Christian Love sings lead on GOK, and it sounds amazing!

[Heysaboda]

WOW!

GREAT voice!  Sign that boy up!  (oh, they already have)

Nice arrangement too.

[oldsurferdude]

This may sound "amazing" to some here and perhaps some may more dramatically "fall on their ass" , but no one in this particular universe achieves anything labeled close to Carl's perfection at performing this song.

[runnersdialzero]

This may sound "amazing" to some here and perhaps some may more dramatically "fall on their ass" , but no one in this particular universe achieves anything labeled close to Carl's perfection at performing this song.

And? We're talking about Carl Wilson, here. Just because no one else can achieve the "perfection" he did, no one else should be able to sing it? Or no one else, least of all the son of one Michael Love (GOD HELP US ALL IMO), is capable of doing a really great job on it?

No.

[oldsurferdude]

This may sound "amazing" to some here and perhaps some may more dramatically "fall on their ass" , but no one in this particular universe achieves anything labeled close to Carl's perfection at performing this song.

And? We're talking about Carl Wilson, here. Just because no one else can achieve the "perfection" he did, no one else should be able to sing it? Or no one else, least of all the son of one Michael Love (GOD HELP US ALL IMO), is capable of doing a really great job on it?

No.

Complete revisionism of my post. Read it again RDZ-s l o w l e y-take all the time you may need. HINT: where in my post did I infer that no one else would be "able or capable"?

[filledeplage]

Very good rendition ! Which other leads does Christian sing during the BB shows ? Can't remember as I last saw them in 2008.

Christian has been doing Getcha Back and Good Vibrations...there seems to be a family quality to his voice, and sounds like Carl a bit, but, sounds like himself.  I hope people allow him to be judged on his own merits rather than hold him up to be compared to Carl or Mike.   Few kids want to be compared to their parents, or family members, or feel compelled to fill someone else's shoes.  He is a very gifted young man who works very hard, with and under, some serious pros. 

And, he is nice.   

[Shady]

I just don't like Mike's band..

Maybe it's because they call themselves the Beach Boys

[TdHabib]

I am known to be a staunch defender of Brian's band, but even I must give credit where credit was due: Christian sang this excellently. Not taking anything away from Brian's superb renditions, of course. But a lovely version. Bravo!

[Alex]

As much as I enjoy Lovester-bashing for the Endless Summer in Paradise in Kokomo Golden Surfin` Oldies direction that he`s taken both the actual BBs and with his current act, the show seems like its improved 10-fold since Totten took over as musical director. The younger Lovester is another big part IMO of why the M&B band sounds so good now compared to pre-2007ish.

[Emdeeh]

Christian did a nice job, but he still doesn't sound that much like Carl to me (related to Carl, yes). Of course, it's a bit hard to hear him with that loud orchestra in the mix.

[Micha]

First time I saw him with the Mike and Bruce Band (on YouTube) I immediately thought that he sounded like Carl Wilson. I don't see how anybody could miss the simularities of the two voices. I don't mean to slag Christian, and again I've only seen him perform a few songs, but he doesn't have the EMOTION in his voice.

I respectfully disagree. To me he does have a lot of emotion in his voice. At least in this specific performance. I haven't heard any other leads from him. But I have listened to Carl renditions of this song with less emotion the voice. Nobody could ever beat the performance on the studio version of GOK of course, not even Carl himself.

What really is amazing: All these high praises in this thread made very high expectations, and usually having that high expectations results in a little disappointment. But even with these high expectations Christians performance is stunning!

[Runaways]

if there is a reunion album, i hope christian gets in on the blend.  he'd fit in well.  much better than most of brian's band (not a fan of their blend)

[Andrew G. Doe]

I just don't like Mike's band..

Maybe it's because they call themselves the Beach Boys

That would be because they fulfil the terms of the license that Mike, Brian, Alan & Carl's estate agreed upon back in 1998, no ? 

[Awesoman]

A Carl like voice has to be used for this song, not Bruce and not even Brian now.

Have you hear Brian sing it recently? He does a very nice job. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX7znc-bhDs)

That particular performance has been posted numerous times on this message board and I just don't see what the big deal with it is.  Just because Brian isn't actually "yelling" the vocal doesn't make it much better.  His voice actually sounds rather weak here. 

Christian Love, however, does a nice job handling the song.  As already mentioned, there is a little bit of "Carl" in him.  Not literally. 

[Custom Machine]

Thanks for posting the link, Eric.  I think Christian Love does an absolutely wonderful singing God Only Knows.  Hope he continues to perform it on a regular basis.

(PS, Eric, please check your PM's.)

[UK_Surf]

Holy mackerel. Sign the boy up. What. A. Voice!

[Andrew G. Doe]

A Carl like voice has to be used for this song, not Bruce and not even Brian now.

Have you hear Brian sing it recently? He does a very nice job. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX7znc-bhDs)

That particular performance has been posted numerous times on this message board and I just don't see what the big deal with it is.  Just because Brian isn't actually "yelling" the vocal doesn't make it much better.  His voice actually sounds rather weak here. 

Christian Love, however, does a nice job handling the song.  As already mentioned, there is a little bit of "Carl" in him.  Not literally. 

