Koichi Litrose I've been listening to them all my life or at least that's the early 60s I'm getting a little Beetle ish with them now! LOL! Want to know everything
This is one of those pop songs that is so hauntingly and beautifully melodic it transcends 99% of even the best stuff ever written. It has it's own place in history that will always be revered.
A year out of High School and soon on my way to Vietnam to get shot at and missed, shit on and hit. Four years later and safely back in the States, I can lite up a doobie, put the headphones on, fire up "Only God Knows" and instantly back to happier times. I'm so glad I lived through all the great music of the '60s and '70s. What a gift.
Just flipping gorgeous. All these years, I thought that Brian did those vocal leads. No wonder he said, when Carl died, that the world had just lost the voice of an angel. Sheer Heaven, this song.
At the 2:50 mark, Mr. Bill Pitman is next to Carl Wilson. A master of the guitar, and ukulele, Mr. Pitman was an integral part of the Wrecking Crew throughout hundreds of sessions. Mr. Pitman is a healthy 102 years young today. I am honored to lunch with him as often as possible.
Absolutely genius. I remember my older sister once saying that if Brian Wilson had been a Beatle there's no telling what music the world would have. Many believe that Wilson was held back creatively at the height of his genius. First by his father, then by others. But what a beautiful song
An overlooked part of Brian's genius The instrumentals sound like completed songs without room for vocals The vocals sound like completed tracks without room for instrumentation. With his infinite genius, Brian welded them together into his little masterpieces That's great arrangements and phenomenal mixing
Words really cannot describe the feeling this song conveys. Rapturous sublimity? Whatever it is, it is a glorious musical experience. One of the very few songs that never gets old. Having have heard this hundreds of not thousands of times, life still stands still when it comes on.
Hal really nailed that little triplet on the snare for the final track. This sounds like an early take when he is still getting the feel of the (complex) song...not easy with no vocal and just Brian's directions. He'll always be the greatest drummer ever! RIP Hal Blaine 🥁💕
It's so fascinating to see how a song is actually put together. People like Brian Wilson live in a different world, able to see/hear music in their mind's eye and, thankfully, share it with the rest of us mere mortals.
Brian didn’t have all the vocabulary he needed, like telling the French horn player he wanted more legato. But he’s right about every criticism. And 23? Insane. He was right to insist on those takes. This would be a classic on the vocal ending alone, and there’s so much more to it than that. I learned a lot from this video. Like I didn’t even know the flutes were there.
I had no idea the orchestration was quite that detailed. Like the entrance of the flutes. Amazingly subtle. At the beginning with the French Horn, Brian lacked the vocabulary to say he wanted the two notes legato, but he demonstrated what he was looking for and got it across. And, of course, he was right. This is frighteningly good work.
They should teach the language of music from grade 1. I am always impressed on how good musicians really are. Jimmy Paige showing Edge and Jack White his technique was amazing......edge and white were like 2 kids watching candy being made.
This is really cool to watch. Back then we only heard the final result, having no idea how many instruments and musicians were involved in the process. This is actually fantastic, so much to learn about their greatness.
Fascinating look at not only Brian Wilson's genius and technique but the mysterious Wrecking Crew, the greatest studio band ever assembled. Carl Wilson's voice is often underrated and here he shines. When will 5 part harmony exist so perfectly again in song? And next to Laura Nyro, no one affected musical composition innovation in pop music in the 20th century as much as Brian Wilson. All the rest followed.
+Sam Adams After all these years I never knew it was the Wrecking Crew playing on this, no wonder those drum fills at the very end sound so good, only Hal Blaine could play them like that - all hail to the master, the greatest pop drummer of all time!
Kate Bush was very innovative and influential and used a lot of seamless layering of many sounds and vocals, similar to Brian Wilson. She also became a recluse and made it big as a song writer at a young age. She came later of course.
It is the timing of the instrumental work that amazes me. The drum delays for accent. The harmonic horns and organ, if that’s what it is. Echoing the theme. This song could almost be played in medieval courts to suit a king, yet 100 years from now it will speak to another generation.
