Message Forum: Re: Beach Boys

Re: Beach Boys

Posted By: Howard, on host 207.69.140.32
Date: Thursday, May 27, 2004, at 07:21:11
In Reply To: Beach Boys posted by Lirelyn on Tuesday, May 25, 2004, at 11:17:00:

> Questions like "which is the best [insert group name here] song?" always give me trouble. I never know whether to answer based on the group's particular style or on a general standard of excellence. For example, on today's poll, I was waffling between picking what I considered the best Beach Boys song (i.e. the song which best exemplified the Beach Boys' style) or the best song by the Beach Boys (i.e. the song which I would be most likely to put on a "great songs" list). It's something like the comedy dilemma which, if my memory serves me well, Sam talks about somewhere on this site: when choosing the best comedies, one has to decide whether one is choosing the funniest movies or the best movies which happen to be comedies.
>
> Sometimes it doesn't make a difference: I'd say the best Leonard Cohen song is "Hallelujah" by either standard. With the Beach Boys, however, the distinction is notable. I selected "Sloop John B" based on the second standard; looking at the general poll spread, it looks like most people went with the first. Or at least chose the songs I would have chosen by the first standard. (I'd probably have picked "Good Vibrations").
>
> Of course, my favorite Beach Boys song wasn't on the list at all, but I'm not sure if I'd have picked it for the best in any case. "God Only Knows" is a terrific song and one of my all-time favorite love songs, but I don't think it's as artistically excellent as "Sloop John B" or as classic as "Good Vibrations." I try to weed personal attachments out of my assessment of bests.
>
> Lire"this is why my 'best of' lists always have at least four categories"lyn

I take a simpler view of polls.
The Beach Boys are "one of the new groups to me. I cut my teeth on 78 rpm Mills Brothers songs.

I was a little surprised to see that I am something of a Beach Boys fan, since I can hum just about all of those songs. I had some trouble picking a favorite, but I think of California Surfin' as their signature song, so I picked that. Fun Fun Fun is among my favorites as is California Girls.
Howard

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Message:	> > Questions like "which is the best [insert group name here] song?" always give me trouble. I never know whether to answer based on the group's particular style or on a general standard of excellence. For example, on today's poll, I was waffling between picking what I considered the best Beach Boys song (i.e. the song which best exemplified the Beach Boys' style) or the best song by the Beach Boys (i.e. the song which I would be most likely to put on a "great songs" list). It's something like the comedy dilemma which, if my memory serves me well, Sam talks about somewhere on this site: when choosing the best comedies, one has to decide whether one is choosing the funniest movies or the best movies which happen to be comedies. > > > > Sometimes it doesn't make a difference: I'd say the best Leonard Cohen song is "Hallelujah" by either standard. With the Beach Boys, however, the distinction is notable. I selected "Sloop John B" based on the second standard; looking at the general poll spread, it looks like most people went with the first. Or at least chose the songs I would have chosen by the first standard. (I'd probably have picked "Good Vibrations"). > > > > Of course, my favorite Beach Boys song wasn't on the list at all, but I'm not sure if I'd have picked it for the best in any case. "God Only Knows" is a terrific song and one of my all-time favorite love songs, but I don't think it's as artistically excellent as "Sloop John B" or as classic as "Good Vibrations." I try to weed personal attachments out of my assessment of bests. > > > > Lire"this is why my 'best of' lists always have at least four categories"lyn > > I take a simpler view of polls. > The Beach Boys are "one of the new groups to me. I cut my teeth on 78 rpm Mills Brothers songs. > > I was a little surprised to see that I am something of a Beach Boys fan, since I can hum just about all of those songs. I had some trouble picking a favorite, but I think of California Surfin' as their signature song, so I picked that. Fun Fun Fun is among my favorites as is California Girls. > Howard
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