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Post by Kapitan on Apr 29, 2023 11:57:56 GMT
Regarding "Think About the Days" ... It's basically opener or bust. ... It's a nice mood setter and I think it bookends the album nicely with the closing three tracks. It gives the album a continuity...like we've come full circle. While I'm not as big a fan of it as some, I do agree with the parts quoted above.
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Post by carllove on Apr 29, 2023 14:34:26 GMT
On that one, I totally disagree. I think it's the perfect opener for Friends, and one of my top 10 of their openers ever. There is nothing in the lyrics that I think would disqualify it, either. To me, it is like a little meditation, which of course can be considered like a little prayer ... and prayers precede things all the time! Meals, games, etc. It is a mind-clearing, soul-cleansing reflection on peace and love to prepare the listener for the album. I've never been into meditating or praying before or preceding albums. That also might be a big reason why I never liked "Our Prayer" as the opener for SMiLE. “Meant for You” is my second favorite Beach Boys album opener, after “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”. It sets the tone, for what is a very chill, meditative album and leads perfectly into “Friends”. It gets me in the mood for what is to follow. I like that it is a short intro and the harmonies are beautiful. After Pet Sounds, Friends is my most listened to Beach Boys album. A lazy Summer weekend afternoon pleasure.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 29, 2023 15:01:40 GMT
I also think of "Meant For You" similarly to "Think About the Days". It's not a proper, complete song. It's designed to be the introduction to the album. Move it from that position and its value, effectiveness, and impact drastically drops. Initially, I didn't include it in my top 10 because the competition was so stiff and I was having a hard time ranking it above great tracks like "Little Deuce Coupe" (which does work well as an opener, too). But, it's a balancing act and we can rationalize anything. I was reading the posts and contemplating the topic and I really do appreciate "Meant for You" very much as the opener (but not as much as a track unto itself). Then my decision's been made and the rationalizing kicks in...well, "Little Deuce Coupe" had just recently been released on Surfer Girl, and maybe it is better as a Side 2 opener, and they could have used "Be True To Your School" as the opener to Little Deuce Coupe (musically, it's a no-brainer, but imperfect thematically), etc.
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Post by carllove on Apr 29, 2023 15:12:22 GMT
I voted for seven songs.
In order of preference:
1. “Would’ve It Be Nice” - Wouldn’t change a thing in a song that highlights the genius of The Beach Boys, and serves as a testament to how great a rock song can be. The song introduces the theme of the album and starts you on the amazing journey that is to come on an upbeat, yet slightly melancholic note. It perfectly pays homage to The Beach Boys songs of the past, while introducing the new sounds and subjects of the future Boys music.
2. “Meant for You” - See my post above.
3. “I Get Around” - Another great early Beach Boys tune that gets a good album off to a rollicking start. Lyrics that reflect the effects on the Boys of their new found fame, and as David Leaf says contains “a major, revolutionary step in Brian’s use of dynamics”.
4. “Sail On Sailor” - And now for something completely different from our Boys. So you know Holland is going to be something we haven’t heard before. This song was my ringtone for several years.
5. “Wild Honey” - Why not start an album with the track it was named for? Carl getting soulful is a great thing. You know you are going to love this album when you hear this song.
6. “Little Saint Nick” - This song is everywhere during the holidays and leads to those who weren’t fans before, checking out the Christmas Album. I think it was a good move. Who doesn’t like it?
7. “Surfin’ USA” - When you knew The Beach Boys were going to be big.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 29, 2023 17:18:42 GMT
I have a procedural question for everyone: do you think it's better to show the results of the poll throughout the week (like I did this week) or to hide the results until the end of the week?
Personally, as a participant, I probably prefer hiding the results until the poll closes, but as a thread-runner I have to think showing the results throughout the week leads to more participation and discussion.
Help me out, which do you prefer?
(By the way, the participation's been great this week. Thanks everyone!)
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 29, 2023 17:33:50 GMT
I would say I prefer hiding except one thing: many of us voting (and ideally more of us voting!) are also posting about our choices. So a person can get the idea or be influenced regardless.
If it were set up first as a secret/blind voting period, then later moving into posting about our votes, that would be different. But I've never actually seen such a thing and am not sure interest would be sustained.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 29, 2023 17:49:06 GMT
Hmm, that's an interesting idea. Voting through Tuesday or Wednesday, then discussion through Saturday. I just worry about that schedule being too rigid (for a few different reasons).
Maybe we could try hiding the results this upcoming week and deciding afterward which was better. The topics are very similar, so it might be a good time to try it. But I'll wait to see what others have to say.
That said, I'm usually of the mindset - if it ain't broke, don't fix it! We'll see. It's all good.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 29, 2023 18:55:46 GMT
I'm still obsessing over Friends. While I agree, B.E., that "Meant For You" is not a proper, complete song, I don't agree that it can't function later in the album. As I mentioned above, I don't think it fits as an opener, especially lyrically. I want the singer closing his eyes and getting peace in his mind and hoping that I find it too...at the end, AFTER he's had his say. I can fit it quite nicely like this:
Side 2
3. Busy Doin' Nothin' 4. Friends 5. Meant For You 6. Transcendental Mediation
"Be Still" was staring them in the face as the album opener, but it was never gonna happen. It was going to be the new single. Same thing with 20/20. I think "Never Learn Not To Love" would've made a fine opener, but not with "Do It Again" and a couple other singles available.
As far as the voting format on the thread, either one is fine with me. Thanks for doing it!
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Post by B.E. on Apr 30, 2023 13:31:51 GMT
Thanks for participating. We had 10 voters cast 90 votes. Here are the results:
Top 10 Album Openers
1. Wouldn't It Be Nice (8 votes) 2. Surfin' U.S.A. (7 votes) 2. I Get Around (7 votes) 2. Meant for You (7 votes) 5. Wild Honey (6 votes) 5. Sail On, Sailor (6 votes) 7. Fun, Fun, Fun (5 votes) 7. Do It Again (5 votes) 9. Little Saint Nick (4 votes) 9. The Girl From New York City (4 votes) 9. Heroes and Villains (4 votes)
Then we had "Surfin Safari", "Surfer Girl", "Do You Wanna Dance?", "Slip On Through", and "Getcha Back" with 3 votes; "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone", "Good Timin'", "Keepin' the Summer Alive", and "Think About the Days" with 2 votes; "Little Deuce Coupe", "Don't Go Near The Water", "Rock and Roll Music", and "Still Cruisin'" with 1 vote; and "Hully Gully", "Let Us Go On This Way", "She's Got Rhythm", and "Hot Fun in the Summertime" with 0 votes.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on May 1, 2023 1:47:55 GMT
My album opener picks, in chronological order:
Surfin' U.S.A. Fun, Fun, Fun The Girl from New York City Heroes and Villains Wild Honey Do It Again Slip On Through You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone Sail On, Sailor Keepin' the Summer Alive
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