Brian is as meticulous about recording a track as Stanley Kubrick was directing scenes in his films. Both men used the very best performers and technical crew. Both demanded perfection and would accept nothing less. It is testament to the Wrecking Crew, who could pick and choose who they worked with, that they recognized Brian's genius for arranging and accepted his instructions without hesitation.
This is partly true. This music was never made again because it was Brian at his creative peak, trying to bring what he heard in his mind, to life. The studio process is special because you'll find things that you didn't plan on happening and that'll inspire something else and before you know it you have something even better than you'd first imagined. That's what I believe happened in these sessions, and because of that convergence of things it'll never happen again. There is still amazing music being made today, but you have to really look for it, which is sad. Check out an album called MCII by Mikal Cronin.
***** Occam's Razor ... if a person like that existed, we'd know about it. Simplest answer is usually correct. One would not have to look far to find him/her. That level of talent doesn't hide well. I agree that it's incredibly difficult nowadays to get heard - but still, if you're a "Brian Wilson" - you can make it happen.
For my money the greatest pop song ever committed to (insert current recording technology here), and it's mostly the production that puts it over the top, though the song itself and the vocals are key factors. Carl's voice is just perfect for this song. A fascinating peek behind the scenes of a watershed moment in music history!
I was 10 when this was released. Here I am about to turn 60. I have followed 50 years of pop/rock music and while some has come close none has toped this for its timeless artistic brilliance! Thank you ever so much for posting. Brian will easily live on for another 50.
It’s amazing to me that Brian Wilson had all this in his head; every instrument’s part, every vocal harmony. He knew exactly what he wanted the song to sound like down to the smallest detail. Amazing
Words cant describe how stunningly beautiful this song is. Ive listened to this somg a thousand times and each time i pick out somethimg new. I love listening to the sessions and hearing the endless number of parts to this masterpiece.
Each individual little part isn't particularly difficult. But writing something like this, and getting 20+ people to play it precisely together with every little nuance just perfect... man, THAT is particularly difficult!
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome !!! One of the All-time great songs, by an All-time great band ....... and we get to hear the individual tracks, cut-outs and other post-production wizardry. This is a true gem !
Just saw Brian and band do this in April on his "Pet Sounds" tour...did the entire album as well as a bunch of other hits...Al Jardine's son sang the high parts Brian couldn't get to any more. The band was amazing...at any given time 6 guitars and 10 vocalists...totally lush and on point. One of the best shows I've ever seen....saw them after watching "Love & Mercy"...a magic night...this 40 years after seeing them, (with Brian), the 1st time in upstate NY at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in 1977...
when this came out I was 14 and great music was under every rock, and I took this for granted. 50 odd years later I know now that this was one of the high points of my earthy existence. God bless the boys.
Wulfdane in my opinion It’s a record that still has yet to be topped, or even matched for that matter. It stands alone as a perfect pop rock and roll masterpiece. People talk about pet sounds and sgt pepper in the same sentence but I don’t think the Beatles ever came close to what Brian did in 1966 with this album, good vibrations and the smile sessions
Damn, as many times over the yrs I've listened to this beautiful song, I never realized how many individual instruments were actually on this! Honestly it's like a rock symphony!
He was just gorgeous in this one. A lovely, almost angelic voice. Went very well with his almost cherubic cuteness. Brian and Carl are my favorite Beach Boys. Certainly the 2 most talented.
Well that story is always mentioned and is not quite accurate . He never said it was the best song ever in history, that is just plain wrong. He said it was one of his favorites. Here are his remarks : "It's a really, really great song---it's a big favorite of mine. I was asked recently to give my top ten favorite songs for a Japanese radio station...I didn't think long and hard on it, but I popped that ["God Only Knows"] on the top of my list. [Thinks for a moment] It's very deep. [Quotes the lyrics to "God Only Knows"] Very emotional, always a bit of a choker for me, that one. There are certain songs that just hit home with me, and they're the strangest collection of songs...but that is high on the list, I must say." That is a far cry from saying it;'s the best song ever in history. It's simply one of his favorites.
It still amazes me how one guy had all these parts in his head. Here is a guy that must have spent endless hours sitting at the piano and learning every note in a chord by ear. Not just 3 note voicings but 4 note voicings and at first applying this to vocal harmony then later to orchestration. He is not a schooled musician but with raw talent was able to do what few others could do which was to compose catchy melodic yet inventive commercial songs. Not many people can do that.
