Hip Hop Fan's First Time Hearing Beach Boys - Good Vibrations 

Honestly, I'm not really a Beach Boy fan, but man, oh man, there is absolutely no denying that Brian Wilson was mainlining some serious magical musical genius when he conceived and made Pet Sounds.

It's a theremin making that spooky sound. It's kind of an old-fashioned instrument of the future used in horror films of 50s and 60s.

This song is so well produced. When it came out, it was the most expensive song ever recorded, adjusted for inflation, it might still be. It was stuff like this and the album Pet Sounds that inspired the Beatles to push their limits.

Let's set it straight, the Beach Boys were one of the most influential groups of all time. When the Beatles are jealous of you and try to imitate your sound, that really says something. The arrangements, lyrics, melodies, and interweaving harmonies are really second to none. Keep listening. As a hard rock/metal/grunge guy at heart, I'm telling you, they cannot be ignored. (btw, I rarely talk about the reviewer, but I like your style. You really listen and don't just sit there making facing trying only to get views. Good on ya, mate!)

Why I love The Beach Boys… there had never been anything like them before, and really nothing since. Their lyrics were incredibly relatable as a teenager. They sang about the life we were experiencing, and a life we wish we were experiencing, 😂, in an incredibly appealing manner. They were popular across a wide spectrum. Really, the only American group to compete with the Beatles in sales and popularity in the mid 60’s

The masterpiece. This song shook pop and became a world wide #1...

The Beach Boys came to fame thru Surf Music in the early 60s. When this came out from them it was quite the switch and quite a hit. It still holds up after all these years.

To be honest, I’m not much of a Beach Boys fan. However, the Pet Sounds album which included this track, was a breakthrough in music production. It’s a genuine masterpiece.

This is easily the best song Brian Wilson ever wrote. He worked out all the musical arrangements with the wrecking crew!

Some of the most important music from any rock group. If you only think of The Beach Boys as sunny surf, you are missing them from 1966 - 1973. Brian Wilson is possibly the most important musician/composer/producer in American history. No exaggeration. This song you just have to listen to all the way through. And it's NOT a Theremin playing. It's an Electro-Theremin. The difference is you don't touch a Theremin, making it a very difficult instrument to play. The E-T had a hands-on approach so you could more easily hit the right pitches. I've produced recordings with a real Theremin and it's NOT a fun instrument to try to get right. The main musical component of a Theremin or Electro-Theremin is an Oscillator. Brian also used it in "Wild Honey" and "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times." Loved your reaction! "Good Vibrations" is one of the singular songs in Rock and Roll. Up there with "Stairway to Heaven" and "Roundabout" in terms of creativity/complexity/vision.

This is considered one of the best songs ever written. Influenced many many artist.

That high whistling sound is a Theremin, a very early and strange electronic instrument controlled by how close the hands move to an aerial. Brian Wilson trod that fine line between genius and insanity in his music. He heard all this in his head when writing the song and created one of the most complex pop songs ever written. For another peak of his songwriting, try "God Only Knows".

This song along with the entire album "Pet Sounds" were very influential to the Beatles. There is a story that while making "Sgt. Pepper", Paul McCartney played "God Only Knows" in the studio every day. He considered Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys as the the peak of music at the time. So, the influence of the Beach Boys on The Beatles is very obvious when listened back to back.

I love the harmonies, rhythm, bass line, and Lead vocal tones!! Their sound production was ahead of their time!! 😃

Beach Boys' songs are almost all great in their own way. Phenomenal music, great lyrics, exquisite harmonies, and always a feel good vibe. I've been lucky enough to have seen them live several times, & every time, some in very large venues, the entire audience was singing & dancing along, with everybody in attendance having a wonderfully grand old time!!! What's better than that?? God Only Knows is their most beautiful love song. Wouldn't It Be Nice is a lot of fun! In My Room is hauntingly beautiful. Lots of different sounds in their catalogue. Definitely worth a real good listen!!!

Barbershop quartet😀. That's a LOL. If all barbershop quartets sounded like that I would probably have spent half of my time there.

