So Cal Vibes: The Beach Boys
From Left: Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Mike Love, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson
Long live The Beach Boys.
The recent passing of Brian Wilson, one of the largest creative forces in not only The Beach Boys, but 60s and 70s American music, got me in my feels. The Beach Boys hold a special place in my heart because my dad, who was a fan from a young age, would play their music when I was growing up.
I can vividly remember cruising up and down the California coastline towards state beaches like Carpinteria and San Clemente almost every summer for a week of camping with my family during the summer. As soon as we got past the dense urban sprawls and hit PCH, blue ocean waves crashing against the shoreline would come into view and a cassette of The Beach Boys would go into the tape deck of our 1989 Ford Aerostar minivan.
So, for Brian and the boys, here’s a list of some of my favorite songs by The Beach Boys.
“I Get Around”
Album: All Summer Long
Year: 1964
I doubt you know anyone who hasn’t heard a song from The Beach Boys, but if you do, I would recommend that this be the song you play to them as an introduction. “I Get Around” epitomizes a majority of the music the band made with its harmonizing vocals, uptempo rhythm, and easy lyrics. It represents that iconic SoCal surfer vibe that The Beach Boys were known for. It brings to mind cruising a sunny beach town in a drop top car, looking for some waves to ride and some buddies to kick it with.
“When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)”
Album: The Beach Boys Today!
Year: 1965
The Renaissance ain’t got nothing on “When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)! This song’s use of the harpsichord, albeit an electric one, is a major throwback instrument. The song has a wonderful playfulness to it by using that instrument. The ding dings (look, I’m not a musician) that it creates in the background, combined with the lyrics about wondering what it will be like to grow up, almost give a nursery song feel to it. It’s catchy, lively, and thoughtful all rolled into one sweet tune.
“Surfer Girl”
Album: Surfer Girl
Year: 1963
If there was ever a perfect slow song to be played at a school dance in the 60s, this one was it. Brian Wilson took the lead vocals on this track, and his romantic lyrics, paired with melodic music, makes “Surfer Girl” something to fall in love with. You can really hear the doo-wop inspiration from the 50s on this track with it’s harmonizing and soft cresendos. “Surfer Girl” is my all-time favorite song from The Beach Boys, and my heart melts every time I hear it.
“In My Room”
Album: Surfer Girl
Year: 1963
Released on the album Surfer Girl, “In My Room” has a very similar sound to the song “Surfer Girl”. There are a couple of reasons I love this song. For one, it’s super dreamy. The slow pace and melodic guitar strums can lul me in every time. What I also love is the topic. Kids that are lucky to have their own private space in a home, like a bedroom, can see it as their sanctuary. “In My Room” describes the peace of being in your bedroom, daydreaming, thinking, and not being bothered by other people; it’s such a chill song.
“Good Vibrations”
Released as a single
Year: 1966
“Good Vibrations” (not to be confused with former underwear model Marky Mark’s song) was a departure in the typical Beach Boys sound. It was a psychedelic ditty that used an electro-theremin to create the haunted house, high-pitched noise throughout. The song is also unique because of the uneven tempo; some parts are slightly fast paced, while other parts are slowed down, only to ratchet back up again. The rumor has always been that Brian Wilson was using LSD when he came up with the concept for this song, and it sure as hell sounds that way in the best of ways.
Those were the days, and that’s how a lot of people feel about The Beach Boys and their music. For some, they might’ve heard one of their tunes in a favorite movie, for others, like me, it brings back memories from childhood; their music evokes a sense of nostalgia for many people around the country and the world.