Sunday, July 4, 2021

Ugh, ugh, ugh

As CNN would have it, Mike Love and John Stamos are the Beach Boys. Dana Bash called them that just now. Ugh.

The ill-named Love did not correct Bash when she said that he wrote “Surfin’,” the first Beach Boys hit. Ugh.

*

7:24: This CNN-televised performance is a godawful embarrassment. You’ve gotta work really hard to ruin “God Only Knows.” And that was before Mike Love had sung a note. Ugh again.

*

July 5: Someone has shared the evidence on YouTube.

[Brian Wilson wrote the music for “Surfin’,” and Love may have had help with the words. The song is credited to Wilson and Love.]

comments: 6

Stefan said...

I thought of you as I cringe-watched and hoped you had spared yourself the punishing, depressing experience. Ms. Bash and Mr. Lemon were almost as bad.

Michael Leddy said...

Yes, the happy talk was hard to take. But Don Lemon at least has a better singing voice than Mike Love.

Anonymous said...

OMG! That is so horrible....... I saw the Beach Boys way back in the 1970s in Kansas City and they certainly did not sound like this!!!

One of my favorite bands but after watching the video, I may be rethinking that.

Did you notice on the first song, the hands on the guitar were not even changing chords?

Most likely pre-recorded.

Kirsten

Michael Leddy said...

Yes, there were several points where vocals and instrumental parts seemed to be dropped in.

Christian Love (Mike’s son, who sang “God Only Knows”) moved neither hand. It could be that he was just damping the strings. (Avoiding feedback?) I’d have to watch again (yikes) to see the other guitars.

RobP said...

funny to see news reports about the band saying things like this:

"The current lineup of the California rock band is led by original member Mike Love alongside keyboardist Bruce Johnston, who played with the project in 1965. The concert will not feature founding members Brian Wilson or Al Jardine, who both are nearing 80 years old. "

well, Mike IS 80!!

And good old Bruce Johnston is 79...!
nearing 80? yes. He could stay happy
at home having written I Write The Songs
AND Disney Girls........

Michael Leddy said...

I have to wonder why Mike & Co. keep at it. Retire gracefully, says I. Brian too. But Al still seems to be in great voice.

I notice CNN never mentioned ages, though there was much mention made of “sixty years ago.” Maybe Mike puts a kibosh on references to age?