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Post by Kapitan on Feb 6, 2023 14:51:53 GMT
Track #8: Beaches in Mind (Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Joe ThomasWe’ve got beaches in mind Man it’s been too much time Woke me up before dawn Wish I could sleep some more so I could carry on With the dream I’ve been meaning to make come true And that’s to get away with you I think we all can agree That there’s no better place for us to be We can drive on for miles till we’re finally free It will just be you and me We’ve got beaches in mind Man it’s been too much time Not a care in the world is where I wanna be Southbay surfing again Haven’t been this way in I don’t know when If I have to say we’ll be back again Where the good times never end We’ve got beaches in mind Man it’s been too much time Not a care in the world is where I wanna be With the surfers, sand and the sea We’ll find a place in the sun Where everyone can have fun [Beaches in mind…] HistoryJoe Thomas says “Beaches in Mind” was a brand-new collaboration between Brian Wilson and Mike Love (and, unstated, himself). He told Andrew Romano: notes.andrewromano.net/joethomasbeachboysLove, however, seems to at least hint at other origins in the Goldmine feature with David Beard, where he said this in response to a question about the song: In that same article, Thomas gave more details, again calling it a brand new song. www.goldminemag.com/articles/step-inside-the-beach-boys-world-50-years-in-the-makingRegardless whether the song itself dates back some ways, it seems obvious that the track itself and the lyrics were created quickly in the sessions for the album. Lyrical Analysis“Beaches in Mind” perhaps more than any other song on the album needs and rewards no careful review of its lyrics. The singer has beaches in mind. Man, it’s been too much time. It is another first-person narrated song with no particular narrative, just a collection of lines about going to a beach to which the narrator hasn’t been since “I don’t know when.” It combines the nostalgia of the good old days surfing with the anticipation of the day(s) on the beach that lie ahead. Please discuss the lyrics of “Beaches in Mind,” which will be up for a couple of days. And as always, feel free to weigh in on the previous songs from the album: the thread is cumulative.
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Post by kds on Feb 6, 2023 15:01:04 GMT
Yeah, Beaches in Mind is pretty straight forward. Pining for the beach, and the summer sun.
For what it is, I think it's fine. A mindless diversion to the beach.
But, and I'm saying this as one of the song's few defenders, if this is the kind of track that Mike had in mind during the many times he said he'd love to just write a song at the piano with Brian like in 1965 again, then, it might not be the worst thing in the world that The Beach Boys didn't follow up TWGMTR. It's fine as a filler track, but a whole album of songs like this?
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 6, 2023 15:40:23 GMT
It's strange how much I don't like this song, including the lyrics, considering there's nothing wrong with them. (The song, too, is mostly OK, though the talk box guitar is nauseating.) I'd almost rather hate the lyrics than just shrug at them. But that's where I am with it: I just shrug at them.
They read like something some pedestrian songwriters threw together in short order to fulfill an assignment to write a Beach Boys song. It reminds me of the stories of Lou Reed working for Pickwick Records, where he'd be assigned to write songs that fit various trend: car songs, surf songs, the new dance craze... This seems like an assignment, not the result of inspiration.
That doesn't really bother me on some moral level. I am absolutely 100% in favor of understanding songwriting at least as much as a craft as an art. But that model only works when the results are quality craftsmanship! Both music and lyrics here come across as half-assed homework. It's just entirely one-dimensional, lacking anything I'd consider a strong lyrical hook, interesting angle ... it's just there.
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Post by kds on Feb 6, 2023 16:31:48 GMT
Yeah, as much as I defend this song, that talk box guitar is awful.
And, also while I defend this song, I think it could've been much better. "We've got beaches in mind, man it's been too much time." That chorus is pretty weak both musically and lyrically. Maybe with a little more workshopping and a better chorus, you'd have something better than a random beachy throwaway track that's listened to by more than just me.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 6, 2023 21:12:44 GMT
I know we're focused on lyrics here, but the melody in the chorus is just a big nothing. It's funny that Thomas points out that Brian thought of it: I almost wonder if it was damage control. "Don't blame me, that's a BRIAN melody!" Because it almost couldn't be simpler, just the notes 5-4-3-1. It almost just outlines the root major chord (though the chords there go I-IV).
Truly, it is elementary. And I have to say, the lyrics fit the music. So dull.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 7, 2023 12:36:16 GMT
And I have to say, the lyrics fit the music. That's not only how I feel about Mike's lyrics on "Beaches In Mind", but most of the B.Wilson/M. Love songs. There seems to be a relationship. The better Brian's contribution (or the music), the better Mike's contribution (or the lyrics) seem to come off.
