Even though "Still Cruisin" and, ahem, the monstrosity "...paradise" that followed were pretty awful, "Somewhere near Japan" is a pretty decent track. Although having Carl Wilson on any song gives it a fighting chance!
Brian did show up in the 80's and did a great job on this song, Still Cruising, California Dreaming, Getcha Back ,etc. Cannot wait for the reunion tour!
this song was for one of those mel gibson danny glover movies damn name escapes me. I personally see no problem with Summer in Paradise album except John Stamos singing Forever.
@denniswilsonfan Not this song, but from the same album... Still Cruisin was featured in Lethal Weapon 2 (Mel Gibson and Patsy lensit love scene...Mel's character had been out of the woman scene for a while...he was getting back in the saddle...as it were). I'm a Dennis Wilson fan too, but I thought Stamos did a good job with Forever..not better than the original, but not worse...just different.
This is one of the last attempts to be creative from my favorite band. It is truly sad that the only new product after "Still Crusin'" is "Summer in Paradise" or as I call it 'Slumber in Paradise" because that cd will put you to sleep.
@cujocujocujocujocujo Apparently it's about John Philips daughters honeymoon and her substance abuse. Supposedly when the money and drugs ran out she phoned her dad asking for money and when he asked where she was she said "Somewhere Near Japan".
actually it didnt even chart...it was released as a single in January 1990 and failed to chart at all. In my opinion its a damn shame too seeing as its a great song.
My God radio should be BITCH SLAPPED for not playing this record... It's sOOOOOOOO much better than Kokocrap. Wonderfully written lyrics and just a stellar singing performance from mike and carl. The metaphors in this song are just too cool......
@relimes No it wasn't. Carl sang on a bunch of other songs on their 1992 album "Summer In Paradise". Carl had a great voice as did all of them. R.I.P. Carl!!!
@thepen10 the last record of Carl (as well as Al & Brian with the band) was backing vocals in "Fun, Fun, Fun" with Status Quo. It was 1996. Earlier that year BB had their last album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
@thepen10 the last record of Carl (as well as Al & Brian with the band) was backing vocals in "Fun, Fun, Fun" with Status Quo. It was 1996. Earlier that year BB had their last album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
@Clevelandbrowns58 : Did I ever say the bearded man isn't Carl? Both Carl and Brian and Brian are featured in the video. For example on 0:46: Carl (right) and Brian (left).
from the album of the same name. one of my favorites they ever did.. they still kick ass. i grew up on this stuff... and i'm 24. thanks mom and and dad!
I just noticed that everybody takes a solo in this song. The Beach Boys used their voices like an orchestra uses instruments. They were able to do this because all of them could really sing. Even Al, always overlooked and underrated, gets a really nice solo.
"still cruisin" was the first tape I owned when I was 3, and this was my favorite song, I wore the little green tape out! I have the privilege of seeing them (even if there is only one original left) in may. This brings so many memories back!
True story here: John Philip's daughter, McKensie, phoned him during a, ah, difficult period in her life, so he asked her "Where are you?", she says, "Somewhere near Japan"..
I love this song, it brings me to a world of fantasy and wonder, rescue me! I love everything about the Beach Boys, they take me to a place of happiness, no matter what age. Timeless!
I had the pleasure to see the Beach Boys in 1964,1965,early 1980's,1992, and 2007!
Each time they were fantastic! In 1965, Glenn Campbell was filling in. No matter who, they were the best. They are the only group I would pay money to see at a concert!
this is for sure one of the better BB songs from the 80s. Too bad Dennis was gone and Mike pushed Brian aside by this point. They may have been able to balance Mikes cheese a bit more.
Mike didn't push Brian aside. Gene Landy was in control,and he called the shots. Sometimes he made over the top demands to the Beach Boys to have Brian involved. In fact, Brian is not on this record, and is patched in the video. He wasn't even there for the filming of this!! I'm not defending Mike in any way, other than to say there was too many other things involved then and now, which keep the two of them from writing together again. I would guess Brian would rather not though.
Wow, great video, especially compared to some of the later clips from Summer in Paradise, etc. I think this is one of the ones where Brian makes an appearance in the video but didn't really have a part in the song recording. But he looks pretty good in the few frames where you can see him.
I can very clearly hear Brian on the opening of "Island Girl," and he sings lead on "In My Car" as well as doing all the BB vocals (so I've heard) for the "Wipe Out" remake. Why he wasn't involved in the other songs isn't clear aside from his solo career, but I'd imagine he didn't want to be involved any more than Mike wanted him to. That having been said, this is a pretty good song.
Isn't it funny? The Beach Boys are one of the most cherished bands in the world, but still they are, as you said, very underrated. Many people don't take them serious.
