Coulda Shoulda Woulda Been Great

[drew garabo]

I was listening to Ill Communication on my way to work this morning, and I realized two things: 1. B-Boys Makin' With the Freak-Freak is quite possibly one of the most underrated and unheralded Beastie Boys songs, and 2. Get it Together should have been the greatest song ever.

You've got Mario C. on production, Adam, Mike, and Adam bringing their A-Game, and freaking Q-TIP busting a cameo. Yet somehow, the song never ascends to the level it should. Why? I think A Tribe Called Quest might be the best pure hip-hop group ever...but Tip let me down on this track. I think I remember reading that he was "lifted" when he performed on the track...but even being under the influence of copious amounts of drugs and alcohol couldn't excuse the line "I got the pineapple green Now 'N Laters, listen to me now don't listen to me later."

Are there any other Beasties songs in which you see or hear massive potential, yet the song just didn't quite do it for you? Do you agree with me about "Get it Together"? Am I a hater? Yo, I know I didn't make a funky rhyme for real but yo technically...I'm as hard as steel. Ma Bell.

[buddmonkey]

I agree with you about BBoys makin with tha freak freak.... I allso think "Do It" is another one that does it for me every time, but doesnt seem to get what it desreves....

[Kid Presentable]

Get it Together is the shit, and has been embraced by Beastie fans, hip-hop fans and DJ's alike. Easily one of their best beats and performances. So I think it's done fine.

Electrify is criminally slept on, by the group themselves at least.

[kleptomaniac]

1. B-Boys Makin' With the Freak-Freak is quite possibly one of the most underrated and unheralded Beastie Boys songs, and 2. Get it Together should have been the greatest song ever.

i got all the love in the world for 'em, and ill communication as a WHOLE it's just got that sound you don't hear anywhere else but with the beasties ;)

i try not to think about the coulda shoulda woulda...but the was, is, and will always be....the greatest. yup.

some songs don't really get the recognition they deserve, but it only makes it more special, untouchable in a way i guess. that's my two cents.

[b i o n i c]

i heard them say that mike put his track on and they made it up on the spot - there probably wasnt a whole lot of thought going into it and at the same time it captures a feeling that im not sure wouldve been all too enhanced by more thoughful lyrics. i do know what you mean and that does apply to me for other songs. there are a bunch of times where horovitz rhymes on conjunctions "and if you ask me turn up the bass and if ya play defender i can be yer hyperspace" is the first example that comes to mind. BUT i like how it was done on 'right here right now' where the "and's" are stylized or melodified (thats not a real word i know): "im a funky ass jew when im on my way and i got to say fuck the k-k-k and oh yeah hey, how about today..." the second 'and' sounds interesting to me for some reason, like its a different note on a chord from the first one. i dunno headphones bring shit like that out.

[Justin]

yes!

Flute Loop
Putting Shame in your Game
Live at Pj's



along with a host of them from pauls boutique

[Justin]

commercially...

Open Letter to NYC

[Kid Presentable]

I was listening to Ill Communication on my way to work this morning, and I realized two things: 1. B-Boys Makin' With the Freak-Freak is quite possibly one of the most underrated and unheralded Beastie Boys songs, and 2. Get it Together should have been the greatest song ever.

You've got Mario C. on production, Adam, Mike, and Adam bringing their A-Game, and freaking Q-TIP busting a cameo. Yet somehow, the song never ascends to the level it should. Why? I think A Tribe Called Quest might be the best pure hip-hop group ever...but Tip let me down on this track. I think I remember reading that he was "lifted" when he performed on the track...but even being under the influence of copious amounts of drugs and alcohol couldn't excuse the line "I got the pineapple green Now 'N Laters, listen to me now don't listen to me later."

Are there any other Beasties songs in which you see or hear massive potential, yet the song just didn't quite do it for you? Do you agree with me about "Get it Together"? Am I a hater? Yo, I know I didn't make a funky rhyme for real but yo technically...I'm as hard as steel. Ma Bell.

