The Smiley Smile Message Board
Welcome,
Guest
. Please
login
or
register
.
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
If you like this message board, please help with the hosting costs!
680755
Posts in
27615
Topics by
4068
Members - Latest Member:
Dae Lims
April 20, 2024, 12:08:56 PM
The Smiley Smile Message Board
|
Smiley Smile Stuff
|
General On Topic Discussions
|
Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
« previous
next »
Pages:
[
1
]
Author
Topic: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation (Read 6154 times)
UncleStalin
Smiley Smile Newbie
Offline
Posts: 3
Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
on:
October 15, 2012, 10:09:07 AM »
After listening to Wouldn't It Be Nice, I have concluded through scientific evaluation that the song is clearly about death; please allow me to evaluate the song line by line.
'Wouldn't it be nice if we were older Then we wouldn't have to wait so long' This line is almost certainly about wanting to speed up life to a point where death is inevitable through old age and we can see a deep sense of resentment of life through the use of the words 'have to' stressing that life is forced upon us without a choice.
'And wouldn't it be nice to live together In the kind of world where we belong' Anybody with sense can see that this is about longing for an afterlife free from the prejudices of the real world.
'You know its gonna make it that much better When we can say goodnight and stay together ' The 'Goodnight' is clearly a metaphor for suicide with the 'stay together' a reference to the aforementioned afterlife.
'Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up, in the morning when the day is new and after having spent the day together, hold each other close the whole night through. Happy times together we've been spending, I wish that every kiss was never ending, wouldn't it be nice' I have drawn 2 possible interpretations from this line (and would be interested to know which you agree with). One could see this line as a hope for love to be found in this world however this would be looking at it at face value. A deeper metaphorical meaning emerges when 'wake up' is interpreted as the day after death in which one spends eternity in the never-ending bliss of love.
'Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true, baby then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn’t do' This is referencing the want of a death which isn't just an end and instead a gateway to the previously impossible or maybe even just a want for death itself after becoming apathetic to the real world?
'You know it seems the more we talk about it, it only makes it worse to live without it' An ironic use of the word 'live' given that he is using it in reference to living without death, clearly used for a comedic effect.
I hope having read my completely scientific analysis that you to will agree with this darker, more realistic interpretation of 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'; I can see no error in my logic and therefore believe that my analysis must be correct.
Logged
hypehat
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 6311
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #1 on:
October 15, 2012, 10:15:56 AM »
First post hall of fame
Logged
Quote from: ontor pertawst on October 06, 2012, 06:05:25 PM
All roads lead to Kokomo. Exhaustive research in time travel has conclusively proven that there is no alternate universe WITHOUT Kokomo. It would've happened regardless.
Quote from: Andrew G. Doe on May 15, 2012, 12:33:42 PM
What is this "life" thing you speak of ?
Quote from: Al Jardine
Syncopate it? In front of all these people?!
SMiLE Brian
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 8433
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #2 on:
October 15, 2012, 10:22:07 AM »
Brian Wilson is more hardcore than Lou Reed or Alice Cooper.
Logged
And production aside, I’d so much rather hear a 14 year old David Marks shred some guitar on Chug-a-lug than hear a 51 year old Mike Love sing about bangin some chick in a swimming pool.-rab2591
buddhahat
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 2643
Hi, my name's Doug. Would you like to dance?
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #3 on:
October 15, 2012, 11:07:36 AM »
Quote from: UncleStalin on October 15, 2012, 10:09:07 AM
After listening to Wouldn't It Be Nice, I have concluded through scientific evaluation that the song is clearly about death; please allow me to evaluate the song line by line.
'Wouldn't it be nice if we were older Then we wouldn't have to wait so long' This line is almost certainly about wanting to speed up life to a point where death is inevitable through old age and we can see a deep sense of resentment of life through the use of the words 'have to' stressing that life is forced upon us without a choice.
'And wouldn't it be nice to live together In the kind of world where we belong' Anybody with sense can see that this is about longing for an afterlife free from the prejudices of the real world.
'You know its gonna make it that much better When we can say goodnight and stay together ' The 'Goodnight' is clearly a metaphor for suicide with the 'stay together' a reference to the aforementioned afterlife.
'Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up, in the morning when the day is new and after having spent the day together, hold each other close the whole night through. Happy times together we've been spending, I wish that every kiss was never ending, wouldn't it be nice' I have drawn 2 possible interpretations from this line (and would be interested to know which you agree with). One could see this line as a hope for love to be found in this world however this would be looking at it at face value. A deeper metaphorical meaning emerges when 'wake up' is interpreted as the day after death in which one spends eternity in the never-ending bliss of love.
'Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true, baby then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn’t do' This is referencing the want of a death which isn't just an end and instead a gateway to the previously impossible or maybe even just a want for death itself after becoming apathetic to the real world?
'You know it seems the more we talk about it, it only makes it worse to live without it' An ironic use of the word 'live' given that he is using it in reference to living without death, clearly used for a comedic effect.
I hope having read my completely scientific analysis that you to will agree with this darker, more realistic interpretation of 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'; I can see no error in my logic and therefore believe that my analysis must be correct.
Love it. Have you tried applying your exhaustive scientific analysis to the Breakaway lyrics? I think you may be on to something ....
Logged
Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes, Bedroom Tapes ......
ontor pertawst
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 2575
L♡VE ALWAYS WINS
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #4 on:
October 15, 2012, 11:08:14 AM »
I was kinda hoping I'd click this and there would be John Cale covering it or something. Sob.
There IS a version of "God Only Knows" he did somewhere in the mid 70s. I'd love to hear that one day.
«
Last Edit: October 15, 2012, 11:10:32 AM by ontor pertawst
»
Logged
mr_oleary
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 89
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #5 on:
October 15, 2012, 02:10:19 PM »
The problem I see with this theory is that the tone of the lyrics of BW songs usually matches the instrumentation. I think that song is more about the pure joy of being young. Just don't see this morbid interpretation.
Logged
runnersdialzero
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 5143
I WILL NEVER GO TO SCHOOL
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #6 on:
October 15, 2012, 02:17:45 PM »
Quote from: mr_oleary on October 15, 2012, 02:10:19 PM
that song is
more
about the pure joy of being young.
Logged
Tell me it's okay.
Tell me you still love me.
People make mistakes.
People make mistakes.
Aegir
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 4680
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #7 on:
October 15, 2012, 11:00:49 PM »
I think Wouldn't It Be Nice is dark in the sense that it is longing for something that will likely not occur. You get into a heavy relationship as a teenager and you think and wish and hope and pray it will last forever but odds are it's doomed to end in failure.
Logged
Quote from: runnersdialzero on April 05, 2012, 06:08:41 PM
Every time you spell Smile as SMiLE, an angel's wings are forcibly torn off its body.
Freddie French-Pounce
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1571
A.K.A. mrmoustachioto
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #8 on:
October 16, 2012, 11:56:59 AM »
My one problem with this song is that if Brian wanted death oh-so badly, he probably would have spread these hints throughout the album - it's not like when he's (or should I say Carl) saying 'God only knows what I'd be without you' he's contemplating killing his lover or anything...
Logged
Check out the Mono/Stereo Mix Breakdown podcast Mixology here:
https://mixology.podbean.com/
MarcellaHasDirtyFeet
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 582
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #9 on:
October 16, 2012, 12:02:18 PM »
Quote from: mrmoustachioto on October 16, 2012, 11:56:59 AM
My one problem with this song is that if Brian wanted death oh-so badly, he probably would have spread these hints throughout the album - it's not like when he's (or should I say Carl) saying 'God only knows what I'd be without you' he's contemplating killing his lover or anything...
Yeah, but GOK always struck me as a suicidal "threat." The emotions do seem a little darker than, say, In My Life or any other comparable love song. That's why I chose Forever to serve as my wedding march instead of GOK.
Logged
filledeplage
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3151
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #10 on:
October 16, 2012, 12:39:50 PM »
Quote from: UncleStalin on October 15, 2012, 10:09:07 AM
After listening to Wouldn't It Be Nice, I have concluded through scientific evaluation that the song is clearly about death; please allow me to evaluate the song line by line.
'Wouldn't it be nice if we were older Then we wouldn't have to wait so long' This line is almost certainly about wanting to speed up life to a point where death is inevitable through old age and we can see a deep sense of resentment of life through the use of the words 'have to' stressing that life is forced upon us without a choice.
'And wouldn't it be nice to live together In the kind of world where we belong' Anybody with sense can see that this is about longing for an afterlife free from the prejudices of the real world.
