"That's Why God Made The Radio" Single!

[brother john]

Seems like I accidentally started my own thread http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,12801.0.html on this topic (must have got over-excited...). Makes more sense to be here...

Anyway, a new single from the Beach Boys could have been atrocious, but it isn't! So thank god for that, and for the radio! 

[Mike Lovechild]

Check out the video I made for the single

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upv6R5miYaQ

[brother john]

Good work!

[runnersdialzero]

Check out the video I made for the single

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upv6R5miYaQ

Now, where that was OKAY, I think you need to work on it SOME. Take a lesson from me, for instance, next time you attempt to make a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JJi7tLW8DU

[Mike Lovechild]

It's certainly not perfect, looking forward to checking out your video (too much Youtube in work makes it look like I'm not working!  )

[mr_oleary]

I can't get this song out of my head!!!  Why do I feel like Brian is playing a practical joke on me? 

[Rocker]

This song demands radio play. Hope it gets a lot of attention

[Shady]

I see absolutely no mention of the fact the song is available for download on the beach boys facebook page, no promotion on the itunes front page, it just dropped out of nowhere..

Typical BS from Capitol

[Runaways]

I see absolutely no mention of the fact the song is available for download on the beach boys facebook page, no promotion on the itunes front page, it just dropped out of nowhere..

Typical BS from Capitol

technically the facebook page posted the video which tells you it's available for download.  they did so 18 hours ago

[Shady]

I see absolutely no mention of the fact the song is available for download on the beach boys facebook page, no promotion on the itunes front page, it just dropped out of nowhere..

Typical BS from Capitol

technically the facebook page posted the video which tells you it's available for download.  they did so 18 hours ago

It hardly does..

And it's not that hard to post the itunes link, make it easy as possible for people..

And the no promotion on itunes is inexcusable

[Luke_Barshack]

I see absolutely no mention of the fact the song is available for download on the beach boys facebook page, no promotion on the itunes front page, it just dropped out of nowhere..

Typical BS from Capitol

technically the facebook page posted the video which tells you it's available for download.  they did so 18 hours ago

It hardly does..

And it's not that hard to post the itunes link, make it easy as possible for people..

And the no promotion on itunes is inexcusable

Agreed. I was searching on my iPhone at work. It took me longer than I'd have like to find it on itunes. A poor show I feel. There should have been a huge splash - AT LEAST on the BB artist page.

Have been listening to it non-stop though. It has it's flaws but I think it's the perfect reunion record. Pretty much all of the boxes, for everyone, have been ticked.

Can't wait to listen to it in the car on the way home.

BBC 6 Music here in the UK gave it a mention and a bit of a lukewarm response to be honest. They also joked that they didn't have much hope the boys would even finish the tour due to the turbulent relationships of some band members. They said the single is "exactly what you'd expect". I do know what they mean, but I honestly don't think that's a bad thing.

I've been trying to request the station to spin it ever since but haven't heard anything yet.

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

I bought it off iTunes this morning, and I love it...a perfect record for the reunion!

I will admit it took me a few listens to fully get into; I went back and played Don't Fight the Sea to help my ears adjust, and I think that helped. What I love about TWGMTR is that it's very Doo Wop, and that you can hear all of the individual voices in there. I must give props to whoever did the mix; the stereo balance is very nice IMO. I am really excited to hear the rest of the record; there still is that classic element to the Beach Boys, and I hope that they can make a record with some humor to it as well! Bring on the bass vocals and songs about root beer! 

[drbeachboy]

This has to be Brian's finest lead vocal in the last 30 years. His voice is smooth, he holds all of his notes properly, instead of cutting off too soon and sounding breathy. The background vocals are really beautiful. I hardly recognize Mike's voice. Nothing nasal at all. Al and Bruce sound fantastic. The only thing missing really is Carl. There is something distinct in his singing that when you hear it, you instantly know it is The Beach Boys that you are listening to. My wife picked up on it right away, saying "That really sounds nice, but it doesn't quite sound like The Beach Boys". Maybe, they could have added Chris Love to the background vocals, as he sounds the most like Carl. Minor complaint though, as overall, Im just loving having a new Beach Boys record to listen to. Wonderful!!!

