Dennis Wilson's favorite song

[GoogaMooga]

I read a caption in a mini TV doc that Dennis Wilson's favorite song should be "Every Breath you Take". I presume it's the song by Police, which charted the year Dennis drowned. Can anyone confirm?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Very funny.

Ha.

Ha.

Ha.

[GoogaMooga]

I wasn't trying to make light of Dennis' tragedy. Just curious why this song of all songs should be his favorite.

[Rocker]

You may have mixed it up with "The air that I breath". I have heard Shawn wanted this song to be played at the funeral because it was Dennis' favorite

BTW: Brian and the Beach Boys recorded a version of this song with Julio Iglesias

[c-man]

I wasn't trying to make light of Dennis' tragedy. Just curious why this song of all songs should be his favorite.

Yes, that was widely reported after his death:  when his family discussed what music to play at his funeral, his widow Shawn suggested this (the irony in the title never occurred to me until now).  His former wife Karen counter-suggested the more appropriated (IMO) "Farewell My Friend" from POB, and that's what got played.

The Police song probably struck a nerve with Dennis' romantic-to-the-point-of-obsessive/possessive side.

[c-man]

You may have mixed it up with "The air that I breath". I have heard Shawn wanted this song to be played at the funeral because it was Dennis' favorite

BTW: Brian and the Beach Boys recorded a version of this song with Julio Iglesias

No, it actually WAS the Police song ("Every Breathe You Take"). 

[Andrew G. Doe]

I wasn't trying to make light of Dennis' tragedy. Just curious why this song of all songs should be his favorite.

You're an idiot. Dennis drowned. The song is called "Every Breath You Take". If you can't do the math, then you're a very dumb person. Or a troll, of which there seems to have been an outbreak lately.

And yes, I am in a very pissy mood today. I have ample reason.

[GoogaMooga]

You may have mixed it up with "The air that I breath". I have heard Shawn wanted this song to be played at the funeral because it was Dennis' favorite

BTW: Brian and the Beach Boys recorded a version of this song with Julio Iglesias

I see that it's on Julio's album "1100 Bel Air Place", but only background vocals by The Beach Boys.

[GoogaMooga]

I wasn't trying to make light of Dennis' tragedy. Just curious why this song of all songs should be his favorite.

You're an idiot. Dennis drowned. The song is called "Every Breath You Take". If you can't do the math, then you're a very dumb person. Or a troll, of which there seems to have been an outbreak lately.

And yes, I am in a very pissy mood today. I have ample reason.

Sorry about that, I didn't make that connection until after I posted.

[smile-holland]

And yes, I am in a very pissy mood today. I have ample reason.

... and in that case I hope you're mood improves quickly Andrew, I sure prefer the more positive-humoristic AGD on this board.

But I do think calling someone an idiot is slightly too overdone in answer to Googamooga's remark. I didn't read it as a sick joke or something. No need to over-analyse this one sentence.

[Andrew G. Doe]

And yes, I am in a very pissy mood today. I have ample reason.

... and in that case I hope you're mood improves quickly Andrew, I sure prefer the more positive-humoristic AGD on this board.

But I do think calling someone an idiot is slightly too overdone in answer to Googamooga's remark. I didn't read it as a sick joke or something. No need to over-analyse this one sentence.

I didn't analyse, I reacted to an insensitive quasi-joke.

[GoogaMooga]

And yes, I am in a very pissy mood today. I have ample reason.

... and in that case I hope you're mood improves quickly Andrew, I sure prefer the more positive-humoristic AGD on this board.

But I do think calling someone an idiot is slightly too overdone in answer to Googamooga's remark. I didn't read it as a sick joke or something. No need to over-analyse this one sentence.

I didn't analyse, I reacted to an insensitive quasi-joke.

That wasn't my intention.

[smile-holland]

If it was a joke, then - yes - it was definitely not a tactful one.

But - again - I don't think Googamooga was making a joke at all. And i.m.o. his later responses confirm this.


EDIT: and I see that Googamooga just said it himself as well.

[GoogaMooga]

If it was a joke, then - yes - it was definitely not a tactful one.

But - again - I don't think Googamooga was making a joke at all. And i.m.o. his later responses confirm this.

Well, I'm sorry there has been a misunderstanding. No joke was intended.

[SloopJohnB]

You're an idiot. Dennis drowned. The song is called "Every Breath You Take". If you can't do the math, then you're a very dumb person. Or a troll, of which there seems to have been an outbreak lately.

I didn't analyse, I reacted to an insensitive quasi-joke.

Analyzing the message and doing a bit of research would have been the way to go - "Heroes & Villains" by Steven Gaines, chapter 17:


Next, the question was raised as to what kind of music should be played [at Dennis' funeral]. Someone suggested religious music, but Shawn objected, saying that the Police song "Every Breath You Take" was Dennis's favorite song.


EDIT - "extra oil on the fire" deleted. Still, I hope some people will learn from what has just happened.

[smile-holland]

I already made that clear Sloop JB, no need to throw extra oil on the fire... (despite the innocent smiley     )

Two people can interpretate a sentence totally different. That's what happened. Please let's put this off-topic part of the topic to rest now ...

[Jon Stebbins]

Just to clear the air...oops...Dennis' favorite Brian Wilson song was "Let Him Run Wild".

[Ed Roach]

To get this thread back on track, first off, it would be a mistake to call anything released so close to his demise his 'favorite' song.  Also, it seemed to me that he went for years resisting listening to anything contemporary by anyone but his brothers; Wagner was more his cup of tea.  But he was totally enthralled by "Synchronicity", and listened to the album over & over.  For the record, though, his favorite track was "King of Pain"...

[Ed Roach]

Just to clear the air...oops...Dennis' favorite Brian Wilson song was "Let Him Run Wild".

Jon, your post came in while I was writing, and you'd already gotten it 'back on track'.  Your response doesn't surprise me, but where did you hear that?

[Mikie]

Just to clear the air...oops...Dennis' favorite Brian Wilson song was "Let Him Run Wild".

That's kinda ironic - it's one of Brian's least favorite songs that he wrote. So much so that he didn't authorize it to be on the '93 Good Vibrations box set of the bands' best stuff.

[Menace Wilson]

Wagner was more his cup of tea. 

Cool!  Any particular Wagner?  

[Ed Roach]

Offhand, I recall the Valkyrie section from The Ring always bringing tears to his eyes.  That, and "Tristan and Isolda", or "Tristan und Isolde", more correctly.

[Menace Wilson]

Offhand, I recall the Valkyrie section from The Ring always bringing tears to his eyes.  That, and "Tristan and Isolda", or "Tristan und Isolde", more correctly.

Very interesting, thanks for that!  Will have to listen and see if I can spot a Wagner influence in DW's songwriting.  Thinking about it offhand, I can see where Wagner's brooding, dramatic quality might have been an inspiration.

[Mr. Cohen]

Dennis was also a big fan of The Band and the song "Rag Mama Rag". According to some book I read, Dennis and Carl used to sing along to the song all the time on the tour bus in the early 70s. If you listen to the song you can see how Dennis liked it.

[Mr. Cohen]

Knowing the Carl and Dennis liked that song so much also explains why they seemed enthusiastic to have "Mess of Help" be a single (until it bombed).