The Beach Boys song that moved Paul McCartney to tears
(Source: Far Out / Capitol Records / Bent Rej)
Changing your reputation is no easy task. When the Beach Boys first established their sound, many people thought of them as just another boring rock band copying early stars like Chuck Berry. But as the group evolved under the leadership of Brian Wilson, they traded in bubblegum surf rock for deep, mature songwriting. Pet noisesis an undisputed masterpiece that helped establish Wilson’s band as much more than just a novelty.
Published in 1966, Pet noises quickly became one of the defining albums of the 1960s, though its brilliance eventually transcended the decade’s vibrant music scene. Of course, there was hardly a shortage of excellent rock bands back then, but one group in particular seemed to dominate the era: the Beatles. Liverpool’s most beloved sons completely and forever revolutionized pop music, songwriting, and even music production. Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys inevitably felt their influence a little, though the recognition seemed to go both ways.
At the time, the Beach Boys and the Beatles were often pitted against each other. This is perhaps understandable when you consider their profound thoughts on Pet noises And Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club BandThese records changed the history of rock music forever and are still considered some of the best and first concept albums in music history. Despite their constructed rivalry, the Californian band and the Liverpool Fab Four have always maintained mutual respect.
Paul McCartney, in particular, has always been open about his admiration for Brian Wilson’s songwriting. The pair have helped each other out over the course of their long and illustrious careers, and both have written some of the most groundbreaking pop records of the 20th century. For Macca, however, one song in particular stands out from the undeniable brilliance of Wilson’s discography.
“God Only Knows” is from Pet Sounds and at first glance is a fairly standard love song. However, upon closer inspection, it is easy to see that the piece is an unusually dark, emotional effort from Wilson. The emotional weight of the song certainly did not go unnoticed by McCartney, who once said of the song, “‘God Only Knows’ is one of the few songs that brings me to tears every time I hear it.”
The Beatles bassist continued his assessment of Wilson’s masterpiece, stating: “It’s really just a love song, but it’s brilliantly done. It shows Brian’s genius. I actually performed it with him and I’m sorry to say I broke down at the sound check.” McCartney has written a number of sentimental songs, so it’s quite special that someone else’s music can move him to tears.
As Macca mentioned, the couple performed “God Only Knows” together on stage in Los Angeles in 2002. The joint version does not surpass the Pet noises Original, seeing two titans of 1960s rock on stage together was truly a sight to behold. Judging by their performance, McCartney certainly wasn’t the only person nearby who had tears in their eyes during the song.
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