You are a hater. Man, I'm so fucking hurt about that. Get it Together is one of my favourite Beastie tracks. Top 5 styles. I'm glad you told Yauch Professor Booty is a classic though.(y) (y)

[ggirlballa]

and my moms is not butt but fuck it


hahahaha:D

yes Q-Tip was probally under the influence when he did this but he mumbles a lot so i can't notice that his lyrics aren't so good:D

[Kid Presentable]

THAT'S ALL PART OF THE CHARM OF THE FUCKING SONG!!!!!

[Funkyfreshgrape]

i don't like 'get it together' and thats the only beastie boys song i don't like...

[buddmonkey]

THAT'S ALL PART OF THE CHARM OF THE FUCKING SONG!!!!!


Exactly!!!!!

[Lo_Lyfe]

i don't like 'get it together' and thats the only beastie boys song i don't like...
smh.

Ima leave jersey cause a fools like you.

[Rock]

I thought that mike played the beat. Tip liked it and freestyled over it. And then the beatsies did all of their shit afterwards. I thought I read that here somewhere.

edit:

from beastiemania

"The music was something that I made just messing around with my sampler at home, just a real simple but ill moog loop and some simple beats. I remember this being a really fun time, when we would all be working somewhat on stuff at home and then bring it into the studio, and we would all build on it. We would just write, record, and play ball. Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest would usually stop by when he was in town, just to hang out, listen to music, and play some ball. We'd been wanting Tip to get on a track for a while, so one night we played him the track, and he was like, "This shit is funky, I could rhyme on this." So Mario, as usual, wasted no time in handing him the mic. Tip freestyled a few takes, and then we fit our rhymes around his" - Michael Diamond, 1999

[dave790]

get it togethers the shit.

[ggirlballa]

i don't like 'get it together' and thats the only beastie boys song i don't like...

:eek:


is it becuz Q-Tip is on the record?

c'mon Q-Tip represents the fuckin Tribe man!!!!!!:cool:

[Justin]

I love the song.

HOwever, when it was tried LIVE....it was HORRIBLE!

[nukeawhale]

1. B-Boys Makin' With the Freak-Freak is quite possibly one of the most underrated and unheralded Beastie Boys songs

I remember hearing the B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak for the first time back in '94 and thinking that it was quite possibly the best B-Boys song to date. I then spent the rest of the summer hoping to almighty Buddha that it would be on the set list at Lollapalooza.

Alas, I was sad and dismayed when it didn't make it. But that was several days later as I was in a state of B-Boys nirvana for some time after that show....hearing Sabotage for the the first time live rocked my socks off.

[Kid Presentable]

I love the song.

HOwever, when it was tried LIVE....it was HORRIBLE!
Not in 98, fool. That shit was off the hook.

[BBboy20]

I don't really emjoy "Get It Together" not because of the production but something about the behavior they were rapping...I don't know why but for some reason they were like stooping into a lower level of morality...Idw, I just didn't like the attitude in that song.

ANyway...
Futterman's Rule
Girls
Song For the Man
Pow
The Update
A Year and a Day
Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun
Prof. Booty
Unite
Electrify
Slow and Low
The Limrick Negotiation Files
I Want Some
Benny And the Jets
and probably some others

dont' seem to get enough cred.

[Kid Presentable]

I don't really emjoy "Get It Together" not because of the production but something about the behavior they were rapping...I don't know why but for some reason they were like stooping into a lower level of morality...Idw, I just didn't like the attitude in that song.

That's fucking odd.

[M.C. Guevera]

I love the song.

HOwever, when it was tried LIVE....it was HORRIBLE!

Oh come on! Q-Tip freestyling and having the Beasties have to guide him through the song because he was probably stoned is funny!

Anyway, for me:
"Flute Loop"
"A Year And A Day"
"Live At P.J.'s"
"Benny And The Jets"

[Justin]

I guess it was ok especially since q tip only performed a few times with them. Cause that shit would get old at every concert.

[laurie_hammy]

B-Boys Makin Wit The Freak Freak is prob my fav Beastie sonh ever. That has Ill Communication written all over it. BEST RHYMES EVER