New Brian's song: "Live Let Live" on "Artic Tale" soundtrack

[the captain]

If Brian is going to dole out parts to other people, he might as well sell his songs to the highest bidder (which might mean nobody).

Why? One thing has nothing to do with the other. He doled out parts in the prime of his career; there's no shame in doing it now.

Since he's not with the Beach Boys any longer, I see no reason for him to become part of an ensemble.

Fine. You don't have to see the reason. But where is it written that he can't--especially when his voice is pretty mediocre sometimes now. And what's worse, when he uses the benefits of a modern studio in correcting that problem, he gets endless sh*t from people on this and other boards about it. The man is in his mid-60s and a legend, but he can't win...he has to write great new material (no using old fragments, now!), sing all his own songs, sing them WELL, not use the voices of those singers around him whose voices are much more accurate and reliable, and cannot use studio assistance in doing the job. No problem. I'm sure Lucky Old Sun will be the next Pet Sounds...

[HighOnLife]

I don't need another Pet Sounds. I have that already. I've got enough Brian Wilson material to last me until I'm six feet under.

Brian should do what Brian wants to do, period. He gets sh*t from message boards on the internet. What famous singer/songwriter who's still singing in their 60's doesn't? Paul McCartney gets/has gotten more sh*t than Brian EVER will, and his voice ISN'T shot. I can't point you to several message boards/forums for evidence.

[pixletwin]

I agree. Some of you folk seem to not understand the reason why Brian is even still creating. He isn't out to impress anyone. He doesn't need the money. Maybe he is doing it because he likes it and, most of the time, it is fun.

Everyone got off on putting Brian down for the Norway show. I watched it and had fun watching it partly because Brian was having fun and the people in the band were having fun.

[the captain]

I can't point you to several message boards/forums for evidence.

I assume you mean "can." But I don't need evidence to know that McCartney has mostly sucked the past 35 years.

And of course most 60-somethings sound tired and awful, both with their actual voices and material, but since you asked, I'd say both Dylan and Waits are near the top of their games with their past few albums. (Waits never was too far from the top of his, for that matter.)

[the captain]

I agree. Some of you folk seem to not understand the reason why Brian is even still creating. He isn't out to impress anyone. He doesn't need the money. Maybe he is doing it because he likes it and, most of the time, it is fun.

I don't say this to be an ass (even though I admit that I am one). But...do you know why he is still creating? Of course not: you're guessing, just like everyone else.

[HighOnLife]

Maybe he's creating because Melinda is telling him to create. Maybe he's creating because he doesn't want to jog all day.

Who knows and who cares.

It's funny though. If the internet were around in 1966, Brian would've undoubtedly gotten a massive amount of sh*t for Pet Sounds.

[the captain]

Undoubtedly. The internet is among the best and worst things to happen to pop music. On one hand, it's easily accessible, easier to promote and anyone can give feedback. On the other, it's easily stolen, hard to cut through the clutter and anyone can give feedback.

[pixletwin]

Maybe he's creating because Melinda is telling him to create. Maybe he's creating because he doesn't want to jog all day.

I actually snorted out loud when I read that. he he

You're right Luther. I don't know exactly who/what is motivating Brian. But I can believe my eyes and ears when I see him smiling and having fun. Notable because even in the early days of the Beach Boys, he never looked like he was really having fun.

[HighOnLife]

Well, if you watch any of his latest shows, he does smile more than, say, on the 1964 Lost Concert DVD.

It's not very scientific though.

[pixletwin]

 Thank the Gods!

[Mahalo]

Let's see if it fits well in context with the movie........like when a Penguin gets eaten by a Polar bear.


We are all fanatics, more or less....but if I didn't know Brian from anyone else I wouldn't give a crap about this song.....considering I've only heard 29 seconds of it.

Maybe Brian is giving his merda away for these little projects and saving the good stuff for Lucky Old sun. Maybe not.....

[Rocker]

If Brian is going to dole out parts to other people, he might as well sell his songs to the highest bidder (which might mean nobody).

Why? One thing has nothing to do with the other. He doled out parts in the prime of his career; there's no shame in doing it now.

The difference is, that in his prime he was part of a band, now he is a solo-act.

[HeyJude]

Well, if you watch any of his latest shows, he does smile more than, say, on the 1964 Lost Concert DVD.

It's not very scientific though.