Even though "Still Cruisin" and, ahem, the monstrosity "...paradise" that followed were pretty awful, "Somewhere near Japan" is a pretty decent track. Although having Carl Wilson on any song gives it a fighting chance!
oldstuff 2 weeks ago
Brian did show up in the 80's and did a great job on this song, Still Cruising, California Dreaming, Getcha Back ,etc. Cannot wait for the reunion tour!
edwindonaldsnider 2 months ago
I have this 45 . Great tune from Still Cruisin '
CuyahogaMustang 3 months ago
What type of guitars are used in this song? What a wonderful sound they have together.
eyeneed6969 4 months ago
This it is a song about some one dies in a plane crash not a thing else a
SuperVarulven 4 months ago
oneof the greatest lps i own.
gailmckennag 5 months ago
I do would like to know the whole background story but it is the best song in all styles ever made aaaaa
it has saved my life when am depressed aaaaaa.
SuperVarulven 6 months ago
This is cool
coolsweetgroovy 7 months ago
I take the boys over the beatles...don't care what anyone says...
kennyscotten 8 months ago
1:25 Gave me chills, for some reason...
WhirlWindProdigy 10 months ago
I'm glad I'm not somewhere near Japan today!
JMD477 11 months ago
Everybody gets to put a foot wrong sometime, but this song (and especially the video) surely has to be an all-time low point .
AgenteDeMousse 11 months ago
this song was for one of those mel gibson danny glover movies damn name escapes me. I personally see no problem with Summer in Paradise album except John Stamos singing Forever.
denniswilsonfan 1 year ago
@denniswilsonfan Not this song, but from the same album... Still Cruisin was featured in Lethal Weapon 2 (Mel Gibson and Patsy lensit love scene...Mel's character had been out of the woman scene for a while...he was getting back in the saddle...as it were). I'm a Dennis Wilson fan too, but I thought Stamos did a good job with Forever..not better than the original, but not worse...just different.
tsrla 10 months ago
Carl's had a Angel voice. Thumbs up if you think the same thing
Javier23gol 1 year ago 3
Better than The Beatles
Javier23gol 1 year ago
who play snare and bass-drums in this MV.
don't tell me it's John Stamos.
Sansana 1 year ago
This is one of the last attempts to be creative from my favorite band. It is truly sad that the only new product after "Still Crusin'" is "Summer in Paradise" or as I call it 'Slumber in Paradise" because that cd will put you to sleep.
MIKELIN8 1 year ago
What it is this lyrics about a areally?
cujocujocujocujocujo 1 year ago
@cujocujocujocujocujo Apparently it's about John Philips daughters honeymoon and her substance abuse. Supposedly when the money and drugs ran out she phoned her dad asking for money and when he asked where she was she said "Somewhere Near Japan".
boyders16 10 months ago
@boyders16 michelle or bijou??
TheFilthyRags 5 months ago
The last Beachboys Hit?
Clevelandbrowns58 1 year ago
@Clevelandbrowns58
actually it didnt even chart...it was released as a single in January 1990 and failed to chart at all. In my opinion its a damn shame too seeing as its a great song.
offspringfan41588 1 year ago
AWESOME SONG THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MADE
INTO A MOVIE
jocksmen 1 year ago
I've been listening to this song for twenty years and never knew there was a video, love it!
Whaddavideo 1 year ago
fuck it second comment, i fukin love this tune
BeanDentist 1 year ago
My God radio should be BITCH SLAPPED for not playing this record... It's sOOOOOOOO much better than Kokocrap. Wonderfully written lyrics and just a stellar singing performance from mike and carl. The metaphors in this song are just too cool......
Metrobilbao 1 year ago 2
We miss you Carl!!
Katlovr35 1 year ago
those were the days. Between 86 and 91 they recorded many songs. Lets hope they put it out on a cd one of these days for the fans
jeroen1 1 year ago
@jeroen1 But this song was from their album Still Crusin'
Javier23gol 1 year ago
have to say im not a fan of late beach boys, but this song is too epic
BeanDentist 1 year ago
The Beach Boys were excellent!
durbaniter 1 year ago
GREAT song.
iowa61 1 year ago
yes that's brian! he had a few solo songs on the album too... i miss this song
i bet he's gonna do some stuff with mike, al and bruce now!
unclejohnthezef 1 year ago
Yet another BB single ignored by commercial radio for not FITTING THE MOLD
Metrobilbao 1 year ago
The girl is qute who is she ?
cujocujocujocujocujo 1 year ago
The last great Beach Boys song ?
barney906 1 year ago
Carl looks like Bob Vila in this video, lol!
relimes 2 years ago
1:09 and the funny thing is....this song WAS Carl's last.