Down to maybe a half second of actual music ( the french horn) which he corrected does indeed shows the level of detail he had in his mind about the entire arrangement, words cannot express the brilliance of this man.
It's a gift...A gift for musical details!. You can have musical talent but even talented musicians, (vocal or instrumental) require detail in order to achieve success in what they're doing. Most of them get that from an outside source in the studios.
When I heard years ago how McCartney said how Pet Sounds, and this tune inspired him and The Beatles for "Pepper" I didn't hear it. Duh....What was I thinking. or NOT hearing? Brian Wilson's genius, The Wrecking Crew, and Beach Boys harmonies just were just majic. God only knows indeed.
+Pastor Bruce Spot on, I couldn't agree more but who are we to second guess Brian. My son once told me he knows he likes music if it gives him chills, the flutes and french horns make the hair on my arms stand up!
I've considered this to be the all time BEST SONG EVER CREATED for now 55 years. In fact I was 15 years old when Brian first produced it. There has never been a greater musical genius than Brian & never a more beautiful work of musical genius than God Only Knows.
There are so many ways to enjoy this song. You can just soak in its glory. If you're into musicology, you can try to figure out what key it's actually in. You can examine how masterfully he uses 2nd and 3rd inversion chords to keep up a sense of instability that feels and sounds so good when it is finally resolved. It's magnificent and for me, anyway, the most beautiful pop song that's ever been written.
I feel some people just don't appreciate what goes into making real musical masterpieces. We give credit to the singer & the band & fail to notice all the other beautiful instruments others play. These studio back ups are not seen but most definitely ARE heard & appreciated, the icing on the cake so to speak. Sleigh bells even!!. Beautifully stunning anthem. Thankyou for this video, listening on headphones is awesome & I'm getting goosebumps. A real honour to hear that. ✌from London.
I graduated high school in '66 after putting myself through the educational process and never heard these songs, until I was in the MARINE CORPS. I caught KP during my time in Onafra (?). It was 0400hrs, when I heard GOD ONLY KNOWS from someone's radio at CAMP PENDLETON, standing in the cool darkness with five other Marines at attention. Ready to be marched to the MESS HALL. That memory is sweet.
Every time I hear this great song, I get goosebumps because it is such a cool song and it is so interesting how it was conceived in the recording studio as well! One of my all-time favorite songs :) Brian is certainly a musical genius without question.
This channel more than any other has been instrumental (no pun intended) in deepening my appreciation of the musicianship and mastery of Brian Wilson. Thank you.
But Brian did a version also. As well, many other songs Brian & Carl shared vocals. Some, hard to discern. “Surf’s Up” Break Away” Alternate “Wild Honey” an few others. McCartney & Lennon did same. I believe they did it on purpose. It was that time of experimentation et al.
@@franciscrisp6245 Brian didn't record a version of GOK in 1966 with him singing the lead. All of the available alternate versions are different takes of Carl that have been mislabeled as Brian.
2021 - its still beautiful, still makes me tear up and is and always will be the most complete love song and composition ever. I was nine years old when they made this and I remember hearing it on holiday that year and its never had anything but that warm fuzzy effect on me. I'm 66 years old soon.
This always brings tears to my eyes....such a soul-reaching song. I was just a kid when I first heard this...my brother who was older than me by six years was a BB fan
The best love song ever written, the best produced 60's pop song ever and the most heartrending simplicity and sincerity in a piece of music ever in my opinion and I'm sure there are millions around the world who remembered it on release would agree.
The precision in the BB's vocal harmonies rivals Benedictine chants - no exaggeration - listening to their voices acappella is heady stuff. Brian Wilson might well have been a Gregorian choir master in a previous life. These are gems...
My favorite song of all time. It was playing on the hospital sound system when my son was born. , magical! Probably the only song I never get tired of hearing.
That's great Tom. I love how certain songs become cemented in our mind with specific events and people; and how hearing the song, even years later, will mentally & emotionally put us right back with those people.
