Find out more at www.bbc.co.uk/music The Beach Boys' masterpiece God Only Knows remade with the help of a few friends to celebrate the launch of BBC Music. See who’s who in the video: bbc.in/1vUMGLp
People that came here and bashed artists featured in the video truly missed the point. At the very end, it says, "For the love of music." This whole thing, besides being a promotional stunt, was to show how artists from around the world and all different genres can connect to a single song. 'God Only Knows' is known widely as one of the greatest pieces in musical history, which is why artists from One Direction to Stevie Wonder to Lorde to Paloma Faith to Dave Grohl have such a respect for the song. Music is only of the few connectors left in society, it is not meant to divide. You have every right to dislike an artist's style or voice, but to discredit them and their fanbase completely is the opposite of the intent here.
This was the best written comment I have ever read on a video of any kind. You are a very well spoken person and this comment was really needed on this particular video. Wow that was an amazing comment.
+JB P I think it's also cool how much the Beach Boys and the Beatles built off of each other. Like the Beatles made one of the greatest folk albums of all time, Rubber Soul, which inspired the Beach Boys to make one of the greatest pop albums of all time, Pet Sounds, which inspired the Beatles to make one of the greatest albums of all time, Revolver. If only Brian didn't have his issues with the band post-Pet Sounds, we would have been able to have 5 or so years of them battling each other for top spot.
@@nievesofficial not only one of the beach boys, but the writer, producer, and singer in most if not all of their best work... god only knows is an example of that
For the non-musicians amongst us; This song was written in 2 different keys, A Major and D major (Bass line) played at the same time. That is simply mind blowing considering that music is math. There are 12 steps (notes etc) to a key. To write at 24 notes "in your head" is simply unfathomable, yet Brian Wilson was able to "hear" this in his head and then transpose this into a song. Simply incredible! Say what you want, but this song transcribes our normal abilities as humans to put into a normal song's structure, yet he was able too. Enjoy greatness when you hear it people. THIS song is greatness.
Eddie Edmo I can not agree with you more. I have learnt how to play this on the piano. It is truly genius, the chord/Bass composition quality is rarely heard, while still being immediately gorgeous to the ear. To think he was only 24 when he wrote this.
Eddie Edmo if you haven't seen it I recommend the film Love and Mercy, shows Brian Wilson's amazing talent and all his struggles. Paul Dano and John Cusack (both playing BW) are INCREDIBLE.
Eddie Edmo you do realise a major and d major have one different note between them.... and there are 7 different pitches to a key, not 12, there are literally 12 pitches total in an octave, so 24 notes is a bit off-base i mean not to discredit the work or anything, but it seems like you don't know what you're saying
Are they famous or something? (I mean apart from the obvious ones like Elton, Brian May or Stevie Wonder... I think I recognize the singer of Coldplay and the guy that sings the "happy" song)
This still never fails to bring a tear to my eye. Musicians, singers from every genre of music coming together in literal harmony to cover one of the greatest songs of all time with the legend himself, Brian Wilson. I never used to like The Beach Boys when I was a kid. But as a musician myself, my dad (who’s favourite band is The Beach Boys) really opened my eyes to what musical geniuses they are. Especially Brian. He’s a visionary.
0:24 Martin James Bartlett (BBC Young Musician of the Year) 0:33 Pharrell Williams 0:38 Emeli Sande 0:43 Elton John 0:46 Lorde 0:50 Chris Martin (Coldplay) 0:58 Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) 1:02 Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine) 1:07 Kylie Minogue 1:11 Stevie Wonder 1:15 Eliza Carthy 1:20 Nicola Benedetti 1:24 Jools Holland 1:25 Brian May (Queen) 1:28 Jake Bugg 1:33 Katie Derham 1:34 Lauren Laverne 1:39 Gareth Malone 1:42 Alison Balsom 1:46 One Direction 1:50 Zane Lowe 1:54 Jaz Dhami 2:02 Paloma Faith 2:08 Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) 2:11 Jamie Cullum 2:16 Baaba Maal 2:18 Danielle de Niese 2:24 Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) 2:27 Sam Smith 2:35 Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)
The cinematography and graphic design is incredible, the music collaboration is incredible, the song is incredible. One of, if not the best music videos ever.