'You know its gonna make it that much better When we can say goodnight and stay together ' The 'Goodnight' is clearly a metaphor for suicide with the 'stay together' a reference to the aforementioned afterlife.
'Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up, in the morning when the day is new and after having spent the day together, hold each other close the whole night through. Happy times together we've been spending, I wish that every kiss was never ending, wouldn't it be nice' I have drawn 2 possible interpretations from this line (and would be interested to know which you agree with). One could see this line as a hope for love to be found in this world however this would be looking at it at face value. A deeper metaphorical meaning emerges when 'wake up' is interpreted as the day after death in which one spends eternity in the never-ending bliss of love.
'Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true, baby then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn’t do' This is referencing the want of a death which isn't just an end and instead a gateway to the previously impossible or maybe even just a want for death itself after becoming apathetic to the real world?
'You know it seems the more we talk about it, it only makes it worse to live without it' An ironic use of the word 'live' given that he is using it in reference to living without death, clearly used for a comedic effect.
I hope having read my completely scientific analysis that you to will agree with this darker, more realistic interpretation of 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'; I can see no error in my logic and therefore believe that my analysis must be correct.
Interesting 2012 take the on WIBN. When it was written, young people (men) could be drafted for war (Vietnam) and could not vote. Most could not buy a beer. Having privileges commensurate with responsibilities was a huge issue and a source of protest, particular the "18 by '72 (1972)" voter registration protests. Young men drafted and dying in Nam without ever voting for the Commander in Chief.
The whole "waiting" thing seems to be endless. I'm not sure that in the mid 1960's that this was in mind at all. It may just be face value and a concept that was pretty universally understood. Boomers get that culture of "waiting and courtship."
Logged
SMiLE Brian
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 8433
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #11 on:
October 16, 2012, 12:49:28 PM »
This is actually a great concept, Pet Sounds does show a Brian having a dark undercurrent that he would act out in the following years.
Logged
And production aside, I’d so much rather hear a 14 year old David Marks shred some guitar on Chug-a-lug than hear a 51 year old Mike Love sing about bangin some chick in a swimming pool.-rab2591
Freddie French-Pounce
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1571
A.K.A. mrmoustachioto
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #12 on:
October 16, 2012, 12:50:32 PM »
Quote from: MarcellaHasDirtyFeet on October 16, 2012, 12:02:18 PM
Quote from: mrmoustachioto on October 16, 2012, 11:56:59 AM
My one problem with this song is that if Brian wanted death oh-so badly, he probably would have spread these hints throughout the album - it's not like when he's (or should I say Carl) saying 'God only knows what I'd be without you' he's contemplating killing his lover or anything...
Yeah, but GOK always struck me as a suicidal "threat." The emotions do seem a little darker than, say, In My Life or any other comparable love song. That's why I chose Forever to serve as my wedding march instead of GOK.
This is true - it's almost as if in GOK it's a case of 'Leave me and I'll kill myself!', almost hinting that his lover does not really love him...
Logged
Check out the Mono/Stereo Mix Breakdown podcast Mixology here:
https://mixology.podbean.com/
runnersdialzero
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 5143
I WILL NEVER GO TO SCHOOL
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #13 on:
October 16, 2012, 11:16:42 PM »
"God Only Knows" - A song about blowing your f***ing head off, man.
«
Last Edit: October 18, 2012, 08:42:49 PM by runnersdialzero
»
Logged
Tell me it's okay.
Tell me you still love me.
People make mistakes.
People make mistakes.
MBE
Guest
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #14 on:
October 17, 2012, 12:32:56 AM »
Quote from: mr_oleary on October 15, 2012, 02:10:19 PM
The problem I see with this theory is that the tone of the lyrics of BW songs usually matches the instrumentation. I think that song is more about the pure joy of being young. Just don't see this morbid interpretation.
+!
There's a bit of sadness in Brian's early songs as far as they note that youth doesn't last forever. However this is the song that I feel marks Brian's acceptance of that, a new maturity though written from a younger perspective.
Logged
Aegir
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 4680
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #15 on:
October 17, 2012, 12:33:56 AM »
It's a longing, a longing for something that will never occur. Sometimes I cry when I listen to it.