Every once in a while, something comes along that defines a genre. These guys define voice harmonies better than any group I have ever heard. No one before, and no one since then has bettered these guys.
He'd already been in the group for roughly a year when this was recorded. Apart from touring with the group during this time, he'd been featured fairly prominently in many of their '65 recordings...notably California Girls and The Little Girl I Once Knew.
How the heck did Brian keep all those parts in his head? This song truly is a work of genius
Brian's ability to direct this orchestra at age 24 is amazing. I guess that's what musical genius means.
would love to have conducted them people, even to have played with them.
Watch The Wrecking Crew on Netflix. They all agree Brian was a dam genius. He was.
The things that we took for granted when we listened to Beach Boys records.
Only one of the most beautiful songs ever written.
It’s crazy how all these comments are very recent. Really goes to show the beach boys are timeless
Koichi Litrose I've been listening to them all my life or at least that's the early 60s I'm getting a little Beetle ish with them now! LOL! Want to know everything
Yes, they are, especially Brian.
This is one of those pop songs that is so hauntingly and beautifully melodic it transcends 99% of even the best stuff ever written. It has it's own place in history that will always be revered.
This song stands alone somehow. Like a marble statue or something. Adore it's beauty. So stunning!! Faint...
A year out of High School and soon on my way to Vietnam to get shot at and missed, shit on and hit.
Four years later and safely back in the States, I can lite up a doobie, put the headphones on, fire up "Only God Knows" and instantly back to happier times.
I'm so glad I lived through all the great music of the '60s and '70s.
What a gift.
Koss Pro 4's?
The accapella tracks are incredible. Their harmonies are spot on. What an incredible group they were.
I'd watch a full-length movie about the making of this song.
Just flipping gorgeous. All these years, I thought that Brian did those vocal leads. No wonder he said, when Carl died, that the world had just lost the voice of an angel. Sheer Heaven, this song.
At the 2:50 mark, Mr. Bill Pitman is next to Carl Wilson. A master of the guitar, and ukulele, Mr. Pitman was an integral part of the Wrecking Crew throughout hundreds of sessions.
Mr. Pitman is a healthy 102 years young today. I am honored to lunch with him as often as possible.
Sorry to hear he passed away 😢
Brian knew what he wanted and would accept nothing less.
The way it should be for anything to be exceptional, not just music.
Michele Pohl And he didn’t act like a tyrant; such a gentle personality. 🙂
Probably one of the best songs ever written - sounds as fresh today as the day it was first made - Timeless.
Absolutely genius. I remember my older sister once saying that if Brian Wilson had been a Beatle there's no telling what music the world would have. Many believe that Wilson was held back creatively at the height of his genius. First by his father, then by others. But what a beautiful song
Goddam just imagine.
Brian Wilson had his own blend of wall ofsound He was a genius
An overlooked part of Brian's genius
The instrumentals sound like completed songs without room for vocals
The vocals sound like completed tracks without room for instrumentation.
With his infinite genius, Brian welded them together into his little masterpieces
That's great arrangements and phenomenal mixing
Happiness is knowing people are here today loving a classic!!!!😍
Words really cannot describe the feeling this song conveys. Rapturous sublimity? Whatever it is, it is a glorious musical experience. One of the very few songs that never gets old. Having have heard this hundreds of not thousands of times, life still stands still when it comes on.
God only knows gives me chills and makes me want to cry everytime i listen to it.
I will never listen to this song the same way again. Thank you for this.
Hal really nailed that little triplet on the snare for the final track. This sounds like an early take when he is still getting the feel of the (complex) song...not easy with no vocal and just Brian's directions. He'll always be the greatest drummer ever! RIP Hal Blaine
🥁💕
It's so fascinating to see how a song is actually put together. People like Brian Wilson live in a different world, able to see/hear music in their mind's eye and, thankfully, share it with the rest of us mere mortals.
One of the most beautiful songs ever recorded.
Hearing Brian work in the studio like this consistently blows my mind.
Talk about leader of the band! He knew EXACTLY what he wanted to hear....rare artist! ❤️ Love to you guys always!
