Songs that make grown men cry

[cuthbert]

This one's been getting to me at one level or another over the past ten years:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tPs5f3kkFY

This is just a live demo of the song from 1966 - there are actually more complete versions out there (including on youtube), if you care to search for them.

Apart from being a strikingly beautiful song, it was the centerpiece of the great lost 'SMiLE' album, which was not completed and remained unheard except for a few cannibalized songs that appeared on later Beach Boys albums and the occasional rare bootleg (until a completely new recording of 'SMiLE' with new players a few years ago) A few tracks were released in their box set, but the original album (admittedly unfinished) remains unreleased to this day.

It's been said that Paul McCartney considered The Beach Boys to be The Beatles main competitors, and that 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' was started after McCartney had heard part of what Brian Wilson was working on with 'SMiLE'.

What was lost when Brian Wilson underwent his exhaustion/nervous breakdown back in 1967...that's what I find truly heartbreaking.

EDIT: Updated with a hopefully longer-lasting link (the last was shut down by THE MAN).

[Gritter]

Great one Joe...I'm a fan too. I think you and I could probably sit down together and enjoy each other's record collections for hours on end.

[Greeny]

That's a great post, Cuthbert! I've never heard Surf's Up in this format. It's amazing - so fragile. Brian Wilson is one of my biggest songwriting heroes. He wasn't great with lyrics, but musically and arrangement-wise there's nobody to touch him. I've listened and listened to what he does, and it's sheer natural genius; not something you can copy or achieve yourself.

I spent a while trying to piece together all the missing (original) pieces of Smile that I could find: it wasn't just me, there were lots of people out there with the same aim. And then he re-did it himself a few years ago. The new version is very good, but you have to wonder what it would have been like when he was at his peak.

This is a song that makes me want to cy from aural pleasure because it's so damn good. Gets me every time... Sail on Sailor...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdrN89Vxu6I

[Gritter]

While we are on the subject of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys...I was listening to Pet Sounds over breakfast with my daughter this morning...sobbing in my Frosted Flakes.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA12dW84PAo

[Gritter]

This one's got to be here...not always tears but definitely chills.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgy1VGA2BE8

[Gritter]

Okay...the last one(s) for a while...I need to cheer the f*#k up!


I think the video is meant as somewhat of a spiritual awakening. This was written for Richard Manuel, Robbie's former Band band-mate who took his own life. With Peter Gabriel adding the chill factor on vox.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MGXnMLESEA



This is just about the most devastatingly emotional vocal performance ever recorded. The Band featuring Richard Manuel and Rick Danko on vocals.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKnPYcsf508

[OsCKilO]

Just listened to brian wilson. . . His lyrics weren't bad . . . The were memorable! 

thats what you want in a song!

People lamenting your deepest thought.

Over and over!

Aphorism. . . . Wicked cool!

First time i really listened. . . 

wife likes his stuff. .

I don't like the actual music though. . . .but love the lyrics!

Messed up!  i'm all confused. . . 

[Gritter]

Just listened to brian wilson. . . His lyrics weren't bad . . . The were memorable!  

thats what you want in a song!

People lamenting your deepest thought.

Over and over!

Aphorism. . . . Wicked cool!

First time i really listened. . .  

wife likes his stuff. .

I don't like the actual music though. . . .but love the lyrics!

Messed up!  i'm all confused. . .  

He had songwriting partners who wrote a lot of the lyrics.

[SdC]

Gritter; agreed on The Band....

There's also Kate Bush, and this song in particular:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJMAIA4ozKs

[launched]

I'm glad the Beach Boys subject was brought up. I was never a real fan until about 15 years ago, and never knew why. As a kid I'd hear dumb ditties like the back to class song or whatever it's called, and freaking "Kokomo". W to the T to the F...

Then I realized it was Mike Love that destroyed everything after Brian Wilson's withdrawal. That pidjyna was death to the camp, really.

This video explains it all 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18Ua3pPr2gY