[obscurereference]

Wow, just bought just bought my very first NEW Beach Boys single (didn't think I'd ever get a chance to say that), and it also happens to be pretty good! Good time to be a fan...

[Ron]

I can't get this song out of my head!!!  Why do I feel like Brian is playing a practical joke on me? 

It makes you wonder if there's an art to it.  Exactly how do you write a catchy song?  It has to be pretty simple, it has to have just enough cheese to make it rememberable, and to hit that part in you that actually DOES like love songs, or nostalgia, etc.... but can't go over the line or it's just annoying.  This song seems to walk the line with that. 

I think one of the great things about some of the Beach Boys songs is how the lyrics are almost bad, but the voices are so unbelievably great that you can't possibly say the song isn't good.  I mean they just sound great on this, and the harmonies still have Brian's brilliance dripped on them. 

I've heard tons of people refeerred to as 'like the Beach Boys' over the years, but I have yet to hear anybody who does that vocal stack like that.  It's simple, you just add something on top, or strip this down, or go acapella but yet nobody else does it.  It must be harder than it looks, like this song is a little better than it looks. 

Interesting. 

[buddhahat]

My question is: Which bits did Brian write?

The descending doo wop piano runs behind the verses sound totally Brian. The way the chords shift unexpectedly for the 3rd and fourth bars ("from the dashboard of my car") seem typical of his writing style, remindng me of Keep an Eye on Summer and Warmth of the sun.

The "Cruisin at 7" part also sounds uniquely Brian. It reminds me very much of the "I look in the mirror" lines from Goin On.

But then if you were to construct a Beach Boys soundalike record and were well versed in the music, I guess you could kind of cut and paste from different songs and produce a convincing Brian style, if you were a skillful enough writer.

Any thoughts on Brian's involvement with this?

[Ron]

I could be incredibly naieve, but Brian talks about writers block from time to time... that leads me to believe he has a confidence issue.  So perhaps he has trouble coming up with ideas.

HOWEVER, if you were to walk up to Brian with a song written called "That's Why God Made The Radio", and tell him you want him to finish it up and make it a Beach Boys record... I would imagine he'd jump right in, change a few lines he didn't like, add some chords, drop a couple parts, and make a pretty different track out of what he started with. 

He doesn't strike me as not capable of production anymore like others have suggested, as a matter of fact I think he really still enjoys doing that.  When you have an entire room full of great musicians, it's really easy to bang out on a piano some different chords (If you're Brian) and play around with the song a little bit. 

So I would assume (there's that word) that Brian took a finished song, was told to rewrite part of it, changed a third or so of it and added more vocal lines.  From what I understand he comes up with harmonies on the fly, half the vocals you're hearing he probably added on top of what was on the original song. 

[b00ts]

My question is: Which bits did Brian write?

The descending doo wop piano runs behind the verses sound totally Brian. The way the chords shift unexpectedly for the 3rd and fourth bars ("from the dashboard of my car") seem typical of his writing style, remindng me of Keep an Eye on Summer and Warmth of the sun.

The "Cruisin at 7" part also sounds uniquely Brian. It reminds me very much of the "I look in the mirror" lines from Goin On.

But then if you were to construct a Beach Boys soundalike record and were well versed in the music, I guess you could kind of cut and paste from different songs and produce a convincing Brian style, if you were a skillful enough writer.

Any thoughts on Brian's involvement with this?

It's anybody's guess, but lyrically I am thinking "it's paradise when I lift up my antenna" is a Brian line. Musically, I think he may have been the one to suggest the modulations/chord changes in the chorus, especially the last "That's Why God..." in each chorus, which has that ominous minor 7th feel. These are the parts that screamed Brian Wilson to me.

The part which seems anti-Brian or un-Brian is the bridge, which I am guessing was written by Thomas/Peterik.