Brian didn’t have all the vocabulary he needed, like telling the French horn player he wanted more legato. But he’s right about every criticism. And 23? Insane. He was right to insist on those takes. This would be a classic on the vocal ending alone, and there’s so much more to it than that. I learned a lot from this video. Like I didn’t even know the flutes were there.
Alan Robinson, French horn, was my sweetheart at the time. He was fantastic on that instrument!
Gave me goosebumps in '66 when l was nine. Still gives me goosebumps now l'm 62.
I had no idea the orchestration was quite that detailed. Like the entrance of the flutes. Amazingly subtle. At the beginning with the French Horn, Brian lacked the vocabulary to say he wanted the two notes legato, but he demonstrated what he was looking for and got it across. And, of course, he was right. This is frighteningly good work.
They should teach the language of music from grade 1. I am always impressed on how good musicians really are. Jimmy Paige showing Edge and Jack White his technique was amazing......edge and white were like 2 kids watching candy being made.
The beauty and intricacy bring tears to my eyes.
He was 24 when he did this. Just let THAT sink in ....
+NoFracked GasInMass young artist are more honest and truest
Right on. It's almost too much to comprehend. This music is from God Himself. Nothing will ever touch this.
Brian Wilson was born June 20th 1942. This was March of 1966. How, do you get 21 out of that?
Most artists write their best stuff in their twenties, or, to be more precise, channel it.
Actually, Brian wouldn't turn 24 until June 20th (2 days after Paul McCartney's 24th birthday).
Brian is a musical genius! His harmonies are so unique and beautiful! Pet Sounds is a masterpiece!
This is really cool to watch. Back then we only heard the final result, having no idea how many instruments and musicians were involved in the process. This is actually fantastic, so much to learn about their greatness.
Imagine if this was the standard for music. This album needs even more praise and recognition
Ace yep
Fascinating look at not only Brian Wilson's genius and technique but the mysterious Wrecking Crew, the greatest studio band ever assembled. Carl Wilson's voice is often underrated and here he shines. When will 5 part harmony exist so perfectly again in song? And next to Laura Nyro, no one affected musical composition innovation in pop music in the 20th century as much as Brian Wilson. All the rest followed.
+Sam Adams After all these years I never knew it was the Wrecking Crew playing on this, no wonder those drum fills at the very end sound so good, only Hal Blaine could play them like that - all hail to the master, the greatest pop drummer of all time!
There are only 3 voices in this song: Carl, Brian and Bruce.
Sam Adams I saw that Netflix documentary on the wrecking crew that was pretty awesome that you're
Kate Bush was very innovative and influential and used a lot of seamless layering of many sounds and vocals, similar to Brian Wilson. She also became a recluse and made it big as a song writer at a young age. She came later of course.
It is the timing of the instrumental work that amazes me. The drum delays for accent. The harmonic horns and organ, if that’s what it is. Echoing the theme. This song could almost be played in medieval courts to suit a king, yet 100 years from now it will speak to another generation.
Brian is as meticulous about recording a track as Stanley Kubrick was directing scenes in his films. Both men used the very best performers and technical crew. Both demanded perfection and would accept nothing less. It is testament to the Wrecking Crew, who could pick and choose who they worked with, that they recognized Brian's genius for arranging and accepted his instructions without hesitation.
They don't make music like this anymore. Such a shame.
Check out The Explorer's Club, especially "Foreve,r" "California Callin Ya," and "Don't Waste Her Time." Good stuff!!!
They would if they could. Problem is, there's only a few Brian Wilsons in this world, and they don't come along very often.
This is partly true. This music was never made again because it was Brian at his creative peak, trying to bring what he heard in his mind, to life. The studio process is special because you'll find things that you didn't plan on happening and that'll inspire something else and before you know it you have something even better than you'd first imagined. That's what I believe happened in these sessions, and because of that convergence of things it'll never happen again. There is still amazing music being made today, but you have to really look for it, which is sad. Check out an album called MCII by Mikal Cronin.
*****
Occam's Razor ... if a person like that existed, we'd know about it. Simplest answer is usually correct. One would not have to look far to find him/her. That level of talent doesn't hide well. I agree that it's incredibly difficult nowadays to get heard - but still, if you're a "Brian Wilson" - you can make it happen.
