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Song God Only Knows What I Be Without You

Written By Monday, March 14, 2022 Add Comment Edit

1966 song past the Beach Boys

"God Only Knows"
God Only Knows single cover.png
Unmarried by the Beach Boys
from the album Pet Sounds
A-side "Wouldn't It Be Overnice"
Released July 18, 1966 (1966-07-xviii)
Recorded March 10 – April 11, 1966
Studio Western and Columbia, Hollywood
Genre
  • Baroque stone[ane] [ii]
  • avant-pop[three]
Length 2:55
Label Capitol
Songwriter(due south)
  • Brian Wilson
  • Tony Asher
Producer(s) Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Sloop John B"
(1966) 		"God Just Knows"
(1966) 		"Good Vibrations"
(1966)
Licensed audio
"God Only Knows" on YouTube
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

"God Only Knows" is a song by American stone band the Beach Boys from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, it is a Baroque-style love song distinguished for its harmonic innovation and its subversion of typical pop music formula. It is often praised equally ane of the greatest songs ever written and every bit the Embankment Boys' finest record.

The song'south musical sophistication is demonstrated past its multiple contrapuntal vocal parts and weak tonal center (competing between the keys of Eastward and A). Lyrically, the words are expressed from the perspective of a narrator who asserts that life without their lover could only be fathomed by God—an entity that had been considered taboo to name in the title or lyric of a pop vocal. It marked a departure for Wilson, who attributed the impetus for the vocal to Asher'south affinity for standards such every bit "Stella by Starlight". Some interpretations of the lyrics project a suicidal inclination onto the narrator, although Asher said that such impressions were unintentional.

With atomic number 82 vocals by his blood brother Carl, Brian produced the tape between March and April 1966, enlisting most twenty session musicians who variously played drums, sleigh bells, plastic orange juice cups, clarinets, flutes, strings, French horn, squeeze box, guitars, upright bass, harpsichord, and a tack piano with its strings taped. The song ends with a series of repeating vocal rounds, another device that was uncommon for popular music of the era.

"God Only Knows" was issued as the B-side of "Wouldn't Information technology Exist Nice" in July 1966 and peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. In other countries, it was the single's A-side, reaching the top 10 in the UK, Canada, Norway, and holland. Many songwriters take cited "God Merely Knows" as their personal favorite song, including Paul McCartney and Jimmy Webb. In 2004, information technology was included in the Stone and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". In 2021, it was ranked number 11 in Rolling Rock 'due south list of the greatest songs of all fourth dimension.

Inspiration [edit]

"God Only Knows" is among the several songs that Brian Wilson and Tony Asher wrote for the Embankment Boys' Pet Sounds album. Asher felt that information technology was the pair'south most effortless collaboration, remembering that Wilson "spent more time tweaking the instrumental function than we did writing the words!"[4] Recalling "God Only Knows", Wilson acknowledged that he had "not written that kind of vocal" earlier and said, "I retrieve Tony had a musical influence on me somehow. Subsequently about 10 years, I started thinking about information technology deeper ... And I call up him talking nearly [the 1944 standard] 'Stella by Starlight' and he had a certain love for classic songs."[5] Asher concurred that he felt he inspired Wilson to write the song.[6]

Wilson's 1991 memoir states that the melody for "God Only Knows" derived from "a John Sebastian song I had been listening to".[vii] When presented with this information, Asher and Sebastian said they were unaware of such a connection. Biographer Mark Dillon speculated that, if the claim was true, so Wilson'due south inspiration would likely accept been the vocal layering on "You Didn't Take to Be And then Nice", a recent hit past Sebastian'south band the Lovin' Spoonful.[8] [nb one] In later interviews, Wilson said that he wrote "God Only Knows" as an try to match the standard of the Beatles' album Safe Soul (released in December 1965).[10] [eleven] [12] In his recollection, he was under the influence of marijuana and was "and so blown abroad" with the album that he sat at his piano and began writing the song.[10]

Asked about Pet Sounds in various interviews, Wilson frequently emphasized the album's spiritual qualities, maxim that he had held prayer sessions with his blood brother Carl and "kind of made [the album] a religious ceremony."[13] At the time of the song's writing, he was married to vocaliser Marilyn Rovell. Writing in his book about the album, Jim Fusilli noted a endmost phrase Wilson had one time written to his wife in 1964: "Yours 'til God wants the states autonomously."[14] In a 1976 radio interview, Wilson said that the song was not written for anyone in item.[xv] Marilyn, who felt that much of the lyrical content on Pet Sounds was aimed at herself, commented of the song, "I'chiliad the simply ane here, so information technology must be about me. Then I would call up, 'No it wasn't.'"[xvi]

Lyrics [edit]

The starting time fourth dimension I heard it, Brian played it for me at the piano. And I went, "Oh my god, he's talking about God in a tape." It was pretty daring to me. And it was another fourth dimension I thought to myself, "Oh, boy, he's really taking a chance." I idea it was almost too religious. Besides square.

