 1992. 

You're not far off. I saw M&B once about five or six years ago, but don't remember the keyboard player. Since the revolving stage last night kept bringing him into front and center view, he seemed much more prominent.

Just got home from seeing Mike & Bruce's BBs at the Austin Rodeo. After the bucking broncos and bull riding, a circular, rotating stage was hauled out to the center of the dirt arena and fairly quickly set up for the group to start. They only had an hour to play, so it was rapid-fire greatest hits all the way. Scott Totten and John Cowsill were both terrific. Jeff Foskett sounded good on the falsetto parts. I was not as impressed with the keyboard player, whom I had not seen before.
Mike's voice sounded extremely weak tonight; he could hardly hold a steady note for a second.
With the short length of the show, there were not many surprises. I was pleased they did the Carl video with GOK. And they saved Kokomo for the encore...and it got a huge response from the crowd.
The biggest surprise, however, was when local boy Christopher Cross joined the group onstage and sang I Can Hear Music. Here's the video:

http://shadownoze.tumblr.com/post/114020615508/the-beach-boys-at-the-austin-rodeo-with-guest

Christopher returned for the encores of Kokomo and Fun Fun Fun.

All in all, tightly-packed hits show that went over big with a not-so-typical BB audience.

Oh, a question for those who've seen L&M: is there a scene where Landy and Brian are working on Let's Go to Heaven in My Car?

Uh...no.

Yes, Les, the re-creation of the black-and-white Pet Sounds-era promo film was simply amazing, even getting the part where Brian and Carl switch places, the march into the swimming pool, Mike Love's lab coat...the attention to detail is truly impressive. But all that wouldn't mean a thing if not for the tragic, beautiful story of this unique musical genius. I think it's true what someone else said; if you make it to the end of this movie and aren't totally in love with Brian Wilson, you need to get your heart checked. It is a masterful tribute.

I'm a bit curious as to how Landy is first presented if the 70's, as i've read here and there, are skipped..

When the story switches to the 80s, Brian is meeting Melinda and Landy is already ever-present in his life. You don't get to see how he got that way.

"Dinner party guests silverware and glass music "session", with Brian chanting over the "cacaphony" — Yes, sort of...you get the cacophony, but no chanting.
Surf’s Up (Inside Pop) with Bernstein VO — Great duplication of Brian at piano singing Surf's Up, but no VO or even mention of Bernstein.
Heroes and Villains (Brian and VDP work composing session) — Nope
“Fire” sessions (Gold Star) — Yes
Smile montage (Columbia):
a. Heroes and Villains (Brian demonstrates to group on piano) — No
b. Beach Boys harmonize on “Prelude” — No
c. Session musicians playing kazoos, toy whistles, bells and various childhood instruments — No
d. Brian piano theme, which “deteriorates as the take comes to an end and the notes played become random and jumbled.” — No
Brian sings Plymouth Rock chant in swimming pool — No
The final chord of Day in the Life (Beatles) and phonograph needle lifts" ?? — No

I became a BB fanatic during the dry spell between Holland and 15 Big Ones. I would pore over every issue of Goldmine and another zine called The Rock Marketplace—anybody remember that one? It had great articles and lots of ads. I traded cassettes with Derek Bill after seeing his classified ad in Rolling Stone. I was the first state representative for BBFUN in Texas...of course, there were only three members in Texas at the time. It was an exciting time. The best discography I could find for the BBs in 1973 was in Lillian Roxon's Rock Encyclopedia...I would read through her listing of BB records and wonder, "What would a song called 'Fall Breaks and Back to Winter' even SOUND like?" The post-Pet Sounds albums had not been rereleased at that point, so they were like the Holy Grail. Finding a used copy of Smiley Smile or Wild Honey was simply thrilling. I still have all of Marty Taber's zine, as well as David Leaf's Pet Sounds paper.
And then there was the concert in Austin where I was wearing that big light blue BBFUN button and was spotted by a guy named Chris. He told me he had a tape of some Smile stuff; man, that was incredible news. Then boots started coming out for Adult Child and Califonia (sp) Feeling.
It will never be as much fun as that again. Stockpiling mp3s is just not the same.

