Contrastography: Brian Wilson vs. Dr. Dre
Contrastography compares the histories of two famous entities to display some unusual coincidences.
Brian Wilson (of The Beach Boys):
Created the dominant California musical sound of the ’60s with songs about cars and girls.
Dr. Dre (of N.W.A and Death Row Records):
Created the dominant California musical sound of the ’90s with songs about cars and girls. And weed.
BW: Co-wrote number #1 hit “California Girls” with Mike Love.
DD: Co-wrote number #1 hit “California Love,” with girls on the mic.
BW: Sleazy ex-manager portrayed by Paul Giamatti in 2015 biopic “Love & Mercy.”
DD: Sleazy ex-manager portrayed by Paul Giamatti in 2015 biopic “Straight Outta Compton.” (Paul Giamatti found his niche!)
BW: Deaf in one ear, resulting in him mixing his albums in mono.
DD: Def in both ears, resulting in him starting a headphone company.
BW: Recorded albums with members of The Wrecking Crew, a world-class assemblage of Los Angeles studio musicians.
DD: Recorded albums as a member of World Class Wreckin’ Cru, a Los Angeles assemblage of DJs. And sequins.
BW: Famously didn’t finish The Beach Boys album Smile, but eventually issued it decades later as a solo album.
DD: Famously didn’t finish his album Detox, but eventually issued it a decade later as a pair of headphones.
BW: During the Beach Boys’ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, his lead vocalist got on the mic and started numerous beefs with industry veterans in a furious tirade of gangsta sh*t.
DD: During N.W.A.’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, his lead vocalist got on the mic and started complimenting industry veterans in a genteel monologue of passionate humility. (I did not see that coming.)
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I, San Francisco-native Mark Montgomery French, am an award-winning film composer with the group Spiky Blimp, an award-winning Creative Director with 20+ years of presentation experience, and a music culture writer noted for Uppity Music — Your Guide to Unsung Black Departure Albums, the series 28 Days, 28 Black Music Documentaries., and the music talk All Your Favorite Music is (Probably) Black. I was formerly the co-leader of the ’90s progressive funk band Endangered Species.
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