—Wilson'due south and then-married woman Marilyn[xvi]

At the time the song was written, referencing "God" in a title or lyric was generally considered a taboo for pop music, and in that location had been at least i recent case of a record being banned from radio for having words such as "hell" or "damn".[17] Asher said that he and Wilson had "lengthy conversations" virtually the lyric, "because unless y'all were Kate Smith and you were singing 'God Bless America', no one idea you could say "'God' in a song.... He said, 'We'll just never go any air play."[xviii] [nb 2] He believed that Wilson agreed to the title later being told by other people that it was "an opportunity to be really far out [because] it would crusade some controversy, which he didn't mind."[17] Dillon wrote that referring to God may accept also been viewed every bit "a foursquare move" due to the nascent refuse of traditional religion in the U.s..[twenty]

In the lyrics, the narrator anticipates the dissolution of their romantic human relationship, and asserts that life without their lover could only be fathomed by God.[xiii] The deceptive opening line, "I may non always love you" was the discipline of another argument between the songwriters. Co-ordinate to Asher, "I liked that twist, and fought to start the song that style. Working with Brian, I didn't have a whole lot of fighting to practise, but I was certainly willing to fight for the end for that."[21] In the next line, the narrator reassures that they volition be with their lover "so long as there are stars higher up you".[22] Marilyn interpreted the opening lines as autobiographical from Wilson'south point of view: "he knew that I was there and I would never leave him, then he knew that he could abuse me, even though he didn't try to. I was never number one, I was e'er two or three. Merely if I would leave in some kind of a manner, he would get totally distraught."[16]

Of the songs on Pet Sounds, "God But Knows" is the most lyrically ambiguous.[21] Commentators have sometimes attributed a suicidal quality to the protagonist.[23] In the second verse, the narrator declares that "life would go along... should you ever go out me", but if that issue were to occur, then "what practiced would living do me?"[22] The suggested implication is that they would end their life without their lover—an interpretation that Asher said was not intended by himself or Wilson.[23] Among other interpretations, writer James Perone, who referred to the song equally "one of the more unusual expressions of love in a 1960s' pop song", believed that there is "a hint that part of [the character's] 'love' may be self-serving and part of a bike of codependency."[24] Cash Box described the vocal as a "slow-shufflin' tender, romantic ode about a guy who is so much in beloved that he doesn't think that he could go on without his gal."[25]

Asher stated that the intended expression of the song'due south lyrics was "'I'll dear you til the dominicus burns out, then I'grand gone,' ergo 'I'm gonna honey you lot forever.'"[21] Wilson commented that song evolved from "a vision" that they had, "It'south like being blind but in being blind, you lot can encounter more. You close your optics; you're able to see a place or something that's happening."[13]

Composition [edit]

Key ambivalence and motifs [edit]

It'south non really in whatever one key. It's a foreign vocal. That's simply the way it was written.... It's the but song I've ever written that's non in a definite key, and I've written hundreds of songs.

—Brian Wilson, 2008[26]

"God Only Knows" contains a weak tonal center that is closest to Eastward major and, in other sections, A major.[27] [28] Calculation to this, nigh all of the chords are inverted.[29] An East major triad with its bass note in the root position is never invoked, and instead, the 6
4 position is favored.[27] Of the tracks on Pet Sounds, it is the only one that lacks a strongly established principal key center (others apply fundamental ambiguity to a lesser degree), and the just one that modulates its fundamental up a quaternary interval (others descend past a third).[28]

In his volume about Pet Sounds, Charles Granata writes that some of the musical devices that "God Just Knows" employs are usually "rather ordinary" by themselves.[30] [nb three] Nonetheless, in this case, they were executed in a manner that was "far more than sophisticated than anything the Embankment Boys—or any other modern pop vocal group—had washed before."[xxx] According to musicologist James Garratt, the "tonal plasticity" made the song innovative not just in popular music, but as well for the Baroque style it is emulating.[33] He credits the sense of "expansiveness" evoked by the piece to this quality, emphasized by the disuse of authentic cadences and root-position tonics.[ane] Lambert states that "a clear sense of central" eludes the listener "for the entire feel—that in fact, the idea of 'central' has itself been challenged and subverted".[22]