Plus, not to sound like goat boy, but I'm pretty sure any Elizabeth Banks sex scene would be a highlight in any movie I saw too.

Well, not to spoil anything, but it's not even a sex scene that Brian is referring to...which may be why Cusack found it so hilarious.

Just one more clip (Brian did not have a lot to say in the Q&A, of course). An audience member asked what it was like to trust someone else to tell his life story...and how did he feel when he watched it?

http://shadownoze.tumblr.com/post/113799237883/sxsw-love-and-mercy-q-a-brian-wilson-is-asked-how

Unreleased backgrounds, the director of the movie specifically said in the Q&A that he wasn't interested in doing a conventional biopic, where "you have to hit ALL the notable moments in the story of the Beach Boys." In choosing to focus on Brian during the Pet Sounds/Smile period and the Landy/Melinda period, the movie gives you a real sense of the tortured existence behind the beautiful music we all love. Many of the early hits and the shooting of the Surfin' Safari album cover, etc., are covered under the opening credits. The costume and set design is fantastic. You'll recognize every shirt Brian wears.

I purposely avoided asking a question during the Q&A because I know that 99% of the time, Brian is not engaged by a question. It occurred to me last night, though, that it would have been interesting to ask him, "How do you feel about Eugene Landy right now?" I really am not sure how he would answer.

Debbie, thanks for the kind words. Although I've been a fan of Brian and the Beach Boys for about 43 years, I don't post here very often. There's a school of thought among some that—if you don't post a dozen times a day—you must not be a real, knowledgeable fan. It's nice to get some positive feedback.

Here's a short video clip from the Q&A in which Brian is asked what his favorite scene in the movie was. His answer is very typical BW.

http://shadownoze.tumblr.com/post/113749469568/q-a-at-sxsw-brian-wilson-is-asked-what-his

[front row]

Just got home from the US premiere of Love & Mercy at SXSW. It was a big event, held at Austin's historic Paramount Theatre. A week ago, a journalist friend had texted me to let me in on the news that Brian Wilson and John Cusack would be in attendance at the screening. I had been planning to try to get a ticket anyway, but the assurance of the big guy's presence made me invest in a festival wristband.
I stood in line for about an hour and a half, and saw the black SUVs pull up and discharge the director and stars. My journalist friend found me and said he would save me a seat inside...turned out to be front row!
The movie is very, very powerful and I got misty-eyed several times as the Agony of BW was put on the screen. Paul Giamatti is pure evil as Gene Landy. Paul Dano IS the young BW. Cusack is fine in his part, but could have been less handsomely presented. Elizabeth Banks is lovely and adorable. All the casting is very good. The soundtrack is really effective, causing you to listen intently for the recognizable BW elements from which the score is assembled.
The audience was very enthusiastic about the film, giving it a great ovation.
The director and producer came out for Q&A, along with Brian and John Cusack. Nothing remarkable in the questions period, although one very zealous young fan set Brian up with a huge opportunity to plug No Pier Pressure, but Brian didn't take the bait.
The movie is a very good one. Denizens of this board may not, however, enjoy it quite as much as audiences who aren't familiar with all the ins and outs of the BB story. There is a LOT of jumping from the 60s to the 80s and back again and again, and I found myself wondering at what point the director would choose to end the story. He made a good choice.
Brian looked very good, as the photo I snapped below will attest. Pretty great day for me...and the "Beach Boys" will be in town on Wednesday, playing during the...uh...rodeo.

http://shadownoze.tumblr.com/post/113730964108/brian-wilson-and-john-cusack-do-a-q-a-following

Just saw this on reddit, from someone's high school yearbook. Great pic from the Pendleton days, with extra added saxophone Love.

http://i.imgur.com/9ginbrJ.jpg