***** Are you his lawyer?
For my money the greatest pop song ever committed to (insert current recording technology here), and it's mostly the production that puts it over the top, though the song itself and the vocals are key factors. Carl's voice is just perfect for this song. A fascinating peek behind the scenes of a watershed moment in music history!
The final vocal tag sounds like a prayer going up to the sky round and round. It's brilliant!
I was 10 when this was released. Here I am about to turn 60. I have followed 50 years of pop/rock music and while some has come close none has toped this for its timeless artistic brilliance! Thank you ever so much for posting. Brian will easily live on for another 50.
It’s amazing to me that Brian Wilson had all this in his head; every instrument’s part, every vocal harmony. He knew exactly what he wanted the song to sound like down to the smallest detail. Amazing
Genius, unquestionably, yes. Not being able to easily get his ideas into reality was probably frustrating...perhaps maddening.
Words cant describe how stunningly beautiful this song is. Ive listened to this somg a thousand times and each time i pick out somethimg new. I love listening to the sessions and hearing the endless number of parts to this masterpiece.
Each individual little part isn't particularly difficult. But writing something like this, and getting 20+ people to play it precisely together with every little nuance just perfect... man, THAT is particularly difficult!
Every music fan should be required to watch this video!!! WOW!!!!
Beautiful and poetic
This is the work of a musical genius ,this and ,good vibrations, are two of the finest songs ever written👏👏👏
Watching the brilliance of Brian Wilson never gets old.
As Paul McCartney said, the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard!!
Music from the heavens
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome !!! One of the All-time great songs, by an All-time great band ....... and we get to hear the individual tracks, cut-outs and other post-production wizardry. This is a true gem !
Just saw Brian and band do this in April on his "Pet Sounds" tour...did the entire album as well as a bunch of other hits...Al Jardine's son sang the high parts Brian couldn't get to any more. The band was amazing...at any given time 6 guitars and 10 vocalists...totally lush and on point. One of the best shows I've ever seen....saw them after watching "Love & Mercy"...a magic night...this 40 years after seeing them, (with Brian), the 1st time in upstate NY at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in 1977...
Clearly one of the best pieces of popular music ever created
when this came out I was 14 and great music was under every rock, and I took this for granted. 50 odd years later I know now that this was one of the high points of my earthy existence. God bless the boys.
The sheer joy of creating beauty.There's nothing better in this world.
wow. You said it Karl... in whatever you do...
we will never here the likes of this type and style of music ever again, thanks for the post,
Pet Sounds is one of the greatest albums ever made, a rare masterpiece. If don't own it, you should.
Wulfdane in my opinion It’s a record that still has yet to be topped, or even matched for that matter. It stands alone as a perfect pop rock and roll masterpiece. People talk about pet sounds and sgt pepper in the same sentence but I don’t think the Beatles ever came close to what Brian did in 1966 with this album, good vibrations and the smile sessions
A masterpiece of arrangements and harmonies nothing done today can compare
Damn, as many times over the yrs I've listened to this beautiful song, I never realized how many individual instruments were actually on this! Honestly it's like a rock symphony!
I was just noticing the same thing.
I have not read all comments, but Paul McCartney once declared "God Only Knows" best song ever in history. Carl Wilson's vocals are beyond incredible.
He was just gorgeous in this one. A lovely, almost angelic voice. Went very well with his almost cherubic cuteness. Brian and Carl are my favorite Beach Boys. Certainly the 2 most talented.
you should listen to him in 'I Can Hear Music' as well.
Well that story is always mentioned and is not quite accurate . He never said it was the best song ever in history, that is just plain wrong. He said it was one of his favorites. Here are his remarks : "It's a really, really great song---it's a big favorite of mine. I was asked recently to give my top ten favorite songs for a Japanese radio station...I didn't think long and hard on it, but I popped that ["God Only Knows"] on the top of my list. [Thinks for a moment] It's very deep. [Quotes the lyrics to "God Only Knows"] Very emotional, always a bit of a choker for me, that one. There are certain songs that just hit home with me, and they're the strangest collection of songs...but that is high on the list, I must say."
That is a far cry from saying it;'s the best song ever in history. It's simply one of his favorites.