You can see the pain in Brian's eyes, knowing he's singing his brothers song. He always said Carl had the voice, and Dennis imo was the second best in TBB's. R.I.P. Carl & Dennis
Singing his brothers song is the wrong way to describe it imo, it was written by Brian and Tony Asher and produced by Brian so it is their song. Carl did the lead vocal.
@@j.c7719 According to Carl, Brian told him that "God Only Knows" was written for his voice: He said it fits his beautiful spirit. So while you are right with the writing credits, it overall is Carls song. Ryan Tedder wrote 'Halo', but everyone knows it as Beyonce's song.
@@marlonrando9272 I get what you’re saying but to me, the person who wrote and produced the song should have it credited as their song, same with Ryan Tedder, Carole King, Diane Warren all songwriters like that, even though another voice is more commonly associated with or fitted the song perfectly, they still can’t claim it as their song as without the songwriter and producer it wouldn’t exist no way.
@@j.c7719 I think this is a really neat distinction, and it could go back and forth depending on the songwriters and artists... In many many cases you can 'give' the singer the song, and you'd be right, due to the associations. But this song is kind of different... Brian pretty much built the sound of the Beach Boys, and then made all the music to Pet Sounds, and this song, while all of the others were away (I think), and then gifted the song to Carl. Or perhaps I'd think of it another way. I don't know anything about Beyonce but if people went around calling Halo someone else's song (even if he were the writer) she seems like she might be miffed. Maybe not- she seems nice! BUT... I bet if you were to ask Brian who's song it was, he'd say, "I wrote it for Carl." And if you asked Carl (I know, you can't), he'd probably say, "my brother Brian wrote it and said here you sing it." Kind of a gift of the Magi thing. I figure that's good enough?
Just for those of you who dont know; that guy at 0:57 and 2:34 is Brian Wilson the man who wrote and produced the song, along with many of the Beach Boys' best hits like Good Vibrations.
Brian Wilson is a singular talent. Many in today's generation wouldn't know him, but for singers and songwriters, producers and arrangers, Brian Wilson is a freaking musical god. This video just makes me feel good. For my money, it's one of the very best love songs ever written.
@@colleenmahony8803 Brian Wilson is a musical genius but we mustn't forget Tony Asher who wrote the lyrics. Paul McCartney said it's 'the greatest' song ever written.
In order of appearance: Martin James, Pharrell Williams, Emeli Sande, Elton John, Lorde, Chris Martin, Brian Wilson, Florence Welch, Kylie Minogue, Stevie Wonder, Eliza Carthy, Nicola Benedetti, Jools Holland, Brian May, Jake Bugg, Katie Derham, Lauren Laverne, Gareth Malone, Alison Balsom, One Direction, Zane Lowe, Jaz Dhami, Paloma Faith, Chrissie Hynde, Jamie Cullum, Baaba Maal, Danielle de Niese, Dave Grohl, Sam Smith.
It's amazing how they reached in together really different artists with different styles, from music history legends like Brian May, Elton John, Dave Grohl and Brian Wilson to New generation singers like Jake Bugg, the One Direction, Lorde and Sam Smith. Truly amazing.
Ok, can we just appreciate what this is? It's a bunch of true musician's coming together to sing and provide a rendition of one of the greatest pieces of music ever written and recorded! Hats off!
Surprised not to see Paul McCartney here considering it was his favourite song of all time and inspired him to write one of his very best "Here, there and everywhere"
I think that's really cool, that someone with the songwriting resume of Paul McCartney finds himself emotionally overwhelmed by someone else's song. That's a powerful endorsement, if ever there was!
t makes me really sad that you all are only watching this video for those 2 guys .GOD only knows is one of the most iconic songs of all time .Instead of celebreating this song or appreciating the beach boys who wrote this song and changed the whole world and the music industry for good, you are talking about two guys staring at each other .pET sounds is none of the most iconic albums of all time .
This is the best song of rock and pop, from history. Le´t´s, face it! Bryan Wilson, genius of our era! Even Paul McCartney said, how perfect this song is.
