Monday, January 09, 2006

god only knows

Soundtrack: The Beach Boys 25 Years Together


I'm off work sick today. I was going to the hospital for a follow-up, but normal, check-up. I called the hospital on Friday to ask a simple question and was told I would have to have minor surgery. Thankfully, they decided not to give me surgery today on account of me being a wimp, so now I have to make another appointment (no doubt waiting another 3months) and they're going to do it under general anaesthetic instead. I still had done what I originally went in for, so I'm sat here on the sofa under a duvet. Thom took the day off to look after me, and has treated me to Krispy Kreme(s) (we went when the light was on so got 2 free!), pizza and "The Beach Boys 25 Years Together" on DVD. Really, there is no better way to recuperate than this DVD.


The gig, filmed in Waikiki, was to celebrate The Beach Boys' 25th Anniversary. Filmed in Waikiki, because it's home of the surf, innit? This is regardless of the fact that Dennis 'the dead one' Wilson was the only surfer in the band, but anyway. Do you like tenuous links? Then this is the DVD for you.

Ah, but I can tell you're not convinced... I don't know about you, but when I buy a live DVD, I want:

Topless middle-aged men with only a lei to cover their modesty: Check
'Beautiful' 80s babes in illuminous bikinis: check
Poodle perms (men and women): check
Audience members with a parrot on their arm: check
Such luminaries as Gloria Loring, Jeffrey Osbourne, Three Dog Night (well, two of 'em), Patrick Duffy and the hilarious Joe Piscopo doing a Bruce Springsteen impression: check
Belinda Carlisle, described by Thom as 'wrapped in a snail': check
Proof that cameltoes existed in the 80s: you got it

FACT: There were no beautiful girls in the 80s


Yes, this DVD really was the best medicine. And if all that wasn't enough, you had the onstage rapport. The Beach Boys took turns, line by line, to interact with the audience. The fact that you could see Brian's eyes move from side to side doesn't mean he was reading an autocue, does it? Give over, it was all said with feeling. I particularly liked Brian's tribute to his dear brother Dennis: "We love you man, and we. Want you to know. That you'll be with us wherever. We go."

5 comments:

  1. Your description of the DVD is amusing, but makes me want to cry! =(

    Thank goodness it's not the 80's anymore!

    ReplyDelete
  2. did patrick duffy appear as scuzzlebutt's leg?

    crap, i can't post a picture. well here's the link. this is work-safe and approved by me.

    http://www.leelefever.com/archives/scuzzlebutt.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  3. oh yeah, and the comment about brian reading the teleprompter reminds me of that genesis video from the late 80s. it has a bob hope puppet reading cue cards:
    i. gotta. tell. ya.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I wish that was how Patrick Duffy looked. But imagine, if you will, TIGHT shorts. Picture that it was the 80s. And imagine TIGHT shorts again.

    *shudder*

    ReplyDelete
  5. That DVD sounds quite special :-) To echo Matt, I'm really glad it's not the 80s any more, party for the reasons you highlighted, did people really think they looked attractive like that?!

    I remember a friend at school having a little wet-look perm on top, shaved around the sides but with a little rat's tail down the back which he bleached... Wrong in any decade!

    ReplyDelete