It’s a pocket symphony my man, I’m told it is best experienced on LSD. Not that I would know of course. 😉 It took 8 months to record and cost more to make than the whole previous pet sounds album. The Beatles were so blown away by this track, John was inspired to write strawberry fields forever. 🔥

I really appreciate your honesty and insights on first listens to music from the past. It's important to note that the original context of art and music will always be somewhat lost on anyone who wasn't alive at the time it came out. Good Vibrations was a creative peak for Brian Wilson, the genius behind their music. They had established themselves as a pop/surf/party band on the basis of Brian's melodies and vocal arrangements. But he evolved into one of the two or three best producers of his time. Good Vibrations came on the heels of Brian's masterpiece, Pet Sounds, which is credited with inspiring Sgt. Pepper. It's basically a solo album, using LA's premier studio musicians, and the rest of the Beach Boys for vocals. It took me multiple listenings to appreciate the brilliance of Brian's production. It had a profound impact on his peers at the time. The idea of good vibrations supposedly came from his mother's belief that dogs, for example, could pick up on people's unspoken 'vibrations'. It was released on the same year as Pet Sounds, and was followed by several very difficult decades for Brian. The film Love and Mercy fills in a lot of the context of Brian's life and music. It's very well done -- you might consider checking it out.

Beach Boys says happy summertime for me! Always enjoyed them. This song is just plain fun & it’s great to sing to. One of the things I live most about the Beach Boys is their harmony. I love harmony!

This period for the Beach Boys was...fun.

One point that ought to be mentioned about Good Vibrations, and actually the whole Pet Sounds album is the musicianship that went into making it. Brian Wilson's musical vision and ambition had outrun the rest of his band's instrumental talent. The intricate vocal harmonies are pure Beach Boys, but the playing, the guitars, bass, keyboards and drums was done by a veteran group of L.A. studio musicians known collectively as the Wrecking Crew. For weeks or even months, Brian Wilson brought his charts to the studio and worked with this team of musical mercenaries to create one of the most masterfully produced albums in history. And this was all before Pro Tools, or even digital recording. This was all achieved recording and mixing with analogue tape. And this was true of all the great music of the 1960s and 70s, from Dylan to the Beatles, from The Beach Boys to Pink Floyd, from David Bowie to Eagles.

The Beach Boys was my first concert in 1975 at Summerfest I was 15 years old. Saw them again last summer. Enjoyed everything.

Syed, I think watching and listening to you reacting to Good vibrations has got to be one of the most enjoyable for me. You really were so effected by the arrangement. It really spun you around like I haven't seen happen before. You really notice details that I have missed before in the past. Love your insights and honesty!

My favorite BB tune is "This Whole World" from Sunflower". Most amazing vocals from the boys. Very short song but a "must hear" track.

This is a 'boy meets girl' song.....good feelings back and forth between them, and he wants to keep it going.... One of my all time favorite songs since I first heard it sometime around 1970, at the age of 6 or so..... Thanks for your reactions Syed, very interesting to hear your takes on the music. The Beach Boys sound involved a lot of harmonization, which is barber shop as you say, but very enjoyable to many (as evidenced by the number of records sold by the Beach Boys).

Hard to explain when, you grew up with the music it is totally different then when you pick out a song from 70 yrs ago and hear it for the first time. We grew along with the progression of rock.

Carol Kaye playing harmonics on the bass sounds so good in the (as you call it) psychedelic part. She is one of my favorite bassists

The Beatles & The Beach Boys had a friendly rivalry. They both started exploring psychedelic rock at around the same time. John Lennon’s son Sean LOVED The Beach Boys.

Brian Wilson is a musical genius. He created music that evolved with experimenting with sound effects that were not typical of that Era. They also have an amazing harmony that is not all the same but blended together beautifully. They were my second concert.... my parents took me to see them when I was 11. I was just as in awe of them then as I am now... almost 45 years later.

1965-1966 was a very interesting time for rock/pop music. Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Stones, Pete Townshend of The Who and others had all reached high levels of success with fairly standard versions of established musical styles. Then, they decided to stretch out and expand their music. Brian Wilson's tour de force Pet Sounds with the Beach Boys had a huge impact and influence which led to so much experimentation by others including the Beatles. Good Vibrations was the intro to Pet Sounds when it was released as a stand alone single before the album hit. You don't need to be a fan to recognize the huge impact Brian Wilson had on so much that was to come.