The vocal contains a recurring melodic motif that is reinforced past the lead vocal and the line played on French horn.[34] Musician Andy Gill identified the verse and chorus melodies as variations on the same line, and added that this blazon of melodic variation was "very" similar to the technique as it is used in classical pieces such as Delibes' Lakmé.[35] To Lambert, the song'due south utilize of vocal counterpoints evoked the sacred traditions of a cantata by Bach or an oratorio by Handel.[36] He likened the utilize of sustained strings to those employed past Wilson on the Pet Sounds tracks "Don't Talk (Put Your Caput on My Shoulder)" and "I'yard Waiting for the Day".[22]

Musicologist John Howland argues that information technology is the album'south only rail that can exist accurately described as "baroque-popular", an often-specious term that was not used in disquisitional discussions about Pet Sounds until rock critics in the 1990s began adopting the phrase in reference to artists that the album had influenced.[37] Howland commented that some "classicistic gestures" are present in the orchestration for "God Only Knows", nonetheless, listeners must continue in listen that "orchestral instruments practice not ever signify baroque/classicistic textures".[38]

Intro, verse, and refrain [edit]

A visual representation of the chord progression and melodic structure for the verse (elevation) and refrain (bottom)

"God Merely Knows" starts with an A major chord accompanied by the sounds of accordions, harpsichord, and French horn, which are presently joined past bass, tambourine, and sleigh bells. At this point, the listener may hear the song as being in the cardinal of A, although part of the line played on French horn includes a note (D ♯ ) outside of that key. According to Lambert, "The ear wants to hear the music in the cardinal of A, and is just starting to feel that information technology's okay to dismiss the horn note [until the proceeding verse section]."[22]

The verses brainstorm with a D six
4 chord, weakening the impression of an A primal middle, and is followed by a B minor6 chord, which does not strongly suggest the ascendant (v) chord of East.[22] [27] Equally the verse develops, it gravitates closer to the key of East on the lines "you lot never need to doubt information technology / I'll brand you so sure about it" before entering the hook line, "God only knows what I'd be without you", which begins with a return to an A major chord on the "God only" portion.[22] The verse and refrain then repeats, this time with the addition of a string ensemble, before entering the next section of the composition.[22]

Music theorist Daniel Harrison describes the progression as "highly chromatic" and writes, "in the absenteeism of a potent E tonic, A major seems to make full the vacuum at the tonal center, since information technology is the chord that begins the refrain, and since it receives a strong tonic charge upon the resolution of the chord preceding the refrain. In add-on, the opening chords of the verse, while nondiatonic to the nominative E major tonic, are diatonic to A."[27] Lambert writes that the stop of the refrain "call back[due south] the chord progression of the introduction but... with an fifty-fifty slighter sense of tonal security."[22] In a 2011 interview, Wilson commented that the melody of "I may not e'er love you" resembled the "I hear the sound of music" line from "The Audio of Music".[39]

Break and coda [edit]

Similar many of Wilson's compositions, "God Simply Knows" subverted the then-standard 32-bar A-A-B-A popular song format.[40] Following the second refrain, it segues into an instrumental linking passage, described by Dillon as an "avant-garde and unusually jarring transition for a tender dearest song"[41] Lambert characterizes the passage as "a cyclone of chord relations... based on wedging-together instrumental lines".[22]

The song proceeds to repeat the progression of the verse and refrain, however, transposed up by a fourth and with the add-on of new vocals.[22] Multiple vocal parts are sung in counterpoint, a technique that is distinguished from the "oos" and "ahhs" style of vocals for which the Embankment Boys are known.[forty] Lambert identifies this section as a "choral fantasy" of wordless voices that "climax[es] on a dramatic diminished chord".[22] Music instructor Richard Battista, referring to this climax equally a "sigh" from the singers, said that it is "totally unique in pop music. He didn't borrow that from the Iv Freshmen, or the Everly Brothers, or the Coasters. That sigh is pure Brian Wilson."[42] It concludes once again with the hook line, after which there is a repetition of the second verse.[22]

According to Harrison, "The contest between E and A for tonic control is made clear during the interruption between verse 2 and the recapitulation of verse 1 lyrics.... the allusion to the harmonic structure of the verse is made subtle both by the transposition and by different melodic activity. Only when the music of the at present A-major refrain is encountered do the voices return to their familiar words."[27] [nb 4] Garratt writes, "While the thought of presenting the verse harmonies in the subdominant in the bridge was not new, what is striking here is the smoothness with which the song drops back into the original key – a moment rendered fifty-fifty more arresting by the truncated three-measure phrase that precedes it."[1] Fusilli remarked that Wilson well-nigh "wr[ote] himself into a dead stop", elaborating that "when the song returns to D Major, it must do and then from B minor, which is kind of a static change, particularly when the side by side chord is a B small-scale with just a slight variation in the bass."[43]

