This song, "Pretty Girl" by The John Michael Brown Band is the current #1 hit Beach Music song on the SOS Beach Music circuit for the second week in a row.
I thought it would be a interesting to use BIAB tools to analyze and deconstruct the construction of the music. I found the lyrics to be simple to analyze and a bit cliched. To me, this normal for the regional beach music genre. Most of the local bands strive to record original songs that 'sound like' and copy previous beach music songs.
This song has held off the #2 song, a cover of "Unchain My Heart" as well as #3, a song penned especially for Marsha Morgan by established hit song writer, Eddie Floyd, "Waste of Time". Eddie wrote/co wrote "California Girl," "Knock On Wood," "Bring It On Home to Me and many more.
I have attached BIAB sgu chord chart photos as well as one showing how I use the Stylepicker to audition styles over the audio.
I initially download the song using audacity and the process that audio through the Audio Chord Wizard to determine the key signature, tempo and chords.
You can see it is a very simple structure and chords backing simple lyrics and vocal harmonies.
The song was fun to hear, Charlie. I was not sure what "Beach Music" might be. It (this, at least) harkens back to late '60s AM hit radio or early '70s bubblegum sound. It is ear candy.
Were you able to find a BIAB style to approximate the sound? Are you writing one for our listening pleasure?
Though the lyrics are, as you say, very cliché, they are just what this song needs. Anything more "meaty" would "get in the way" of the casual fun of the song...
The song was fun to hear, Charlie. I was not sure what "Beach Music" might be. It (this, at least) harkens back to late '60s AM hit radio or early '70s bubblegum sound. It is ear candy.
Were you able to find a BIAB style to approximate the sound? Are you writing one for our listening pleasure?
Though the lyrics are, as you say, very cliché, they are just what this song needs. Anything more "meaty" would "get in the way" of the casual fun of the song...
(it is still looping in my head...)
Beach music is quite unique and diverse music. NC/SC beach music is now under the auspices of the SOS and The Carolina Beach Music Awards (CBMA) organization that awards the CAMMY.
There is also a tightly connected group of Beach Bands that have a strangle hold on Beach Music airplay. Regional 'super' groups from the 1960's group The Embers have splintered into various sound alikes each fronted by a former Embers member. They write material for each other, record with each other and perform together in festivals. These bands average around 7-11 members and are more horn and keyboard instrumentation than guitars. It's not unusual to see a 9 piece band with only one guitar.
Beach music is mostly based on 4/4 blues shuffle styles so there are many suitable BIAB styles. Vocally, the sound depends a lot on backing vocals - the Beach style evolved from groups such as the Temptations, Tams, Drifters, and Coasters. One singer/songwriter,General Johnson recorded the song 39-21-40 shape with three different groups and two, the Showmen and Chairmen of the Board charted nationally. He is the lead singer, so they sound nearly identical.
The North Myrtle Beach, radio station is a Beach Music Format and you can receive it via streaming. It is controlled by the local beach band conglomerate and their music is to write and record songs that 'sound' like beach music is supposed to sound. They also play very obscure jazz and blues stuff. Oddly, you will hear a song that sounds right out of 1954 and it's some local release cut in 2016 in a home studio and meant to sound like a beach song.
Here is a link to their streaming site: 94.9 The Surf
Floyd, if you check out the station, listen for songs by Rick Strickland. He does all original stuff, not necessarily beach music but is probably the biggest act outside of the beach band conglomerate. He is a good songwriter, performer and producer.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
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Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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