M&B USC Pop Music Q&A

[ontor pertawst]

I think we should all take a deep breath, go to CVS, and stare longingly at the greeting cards.

Somebody should ask Bruce how his "World's Greatest Grandma" suite is coming along.

[JohnMill]

DT:  The opening act of the concert is comprised of Thornton School of Music students who have written songs inspired by The Beach Boys’ style. Why do you think your music has remained popular across generations?

ML:  I think there’s a lot of warmth in the harmonies, and the feeling that you get when you hear that kind of harmony which we’re known for and we love doing. I think that is a warmth that transcends mountains and nationalities and language groups. It’s truly amazing. If we’re in Japan, we’ll start a song, they’ll hear just any of the songs, and they’ll just roar. … Harmonies, and the warmth of the harmonies, the blend, is really attractive to the ear.

Johnston: He’s being very humble because he wrote all the lyrics. You kind of have to have the lyrics to sing these songs, you know.

(COUGH...AHEM....)

While I appreciate a great many things about Mike Love and for that matter Bruce Johnston, it's comments like this that makes it really hard to defend them.  I vacillate between out and out liking them and rooting for the jersey and not the individual mentality I suppose.  But it's easy to see why they have so many detractors and why so many people especially when it comes to Mike Love make the hard and fast decision to dislike him right from the start. 

[feelsflow]

Oh my, Bruce, check your pocket, there's a fiver hangin' out.

[RubberSoul13]

That was terrible...so the moral of their story is: Write commercially, learn business education, and shop at CVS.

I agree, it's interviews like this that make it hard to defend them. At least Mike's comments were sort of on topic. It is wies for music majors to maybe minor in music business but Bruce just sounded annoying and weird. Mike did right anywhere near ALL the lyrics and wasn't exactly being modest. Why would anybody want to intentionally write a song that will sell at this point? And other than "I Write The Songs"...what has he written that sold?

[startBBtoday]

I still can't get over the fact that Bruce said he gets inspiration from greeting cards.

[ontor pertawst]

[RubberSoul13]

I still can't get over the fact that Bruce said he gets inspiration from greeting cards.

...and not even the good ones! CVS!!!

[guitarfool2002]

I still can't get over the fact that Bruce said he gets inspiration from greeting cards.

...and not even the good ones! CVS!!!

   CVS is OK with cards, to be fair. If he had said Dollar General or Five Below, I'd be worried. 

[leggo of my ego]

DT:  The opening act of the concert is comprised of Thornton School of Music students who have written songs inspired by The Beach Boys’ style. Why do you think your music has remained popular across generations?

ML:  I think there’s a lot of warmth in the harmonies, and the feeling that you get when you hear that kind of harmony which we’re known for and we love doing. I think that is a warmth that transcends mountains and nationalities and language groups. It’s truly amazing. If we’re in Japan, we’ll start a song, they’ll hear just any of the songs, and they’ll just roar. … Harmonies, and the warmth of the harmonies, the blend, is really attractive to the ear.

Johnston: He’s being very humble because he wrote all the lyrics. You kind of have to have the lyrics to sing these songs, you know.

(COUGH...AHEM....)

LIAR LIAR - SHORTS ON FIRE !

[guitarfool2002]

DT:  The opening act of the concert is comprised of Thornton School of Music students who have written songs inspired by The Beach Boys’ style. Why do you think your music has remained popular across generations?

ML:  I think there’s a lot of warmth in the harmonies, and the feeling that you get when you hear that kind of harmony which we’re known for and we love doing. I think that is a warmth that transcends mountains and nationalities and language groups. It’s truly amazing. If we’re in Japan, we’ll start a song, they’ll hear just any of the songs, and they’ll just roar. … Harmonies, and the warmth of the harmonies, the blend, is really attractive to the ear.

Johnston: He’s being very humble because he wrote all the lyrics. You kind of have to have the lyrics to sing these songs, you know.

(COUGH...AHEM....)

LIAR LIAR - SHORTS ON FIRE !

At that point isn't Mike responsible because he didn't correct Bruce on the proper songwriting credits?

(...ducks for cover...) 

[Gertie J.]

hahahaha

[Cyncie]

I think we should all take a deep breath, go to CVS, and stare longingly at the greeting cards.

Somebody should ask Bruce how his "World's Greatest Grandma" suite is coming along.

LOL! He's still working out the arrangements for the "Best Wishes On Your New Job" suite he wrote for Brian, Al and Dave.

[ontor pertawst]

Gasp! It's true!