The song ends with a concluding coda[22] that features repeating vocal rounds[30]—a centuries-old technique that was highly unusual for pop music of the era—[44] with triplet fills played on a drum kit.[41] Wilson'south 2016 memoir states, "I liked all those sometime songs that used rounds, like 'Row, Row, Row Your Gunkhole' and 'Frère Jacques'. I liked rounds considering they made it seem similar a vocal was something eternal."[45] At its conclusion, Lambert writes, "we hear A major chords that want to provide harmonic stability, but equally before, the chords and vocal lines surrounding them brand us want to think otherwise."[22]

Recording [edit]

Backing track [edit]

Carl Wilson (pictured 1969) sang lead vocal and played 12-cord guitar.

Instrumental tracking for "God Only Knows" began at 12:30a.yard. on March 10, 1966, at the Studio 3 room of Western Studios, Hollywood.[46] The studio space was relatively minor for the 20-some musicians that were hired for the session.[41] Carl joined them on this occasion, playing 12-cord electric guitar.[46] As usual, Brian produced the session with engineer Chuck Britz.[19] [46]

Among the distinguishing features of the system is an repeat-laden "prune-clop" percussion part, sleigh bells played on every beat, and a depression-range melodic phrases played on flute during the latter sections of the song.[24] A strip of masking tape was placed over the strings of a pianoforte while the bottoms of 2 plastic orange juice bottles were used for percussion.[47] Singer Danny Hutton was present at the session, equally he recalled, "[Brian] would hear something incorrect, and bam 'One more than time.' I just sat there and didn't say a word. I had been in sessions where I thought to myself, they should do this and that. Not this time. I just close up. What could I add?"[48] Bruce Johnston, who joined the band a year before, later said that he "didn't realize just how corking" Pet Sounds was going to be until he witnessed this session.[nineteen]

A total of 22 takes were attempted for the vocal.[49] The musicians struggled to play the instrumental interruption to Wilson's satisfaction. To address this issue, pianist Don Randi suggested to Wilson that they play the parts in staccato, rather than in full quarter notes. Wilson enjoyed the effect and incorporated the alter.[41] A string section was subsequently overdubbed onto take 20, marked as "best".[xix] [46] The session concluded at iv:xxxa.yard.[46] The three-runway recording of the instrumental was bounced to i channel of an eight-track tape to allow room for further overdubs.[50]

Vocals [edit]

The starting time round of song overdubs were recorded later that day at Columbia Studios.[19] [nb 5] Brian sang the lead vocal at this juncture,[51] [41] afterwards which he mixed crude edits of the vocal on March 13 and 22.[51] These early mixes featured a discarded saxophone solo in its bridge and a unlike, a capella ending.[51] [nb 6] The ending was a fuller arrangement that included the voices of Marilyn, her sister Diane, and Byrds producer Terry Melcher.[53] In Carl'due south recollection, "[E]everybody got in on it. It was similar 'Come on out here into the studio.' Brian would brand up a little part. That was fun; we listened to it incessantly."[54]

I gave the song to Carl because I was looking for a tenderness and a sweetness which I knew Carl had in himself also as in his voice. He brought dignity to the song and the words, through him, became not a lyric, just real words.

—Brian Wilson, Baronial 1966[55]

On April 11, the ring returned to Columbia to add farther (and ultimately final) vocal overdubs. This time, Carl took on the lead.[56] Dillon suggested that Brian may accept inverse his mind on the lead partly to address concerns over the large percentage of singing roles he was granting himself for the album.[41] According to Carl, Brian later on told him that "God But Knows" was written for his voice: "He says information technology fits my beautiful spirit. I know I shouldn't exist embarrassed by a compliment but..."[56] Carl quoted the functioning instructions he received from his brother: "Don't practice annihilation with it. Only sing it real straight. No try. Accept a jiff. Permit it go easy."[40] He had rarely sung lead on prior Beach Boys songs.[57]

The coda was ultimately scaled downwardly to three lines sung by two voices, Brian and Johnston.[58] 1 of Wilson's lines duplicated the part that had been played on French horn.[53] Johnston recalled, "at the terminate of the session, Carl was actually fried, and he went home.... there were just [me and Brian]. So in the fade, he'southward singing two of the iii parts. He sang the top and the bottom part and I sang in the middle."[58] Of Wilson'south determination to pare down the vocals, "It works considering it caused a perfect vocal-to-track balance, and information technology's not too top-heavy. It's brilliant—a fine case of 'less is more.'"[58]