I know we're focusing on the lyrics, but "Beaches In Mind" was a big disappointment. I think Brian and Mike pulled off, very well, a vintage Beach Boys-type song with "Spring Vacation", but this one falls flat. And, in my opinion, if you just go down the list of B.Wilson/M.Love "fun" songs, that is rare. Of all the things about That's Why God Made The Radio that confused or disappointed me, it was the lack of a fast, rockin', NEW Beach Boys' song. I wish they would've somehow turned "Beaches In Mind" into that. The concept was there.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 7, 2023 12:45:42 GMT
And I have to say, the lyrics fit the music. That's not only how I feel about Mike's lyrics on "Beaches In Mind", but most of the B.Wilson/M. Love songs. There seems to be a relationship. The better Brian's contribution (or the music), the better Mike's contribution (or the lyrics) seem to come off.
I know we're focusing on the lyrics, but "Beaches In Mind" was a big disappointment. I think Brian and Mike pulled off, very well, a vintage Beach Boys-type song with "Spring Vacation", but this one falls flat. And, in my opinion, if you just go down the list of B.Wilson/M.Love "fun" songs, that is rare. Of all the things about That's Why God Made The Radio that confused or disappointed me, it was the lack of a fast, rockin', NEW Beach Boys' song. I wish they would've somehow turned "Beaches In Mind" into that. The concept was there.
It's interesting that so far on this one, more than any other, we seem unable to really separate the music from the lyrics. In a way, that is good. Unfortunately, in terms of the quality of this song's music (and lyrics), it's not good at all. I agree that another rocker or two would have been nice. I wonder whether "Run James Run" was around yet, because that's an obvious choice. To me, that's one of the most under-realized, under-utilized songs of Brian's late career. The recording, which doesn't sound like it was really finished, appears only on the greatest hits disc... But imagine Al and Mike on those vocals, imagine David Marks on that guitar...
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Post by kds on Feb 7, 2023 14:27:27 GMT
Since Beaches in Mind is very likely the final Mike and Brian collaboration, at least it's a better ending than Male Ego.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 7, 2023 19:54:18 GMT
That's not only how I feel about Mike's lyrics on "Beaches In Mind", but most of the B.Wilson/M. Love songs. There seems to be a relationship. The better Brian's contribution (or the music), the better Mike's contribution (or the lyrics) seem to come off.
I know we're focusing on the lyrics, but "Beaches In Mind" was a big disappointment. I think Brian and Mike pulled off, very well, a vintage Beach Boys-type song with "Spring Vacation", but this one falls flat. And, in my opinion, if you just go down the list of B.Wilson/M.Love "fun" songs, that is rare. Of all the things about That's Why God Made The Radio that confused or disappointed me, it was the lack of a fast, rockin', NEW Beach Boys' song. I wish they would've somehow turned "Beaches In Mind" into that. The concept was there.
It's interesting that so far on this one, more than any other, we seem unable to really separate the music from the lyrics. In a way, that is good. Unfortunately, in terms of the quality of this song's music (and lyrics), it's not good at all. I agree that another rocker or two would have been nice. I wonder whether "Run James Run" was around yet, because that's an obvious choice. To me, that's one of the most under-realized, under-utilized songs of Brian's late career. The recording, which doesn't sound like it was really finished, appears only on the greatest hits disc... But imagine Al and Mike on those vocals, imagine David Marks on that guitar... I think "Run James Run" came out of the Jeff Beck sessions which would place it around 2013, after the 2012 reunion. But, yes, a rocker like that would've been nice.
Before we move on to the next song, I did want to share this. There is another fast rocker that I would've loved on That's Why God Made The Radio - "Rodney On The ROQ". Now, first, there was probably zero chance of it appearing on the album, but go with me on this. You know how That's Why God Made The Radio is full of references to California, cruising around, music, and especially listening to the radio. "Rodney On The ROQ would've fit perfectly! Obviously it fits lyrically, it's local geographically, it features Brian, there's room for The Beach Boys' backgrounds, and there's room for David Marks. It rocks and the album definitely could've used it. "Rodney On The ROQ" is on my alternate That's Why God Made The Radio, right after the title track. I love the sequence, the way the two songs fit together. Give it a listen:
A little bit more about "Rodney On The ROQ". It was written by Brian Wilson and Andy Paley. I don't have a recording date, but the song features Brian, Andy, and Jeff Foskett on vocals. This is from Andy Paley:
"Brian and I are both fans of Rodney. Brian’s known him forever. I met him in the 70s. He’s played my records on the radio over the years. He’s played Brian’s records too. We wanted to give him something so we wrote him that song. He loved it and he used it as his theme song on the radio. Jeff did a great job on the falsetto part."