But it seems at least some of the time in more recent years that when Brian has "smiled" on stage, especially when he's on TV or being shot for a DVD, the smiles sometimes seem totally faked and forced. Not that he's having a bad time and faking having a good time. But it seems like he's trying to over-emphasize the smile, and it ends up looking sort of creepy to me.

The best I ever saw Brian was on the 2000 "Pet Sounds" tour. He didn't try to look like he was playing the keyboards, and he didn't do a bunch of hand jestures or fake smiles. He just sat at the microphone and sang, almost like he was concentrating singing in a studio, often with his eyes closed. Not coincidentally, at least in my opinion, that was the best singing I ever heard him do at a show. 

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

I like it.

[the captain]

If Brian is going to dole out parts to other people, he might as well sell his songs to the highest bidder (which might mean nobody).

Why? One thing has nothing to do with the other. He doled out parts in the prime of his career; there's no shame in doing it now.

The difference is, that in his prime he was part of a band, now he is a solo-act.

But he doesn't have to be. And even under the name Brian Wilson, I doubt he'd be arrested for offering parts out of his range to someone else. I'll double check the statutes...

[Sheriff John Stone]

If Brian is going to dole out parts to other people, he might as well sell his songs to the highest bidder (which might mean nobody).

Why? One thing has nothing to do with the other. He doled out parts in the prime of his career; there's no shame in doing it now.

The difference is, that in his prime he was part of a band, now he is a solo-act.

But he doesn't have to be. And even under the name Brian Wilson, I doubt he'd be arrested for offering parts out of his range to someone else. I'll double check the statutes...

Exactly. Brian Wilson doesn't have to be a solo act. It is his (or somebody's) CHOICE. After twenty years of being a solo artist, Brian has found out the hard way that his name doesn't automatically generate sales (record or concert) anymore. I would rather see the songs reach their full potential than simply have Brian all over them. I know where he could find a couple of good singers....

[the captain]

(dontsaysurvivingbeachboysdontsaysurvivingbeachboysdontsaysurvivingbeachboys)

[HighOnLife]

No artist in their 60s generates huge sales. Even if Brian hands over the lead singer duties, sales won't go up. They'll probably go down! Now, if Brian became a member of the Traveling Wilburys, that's a different story.

[the captain]

I am not interested in him turning over vocals for sales purposes--I'm interested in it so the parts are sung well.

[Amy B.]

I am not interested in him turning over vocals for sales purposes--I'm interested in it so the parts are sung well.

How about if some of you Smiley Smilers who are musicians record cover versions of these latter-day Brian songs and post them here? Let's hear how they're _supposed_ to be sung. 

[the captain]

I am not interested in him turning over vocals for sales purposes--I'm interested in it so the parts are sung well.

How about if some of you Smiley Smilers who are musicians record cover versions of these latter-day Brian songs and post them here? Let's hear how they're _supposed_ to be sung. 

Sure. Just ship me Brian Wilson, Darian Sahanaja, Jeff Foskett, Scott Bennett, Jim Hines, Bob Lizik, Nick Walusko and Probyn Gregory. And Mark Linett.

[Sheriff John Stone]

(dontsaysurvivingbeachboysdontsaysurvivingbeachboysdontsaysurvivingbeachboys)

You know me too well

[HighOnLife]

I'm not interested in hearing the Wondermints sing lead on Brian Wilson albums, and I'm not sure I'm not alone. Brian participated in the last Wondermints album wonderfully (no pun intended), but lets leave it at that.

[the captain]

It's clear you're not, and it's clear plenty of others are with you. Others keep stating their wish for a Beach Boys reunion to let some of them do some singing. And a few people say what I say. Either way, none of us really have a lot to say about it.

[Sheriff John Stone]

No, we don't have a say in it. But I still enjoy talking about it, and at least "having MY say", because it's current, it's happening NOW!

So much of our Beach Boys' discussion is based on 20/20 hindsight, based on things that happened in the past.  While it's still a blast to discuss/debate it, it already happened! The SMiLE era, the 67-68 albums, what became Sunflower, the Holland debacle, the "Brian's Back" campaign, the deaths/breakups, the Landy years - most of it was/is discussed AFTER the fact.

Thankfully (?), Brian is recording new music, and it's refreshing to discuss it - even if there are varying opinions - because it is new, it is unknown. Put your best opinion forward. There will be plenty of time to second-guess it later!