Same here - OK, so he's not shout-singing it, but in truth, it's not a very good performance. Weak, suspect pitch and phrasing... about the only thing he does right is remember all the words and flash a smile.

[gxios]

That clip made me want to see the Mike band for the first time in 20 years.

[filledeplage]

That clip made me want to see the Mike band for the first time in 20 years.

Go!  They are fabulous!  People need to stop living in the past.  We were fortunate to have these awesome legends, both here and gone.  It is great that the younger family members have taken an interest in the music, whether it is Wendy and Carnie, Matt and Adam or Christian.  They are learning from the real masters. 

The newer band members take the music seriously and work on it to exacting standards.  I've seen all three bands, and find the quality very high, and audience response to be exuberant, because it is all about the music, our music, much of which was ahead of its' time, and timeless in appeal.  They've all grown in the job.

[oldsurferdude]

I just don't like Mike's band..

Maybe it's because they call themselves the Beach Boys

That would be because they fulfil the terms of the license that Mike, Brian, Alan & Carl's estate agreed upon back in 1998, no ? 

License schmlicence-they ain't the Beach Boys. Put Brian, Al, and David up there with them, then and only then will you have the closest article available. Quit leaning on something that was concocted 14 years ago-that band is not the BBs and portraying themselves as the BBs is more than fraudulent -Myke Luhv and his band of strangers have f*cked with the band's legacy since Carl died(the official end of the band). Cocoamoe

[Autotune]

So.............this is Mike's kid, the same one who is on the Sunflower cover and inner sleeve, right? Brother of Haleigh?

First time I saw him with the Mike and Bruce Band (on YouTube) I immediately thought that he sounded like Carl Wilson. I don't see how anybody could miss the simularities of the two voices. I don't mean to slag Christian, and again I've only seen him perform a few songs, but he doesn't have the EMOTION in his voice. I don't really compare him to Carl - nobody in the Beach Boys can belt out a rocker or sing a ballad like Carl could (with exception to Brian in the 60's/early 70's).

Christian just sings too.........how should I say this.........DRAB! Not much emotion. It's not his fault - it's his style. It's just the way he sings. It's his personality. Seems like a nice enough guy; I've seen him talk during interviews - he's young. But he just sounds like he's dragging - like he's bored or just wants to get the show over with!

"I, I love the colorful clothes she wears........"   He sounds like he's about to go to sleep!   ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Why did you say it was amazing just a few posts above, then?

[Micha]

if there is a reunion album, i hope christian gets in on the blend.  he'd fit in well.  much better than most of brian's band (not a fan of their blend)

I respectfully agree. (As great as Brian's musicians are, actually they're brilliant, but their blend is not that appealing to me. They sing very good, but they seldom create that special magic.)

[Mikie]

Why did you say it was amazing just a few posts above, then?

I'm bi-polar.

No, Lenny, actually I was being sarcastic because Eric was using one of THE most over-used words these days; "Amazing". That word seems to have replaced "awesome" in a lot of people's vocabulary. Eric from Socal, I still love you, man! You have one of the best BB sites on the Internet!!!

Just my opinion. Christian did an above average job on "God Only Knows" in that clip. But listening to him sing "Good Vibrations" and "Getcha Back" - to me he just sounds like he's going through the motions without much emotion. I'm sure it's his personality. No problem. Again, just my opinion. Guess I'm in the minority, but that's OK.  

[astroray]

He looks like Cliff Richard. No one but one of the Beach Boys should ever sing this song! Be it Bruce , Mike , Al or Brian!
Let Christan Love sing "409" or "Surfin USA" , but dont touch GOK!

[runnersdialzero]

He looks like Cliff Richard. No one but one of the Beach Boys should ever sing this song! Be it Bruce , Mike , Al or Brian!
Let Christan Love sing "409" or "Surfin USA" , but dont touch GOK!

YES AGREED LET'S NEVER HEAR "GOD ONLY KNOWS" EVER AGAIN AND BURY IT IMO

[Wirestone]

A Carl like voice has to be used for this song, not Bruce and not even Brian now.

Have you hear Brian sing it recently? He does a very nice job. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX7znc-bhDs)

That particular performance has been posted numerous times on this message board and I just don't see what the big deal with it is.  Just because Brian isn't actually "yelling" the vocal doesn't make it much better.  His voice actually sounds rather weak here.  

Christian Love, however, does a nice job handling the song.  As already mentioned, there is a little bit of "Carl" in him.  Not literally.  

Same here - OK, so he's not shout-singing it, but in truth, it's not a very good performance. Weak, suspect pitch and phrasing... about the only thing he does right is remember all the words and flash a smile.

Hm. Methinks you overstate for effect. The "truth" you mention is your aesthetic reaction to a performance. Others differ.

EDIT:

And frankly, what bugs me most of all is this notion that there's some sort of zero-sum game afoot -- that for Mike's band to be decent, Brian's must be terrible, or vice versa. I don't think Brian or Mike think that. I don't think their band members think that either. Because you know what? Darian could surely sing a killer GOK. So could Foskett. The fact that a hired band member -- family or not -- can sing a nice version of a song that's part of the repertoire of the band that employs him isn't really that shocking. It is what they are hired to do.