relimes 2 years ago
@relimes No it wasn't. Carl sang on a bunch of other songs on their 1992 album "Summer In Paradise". Carl had a great voice as did all of them. R.I.P. Carl!!!
thepen10 2 years ago
@thepen10 the last record of Carl (as well as Al & Brian with the band) was backing vocals in "Fun, Fun, Fun" with Status Quo. It was 1996. Earlier that year BB had their last album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
przemekgrabowski 1 year ago
@thepen10 the last record of Carl (as well as Al & Brian with the band) was backing vocals in "Fun, Fun, Fun" with Status Quo. It was 1996. Earlier that year BB had their last album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
przemekgrabowski 1 year ago
Is that Brian i see in the video?
relimes 2 years ago
@relimes
yes, that's Brian
HollandSmile 2 years ago
@HollandSmile
The man with the beard is Carl!
Clevelandbrowns58 11 months ago
@HollandSmile
The man with the beard is Carl!
Clevelandbrowns58 11 months ago
@HollandSmile no that's definitiv Carl (man with the beard)
Clevelandbrowns58 7 months ago
@Clevelandbrowns58 : Did I ever say the bearded man isn't Carl? Both Carl and Brian and Brian are featured in the video. For example on 0:46: Carl (right) and Brian (left).
HollandSmile 7 months ago
@HollandSmile that's not brian, that's bruce johnson...
Clevelandbrowns58 7 months ago
@Clevelandbrowns58 : ehm nope, Bruce pops up a few seconds later, 0:50-0:52.
HollandSmile 6 months ago
@Clevelandbrowns58 C'mon guys. All five are in the video - Mike, Carl, Brian, Bruce and Al.
darrenjray 4 months ago
What year was this?
relimes 2 years ago
1989
HollandSmile 2 years ago
Fucking awesome! Brian is in this one!
relimes 2 years ago 2
Great tune, this would sound fresh even released today
pav777tube 2 years ago 2
Comment removed
hantonjavi 2 years ago
I agree,the greatest band,after them king crimson and cocteau twins
hantonjavi 2 years ago
The Beach Boys: the BEST band ever!!!
thegallantpig 2 years ago 7
cool i love the beachboys
Clevelandbrowns58 2 years ago 2
from the album of the same name. one of my favorites they ever did.. they still kick ass. i grew up on this stuff... and i'm 24. thanks mom and and dad!
LAIDBACKMANNER 2 years ago 2
wrong... it was from the album "Still Cruisin'".
nightcat3549 2 years ago 2
I just noticed that everybody takes a solo in this song. The Beach Boys used their voices like an orchestra uses instruments. They were able to do this because all of them could really sing. Even Al, always overlooked and underrated, gets a really nice solo.
caraphyllis 2 years ago 2
What a pretty song. And Carl sounds great, as usual.
caraphyllis 2 years ago
it s so sad to see carl......the heart and the voice of an angel...... we miss ya carl!
although carl and dennis are gone......the beach boys will live 4ever!
californiantbird 2 years ago 6
@californiantbird Their music will forever have a huge impact on the world
yogabbagabba1210 4 months ago
A wonderfull remix single, Does anybody know how to get this version as opposed to the album mix. By the way thanks for the video.
1138alan 2 years ago
some songs just have the power to soothe me and this is one of them. thank you to the BB for this gem and thank you for posting it.
eydie57 2 years ago 3
Hey folks... Tell me... Is there something better than this?
alexanderanthony 2 years ago
I humbly invite you to check out my version of this song onmy CD, "Diamonds On the Beach" by John Hunter Phillips
BeachBoysGuy1 2 years ago
I love this video. I also covered this tune on my first Cd, "Diamonds On the Beach"
John Hunter Phillips
BeachBoysGuy1 2 years ago
"still cruisin" was the first tape I owned when I was 3, and this was my favorite song, I wore the little green tape out! I have the privilege of seeing them (even if there is only one original left) in may. This brings so many memories back!
LilyThorn 2 years ago 2
Yes, I saw them in concert about 10 years ago. It was one of the things I wanted to do, before I die.
Trance1972 2 years ago
True story here: John Philip's daughter, McKensie, phoned him during a, ah, difficult period in her life, so he asked her "Where are you?", she says, "Somewhere near Japan"..
stigletto 3 years ago
I love this song, it brings me to a world of fantasy and wonder, rescue me! I love everything about the Beach Boys, they take me to a place of happiness, no matter what age. Timeless!
surfchickwolf 3 years ago 4
Cheesy and soulless. Mike Love ruined the Beach Boys.
nacklesthewog 3 years ago
Mike Love may have "ruined" the Beach Boys, but this is still a great song, well-performed. Not a Mike Love fan myself, but don't trash a good song!
