Oh gosh, The Beach Boys were popular about 60 years ago, and I remember listening to them, but not really paying attention to the words, just the sound that they produced. Thank you for providing the link to the song. This time I listened to the words. Then I went in to give my husband a kiss, and sang, “God only knows….” he is 89 and I am 86. You brought some loving joy into our lives today. Thank you. You are quite right about the cycles. As it’s clear from our age, our cycles are closer to finishing than they are to starting. A lot closer. But we still can enjoy Loving. Thank you. This was a lovely article.
I’m a widow and every time I hear that song it brings me to tears. I know how others must feel who have lost s o’s. And for all of us after 10/7 it is almost an anthem. Yes life will go on, but it is more painful and much emptier.
Thank you for this comment. I loved The Beach Boys growing up, something I was made fun of for. My partner of almost 23 years passed the day before Brian Wilson. I will listen to their songs with pain and also joy in my heart. For anyone who hasn’t read his memoir, I highly recommend. Eve, you always know just what to say and how to say it. Thank you for this.
The Beach Boys were (and are) such a huge part of our culture over the last 60 years--I don't know of anyone who dislikes them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Now, I'm going to go listen to "Don't Worry, Baby"...................
I know im now classed as old, but the music from that era was the high - point for me. The seventies were great, but slightly less than. But inexorably, the music has gradually come to mean less and less over time ( to me, anyway). The nadir of course is Kneecap.
I have to face the possibility that many millions of current teens and twenties have never and will never hear ' God only Knows' unless there is a monstrous cover version by a ' modern' band or hijacked by a ' pro- palestine' cause. How sad.
Eve, I don't know how you think my thoughts, but when I heard about Brian's passing, this was one of the songs that repeated in my head. And for your friend, who was at the Nova festival and saw absolute evil, I don't know how even these sweet lyrics help her cope:
If you should ever leave me
Well, life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me?
When you lose someone (or suffer a tragedy to the level of the Nova Festival) that is irreplaceable in your life, those words really stand out. Yes, life goes on, but if it's without the one you lost, who cares?
But then Brian comes back to say:
I might 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
And to me, that means the love you had and the love you lost will always be a love forever. And maybe that helps just a little bit.
A lot going on just now and this was a balm. Grew up listening to Beach Boys every summer on a staticky transistor radio but you’ve given me a new appreciation for their artistry. Today’s quality headphones help too lol
Aaahhh, transistor radios playing AM music and all those DJs with their radio voices! We'd wake up with the sound of music and go to sleep with it too. I'll always remember the smell of transistors radios. The sounds and smells of our youth! Also our parents yelling, "Turn that noise down!"
I have a vivid memory of taking my transistor radio to school in my super-cool fringed buckskin purse—and accidentally switching it on to full volume in a 7th-grade class…and wanting to die of embarrassment the way only a 12-year-old can.
“Good Vibrations” is a song of sheer genius. The wistful, melancholic verse sections ending on the drumbeat leading into the driving refrain are like a mini-symphony of different movements; the unearthly wail of the electro-theremin lend a science-fictiony oscillation to the “vibrations”; and those gorgeous multipart harmonies rising in modulation reflect the optimism of the song while the bass part echoes the beat…for me, it will always be their masterpiece.
Thanks for all the brilliant music, Brian. You made so many feet tap along.
Oh gosh, The Beach Boys were popular about 60 years ago, and I remember listening to them, but not really paying attention to the words, just the sound that they produced. Thank you for providing the link to the song. This time I listened to the words. Then I went in to give my husband a kiss, and sang, “God only knows….” he is 89 and I am 86. You brought some loving joy into our lives today. Thank you. You are quite right about the cycles. As it’s clear from our age, our cycles are closer to finishing than they are to starting. A lot closer. But we still can enjoy Loving. Thank you. This was a lovely article.
Very beautiful TRHOC
Thank you.
A national treasure. I was fortunate to have seen them live. May his memory forever be a blessing 🙏
Beautiful.
I’m a widow and every time I hear that song it brings me to tears. I know how others must feel who have lost s o’s. And for all of us after 10/7 it is almost an anthem. Yes life will go on, but it is more painful and much emptier.
Thank you for this comment. I loved The Beach Boys growing up, something I was made fun of for. My partner of almost 23 years passed the day before Brian Wilson. I will listen to their songs with pain and also joy in my heart. For anyone who hasn’t read his memoir, I highly recommend. Eve, you always know just what to say and how to say it. Thank you for this.
So sorry for your loss. May your partner's memory be for a blessing.
Very sorry to hear of your loss. Yes, I hope the music helps you
Oh, Eve. How my heart goes out to you.
The Beach Boys were (and are) such a huge part of our culture over the last 60 years--I don't know of anyone who dislikes them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Now, I'm going to go listen to "Don't Worry, Baby"...................
My second favorite Beach Boys song!
I know im now classed as old, but the music from that era was the high - point for me. The seventies were great, but slightly less than. But inexorably, the music has gradually come to mean less and less over time ( to me, anyway). The nadir of course is Kneecap.
I have to face the possibility that many millions of current teens and twenties have never and will never hear ' God only Knows' unless there is a monstrous cover version by a ' modern' band or hijacked by a ' pro- palestine' cause. How sad.
Eve, I don't know how you think my thoughts, but when I heard about Brian's passing, this was one of the songs that repeated in my head. And for your friend, who was at the Nova festival and saw absolute evil, I don't know how even these sweet lyrics help her cope:
If you should ever leave me
Well, life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me?
When you lose someone (or suffer a tragedy to the level of the Nova Festival) that is irreplaceable in your life, those words really stand out. Yes, life goes on, but if it's without the one you lost, who cares?
But then Brian comes back to say:
I might 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
And to me, that means the love you had and the love you lost will always be a love forever. And maybe that helps just a little bit.
Love you Eve
Am Yisrael Chai
So lovely, Eve. Thank you.
A lot going on just now and this was a balm. Grew up listening to Beach Boys every summer on a staticky transistor radio but you’ve given me a new appreciation for their artistry. Today’s quality headphones help too lol
Aaahhh, transistor radios playing AM music and all those DJs with their radio voices! We'd wake up with the sound of music and go to sleep with it too. I'll always remember the smell of transistors radios. The sounds and smells of our youth! Also our parents yelling, "Turn that noise down!"
I have a vivid memory of taking my transistor radio to school in my super-cool fringed buckskin purse—and accidentally switching it on to full volume in a 7th-grade class…and wanting to die of embarrassment the way only a 12-year-old can.
Do you know how lucky you are to have such great memories. I can picture the old transistor radio.
Too ironically, transistor radios are currently back in demand for use in Israeli safe rooms
“you can make your strength the courage of others”. Thank you for doing that for so many of us
Yessiree Eve. Brian Wilson was indeed a legend but mostly a kind human being who touched a great number of people.
(It’s 5am and..) I’m lying in bed, just like Brian Wilson did—Steven Page..
https://youtu.be/KfeTqesTixM?si=Owbl1LNp1D_-RK6r
“Good Vibrations” is a song of sheer genius. The wistful, melancholic verse sections ending on the drumbeat leading into the driving refrain are like a mini-symphony of different movements; the unearthly wail of the electro-theremin lend a science-fictiony oscillation to the “vibrations”; and those gorgeous multipart harmonies rising in modulation reflect the optimism of the song while the bass part echoes the beat…for me, it will always be their masterpiece.
Thanks for all the brilliant music, Brian. You made so many feet tap along.