Surfing as a Metaphor

[Mahalo]

I think one of the first things I realized listening to the Beach Boys as a child was that they were not just singing about 'surfing', but themes much bigger than that.  The idea that the ocean was like life and all the waves were the daily ebbs and flows of activity made a lot of sense to me then and much more so now. Sometimes when I have to do something I really dread I might give Don't Back Down a spin in my brain (or lack thereof). Even songs that have more straightforward lyrics like Be True to Your School have melodies that are constructed which reveal the deeper truths behind the meaning of the song. So when I hear the opening verse to that tune (mainly the single version) it becomes about much more than my school (which didn't solicit much pride from me), it becomes a call for loyalty to family, friends, or any particular passion...

I know this is kind of like a blog post, but I don't have a blog or need one. I was curious as to others insights about this notion; especially how Brian's melodies reveal the deeper urgencies of the songs being sung...when I hear Surfin' Safari, it is not just a song about wearing pendletones and acting like dorks with my compadres, it is kind of like an anthem to call out of work, get sh*t done, and chase some tail...I'm not sure it would be anywhere near as effective though with any other melody...anyways...I didn't have to go into work today because of a snow storm, so hence the new topic. 

[hypehat]

Don't Worry Baby is the ultimate example. Oh yeah, he SAYS he's worried about that race he's got tomorrow. But it's not about that, of course.

[PongHit]

... it becomes a call for loyalty to family, friends, or any particular passion...

Just like you would to your girl or guy.

[donald]

Certainly the song Surfs Up is the obvious example of surfing as a metaphor....from the lyrics to the rhythmic rise and fall of the melody.  You can hear the swell and release of the waves if you listen.....just like on the opening bars of California Girls.........my mind "sees" these as aural paintings.

To me, the music is so unique among pop music of its day because of the images evoked via the genius of Brian.   
Songs that appear simple and basic on the surface reveal so much more with repeated listening.   On Little Honda and   Shut Down , you can "see" (and hear) gears/rpms  changing, and on I Get Around you can hear, see and feel the drive in cruising speed pick up to a faster pace as the guys begin to move on to other places.

These things  I apppreciate when I listen back to their earlier catalogue.

[Mahalo]

I also figure the notion of the summer as a state of mind...whereas it could be the dead of winter but it is 82 degrees, sunny, with a slight offshore breeze in my state of mind...something the BB converyed quite well... especially in Do It Again.

[Paulos]

Certainly the song Surfs Up is the obvious example of surfing as a metaphor....from the lyrics to the rhythmic rise and fall of the melody.  You can hear the swell and release of the waves if you listen.....just like on the opening bars of California Girls.........my mind "sees" these as aural paintings.

To me, the music is so unique among pop music of its day because of the images evoked via the genius of Brian.   
Songs that appear simple and basic on the surface reveal so much more with repeated listening.   On Little Honda and   Shut Down , you can "see" (and hear) gears/rpms  changing, and on I Get Around you can hear, see and feel the drive in cruising speed pick up to a faster pace as the guys begin to move on to other places.

These things  I apppreciate when I listen back to their earlier catalogue.

To me the harmonized humming on Little Hinda evokes the sound of a bike changing gears, very awesome.

[sockittome]

I also figure the notion of the summer as a state of mind...whereas it could be the dead of winter but it is 82 degrees, sunny, with a slight offshore breeze in my state of mind...something the BB converyed quite well... especially in Do It Again.

And by contrast, they could successfully evoke a feeling of romance and awe of a winter scene in Time to Get Alone.

[donald]

I also figure the notion of the summer as a state of mind...whereas it could be the dead of winter but it is 82 degrees, sunny, with a slight offshore breeze in my state of mind...something the BB converyed quite well... especially in Do It Again.

And by contrast, they could successfully evoke a feeling of romance and awe of a winter scene in Time to Get Alone.

True, true, ................excellent example of beachboys synesthesia/poetry

The pine-scented air
Smells so good in the snow
In our toboggan we'll go
Screaming down the mountainside  (in 3/4 time)

[donald]

I like this thread.......hate to see it drop off the main page........one might have to surf the web all day before finding the perfect wave of such discussion elsewhere

[Mahalo]

Thanx Donald...I think about this stuff all day long and I wonder what threads I can start with my own limited knowledge of the band. I would think that if anything I am more conscious of the feels of the music rather than the specifics...

One of my main points that I don't think I brought up was how I can't think of any other band that could, or actually was meant to through divine fate (!) articulate such a great metaphor as a symbol of finding the joy in life's adventures, rather than focusing on the negatives...

Hell, it may be freezing here in NY, but it is summertime all the time in my mind, thanx to a steady dose of this genius music... I'm such a nerd.

[Daniel S.]

I think you've been reading too much Greil Marcus.