RustyCat666 2 years ago
I've been there. Somewhere in the Land of the Rising Sun. great song. Brings back memories.
johnalex40 3 years ago
I had the pleasure to see the Beach Boys in 1964,1965,early 1980's,1992, and 2007!
Each time they were fantastic! In 1965, Glenn Campbell was filling in. No matter who, they were the best. They are the only group I would pay money to see at a concert!
Their music will be around forever.
joethebumbler 3 years ago 2
It must have been weird for Brian, he wasnt on the record, so he had to mime a harmony, that obviously, wasnt there
bobssweetinsanity 3 years ago
The line is "I think this call is probably my last"
kwing1111 3 years ago
Anyone know for sure what the line is after 'I think I'm sinking fast' ?
Sounds like 'this call is probably masked'
but I've never been sure...
Thanks
CycolacFan 3 years ago
No, that's a different song, that song (this call is probably masked) is about calling in fake bomb threats to get out of school.
This song says, I think I'm sinking fast.
gulavel 3 years ago
They are the most underated band of allaaaaa,
cujocujocujocujocujo 3 years ago
Beach Boys were so under-rated.
This song is excellent.
Carl Wilson was the most wonderful singer and person.
I love them all.
zebratangozebra 3 years ago 13
mike love is so cheesy but this is a solid tune. Carl and Bruce have some solid harmonies..Nice lyrics too. Big ups to John Phillips.
fringecamp 3 years ago
This is one of my favorite Beach Boys songs! I fell in love with it the first time I heard it!
bloofan06 3 years ago
God Carl Wilson on this one...man what a voice
kennyscotten 3 years ago 4
Still Cruisin album was my favorite, though I love little deuce coupe, I get Around ect. This one's so different man, awesome
kennyscotten 3 years ago
A truly fantastic tune...one of the all time great tunes and sadly not given enough credit for what it's worth!
LoneDerangerer 3 years ago
this is for sure one of the better BB songs from the 80s. Too bad Dennis was gone and Mike pushed Brian aside by this point. They may have been able to balance Mikes cheese a bit more.
kentatm 3 years ago
Mike didn't push Brian aside. Gene Landy was in control,and he called the shots. Sometimes he made over the top demands to the Beach Boys to have Brian involved. In fact, Brian is not on this record, and is patched in the video. He wasn't even there for the filming of this!! I'm not defending Mike in any way, other than to say there was too many other things involved then and now, which keep the two of them from writing together again. I would guess Brian would rather not though.
DamGreek 2 years ago
What an exotic and memorable song. I have always wondered about the full meaning of the song.
equesfuscus 3 years ago
As I recall (and I could be misrecalling), Brian based it around a bedtime story that Papa John Phillips told his daughter.
tsbrand1 3 years ago
As I recall, it is about Mackenzie Phillips disappearing on a drug bender and calling her dad (Papa John Phillips - who co-wrote this) for help.
musicisinmysoul 3 years ago
As catchy a BB song as you will hear
peeterpoon 4 years ago
My favorite Beach Boys song. Their earlier songs were far before my time, but I grew up listening to "Still Cruisin'"
korn4life87 4 years ago
Wow, great video, especially compared to some of the later clips from Summer in Paradise, etc. I think this is one of the ones where Brian makes an appearance in the video but didn't really have a part in the song recording. But he looks pretty good in the few frames where you can see him.
smichaels84 4 years ago
God, how I miss Carl!
beachwaster 4 years ago 2
Was that Brian I saw? Thought Mike bragged this and other songs on "Still Cruisin'" were Brian-free.
This has been a HUGE favorite of mine since the first time I heard it. Love Brian as much as anyone, but this one's just fantastic!
Version of song doesn't sound like the one on the album: was this recorded separately as a single?
THANKS FOR UPLOADING IT!
RustyCat666 4 years ago
I can very clearly hear Brian on the opening of "Island Girl," and he sings lead on "In My Car" as well as doing all the BB vocals (so I've heard) for the "Wipe Out" remake. Why he wasn't involved in the other songs isn't clear aside from his solo career, but I'd imagine he didn't want to be involved any more than Mike wanted him to. That having been said, this is a pretty good song.
thefonz003 3 years ago
I don't know this song someone using this in tribute kinda like it..
Shanviv 5 years ago
These guys are without a doubt the most underrated groups ever in rock and roll.Great song but no one noticed
mikeatcapo 5 years ago
Isn't it funny? The Beach Boys are one of the most cherished bands in the world, but still they are, as you said, very underrated. Many people don't take them serious.
mahkindofmusic 4 years ago
one of my favorite songs
enpowered 5 years ago