The Thread to Ruminate About Mike Love's Rape Van

[Dr. Medulla]

Deep down, Mike wants to be a muzak performer. Just strip away anything that's "weird" and leave the core of what he thinks people want—inoffensive sounds that don't angry up the chi.

I think it’s also a Gene Simmons case of he’s a businessman first and foremost. He’s looking for sales, and he decided almost 50 years ago that the way to sales is anodyne feel good songs that he’s frankly too out of touch to make well, and has been for almost the same amount of time. He accidentally struck gold one last time during the nostalgic and retrograde late 80s (one of the many nadir points in mainstream popular music) and that’s that.

His life credo was defined when he supposedly told Brian after Pet Sounds flopped commercially, "Don't fuck with the formula." And then he failed at that by making it increasingly slicker than owl shit.

[WestwayKid]

Deep down, Mike wants to be a muzak performer. Just strip away anything that's "weird" and leave the core of what he thinks people want—inoffensive sounds that don't angry up the chi.

I think it’s also a Gene Simmons case of he’s a businessman first and foremost. He’s looking for sales, and he decided almost 50 years ago that the way to sales is anodyne feel good songs that he’s frankly too out of touch to make well, and has been for almost the same amount of time. He accidentally struck gold one last time during the nostalgic and retrograde late 80s (one of the many nadir points in mainstream popular music) and that’s that.

His life credo was defined when he supposedly told Brian after Pet Sounds flopped commercially, "Don't fuck with the formula." And then he failed at that by making it increasingly slicker than owl shit.

Which makes his Student Demonstration Time track off of Surf's Up all the more awkward.

[WestwayKid]

It’s very depressing to realize that in the very early days of The Beach Boys, Mike was the one who went to the more integrated high school and was the one who actually listened to R&B when most of the other ones were either folkies like Al or into toothless but technically skilled harmony groups like the Four Freshmen. He was arguably the coolest one for a few months!

Great point.

[WestwayKid]

Get ready to CRINGE!!

[Dr. Medulla]

Get ready to CRINGE!!

"Say, Mike, you ever think about doing a jerk-off song?"
*the creepiest of rape van grins*

[WestwayKid]

One of the greatest Mike stories was when he was "addicted" to apple juice. He would apparently carry a 2 gallon jug around with him everywhere he went. Becoming increasingly unstable, he ended up in a doctor's office. The doctor decided to give him a sedative, but Mike flipped out, fled, and led promoter Fred Vail (who had taken him to the appointment) on a low speed chase through LA.

He's one screwy dude. That said, I'll be legit sad when Mike dies. Love him or hate him, he's a core member of America's Band.

[WestwayKid]

Get ready to CRINGE!!

"Say, Mike, you ever think about doing a jerk-off song?"
*the creepiest of rape van grins*

The satin jacket speaks volumes.

[WestwayKid]

This is also a great Mike Love Rape Van lyric:

“The other night, they were playin’ our song / Hadn’t heard it in is so long / Took me back, darlin’ to that time in my car / When you cried all night because we’d gone too far ...”

[Dr. Medulla]

This is also a great Mike Love Rape Van lyric:

“The other night, they were playin’ our song / Hadn’t heard it in is so long / Took me back, darlin’ to that time in my car / When you cried all night because we’d gone too far ...”

So, what inspires Mike's boner? That song? Being with his darlin'? The memory of her trauma at being coerced into sex?

[WestwayKid]

This is also a great Mike Love Rape Van lyric:

“The other night, they were playin’ our song / Hadn’t heard it in is so long / Took me back, darlin’ to that time in my car / When you cried all night because we’d gone too far ...”

So, what inspires Mike's boner? That song? Being with his darlin'? The memory of her trauma at being coerced into sex?

I think the line should be changed to "When you cried all night because I'd gone too far..."

[matedog]

Mike even loves to antagonize the 'dog.

[Flex]

This is also a great Mike Love Rape Van lyric:

“The other night, they were playin’ our song / Hadn’t heard it in is so long / Took me back, darlin’ to that time in my car / When you cried all night because we’d gone too far ...”

I don't know if I'd ever truly contemplated those lines until seeing it written out just now. So much yikes.

[Flex]

He's one screwy dude. That said, I'll be legit sad when Mike dies. Love him or hate him, he's a core member of America's Band.

Oh god yeah, I'm gonna be devastated.

A bit past the discussion now, but the thing with Carl isn't that he was cool - it's that he seemed like a genuinely sweet guy, had a great voice, and approached the band with sincerity - those elements often worked to produce favorable results, but he they were all the blind leading the blind (except maybe for Dennis) whenever they tried to be cool.

[matedog]

This is also a great Mike Love Rape Van lyric:

“The other night, they were playin’ our song / Hadn’t heard it in is so long / Took me back, darlin’ to that time in my car / When you cried all night because we’d gone too far ...”

I don't know if I'd ever truly contemplated those lines until seeing it written out just now. So much yikes.

Ahem, I indirectly discussed those lines in my review yesterday.

[Dr. Medulla]

This is also a great Mike Love Rape Van lyric:

“The other night, they were playin’ our song / Hadn’t heard it in is so long / Took me back, darlin’ to that time in my car / When you cried all night because we’d gone too far ...”

I don't know if I'd ever truly contemplated those lines until seeing it written out just now. So much yikes.

Ahem, I indirectly discussed those lines in my review yesterday.