The 1996 stereo mix of the vocal, created past Mark Linett for The Pet Sounds Sessions box set up, does not characteristic the aforementioned singers on the fade-out. Linett explained in the liner notes, "Brian's vocal at the start of the fade of 'God But Knows' is missing on the multi track having been sung past Carl sometime after the mix Brian used on the original tape had been created. The part doesn't be separate from the rails so... it'south not available for the stereo mix."[59]

Release [edit]

The Beach Boys (from left: Brian, Al Jardine, Carl) in the promotional film for the vocal (April 25, 1966)[60]

"God Only Knows" was offset released on May fourteen, 1966, as the opening runway of side two on Pet Sounds.[61] In its review of the album, Disc & Music Repeat referred to the song every bit "a standard precious stone with its hymnal feel."[62] Norman Jopling of Record Mirror decreed that information technology had "a rollicking salvationist season only isn't going to convert anyone."[63] Spencer Davis, frontman of the Spencer Davis Group, praised the vocal as the anthology's "most fantastic track" for a contemporaneous survey conducted past Melody Maker.[62] At the proffer of Johnston, Tony Rivers and the Castaways recorded a version of the song, which was issued nearly a week earlier the Beach Boys released their version as a single.[64]

Brian had wanted to event "God Merely Knows" as a solo tape past Carl, only co-ordinate to Carl, "'Good Vibrations', which should have been our next single, didn't plough out the way Brian wanted. Nosotros had to have another release and so ['God Only Knows' came out as a Beach Boys single]."[65] On July xviii, the song was issued every bit the B-side of the "Wouldn't It Be Nice" single in the US.[65] Radio programmers ultimately hesitated to add together the song to their playlists due to the discussion "God".[66] On September 24, it peaked in the Billboard charts separately from the A-side, at number 39. It was ultimately their concluding B-side to chart there.[65] Later reports suggest that the song was banned from radio in parts of the southern U.s., a claim that is likely spurious.[67]

In other countries, the sides of the single were reversed, with "God Only Knows" equally the A-side. On July 22, it was released as the grouping'southward third Pet Sounds single in the UK, debuting at number 30 on the Record Retailer chart. It peaked at number two on Baronial 27, behind the Beatles' "Yellowish Submarine" / "Eleanor Rigby".[65] In September, "God Only Knows" reached number 4 in Canada's RPM chart and number 24 on France's Music Media Monthly chart.[68] In Oct, the single peaked at number 11 in holland and number 6 in Norway.[69] In November, coinciding with the band's first tour of the Britain, a God Only Knows EP was issued there. It contained the title rail, "Here Today", "Sloop John B", and "Wouldn't It Be Dainty".[70]

Responding to the group'due south growing popularity among the British, a promotional pic for the song, directed by band publicist Derek Taylor, was filmed for the United kingdom's Elevation of the Pops on April 25.[60] The picture featured the group (minus Johnston) at Lake Arrowhead, flailing around in grotesque horror masks and playing Quondam Maid.[71] The clip originally ran for 5 minutes and incorporated excerpts of "Wouldn't It Exist Prissy", "Hither Today", and "God Only Knows". Due to concerns from the BBC over the horror masks, the clip was later trimmed and re-cut to feature merely "God Only Knows".[72] It premiered on BBC-i on August 4, with a repeat airing on September one.[60]

Live performances [edit]

One of the few joys of seeing the Beach Boys in concert... was to hear Carl sing "God Only Knows." Even after adding a few backing musicians, the group actually couldn't replicate Pet Sounds in a live setting with their limited instrumentation. Merely... he would offering a sweetness, understated "God Only Knows" that would exist the musical loftier indicate of the plan.

—Jim Fusilli, The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds (2005)[73]

The Beach Boys started adding the vocal to their alive setlists on July 28, 1966, at a concert in Massachusetts.[74] Reviewing their belatedly 1966 European bout, Melody Maker critic Mike Henessey decreed that the alive arrangement "sounded a footling thin compared with the recorded [version]."[75] Ray Coleman of Disc & Music Echo mentioned that performances of the song, however, still drew an "expected huge applause".[76]

On August 25, 1967, the band (with Brian and minus Johnston) performed "God Just Knows" at a filmed concert in Hawaii. Footage of them playing the song at this show was later included in the 1984 documentary An American Ring.[77] On September 11, 1967, the band recorded another studio version of the song for a discarded, nominal live album known as Lei'd in Hawaii. Information technology was afterwards released on the 1998 compilation Endless Harmony Soundtrack.[78]

During their 50th-anniversary reunion bout, in 2012, the group played along to a pre-recorded vocal track taken from Carl's 1980 performance of the song at Knebworth. Mike Love said of Carl in a contemporary study, "Nobody ever could or will sing 'God Only Knows' as beautifully equally he did. Information technology'southward miserable that he'due south not at that place with us. Carl was the real stickler for making the ring audio as admittedly perfect equally could be. That influence is still felt to this 24-hour interval."[79] The original performance was released on the 2002 live album Good Timin': Live at Knebworth England 1980.

