We conclude our tribute to the late Brian Wilson today with a few lyrical tributes...
Let's start with some Jon By Jovi... because we don't hear his name enough around these parts...
You always lose the girl (Ooh)
In a Brian Wilson world
The Beta Band are up next, with a spot of critical evaluation...
I listened to the Beach Boys just a minute ago
"Wild Honey", it's not their best album but it's still pretty good
They've got some funny little love songs on there
But its not mainly a Brian Wilson production
So it's probably not as good as something like "Pet Sounds"
Elton's Postcards From Richard Nixon is a song about his first experiences of the USA, but Brian makes a fine contrast to Tricky Dicky...
And all around us suntanned teens, beauty like we’d never seen
Our heroes led us by the hand
Through Brian Wilson’s promised land
Where Disney’s God and he commands
Both mice and men to stay
And that's not the only time Elton has dropped Brian's name...
Now I know what Brian Wilson meant
Every time I step outside
I see what heaven sent
There may be seven wonders
Created for this world
But one is all we need
Since God invented girls
Brian Wilson is a good name to throw into a list song, and in this track from The Church, he's in legendary company...
Brian Wilson and William Tell
We welcome you
Harry Belafonte and Alexander Bell
We welcome you
Archangel Gabriel and Richard Hell
We welcome
And Tom Miller
Brian finds his way into another list here, but among far less obvious company. Clear evidence though that his influence crosses all genres...
Paul Johnson
DJ Funk
DJ Sneak
DJ Rush
Waxmaster
Hyperactive
Jammin Gerald
Brian Wilson
George Clinton
Lil Louis
Ashley Beedle
Neil Landstruum
Kenny Dope
DJ Hell
Louis Vega
K-Alexi
More evidence of that from The Beastie Boys...
Made a noise invented a sound
When Brian Wilson used it
A hit was found
Quite a few songwriters choose Brian as a metaphor for the fine line between genius and madness. Take this one from Brendon Urie...
She said, "You're just like Mike Love
But you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson"
Said, "You're just like Mike Love
But you'll never be Dennis Wilson"
And I said
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (Hey!)
I'm a rocket scientist (Hey! Hey!)
Panic At The Disco! - Crazy = Genius
Or this from Will Toledo...
I used to think there was an answer
In the music of my youth
But I just read Brian Wilson's biography
And now I know the truth
Because his father never loved him
And the band just wanted the money
And Dennis was an alcoholic
Who drowned looking for treasure
And everyone who was around him
Just gave him drugs and took his money
He was dependent on social acceptance
Just like every other human
Here's one of Ben's favourite songwriters, Jeff Rosenstock...
I've never been in love but I saw Brian Wilson once
I was drunk and screamed too loud over the falsetto in "You Still Believe in Me."
And I thought about the way his catastrophes made everything okay
And one of my favourite songwriter, Stephin Merritt...
Brian Wilson, 1960 and Vine
Summer kisses
In a Pendleton shirt, songs and gentle words
Granted wishes
Richard and Karen, on the other hand, saw Brian as the living personification of summer...
Bare foot, coconut and super mild
Jamaica, take a look at your own child
Forget not
Brian Wilson songs are never left behind
Don't you worry, baby, you're a friend of mine
For so long
Not to mention the sea...
Seahorses
Sharks circling
Brian Wilson, inspiration
Smart dolphins
Waves crashing
And love... Brian always represents love, in all its forms...
She made lasagna
And I sang her a song by Brian Wilson
Cause I knew her favourite band was The Beach Boys
As well as happy times though, Brian can also remind us of sad times...
This was the summer of your dad at the UN
And the voice of Brian Wilson
And the rain
Maybe she'll come back to you now
She could turn around on Friday
Maybe she'll realize it then
Shouldn't your friends know better now?
Maybe they say these unkind things
Never dreaming they hurt you
And she may turn around
And see a clearer day
Love and lost love...
God only knows
What Brian Wilson meant
Pick out your clothes
With some real intent
You don't seem to care
That I've been waiting here
Pulling out my hair
For you to come
My dear
The sun and the rain, light and darkness...
It's coming down in sheets of rain
Water's running in the drain
I lie with candles by my bed
Brian Wilson in my head
Dennis Wilson, Sharon Tate
Dark Pacific Palisades, yeah
Wait for the summer
It'll come round again
And to close, a track which would have fit very well into Snapshots #400... Brian Wilson singing Brian Wilson, a cover of the Barenaked Ladies song...
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