Is Mike Love a good singer?

[UK_Surf]

I dunno!

With Smile, Brian was big into humor and LSD and I think he wanted the listener to sit back, Smile and get either stoned or to trip out and laugh or whatever. I think he'd be horrified at the thought of pipe smoking academics tearing it apart note for note.

That kind of thing can take all the fun out of music.

Sometimes all you're supposed to do is listen and live your life with the music as the soundtrack.

But I get what you're saying.

Fair enough. But a lot of work goes into making music, and sometimes it's rewarding to return the favour on the listen. And with Smile, the lyrics are complex enough to make any chemical 'enhancements' a distraction. They're fun in a lot of places, but SU, Cab, Wonderful, even H&V are intricate and hard-won masterworks.

ML had his moments too - GV and the Warmth of the Sun are absolute pop gems. Simple lyrics, but not simplistic. 

[Shady]

Mike Love was a damn good singer (was, not is, as he long ago resorted to nasal-overkill), with more range than he's generally given credit for, and an excellent frontman.

As a lyricist, he was great and continues to be somewhat under-rated. The lyrics to so many of the BB's early songs are simply perfect!

As a solo songwriter, he had some terrific moments - Big Sur in particular - but also some atrocious moments, and was certainly a lesser talent than any of the Wilson brothers and - arguably - Al.

As a person, i dislike some of the things he's said and done, i intensely dislike his constant shameless history revision, and i hate his politics.

 

This is exactly how I feel about Mike Love. I admit I used to do my share of Love-bashing, but he was/is an important contributer to the band.  I recall an interview Carl did during his solo tours where he said he now had a greater appreciation for what Mike did as the BB's frontman. I no longer see him as the evil guy in the hat. There definately are some villains in the BB's history, but I don't see Mike - or any of the BB's - that way.

Even stamos?

[the captain]

I dunno!

With Smile, Brian was big into humor and LSD and I think he wanted the listener to sit back, Smile and get either stoned or to trip out and laugh or whatever. I think he'd be horrified at the thought of pipe smoking academics tearing it apart note for note.

That kind of thing can take all the fun out of music.

Sometimes all you're supposed to do is listen and live your life with the music as the soundtrack.

But I get what you're saying.

Fair enough. But a lot of work goes into making music, and sometimes it's rewarding to return the favour on the listen. And with Smile, the lyrics are complex enough to make any chemical 'enhancements' a distraction. They're fun in a lot of places, but SU, Cab, Wonderful, even H&V are intricate and hard-won masterworks.

There is something disconcerting to me about the idea of expecting a listener to work, though, even though the musician obviously puts in a huge amount of work. I'm not always a fan of Wynton Marsalis, and I am a fan of Cecil Taylor, but there is comment of the former about the latter in the Ken Burns "Jazz" documentary that I quite liked. In speaking of Taylor's comment (paraphrased) that "I work hard to make my music, the audience should work hard to hear it," Marsalis calls bullshit. I agree. The listener can do whatever he or she wants: the music is, to some degree, entertainment. Now it may be to the listener's entertainment to "work at it." Or it may be just fun to dance to it. Or it may be "fun" to cry over it. But to expect the listener to work, I agree with Marsalis. I'd call bullshit.

[donald]

Mike is a very powerful musical force and can really rock the man in the boat.  I was always disappointed when a Wilson was absent from a show but have never experienced the disapppointment or disorientation of seeing the Beachboys without Michael Love.

[hypehat]

Mike is a very powerful musical force and can really rock the man in the boat.  .

Nearly did a spit take at that one, Donald 

[Lonely Summer]

Mike Love was a damn good singer (was, not is, as he long ago resorted to nasal-overkill), with more range than he's generally given credit for, and an excellent frontman.

As a lyricist, he was great and continues to be somewhat under-rated. The lyrics to so many of the BB's early songs are simply perfect!

As a solo songwriter, he had some terrific moments - Big Sur in particular - but also some atrocious moments, and was certainly a lesser talent than any of the Wilson brothers and - arguably - Al.

As a person, i dislike some of the things he's said and done, i intensely dislike his constant shameless history revision, and i hate his politics.

 

This is exactly how I feel about Mike Love. I admit I used to do my share of Love-bashing, but he was/is an important contributer to the band.  I recall an interview Carl did during his solo tours where he said he now had a greater appreciation for what Mike did as the BB's frontman. I no longer see him as the evil guy in the hat. There definately are some villains in the BB's history, but I don't see Mike - or any of the BB's - that way.

Even stamos?

Stamos is a Beach Boy?

[UK_Surf]

I dunno!

With Smile, Brian was big into humor and LSD and I think he wanted the listener to sit back, Smile and get either stoned or to trip out and laugh or whatever. I think he'd be horrified at the thought of pipe smoking academics tearing it apart note for note.

That kind of thing can take all the fun out of music.

Sometimes all you're supposed to do is listen and live your life with the music as the soundtrack.

But I get what you're saying.

Fair enough. But a lot of work goes into making music, and sometimes it's rewarding to return the favour on the listen. And with Smile, the lyrics are complex enough to make any chemical 'enhancements' a distraction. They're fun in a lot of places, but SU, Cab, Wonderful, even H&V are intricate and hard-won masterworks.