@@michaelwebb7977 Thank you for that clarification. My post probably falls into "urban myth" territory.
Most welcome William, I have heard it many times and once it hits the net we know how things spread !
It still amazes me how one guy had all these parts in his head. Here is a guy that must have spent endless hours sitting at the piano and learning every note in a chord by ear. Not just 3 note voicings but 4 note voicings and at first applying this to vocal harmony then later to orchestration. He is not a schooled musician but with raw talent was able to do what few others could do which was to compose catchy melodic yet inventive commercial songs. Not many people can do that.
Down to maybe a half second of actual music ( the french horn) which he corrected does indeed shows the level of detail he had in his mind about the entire arrangement, words cannot express the brilliance of this man.
Brian is so very detail oriented and seems to write in layers as well . Like that Mozart guy.
It's a gift...A gift for musical details!. You can have musical talent but even talented musicians, (vocal or instrumental) require detail in order to achieve success in what they're doing. Most of them get that from an outside source in the studios.
The Beach Boys’ harmonies have never been matched by anyone. This song is just the best ever written and is Sir Paul McCartney’s favourite.
Played pet sounds at fort hoods library before shipping out to Vietnam repeatedly. Kept my faith going
When I heard years ago how McCartney said how Pet Sounds, and this tune inspired him and The Beatles for "Pepper" I didn't hear it.
Duh....What was I thinking. or NOT hearing? Brian Wilson's genius, The Wrecking Crew, and Beach Boys harmonies just were just majic. God only knows indeed.
The harmony vocal tag at 7:55 to 8:05 is outstanding. Now I really disappointed that this never made the final cut. Brilliant!
+Pastor Bruce Spot on, I couldn't agree more but who are we to second guess Brian. My son once told me he knows he likes music if it gives him chills, the flutes and french horns make the hair on my arms stand up!
if you don´t have goosebumps listening to this you´re not human!!!
I do - and I get choked up every time
I've considered this to be the all time BEST SONG EVER CREATED for now 55 years. In fact I was 15 years old when Brian first produced it. There has never been a greater musical genius than Brian & never a more beautiful work of musical genius than God Only Knows.
There are so many ways to enjoy this song. You can just soak in its glory. If you're into musicology, you can try to figure out what key it's actually in. You can examine how masterfully he uses 2nd and 3rd inversion chords to keep up a sense of instability that feels and sounds so good when it is finally resolved. It's magnificent and for me, anyway, the most beautiful pop song that's ever been written.
Brian really knew what he wanted, and he demanded perfection. Genius!
I feel some people just don't appreciate what goes into making real musical masterpieces. We give credit to the singer & the band & fail to notice all the other beautiful instruments others play. These studio back ups are not seen but most definitely ARE heard & appreciated, the icing on the cake so to speak. Sleigh bells even!!. Beautifully stunning anthem. Thankyou for this video, listening on headphones is awesome & I'm getting goosebumps. A real honour to hear that. ✌from London.
Those sleigh bells are awesome aren't they? I like the orange juice bottles too. Both are classic examples of Brian's pet sounds.
I always liked the Beach Boys' use of sleigh bells. They can also be heard on the 1970 track "Our Sweet Love,' another one sung by Carl.
I graduated high school in '66 after putting myself through the educational process and never heard these songs, until I was in the MARINE CORPS. I caught KP during my time in Onafra (?). It was 0400hrs, when I heard GOD ONLY KNOWS from someone's radio at CAMP PENDLETON, standing in the cool darkness with five other Marines at attention. Ready to be marched to the MESS HALL. That memory is sweet.
Semper Fi, '72-76. MCAS El Toro
This is really a symphonic piece. It would be incredible to hear a Beach boys songbook performed by a full orchestra and chorus. 🎆💕🎉
ua-cam.com/video/uz4HsZqWy3Q/v-deo.html
It's been attempted and the result is nowhere close to the recording arranged by Brian Wilson in 1966.
Every time I hear this great song, I get goosebumps because it is such a cool song and it is so interesting how it was conceived in the recording studio as well! One of my all-time favorite songs :) Brian is certainly a musical genius without question.