Recognition and legacy [edit]

"God Just Knows" is often praised as 1 of the greatest songs ever written,[33] every bit the Beach Boys' finest record,[lxxx] as Carl's best vocal performance,[81] and every bit Brian's most quintessential work.[xiii] Writing in his book America in the Sixties (2010), historian John Robert Greene identified the song as "one of the well-nigh complex—and beautiful—songs in the annals of American popular music" and credited it with remaking "the ideal of the pop love song.[82] Granata deemed "God Only Knows" a musically and technically impressive accomplishment that Wilson and the Beach Boys never repeated on their subsequent records.[lxxx] In 2012, music journalist Dan Caffrey argued that the descriptor "teenage symphony to God", originally reserved for the ring's Smile album, was better suited for "God Only Knows". He wrote that the song "has resonated with generations of music fans just considering of its concept", before concluding, "The entire world will listen to it for years to come."[83]

Among Wilson's associates, Asher reflected, "This is the one that I thought would exist a hitting record, because it was so incredibly cute... I estimate that in the terminate, [it] is the song that nigh people think, and beloved the most."[21] Carl referred to it as "the classic example [of Brian's writing] that takes it to a new plateau."[34] Johnston opined that the song marked Carl'due south finest song operation: "Carl's vocal doubling is splendid—peculiarly when he sings 'O what good would living do me?' He goes up a major third there, and it's merely as clean equally a whistle."[40] The Wilsons' mother Audree commented, "What can you say about it? I still think it's 1 of his greatest pieces. I love it. And then many times, I have thought how incredible it is that information technology's my son, my sons who did that."[84] Don Randi remarked of the song, "That one, they should give to every music class, and say 'Here, do this 1. Do it a capella.' Give 'em a key note and see what happens. There'll be a lot of suicides."[85]

"God Only Knows" has occasionally appeared in other media. It served as a musical cue in the films Boogie Nights (1997) and Beloved Actually (2003).[86] Writer Thomas Pynchon paid homage to the song by incorporating information technology into the closing paragraphs of his Wilson-inspired novel Inherent Vice (2009).[87] The 2013 video game BioShock Infinite contains a turn-of-the-century barbershop quartet that sings the song while floating by the player on an airship.[88] The vocal was likewise used in the opening credits of the HBO series, Big Love.[89]

Other songwriters [edit]

Many songwriters, including Paul McCartney and Jimmy Webb, have cited "God Only Knows" as their personal favorite song.[fourscore]

  • McCartney proclaimed that information technology was "the greatest song e'er written".[91] His ain "Airheaded Beloved Songs" (1976) incorporated a build-up of vocal counterpoints in the aforementioned style as "God Only Knows".[90] Wilson felt uncomfortable with the praise and said in 1976 that if McCartney's "greatest song" assertion was true, "[then] what was there left for me to do?"[92] [nb 7] In 2002, Wilson and McCartney performed the song as a duet at the Adopt-A-Minefield Benefit Gala in Los Angeles. McCartney afterward said that he was so overwhelmed by Wilson'due south presence that he "broke downwards" during the soundcheck rehearsals.[94]
  • Bono remarked that the string system was "fact and proof of angels."[95]
  • Barry Gibb said that it "blew the meridian of my head off... My first thought was, oh love, I'chiliad wasting my time, how can I ever compete with that? We've [the Bee Gees] been competing with that e'er since."[95]
  • Margo Guryan said that the vocal inspired her to pursue a career in pop music instead of jazz piano. She said, "I freaked [when a friend played me the song]. I thought information technology was just gorgeous. I bought the record and played information technology a one thousand thousand times, and then sat downwardly and wrote 'Think of Pelting.'"[96]
  • John Lennon, according to Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner, "said he actually dug [the song] and the world perked upwards".[97]
  • Pete Townshend said, "'God Simply Knows' is simple and elegant and was stunning when it first appeared; it still sounds perfect".[95]
  • Webb enjoyed its Baroque influence and felt that information technology "represents the whole tradition of liturgical music that I experience is a spiritual part of Brian'due south music. And Carl'south singing is pretty much at its pinnacle—every bit adept equally it ever got."[80]

Accolades and polls [edit]

As of 2021[update], "God Simply Knows" is listed as the 16th highest rated song of all time on Acclaimed Music.[98]

