The Week the Music Died... Brian Wilson gone at 82

[madguy30]

God Only Knows has been thrown around a bunch this week with regard to the greatest song ever written. It has a really strong argument for sure. That said, I've always argued Wouldn't It Be Nice is actually the greatest song ever written (and certainly greatest ever recorded..). Nothing remotely sounds like it, at that point and since. The hard snare hit to open after the intro is beyond iconic, and to write a song about the simplicity of wanting to not have to say goodbye at night to the person you love...so simple and yet presented in a way that nobody has before or since. Harmonies that literally sound like they are from God himself... Its just genius.

So to have two songs on the same album with legit consideration for greatest song ever recorded is more wild than I have words for.

I'd put Good Vibrations over both of those but wouldn't say it's the greatest song ever written.

All are great though.

Greatest song?

 

[HFCS]

God Only Knows has been thrown around a bunch this week with regard to the greatest song ever written. It has a really strong argument for sure. That said, I've always argued Wouldn't It Be Nice is actually the greatest song ever written (and certainly greatest ever recorded..). Nothing remotely sounds like it, at that point and since. The hard snare hit to open after the intro is beyond iconic, and to write a song about the simplicity of wanting to not have to say goodbye at night to the person you love...so simple and yet presented in a way that nobody has before or since. Harmonies that literally sound like they are from God himself... Its just genius.

So to have two songs on the same album with legit consideration for greatest song ever recorded is more wild than I have words for.

People want to play "God Only Knows" at their weddings so badly but the first words of the song are "I may not always love you"...it happens anyway though haha.

"In My Life" by the Beatles is a little better choice in terms of lyrics for the day, it still mentions past lovers although in a "that was the past" way.

I would definitely put God Only Knows as one of the most beautiful pop music songs ever no question. It's one of those songs where people can hear it for the first time decades later and have an emotional response to it.

 

[cyclones500]

I'd put Good Vibrations over both of those

I agree (although Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows are stellar).

"Good Vibrations," for me, seems like a perfect merger of The Beach Boys early pop-hits period and the experimental/contemplative transition.

Maybe that's a dorky analysis, since GV was released about 6 months after "Pet Sounds." Imagine Good Vibrations being a track on that LP.

 

[cytor]

Foreigner is another solid American band. Can't forget KISS either. Are either on them the Best of all time? Again, what are the qualifiers?

When it comes to music, it's all so subjective.

Edit: Cheap Trick, REO, Styx, Night Ranger.....

 

[HFCS]

Foreigner is another solid American band. Can't forget KISS either. Are either on them the Best of all time? Again, what are the qualifiers?

When it comes to music, it's all so subjective.

Edit: Cheap Trick, REO, Styx, Night Ranger.....

Every American band has some asterisk, that's why it's such a fun debate.

There are a lot of American bands where they were uniquely American and wildly popular but going forward rock didn't really go their direction so it's hard to say "they are the one all time great #1 American band"...where like Beatles and Stones you can see them in everything afterward.

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

RIP to BW but this was my dad's favorite movie and his same thoughts LOL!

 

[matclone]

RIP to BW but this was my dad's favorite movie and his same thoughts LOL!

If we're talking about American Graffiti (movie), I thought "All Summer Long" (song) was the perfect ending.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

It's pretty insane how dominant England is with respect to music. I keep trying to think of bands and most are English.

 

[Rural]

People want to play "God Only Knows" at their weddings so badly but the first words of the song are "I may not always love you"...it happens anyway though haha.

"In My Life" by the Beatles is a little better choice in terms of lyrics for the day, it still mentions past lovers although in a "that was the past" way.

I would definitely put God Only Knows as one of the most beautiful pop music songs ever no question. It's one of those songs where people can hear it for the first time decades later and have an emotional response to it.

Wasn't "God only knows" the theme song of Big Love or am I misremembering?

 

[mj4cy]

Apparently Brian Wilson himself covered this song once live...would have been epic to see.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Music from Big Pink [is] a giant album (of American music) in my book.

Ironically mostly written and performed by Canadians.

People want to play "God Only Knows" at their weddings so badly but the first words of the song are "I may not always love you"...it happens anyway though haha.

"In My Life" by the Beatles is a little better choice in terms of lyrics for the day, it still mentions past lovers although in a "that was the past" way.

I would definitely put God Only Knows as one of the most beautiful pop music songs ever no question. It's one of those songs where people can hear it for the first time decades later and have an emotional response to it.

The opening lines of "God Only Knows" are...

"I may not always love you.
But long as there are stars above you.
You never need to doubt it.
I'll make you so sure about it."

...so the metaphor is pretty clear I'll love you forever.

If the stars were no longer above us, then we have bigger problems than remaining in love.

I've always interpreted "In My Life" as nostalgia distilled into music. What makes it memorable is it is not yet another boy/girl love song but rather a unique sort of philos for life itself.