The triplets on the french horn during the intro really make it shine. Brian knew exactly what he wanted on each part, and he knows how to get it.
8:47 "How was that? Was that cool?" OMG...from 53 yrs later, Brian that was monumentally awesome.
Man that last part with Brian and Bruce just gave me goosebumps!
This channel more than any other has been instrumental (no pun intended) in deepening my appreciation of the musicianship and mastery of Brian Wilson. Thank you.
Best song of all time... a true masterpiece!!
spot on,,for sure
I sure would like to believe that in several hundred years people will still be listening to the genius of Brian Wilson
I'll take Pet Sounds over Sgt. Pepper any day.
Whenever I have the hubris to call myself a musician and lead vocalist, along comes Brian Wilson to put me back in my place.
Brian Wilson isn't the lead vocalist on God Only Knows.
Not a bad problem to have...lol.
But Brian did a version also. As well, many other songs Brian & Carl shared vocals. Some, hard to discern. “Surf’s Up” Break Away” Alternate “Wild Honey” an few others. McCartney & Lennon did same. I believe they did it on purpose. It was that time of experimentation et al.
@@franciscrisp6245 Brian didn't record a version of GOK in 1966 with him singing the lead. All of the available alternate versions are different takes of Carl that have been mislabeled as Brian.
@@BehindTheSounds Correct it was Carl
2021 - its still beautiful, still makes me tear up and is and always will be the most complete love song and composition ever. I was nine years old when they made this and I remember hearing it on holiday that year and its never had anything but that warm fuzzy effect on me. I'm 66 years old soon.
"How was that, was that cool?" .......Damn straight it was!
Thanks for putting this videos on the net. When you hear the different isolated sections you start to understand how complex this song really is.
This always brings tears to my eyes....such a soul-reaching song. I was just a kid when I first heard this...my brother who was older than me by six years was a BB fan
The best love song ever written, the best produced 60's pop song ever and the most heartrending simplicity and sincerity in a piece of music ever in my opinion and I'm sure there are millions around the world who remembered it on release would agree.
Brian said "Music is Gods voice" God has the most beautiful voice then.
The philosophers, for thousands of years, have been unable to explain the pleasure that music gives us.
Brian's musical genius is evident. Also evident, the amazing talent of the musicians, possibly the best studio crew around at that time.
I just never understood their brilliance when I was young. I surely do now..
So it happened to me, too. I´m sixty-five now and began to understand about ten years ago, how brilliant they were. Especially Brian, of course.
I appreciate that this channel, after uploading for 13+ years, still is responding to comments.
What a foundation for a song. I really dig this, I wish I could get into more songs with this level of depth.
The precision in the BB's vocal harmonies rivals Benedictine chants - no exaggeration - listening to their voices acappella is heady stuff. Brian Wilson might well have been a Gregorian choir master in a previous life. These are gems...
The day lightning in a bottle was actually captured.
We all have the Wrecking Crew to thank. And thank them we should.
thank god for Brian
only for his being born. his dad made his life misrible
A promoter here in Australia said the 'boys' would pile off the tour bus beating into their father, he said he'd never seen anything like it.
My favorite song of all time. It was playing on the hospital sound system when my son was born.
, magical! Probably the only song I never get tired of hearing.
That's great Tom. I love how certain songs become cemented in our mind with specific events and people; and how hearing the song, even years later, will mentally & emotionally put us right back with those people.
Every once in a while, something comes along that defines a genre. These guys define voice harmonies better than any group I have ever heard. No one before, and no one since then has bettered these guys.
Imagine being Bruce and you’ve just joined The Beach Boys and you come in and sing this??? Wow.
He'd already been in the group for roughly a year when this was recorded. Apart from touring with the group during this time, he'd been featured fairly prominently in many of their '65 recordings...notably California Girls and The Little Girl I Once Knew.
I like how forceful he is, he was a professional at work getting results.
Clearly one of the top greatest songs in rock history. And also in music history. This is an amazing song in all respects.
From the soul of a kid with only one functioning ear. Sheer joy.
What a genius song, arrangement, vocal everything. Other worldly sent from the heavens. Perfection.
God Only Knows what I'd be without this song...