@@marvinmartian8396 well I seem to run into someone who has a very basic argument such as "the music don't mean shit" and so forth for litteraly every artist/band/project there is
@ot5luvs :D exactly i dont even ship larry, like im not gonna ship people until they themselves are comfortable enough to come out, like if they do ever come out, i will ship them, and i will support them, but we should respect their relationships, and not ship them and respect that fact that some of the boys like to be classified as straight.
i remember hearing this for the first time years ago and loving it. i adore the original, and so i loved this version. i searched it up today for pure nostalgia’s sake and ended up repeating it and crying each time it played. there’s something so beautiful about it. the ending with brian wilson, his voice somewhat cracking, makes me feel so warm and peaceful. this really is one of the best covers of any song i’ve heard in quite a while
He didn't write it for Carl. He wrote it for his wife Marylin... He was originally going to sing it himself and there is actually outtakes on youtube of him singing tyhe lead. He just thought in the end that it suited Carl's voice better and so Carl sang the lead in the final version we all hear
It’s 2023 and I still love this just as much as I did 8 years ago when it came out 🥲❤ I was 18 then and 26 now with two kids and another on the way, man it’s crazy how the time passes.
The love of my life died a year ago. This was our anthem. God only knows how I'll cope without him. I loved this. He would have absolutely treasured it. Thank you.
R.I.P. I am sorry for you (don't press 'read more' if you don't really have to) But comment section is not a place for saying things like this, it's for commenting the video cuz community doesn't give a f*** about you, sry 😐:)
Brian Wilson was a genius while writing, producing & singed with the Beach Boys. So happy he was included in this compilation video. Everyone should own a copy of "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys...
It's kind of funny reading through some of the comments on here. Some people referring to Brian Wilson as a genius, and a lot of other people thinking to themselves "who is that man sitting at the piano at the end of the song, and why are they calling him a genius? He hardly looks or sounds like one!". It's true that life hasn't been kind to Brian and he has suffered a lot of mental health issues over the years, but that is another story. Brian Wilson was the leader of the The Beach Boys. In the 1960's, Brian composed, sang on, arranged and produced about 90% of their records. By the time the Beach Boys recorded God Only Knows for their Pet Sounds album in 1966, he had already produced about 8 other studio albums in the space of 3 years. By the time God Only Knows was originally released, Brian was only 23 years old! Brian co wrote God Only Knows with Tony Asher. Brian composed the music and Asher provided the lyrics. Brian would then arrange for about 20 top session musicians to come to the recording studio so he could record the backing track. Apparently, Brian never had much in the way of written music to give to the musicians when they entered a recording session. He would literally sit down with each musician in turn and tell or show them exactly what he wanted them to play and they would write it down. In some cases, he may actually sing a part to a certain musician. Nothing was really worked out or written out before hand, the whole arrangement was in his head! Once the backing track was recorded, he would then overdub the Beach Boys vocals. In the same way as before, the group would sit around the piano, and he would sing everybody their individual part. In the case of God Only Knows, he got his brother Carl to sing the lead. Brian's sings the fade out at the end along with Bruce Johnston. Once everything is recorded, he would then mix everything down (usually in mono) to a master tape and submit it to Capitol Records for release. Basically, Brian Wilson is in total control of the whole process from start to finish with limited help from others, in charge of top musicians in the business and only 23 years old. These are just some of the reasons why he is highly regarded as a musical creative genius! What makes his efforts even more outstanding is the fact that he is almost completely deaf in his right ear! (another reason for mixing records in mono).
Thank you for giving the history behind this song and explaining the genius of Brian Wilson. It's a shame that there aren't more people like Brian around, but I think the reason is so we can appreciate what he's done for music. If everybody could do what he's done, it wouldn't be as special.
One of the most beautiful things here is Brian is clearly singing the song here with the way he goes for the high note (of course it's overdubbed with a studio recording), instead of just mouthing it as if he's singing perfectly without effort. Beautiful.
@@HABLA_GUIRRRI It strikes me the bottled tricks of pickled artists is still superior to the contrived innane predictable shit we get from those fresh young faces.
I came here just to watch One Directions but but I didn't know what part they were in so I watched the whole thing and I'm in love with this. I love how BBC brought all these different, but extremely talented, artist to recreate this song. Truly beautiful and I think I'm going to have to listen to some of these artists' music if they sound this good on their own.