Logged
Quote from: runnersdialzero on April 05, 2012, 06:08:41 PM
Every time you spell Smile as SMiLE, an angel's wings are forcibly torn off its body.
runnersdialzero
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 5143
I WILL NEVER GO TO SCHOOL
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #16 on:
October 17, 2012, 01:04:33 AM »
Quote from: Aegir on October 17, 2012, 12:33:56 AM
It's a longing, a longing for something that will never occur. Sometimes I cry when I listen to it.
Grand prize.
Logged
Tell me it's okay.
Tell me you still love me.
People make mistakes.
People make mistakes.
Mike's Beard
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 4265
Check your privilege. Love & Mercy guys!
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #17 on:
October 17, 2012, 02:19:25 AM »
Isn't that what give Pet Sounds a lot of it's power? That Brian and Tony Asher wrote a bunch of inward looking songs at a time when the guy was on top of the world only to have his world fall apart throughout the subsequent years. It's revisionist I know, but to hear a 24 year old Brian sing of longing, uncertainly, not fitting in and bemoaning that things in life have to change sounds eerily prophetic.
Logged
I'd rather be forced to sleep with Caitlyn Jenner then ever have to listen to NPP again.
I. Spaceman
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 2271
Revolution Never Again
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #18 on:
October 17, 2012, 11:11:53 PM »
That's Not Me is about gender reassignment surgery.
Logged
Nobody gives a sh*t about the Record Room
Cabinessenceking
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 2164
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #19 on:
October 18, 2012, 01:37:50 PM »
Quote from: I. Spaceman on October 17, 2012, 11:11:53 PM
That's Not Me is about gender reassignment surgery.
ye what kinda selfrespecting trans would stay in the country? they pack up and split for the city!
Logged
Freddie French-Pounce
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1571
A.K.A. mrmoustachioto
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #20 on:
October 18, 2012, 02:21:31 PM »
Don't Talk 9Put Your Head On My Shoulder) is about a man who decapitated his girl friend so she could no longer speak, then Stuck her head on his shoulder. Forever...
Or maybe not
Logged
Check out the Mono/Stereo Mix Breakdown podcast Mixology here:
https://mixology.podbean.com/
Sam_BFC
Smiley Smile Associate
Online
Gender:
Posts: 1075
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #21 on:
October 19, 2012, 03:56:58 PM »
.
«
Last Edit: August 28, 2013, 07:29:35 AM by Sam_BFC
»
Logged
"..be cautious, don't get your hopes up, look over your shoulder because heartbreak and darkness are always ready to pounce"
petsoundsnola
I. Spaceman
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 2271
Revolution Never Again
Re: Wouldn't It Be Nice - A Darker Reinterpretation
«
Reply #22 on:
October 19, 2012, 04:07:51 PM »
Let's Go Away For A While is about the time Brian and Carol Mountain drove their car to the sea in a passionate teen-romance suicide pact. Luckily the hot dogs and root beer they consumed just beforehand convinced them it was too dangerous to enter the water for at least 45 minutes afterward, and they forgot all about it.
Logged
Nobody gives a sh*t about the Record Room
Pages:
[
1
]
Jump to:
Please select a destination:
-----------------------------
Smiley Smile Stuff
-----------------------------
=> BRIAN WILSON Q & A
=> Welcome to the Smiley Smile board
=> General On Topic Discussions
===> Ask The Honored Guests
===> Smiley Smile Reference Threads
=> Smile Sessions Box Set (2011)
=> The Beach Boys Media
=> Concert Reviews
=> Album, Book and Video Reviews And Discussions
===> 1960's Beach Boys Albums
===> 1970's Beach Boys Albums
===> 1980's Beach Boys Albums
===> 1990's Beach Boys Albums
===> 21st Century Beach Boys Albums
===> Brian Wilson Solo Albums
===> Other Solo Albums
===> Produced by or otherwise related to
===> Tribute Albums
===> DVDs and Videos
===> Book Reviews
===> 'Rank the Tracks'
===> Polls
-----------------------------
Non Smiley Smile Stuff
-----------------------------
=> General Music Discussion
=> General Entertainment Thread
=> Smiley Smilers Who Make Music
=> The Sandbox
Powered by SMF 1.1.21
|
SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
Page created in 0.499 seconds with 21 queries.
Helios Multi
design by
Bloc
Loading...