McCartney on God Only Knows: Beach Boys’ Masterpiece
Paul McCartney’s deep admiration for Brian Wilson and his songwriting shines through in teh wake of Wilson’s passing. Discover how McCartney reveres “God Only Knows,” calling it ”the greatest song ever written.” Explore their mutual respect and how mccartney inducted Wilson into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, sharing moving anecdotes of Wilson’s profound impact. The impact of this Beach Boys’ masterpiece on McCartney, and music, is immeasurable. News Directory 3 reports on the many dimensions of their relationship, including the collaboration “A Friend Like You.” Read more about the impact this song had on McCartney. Discover what’s next …
paul McCartney’s Enduring admiration for Brian Wilson’s Musical Genius
Following the death of Brian Wilson at age 82, tributes have poured in, including resurfaced comments from Paul McCartney highlighting his deep respect for the Beach Boys’ innovative music.Wilson’s family announced his death June 11.
Despite a pleasant rivalry between The Beatles and The beach boys, the two groups harbored no ill will, rather admiring each other’s work. McCartney has often praised Wilson, and Wilson reciprocated, even performing “God Only Knows” together at a benefit concert in 2002.
McCartney inducted Wilson into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000, sharing anecdotes about their “rivalry.”
mccartney saeid at that induction ceremony: “In the ’60s,particularly,he wrote some music that when I played it,it made me cry and I don’t quite know why…I think it’s a sign of great genius too be able to do that with a bunch of music and a bunch of notes… And this man, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, that’s for sure… So thank you, sir, for making me cry… you just put those notes, those harmonies together, stick a couple of words over the top and you’ve got me, any day.”
McCartney famously declared “God Only Knows” as “the greatest song ever written” in the ’90s, reiterating this sentiment in the 2003 book, Wouldn’t it Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds.
In 2004, Wilson’s solo album, ‘Gettin’ In Over My Head’, featured a collaboration with McCartney titled “A Friend Like You.”
In a 2007 BBC Radio 1 interview, McCartney said: “’God Only Knows’ is one of the few songs that reduces me to tears every time I hear it… It’s really just a love song,but it’s brilliantly done.It shows the genius of Brian…I’ve actually performed it with him, and I’m afraid to say that during the soundcheck, I broke down… It was just too much to stand there singing this song that does my head in and to stand there singing it with Brian… So all it is, it’s little vibrations reaching your music, it’s only little vibrations, little words, and little things. There is this powerful effect, you know.”
What’s next
Expect more tributes to Brian Wilson to surface as the music world reflects on his profound influence on popular music and the enduring legacy of The beach Boys.