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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 2, 2021 19:37:24 GMT
And I really like the vocal harmonies in the chorus. Surely you agree they could have been sung better!? They're not SO out of tune, but Brian has no falsetto to speak of, it's so weak and thin... And yeah, it is out of tune sometimes, too.
One thing I like about the song a lot is actually the bridge, including Brian's lead there. His voice is pretty strong on "the constellations are stars." Not great, but passionate anyway.
I find it interesting that Brian sang parts in falsetto. He had to know he was struggling with it (didn't he?), but I figured he wrote those parts for a particular vocal, and it was important for him to have it sung that way. That's the way he heard the song when he wrote it. Fascinating.
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Post by jk on Nov 2, 2021 19:52:05 GMT
As I said somewhere else, "Honkin'" sounds lewd on Love You... That's my favorite part of the Love You version! Brian, and I guess Al, were able to capture that...emotion...in the song. H'mm. I see they're looking suitably guilty in those emojis. One little inch at a time... That's not a million miles away from the chorus of "Rollin' Up To Heaven"!
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 2, 2021 20:03:27 GMT
Surely you agree they could have been sung better!? They're not SO out of tune, but Brian has no falsetto to speak of, it's so weak and thin... And yeah, it is out of tune sometimes, too.
One thing I like about the song a lot is actually the bridge, including Brian's lead there. His voice is pretty strong on "the constellations are stars." Not great, but passionate anyway.
I find it interesting that Brian sang parts in falsetto. He had to know he was struggling with it (didn't he?), but I figured he wrote those parts for a particular vocal, and it was important for him to have it sung that way. That's the way he heard the song when he wrote it. Fascinating. My entirely uninformed speculation: it's one of the songs for which others weren't really around, and he, often in a hurry to strike while the iron was hot, got it on tape and called it done.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 2, 2021 21:46:46 GMT
I find it interesting that Brian sang parts in falsetto. He had to know he was struggling with it (didn't he?), but I figured he wrote those parts for a particular vocal, and it was important for him to have it sung that way. That's the way he heard the song when he wrote it. Fascinating. My entirely uninformed speculation: it's one of the songs for which others weren't really around, and he, often in a hurry to strike while the iron was hot, got it on tape and called it done. Could be. I don't think "Solar System" was in that group of songs that Brian demoed for the guys early on. Maybe it did come later, in a hurry. As "out there" the song is (pun intended), with the "If Mars had life on it, I might find my wife on it" line, I think "Solar System" might've been a little personal to Brian, not in a "Surfer Girl" kind of way, but more toward a "You're So Good To Me" feeling. Or maybe even "Wake The World" ten years later. I do wish somebody - maybe Carl - would've put their arm around Brian and said, "You know, I really love the song...maybe we could do another take on the vocal...what'd ya think..."
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 5, 2021 17:27:02 GMT
Here is a live rendition of the song from Alex Chilton in 1985. "Here's a little song I wrote with this guy ... his name is Brian Wilson."
Technically true since he rewrote some lyrics. Though "with" is a stretch! Oh, and also, the new lyrics are terrible. Wilson's might be strange and a bit creepy, but at least they're charming in their way.
As is the case with most of Chilton's post-Big Star efforts, it's at best described as a ramshackle affair. And I have to say, to lose the original synth bass part is a huge mistake: that's the best part of the song.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 6, 2021 12:23:39 GMT
Here is a live rendition of the song from Alex Chilton in 1985. "Here's a little song I wrote with this guy ... his name is Brian Wilson."
Technically true since he rewrote some lyrics. Though "with" is a stretch! Oh, and also, the new lyrics are terrible. Wilson's might be strange and a bit creepy, but at least they're charming in their way.
As is the case with most of Chilton's post-Big Star efforts, it's at best described as a ramshackle affair. And I have to say, to lose the original synth bass part is a huge mistake: that's the best part of the song.
Musically I think it sounds OK, but lyrically, yeah, the essence of the song is lost. As for Alex's intro to the song, that's pretty poor.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 6, 2021 12:37:58 GMT
It is worth noting that Chilton LOVED Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, though he came off a little snarky there. He also covered "I Wanna Pick You Up" and, more appropriate for our single of the week, this week's B-side, "Solar System." Of course, the Beach Boys also at least liked one of the songs he performed from the Box Tops days, "The Letter." Here is a bit more info that I posted long ago in a galaxy far, far away: (Citations from "Big Star: The Story of Rock's Forgotten Band," by Rob Jovanovic.)
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 6, 2021 12:38:08 GMT
Here's a live version of "Honkin'" from 1977. It sounds like the lead vocal is doubled. Is it Billy Hinsche and Al? It's pretty sloppy. They didn't even work out an ending.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 6, 2021 12:40:00 GMT
Here's a live version of "Honkin'" from 1977. It sounds like the lead vocal is doubled. Is it Billy Hinsche and Al? It's pretty sloppy. They didn't even work out an ending. That would make sense, considering Hinsche's attempt at a lead for the album version.
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Post by lonelysummer on Nov 7, 2021 6:52:40 GMT
I don't know why the lyrics to "Honkin" are creepy. And I really don't want to know! I prefer to keep my innocence. One the trends in music chat on the internet these days that I really hate is people wanting to tell me "what this song is REALLY about!", like Macca's "Eat at Home". "That's about eating p---y!" "Ooh, gross! Now I'm gonna puke everytime I hear that song!" And yes, I do know what Chuck is singing about in "My-Ding-A-Ling". Silver bells on a string.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 7, 2021 11:42:46 GMT
Today is the final day to vote on "Honkin Down the Highway" and "Solar System." If you have yet to do so, please comment and vote.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 8, 2021 11:59:03 GMT
Eight voters rated "Honkin Down the Highway" backed with "Solar System" an average of 6.0.
Thanks for participating. We will continue with our next single shortly.
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