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 7, 2023 19:58:57 GMT
I know the recording of "Run James Run" was from the Beck sessions, but it's possible he'd been kicking it around earlier. Especially being a Thomas co-write, we know how Brian goes back to Thomas for "new" material. In fact, I know there was some discussion in one of the stories out there, probably one of Fine's for Rolling Stone, where they talk about its origin, with Brian saying the world needed one more kickass car song. OK, at least my first inspection--literally the first google result--does indeed place it as written during the Beck sessions, based on a comment Beck himself made. www.billboard.com/music/music-news/brian-wilson-new-song-run-james-run-bond-interview-8005830/Granted, we see these guys contradict each other and themselves from time to time. But that's some evidence pointing your way.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 8, 2023 15:31:23 GMT
Track #9: Strange World (Brian Wilson, Joe Thomas)On Santa Monica city pier We watch the people who gather here The uninvited who’ve lost their way And now we’re all here to stay And it’s a strange world, there’s nothing to it Strange world, I’m getting through it Strange world, thinking it over It’s a strange world after all Multi-colorful lives we run To catch a glimpse of the setting sun I can’t imagine how life would be if you were not here with me [And it’s a strange world…] Sunday morning Skies so blue Yo te amo means I love you You can drive your car to the county fair Or ride your bicycle anywhere It doesn’t matter that much to me ‘Cause we’re pretty good company [And it’s a strange world…] HistoryBased on Joe Thomas’s comments, “Strange World” seems to have been built on older demos, but at least partially rewritten. The extent of how much is new and how much is old isn’t clear. Thomas described the song like this to Andrew Romano, only mentioning “some bits that we found on tape” but then describing the content: He told David Beard for Goldmine: You’ll note here he says “this is a brand new song that had a couple of parts in it that we heard before on tape.” This minimizes the archival aspect. The presence of Michael Rhodes on bass is one clue that at least some of what made the record could date back to the late ‘90s, as he was on the Imagination album. Lyrical AnalysisIt is again—has there been anything else on this album yet?—a first-person narration, full of “I,” “you” and “we” even as there is some mention of other third parties. I don’t think we’ve had an impersonal third person account yet. These aren’t story songs, they are personal songs … except they aren’t. They are more vague than personal. That is where we find ourselves again, another song hinting one way, then going another. Especially considering Thomas’s comments about a “political message,” the opening verse might seem like a comment on homelessness (though Thomas’s own description of the “political message” is more that it’s about California being a destination for people from all over the world. True enough, though not all that political.). But the chorus doesn’t even really comment on that sentiment, much less further the thought or some argument. The chorus, in short, says “things are weird, aren’t they?” There’s nothing to it, I’m getting through it, thinking it over it’s a strange world. He ends where he begins. But in-between it’s easy (there’s nothing to it), it’s hard (I’m getting through it), I don’t know what the hell it is (thinking it over), and back to where we began. It’s a strange world after all. The chorus is basically nonsensical. Verse two redirects the narrator’s focus to his loved one in a romantic comment about the setting sun, about needing her with him. Then back to the nonsensical refrain before a bit more romance in the bridge. The last verse? Somewhere between the reflection on the oddity of life and the romance of his lover. It says, more or less, you can do whatever you want, nothing matters so long as we’re together. The song never really does explain what’s so strange about this strange world, and while it most strongly implies the singer is fine with it because of his lover, it also makes the strangeness a breezy afterthought and a constant struggle. Please discuss “Strange World,” which will be up for a few days. As always, feel free to comment on any previous songs, as well.
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Post by kds on Feb 8, 2023 16:04:53 GMT
Much like Shelter, I never really thought too much about the lyrics outside of the "wow, this is a crazy world we live in, but we're getting through it" theme.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 8, 2023 16:10:01 GMT
Much like Shelter, I never really thought too much about the lyrics outside of the "wow, this is a crazy world we live in, but we're getting through it" theme. It's very funny to me how much, once you focus on the lyrics, we really don't know what's supposed to be so strange about this world! There are people by the pier! And, um, you can ride your bike. I like you! Strange world, ain't it?
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Post by kds on Feb 8, 2023 16:16:44 GMT
Much like Shelter, I never really thought too much about the lyrics outside of the "wow, this is a crazy world we live in, but we're getting through it" theme. It's very funny to me how much, once you focus on the lyrics, we really don't know what's supposed to be so strange about this world! There are people by the pier! And, um, you can ride your bike. I like you! Strange world, ain't it? I always just took that as a commentary of any crowded place, the pier, a Boardwalk, an amusement park, a Walmart, etc. Any kind of place where a crowd of people makes you say "this is a strange world after all."
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 8, 2023 16:40:14 GMT
That's definitely what it ends up being, which is why I find Thomas's comments about it being political to be funny. But even if that's the point, it seems they might have put in some actual examples of those sights. There seems like a lot of space between "I was down by the pier today and I saw this couple walking hand in hand, him dressed in a waitress's costume and walking on stilts and her dressed like Santa Claus, even in this 80-degree heat! Strange world!" on one hand, and "I was down by the pier today, strange world!" on the other.
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