His line is one of the reasons that I wish they had whole versions by each artist. Not to deminish this piece but because they each do it so well that I am left wanting more. Like lots and lots more.
I love the fact that one direction sang my favourite part from this beautiful song and I am a huge beach boys fan so when I listen to 1D singing this song it makes me really happy :)
+Ryan, Musiq I'm not a little girl, quit assuming things and yes I listen to a wide variety of music and different music genres, some things may not be your cup of tea but I don't just listen to one direction; if you can't understand how I can listen to something like the beach boys and one direction then you sir keep that to yourself because your comment was completely unnecessary.
+Ryan, Musiq Please stop being arrogant for goodness sake. People love and enjoy different things. People can think that One Direction are absolutely amazing and talented. Is it gonna kill you? It will? That's too bad. People are not gonna stop enjoying their music because you say it's impossible. Just accept it and move.
As a teenager probably one of the best songs ever written. Beatles,Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Bee gees, Simon & Garfunkel 60’s era is the best era of music
That Danielle de Niese has an incredible voice, but I just don't think it was right for this song. Her last few words were at about the right pitch. Eliza McCarthy used her voice perfectly, IMO.
Here is the full cast list and the lines they sing/perform: Martin James Bartlett - celeste Pharrell Williams - I may not always love you Emeli Sande - But as long as there are stars above you Elton John - You never need to doubt it Lorde - I’ll make you so sure about it Chris Martin - God only knows what I’d be without you Brian Wilson - If you should ever leave me (piano) Florence Welch - Well life would still go on believe me Kylie Minogue - The world could show nothing to me Stevie Wonder - So what good would living do me Eliza Carthy - God only knows what I’d be without you Nicola Benedetti - violin Jools Holland - piano Brian May - electric guitar Jake Bugg - lalalala Katie Derham - violin Tees Valley Youth Choir - God only knows Alison Balsom - piccolo trumpet One Direction - God only knows what I’d be without you Jaz Dhami - God only knows what I’d be without you Paloma Faith - God only knows what I’d be without you Chrissie Hynde - God only knows Jamie Cullum - God only knows what I’d be without you Baaba Maal - God only knows Danielle de Niese - God only knows what I’d be without you Dave Grohl - God only Knows Sam Smith - God only knows what I’d be without you Brian Wilson - God only knows what I’d be without you
Instead of arguing about One Direction being there or for the song having the word "God" in it, let's just enjoy the fact that so many artists came together. They have their own voices, and they're all talented in some way. You don't get to see this kind of stuff very often, so let's just appreciate the work and enjoy the music.
i know right D: i mean, when did it become right to bash on artists? i honestly don't like one direction but i don't go around calling them faggots. plus if you hate an artist that much, just keep it to yourself, not comment it. i mean they have feelings too :(
This is just breathtaking. Made me shed a tear after watching it, they all sound so beautiful and the visuals are out of this world! Great performance from everyone ❤️
Don’t know many names most people are commenting about, I’m sincerely sorry. All I know is this is the greatest song in what’s arguably the most influential album ever, so much so that Elton absolutely loves it and claims it changed how he sees music almost 60 years ago. And I’m sure he was thrilled to perform this one (I wouldn’t surprised to know he suggested it, it’d be kinda weird that the BBC chose an American song otherwise). Hope enough people recognised the legend who wrote it.
Yeah they only sang to each other, whispered a LOT on stage, ate candy thong off of each other , has tons of matching tattoos, “when ever we had to share beds at hotel rooms zayn and harry would go mad if they didn’t share the same bed “- niall horan , “ Harry’s curly hair and an amazing smile a GORGEOUS GORGEOUS green eye is what makes harry beautiful -zayn malik “ , “ if i was a girl i would probably have a crush on zayn he’s just pretty isn’t he , pretty boy just look at him” -harry styles “ he(harry) is my rock “ - zayn malik And the list goes on and on ....... But remember they never really talked to each other 😌
I heard and understand from this video it is'' for the love of music". God only knows, it is right and it is the greatest piece in musical history. I think not only God only knows but also humans know too. God teaches the knowledge of knowing to the human. I like this music and song.