  • In 2004, it was ranked number 25 in Rolling Stone 's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[86]
  • In 2006, it topped Pitchfork 'south list of the finest songs of the 1960s. Dominique Leone contributed for its entry, "if you lot demand a tie into the legacy of 1960s youth culture, glance no further than the naïve only strained optimism locked inside this vocal."[99]
  • In 2008, Popdose staff members ranked it the best single of the previous l years, writing, "It is simply ane of the nigh beautifully composed and arranged songs in the history of not just pop music, just Western music. To place 'God Merely Knows' in its proper context is to [identify it with] 1836 Frédéric Chopin."[100]
  • In a 2012 reader'south poll conducted by Rolling Stone, it was voted the best Beach Boys song; the editors wrote that it had won "by a significant margin" and added that it was "ane of the well-nigh center-melting beloved songs ever penned... gorgeous in its form and sentiment".[101]
  • In 2012, it topped Issue of Sound 's list of the "100 Greatest Songs of All Time".[83]
  • In 2016, information technology topped Paste 's listing of "The 100 All-time Songs of the 1960s".[102]
  • In 2021, information technology was re-ranked number eleven in Rolling Stone 's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[103]

Cover versions [edit]

"God Simply Knows" has been covered past a wide variety of artists that includes Andy Williams, Neil Diamond, Olivia Newton-John, Glen Campbell, David Bowie, Joss Stone, Mandy Moore, Michael Stipe, Rivers Cuomo, JR JR, and Taylor Swift.[86] In 2007, Lyle Lovett performed a rendition of the song during Wilson'southward Kennedy Center Honor commemoration. Wilson later said it was "the best version I ever heard, including the Beach Boys."[104]

BBC Music version [edit]

"God Only Knows"
God-Only-Knows-BBC-Music.jpg
Single by Brian Wilson and various artists
Released October 7, 2014 (2014-10-07)
Recorded 2014
Length 2:25
Label BBC Music
Songwriter(south)
  • Brian Wilson
  • Tony Asher
Producer(s) Ethan Johns
Brian Wilson singles chronology
"The Like in I Love You"
(2011) 		"God Only Knows"
(2014) 		"The Right Time"
(2015)
Music video
"God But Knows – BBC Music" on YouTube

To commemorate the launch of BBC Music, a comprehend version of the vocal was simulcast across BBC tv and radio channels on October 7, 2014. It featured an assortment of artists (including Wilson himself) that were collectively credited as the Incommunicable Orchestra. The music video, directed past François Rousselet, showed the artists in lavish, fantastical computer generated settings.[105] The rails was released the following twenty-four hour period as a clemency single for Children in Need 2014.[106]

Wilson said: "All of the artists did such a beautiful task ... I tin can't thank them plenty, I'm simply honored that 'God Only Knows' was chosen. 'God Only Knows' is a very special vocal. An extremely spiritual song and one of the best I've ever written."[107] However, the promotion drew much of the same criticisms that were afforded to the BBC'south 1997 version of "Perfect Day".[105] [nb eight]

Accompanied past the BBC Concert Orchestra, each of the following performers are listed in order of appearance, singing vocals unless otherwise specified:[110]

  • Martin James Bartlett – celeste
  • Pharrell Williams
  • Emeli Sandé
  • Elton John (the only creative person who also performed on the 1997 version of "Perfect Day")
  • Lorde
  • Chris Martin
  • Brian Wilson
  • Florence Welch
  • Kylie Minogue
  • Stevie Wonder – vocals, harmonica
  • Eliza Carthy
  • Nicola Benedetti – violin
  • Jools Holland – pianoforte
  • Brian May – electrical guitar
  • Jake Bugg
  • Katie Derham – violin
  • Tees Valley Youth Choir
  • Alison Balsom – piccolo trumpet
  • One Direction
  • Jaz Dhami
  • Paloma Faith
  • Chrissie Hynde
  • Jamie Cullum
  • Baaba Maal
  • Danielle de Niese
  • Dave Grohl
  • Sam Smith

Lauren Laverne, Gareth Malone, and Zane Lowe besides appear in the video.[111]

Personnel [edit]

Per band archivist Craig Slowinski.[46]

The Beach Boys

  • Bruce Johnston – bankroll vocals
  • Brian Wilson – backing vocals
  • Carl Wilson – atomic number 82 vocals, 12-string electric guitar

Guest

  • Terry Melcher – tambourine

Session musicians (too known as "the Wrecking Crew")

  • Hal Blaine – drums and sleigh bells
  • Carl Fortina – accordion
  • Jim Gordon – plastic orange juice cups
  • Bill Green – flute and alto flute
  • Leonard Hartman – clarinet and bass clarinet
  • Jim Horn – flute and alto flute
  • Carol Kaye – 12-string electric guitar
  • Larry Knechtel – harpsichord
  • Jay Migliori – clarinet
  • Frank Kingdom of morocco – accordion
  • Ray Pohlman – electric bass guitar
  • Don Randi – tack piano with taped strings
  • Alan Robinson – French horn
  • Lyle Ritz – upright bass