There is something disconcerting to me about the idea of expecting a listener to work, though, even though the musician obviously puts in a huge amount of work. I'm not always a fan of Wynton Marsalis, and I am a fan of Cecil Taylor, but there is comment of the former about the latter in the Ken Burns "Jazz" documentary that I quite liked. In speaking of Taylor's comment (paraphrased) that "I work hard to make my music, the audience should work hard to hear it," Marsalis calls bullsh*t. I agree. The listener can do whatever he or she wants: the music is, to some degree, entertainment. Now it may be to the listener's entertainment to "work at it." Or it may be just fun to dance to it. Or it may be "fun" to cry over it. But to expect the listener to work, I agree with Marsalis. I'd call bullsh*t.

Depends what you expect from music. I don't think it should lag behind other art forms. Joyce's Ulysses takes a bit of doing, but it's work well rewarded (it's worth noting that it is an intensely funny book in places, dripping with pop-culture references as well as historical & mythological ones). Similar process with Smile, except that it's pop, and it has singles. But it also has clear non-singles, and conspicuously demanding material.

I wouldn't apply those standards to all of the BB's catalogue, but I would to most BW compositions. The genius of BW, is that in his chosen medium, which is often geared to sounding effortless & disposable (which it is in some cases but by no means all), is that you can just switch off. Some of the most exciting moments come when he's almost daring you to do that...No-Go Showboat comes to mind. One of the most dizzying chord-twizzles & stunning display of vocal gymnastics going, with dead-air breaks and all sorts of mojo going on, in a song about a car....devilish.  

[MBE]

Mike's voice was great until Endless Summer came out. I like his tonal quality a lot very rich and resonant. I think as a bass singer he could have sung anything in his prime. Since 1976 like all the group, his voice has been spotty let alone some of his songs. Yet when I hear Unleash The Love recorded about seven years ago, and when he tries he can still sound good. He knocked "Here Today" out of the park when I saw him in 2007.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

But Mike does sound great on some later stuff.

Sumahama, Pitter Patter, It's OK, Everyone's In Love With You, A Casual Look.

I think Mike sounds fantastic on those cuts!

[shelter]

If millions of people buy records that you sing on, you can't be all that bad.

[Landlocked]

If millions of people buy records that you sing on, you can't be all that bad.

I guess Ke$ha (sp?) is a good singer, too, then.

Joking aside, if you think ML's a god singer, he is--to you. I don't think he is, so he isn't a good singer to me. Simple as that. No real objective answer.

[Cabinessenceking]

Without reading any of the posts:
Yes, one of the best when he wants to.

[Jason]

He has one of the most recognizable voices in pop music. He may not be a "great" singer in the traditional sense (VERY few rock singers are) but you can pick out his voice from a mile away. He's among the great rock singers, for sure.

[endofposts]

What is Mike's musical background, anyways, other than playing a little sax?  He seems to appreciate Brian's ability in a way that shows he understands some basics of music.  He also came up with a few musical parts here and there, though not many.  He has an instinctive ability to phrase, whether you like the way he sounds or not.  I'm just wondering if he had much formal training beyond sax, which was most likely training in public school music programs.  I also wonder if he picked some things up from his mother, since her brother Murry had at least ability by ear.

[Jason]

He can play guitar as well.

[Cam Mott]

I think Mike gets judged by one voicing he got locked into by Brian and then apparently felt compelled to keep up even after Brian had dropped out as Producer. I wish he had been allowed or felt compelled to use his voicings on Kiss Me Baby and especially Devoted To You much more. Of course that is not as distinctive as his nasal voicing and therefore not as iconic so maybe Brian and he knew what they were doing all along.

His bass/bartitone is knock out imo.   

[endofposts]

Mike influenced other singers.  I'm thinking of Joey Ramone in particular, but there must be others.

[hypehat]

I think Mike gets judged by one voicing he got locked into by Brian and then apparently felt compelled to keep up even after Brian had dropped out as Producer. I wish he had been allowed or felt compelled to use his voicings on Kiss Me Baby and especially Devoted To You much more. Of course that is not as distinctive as his nasal voicing and therefore not as iconic so maybe Brian and he knew what they were doing all along.

His bass/bartitone is knock out imo.   

I think this is a good summation. It's maybe not his fault, as his softer voicing is very fine.


It's very weird seeing this thread crop up, btw. Although I think my basic point stands, in spite of evidence that Mike Love can sing emotionally. I'd like you all to imagine Mike Love singing one of the following solo;

1) Amazing Grace
2) Your respective nations national anthem
3) I Can't Stop Loving You
4) Any gospel music, ever.

It is strange. I cannot see him doing any of the above without it being a disaster, and yet I do agree with you guys. Brian was lucky that he had Carl, Al, Dennis and Bruce in a way. He had many tools. Annd Mike was a very specialised one, I suppose.

[runnersdialzero]

3) I Can't Stop Loving You

By Van Halen?

Is it odd if I picture him singing this song daily prior to you prompting me to do so?

You are talking about the Van Halen song, right?

Van Halen?

[hypehat]

Ray Charles!

[Wirestone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQXsM1l2wZ8

[hypehat]

Otherwise known as the most ridiculously OTT romantic song ever

[endofposts]

I can't picture any Beach Boy singing "I Can't Stop Loving You" too well.  Maybe Carl, but not anyone else, even Brian.  And Carl would be a stretch.

[runnersdialzero]

[hypehat]

I can't picture any Beach Boy singing "I Can't Stop Loving You" too well.  Maybe Carl, but not anyone else, even Brian.  And Carl would be a stretch.

You know Dennis would nail it.


Carl would do the right things.

Brian would be ok.

Bruce would send it to number one.