Celebrity Jukebox #139: Brian Wilson (Part 2)

When I started the Celebrity Jukebox feature (and back then, it wasn't just for recently deceased stars), the idea was to measure a celebrity's fame or notoriety through the number of times they've popped up in pop lyrics. 

With Brian Wilson, the cultural impact is beyond compare. Yes, you can hold up Elvis, or John Lennon maybe, Marilyn or James Dean, as icons who have had more songs written about them than Brian. But they were marquee names. Brian Wilson's marquee name was The Beach Boys. I haven't even looked to see how many songs there are that mention his band... but I'm betting there won't be as many as mention the man himself. What a legacy...  

Barenaked Ladies - Brian Wilson

Tears For Fears - Brian Wilson Said

JR Thomas & The Volcanos - Brian Wilson

Blaknoisewhitesoul - Pop Genius (Song For Brian Wilson)

The Hansen Brothers - Brian Wilson

Edward Ball - Blues For Brian Wilson

Prabir & The Substitutes - Brian Wilson

Andrew Johnson - Brian Wilson Day

Steven Milne - Brian Wilson

The Yodees - Brian Wilson

Queer Jane - Brian Wilson Auf Der Autobahn

Eva Braun - Brian Wilson

Seafieldroad - Brian Wilson Karaoke

Lost Dogs - Jesus Loves You, Brian Wilson

Bomb The Music Industry - Brian Wilson Says Smile AKA My Beard Of Defiance

Break Up Shoes - Brian Wilson Is My Dad

Shaky Town Harlots - WWBWD? (What Would Brian Wilson Do?) 

There were plenty more where they came from - as always, I listened to them so that you don't have to. And let's not forget the bands who took his name... although not in the best of taste sometimes. Still, fame is fame.

Brian Wilson Motherfucker

Brian Wilson Shock Treatment

The Brian Wilson Massacre

Best video today comes from Canadian musician Rich Aucoin. The title might seem inappropriate right now, until you realise the acronym stands for All Living Instantly Vanquish Everything. Which I can interpret as "Brian beats everyone" (even if he's dead)... though I'm happy to concede that might not have been Rich's interpretation. The video's a wonderful tribute to the life of the legend though.

These were just the songs that mention Brian in the title. There's a whole other post about lyrical name-drops... I bet you can hardly wait.

Celebrity Jukebox #82: Seymour Stein

Seymour Stein died on the 2nd of April, aged 80. Not a household name, but a hugely important man in the history of popular music. Without him, we might never have heard The Ramones. Or the Talking Heads. Or Madonna. The Pretenders. Ice T. Yeah, someone else might have signed them, but it might not have been someone with Stein's vision, and they might have fallen through the cracks as a result. I'm sure we can all think of a favourite artist who deserved to be as big as the names above, but who never had the right person to push them to the top. Stein also helped a lot of British bands break through in America, including The Cure, Depeche Mode, Echo & The Bunnymen and The Smiths. Although he wouldn't sign Belle & Sebastian. Which is why Stuart Murdoch wrote this...

Seymour Stein, I've been lonely

I caught a glimpse of someone's face

It was mine and I'd been crying

Half a world away

Ticket for a plane

Record company man

I won't be coming to dinner

I heard dinner went well

You liked Chris's jacket

He reminded you of Johnny

Before he went Electronic

Where else will we find Seymour Stein commemorated in song? Let's start with the arched eyebrow of Stephin Merritt...

You get signed to a major Top 40 label

Blow David Geffen, blow Seymour Stein

You can make an atrocious Top 40 record

No one will know in two weeks time

The 6ths - Rot In The Sun

Next up is John Wesley Harding, with a seasonal tune, but one that's too good to leave out...

Well, I flew to LA for the very first time

I met Howie Klein and Seymour Stein

They said, "Wes, we do this Christmas thing

And we get all the acts to sing"

I said, "What do you want?

You want a cover of Winter Wonderland or something?"

They said, "Do what you like"

John Wesley Harding - Talking Christmas Goodwill Blues

Rheostatics are considered one of the most influential Canadian rock bands, even though they never troubled the singles chart much. Forming in 1978, they eventually signed to Sire in the early 90s.

Hey, some folks like to dream

Of a stardom so obscene

With rocket cars and caviars and cream

Others like to dine

Eating out with Seymour Stein

His bondage-roping, toilet-groping dream

Talk about biting the hand that feeds!

Rheostatics - I Dig Music

Another Canadian musician now... but one who's got slightly less chance of being signed if this drivel is anything to go by. (I'm guessing he's being ironic.)

Rich Aucoin - Please Give This To Seymour Stein

The Pocket Gods might have stood more of a chance... if they could have written any songs that were longer than 45 seconds. (Then again, what do I know - maybe that's the TikTok future.)

The Pocket Gods - Seymour Stein

Although Belle & Sebastian were today's obvious winner, I was also rather taken by this track by Florida indie band Surfer Blood. So let's close with them today...

Roll your sleeves to show off your tattoos

He's great friends with Seymour Stein, I never knew

Master reels from Zeppelin I and II

Once the Kraken has been fed then everything's cool