The Sid Precipitous Strings

  • Jesse Erlich – cello
  • Leonard Malarsky – violin
  • Sid Precipitous – violin
  • Darrel Terwilliger – viola

Technical staff

  • Chuck Britz – engineer (track)
  • Ralph Valentin – engineer (vocals)
  • "Don T." (uncertain) – second engineer (vocals)

Charts [edit]

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ The band were touring with the Beach Boys in March 1966.[9]
  2. ^ Although it has been suggested that it was the kickoff pop song to mention "God" in the title,[xix] another song with a similar lyrical message called "God Only Knows" was recorded in 1954 by the doo-wop combo the Capris.[13]
  3. ^ Some also appear in Wilson's before songs. For example, "California Girls" avoids a root-position tonic and suppresses a cadential drive,[31] while "Kiss Me, Baby" featured complicated song layering.[32]
  4. ^ He declared, "There is no moment in rock music more than harmonically and formally subtle than this transition. Information technology is the apex of Brian Wilson's first menstruum of formal experimentation."[27]
  5. ^ A session in which the band too worked on "I'm Waiting for the Day", "Wouldn't Information technology Exist Nice", and "I Just Wasn't Fabricated for These Times".[nineteen]
  6. ^ Granata surmised that the solo was based on the Four Seasons' music.[52]
  7. ^ Journalist Nick Kent quoted Wilson, "Like, if 'God Just Knows' is the greatest vocal ever written, then I'll never write annihilation equally good again! And if I never write anything as good, then I'm finished. I'yard a has-been and a wash-up, just similar everyone keeps saying."[93]
  8. ^ Adam Sherwin wrote in The Independent: "With its message, that the BBC 'owns' the unabridged musical waterfront and licence-fee payers would exercise well to call back that, it is the kind of propaganda motion picture an autocratic regime sensing that its legitimacy is aging might produce."[108] Writing for The Guardian, Alex Petridis observed "There'due south clearly something a piffling self-aggrandising about the BBC getting a raft of stars to sing an unambiguous song of undying devotion plain to the corporation itself.... maybe we should forgive them three minutes of cocky-congratulation, especially when information technology's raising money for clemency."[109]

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  7. ^ Wilson & Gold 1991, p. 138.
  8. ^ Dillon 2012, p. 112.
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Bibliography [edit]

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  • Dillon, Marker (2012). Fifty Sides of the Beach Boys: The Songs That Tell Their Story. ECW Press. ISBN978-1-77041-071-8.
  • Fusilli, Jim (2005). Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN978-one-4411-1266-8. Archived from the original on January vii, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  • Garratt, James (2014). "Values and Judgments". In Downes, Stephen (ed.). Aesthetics of Music: Musicological Perspectives. Routledge. ISBN978-1-136-48691-iii. Archived from the original on May 1, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  • Granata, Charles L. (2003). Wouldn't information technology Exist Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. Chicago Review Press. ISBN978-i-55652-507-0.
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  • Lambert, Philip (2007). Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding Genius. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN978-1-4411-0748-0. Archived from the original on Nov 9, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
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  • Kirkey, Christopher (2019). "Good Authentic Vibrations: The Embankment Boys, California, and Pet Sounds". In Lovell, Jane; Hitchmough, Sam (eds.). Actuality in North America: Place, Tourism, Heritage, Culture and the Popular Imagination. Taylor & Francis. pp. 41–threescore. ISBN978-0-429-80234-8. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved Nov 20, 2020.
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Further reading [edit]

  • Sellars, Jeff, ed. (2015). God Only Knows: Religion, Hope, Love, and The Embankment Boys. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN978-ane-4982-0767-half-dozen.

External links [edit]

  • Lyrics
  • Brian Wilson and George Martin dissect The Beach Boys' 'God Only Knows' back in 1997
  • God Only Knows (Instrumental Stereo Mix) on YouTube
  • God Simply Knows (Live At Michigan State University/1966) on YouTube
  • God Only Knows ("Lei'd In Hawaii" / Studio Stereo Mix) on YouTube
  • The Beach Boys - God Only Knows (From "Good Timin: Alive At Knebworth" DVD) on YouTube
  • God Simply Knows (Live At Jamaican World Music Festival, Montego Bay, Jamaica/1982) on YouTube
  • Brian Wilson "God Just Knows" - Late Show #PlayAtHome on YouTube

yocumbince1986.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Only_Knows

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