[Ron]

Oh, and BTW, this is essentially what Brian has been doing for 3 or 4 years now.  Taking others songs (Gershwin; Disney) and basically reimagining them.  Some of the songs on his last two albums were very different than the originals, I imagine this song by EyeOfTheTigerGuy was given the same treatment by Brian, and possibly a few new lyrics.  I agree the antennae line sounds Brianish. 

[Rocker]

I see absolutely no mention of the fact the song is available for download on the beach boys facebook page, no promotion on the itunes front page, it just dropped out of nowhere..

Typical BS from Capitol

53 minutes ago it was posted on facebook.

The Beach Boys
Download the new Beach Boys single - "That's Why God Made The Radio" now on iTunes. http://bit.ly/IQP0vd

[The Shift]

What we need is the original Peterik demo…  Has it been booted?  Does Phil C know?  Where is he when you need him…

[pixletwin]

Ron I think you are bang on correct here.

I could be incredibly naieve, but Brian talks about writers block from time to time... that leads me to believe he has a confidence issue.  So perhaps he has trouble coming up with ideas.

HOWEVER, if you were to walk up to Brian with a song written called "That's Why God Made The Radio", and tell him you want him to finish it up and make it a Beach Boys record... I would imagine he'd jump right in, change a few lines he didn't like, add some chords, drop a couple parts, and make a pretty different track out of what he started with. 

He doesn't strike me as not capable of production anymore like others have suggested, as a matter of fact I think he really still enjoys doing that.  When you have an entire room full of great musicians, it's really easy to bang out on a piano some different chords (If you're Brian) and play around with the song a little bit. 

So I would assume (there's that word) that Brian took a finished song, was told to rewrite part of it, changed a third or so of it and added more vocal lines.  From what I understand he comes up with harmonies on the fly, half the vocals you're hearing he probably added on top of what was on the original song. 

[Amy B.]

It's anybody's guess, but lyrically I am thinking "it's paradise when I lift up my antenna" is a Brian line. Musically, I think he may have been the one to suggest the modulations/chord changes in the chorus, especially the last "That's Why God..." in each chorus, which has that ominous minor 7th feel. These are the parts that screamed Brian Wilson to me.

The part which seems anti-Brian or un-Brian is the bridge, which I am guessing was written by Thomas/Peterik.
[/quote]

I agree that the bridge is the weakest part of the song and does not sound like Brian wrote it. Now watch--it'll come out that the bridge was Brian's contribution!

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I'm gonna be the first to say it

Brian can "lift my antenna" any day.

[buddhahat]

I agree that the bridge is the weakest part of the song and does not sound like Brian wrote it. Now watch--it'll come out that the bridge was Brian's contribution!

Yeah - the sole contribution! It wouldn't surprise me.

I could be incredibly naieve, but Brian talks about writers block from time to time... that leads me to believe he has a confidence issue.  So perhaps he has trouble coming up with ideas.

HOWEVER, if you were to walk up to Brian with a song written called "That's Why God Made The Radio", and tell him you want him to finish it up and make it a Beach Boys record... I would imagine he'd jump right in, change a few lines he didn't like, add some chords, drop a couple parts, and make a pretty different track out of what he started with.  

He doesn't strike me as not capable of production anymore like others have suggested, as a matter of fact I think he really still enjoys doing that.  When you have an entire room full of great musicians, it's really easy to bang out on a piano some different chords (If you're Brian) and play around with the song a little bit.  

So I would assume (there's that word) that Brian took a finished song, was told to rewrite part of it, changed a third or so of it and added more vocal lines.  From what I understand he comes up with harmonies on the fly, half the vocals you're hearing he probably added on top of what was on the original song.  

Yeah this sounds about right.

I can also understand the need to hire other writers to create a quintessentially Beach Boys record. I doubt Brian would have the right perspective to be able to do that, ironically enough. That said, a lot of the tracks from TLOS, with rewritten lyrics, could have made perfect Beach Boy material, just not necessarily recognisably BB to the average Joe, in the same way this is.