You would often hear about 'Sgt. Pepper's' album being this or that (and yes, I *am* a Beatlemanic, :) ), but actually the 'Pet Sounds' album (along with the 'Good Vibrations' single) was very probably the most influential album in rock. Regarding Beach Boy's music, it is silly and sounds simple, but you can hear immense talent between those lines, which a lot of old folks appreciate very much.

I'm 67 years old so I was listening to music from the Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones etc. I also grew up in California, though not a surfer, I went to the beach almost every weekend in my teens. The music was clean cut fun and upbeat. The music fit my age, culture and geografic location. I went to Beach Boy concerts and high school dances with Beach Boy cover band (Papa Doo Run Doo Run formerly Goodie Two Shoes). I used to take keyboard lessons from the keyboard player in the band and my buddy set up the drums at shows for their drummer. They used to do high school dances etc and would do a Beach Boy set. One year our High School (Branham HS in San Jose, CA) had contracted Tower of Power to play at our school. Goodie Two Shoes played first. A couple band members from Tower of Power got in some legal issues on the way to our school so Goodie Two Shoes had to play much longer than intended and of course the students were not happy having to wait on Tower of Power. So they started playing their Beach Boy material and the students all danced and got upbeat and happy. When TOP finally did play it was a let down, Literally. The whole mood changed. It was that experience from the crowd reaction that the band Goodie Two Shoes decided to change name and go surf music under Papa Do Run Do Run. They later joined up with Jan and Dean and played Disneyland etc. I tell this story to explain why this music has so many followers and yet so many newer listeners don't "get it". Frank Sinatra would not even make it to the live TV show on America's Got Talent. Doesn't mean he's not good anymore. The music has to resonate with the audience and the times. Beach Boys actually have the record for the longest time frame between number 1 hits. Kokomo was their last number 1 and some 20 years, I believe after their previous number 1. Of course Brian Wilson was not a part of Kokomo but the other members took part. To compare Beach Boy harmonies to Barbershop Quartet harmonies is understandable due to multi-part harmonies but still worlds apart. Stylistically similar in ways but musically worlds apart. But I understand your reference. Good Vibrations is the song you want to party with your high school sweetheart. There are intimate spots musically to connect and there are other parts where you jump up and down together and have a blast. It's a participation song and if you are high or buzzed you can just sit and trip on and have an uplifting relatable experience. It's a song written from the guts perspective that a girl feels like she's the star and appreciated. It's a feel good song, plain and simple from a simpler time, in my opinion.

I grew up in California during the 70's. The Beach Boys were pretty much ever present in my childhood. I put on "Endless Summer", and I feel like I'm 10. It's Summer vacation (USA thing) and I have 3 whole months to do whatever I want.

It's probably been mentioned, but that was a Theramin making those 'spooky' noises. This song always lifts my mood.

This song and album were way ahead of their time. It can be plain jane now, but was cutting edge for the music of the day. If you get a chance, watch the documentary,”The Wrecking Crew”, all of the talented musicians on there swore Brian Wilson was a genius. His different arrangements and how he gets them to flow together is amazing. This album supposedly is what kicked the Beatles in their pants and made them up their game.

Don't apologize for your taking this song in pieces; it was listening to this and the entire _Pet Sounds_ album that inspired The Beatles to produce _St Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band_ and to become more experimental. It was THAT influential.

When listening older music, try to imagine what else was big at the time. What sounds like barber shop music to you was considered breakthrough vocals and opened up that kind sophisticated harmonies to other pop genres.

Brian Wilson and John Lennon were mostly friendly adversaries and each drove the other to new heights in song writing. They were each trying to top the other. A fun Beach Boy song for the upcoming holiday season would be Little Saint Nick, a rock and roll Christmas song based on the hot rod culture.

The weird “alien” sound is from an electro-theremin.

You have some good observations. I particularly like the callback to A day in the life. Good luck with the channel!

Hey brother it's Surfer John from San Diego California again, I'm 55 years old my first concert was in 1977 at the San Diego Sports Arena The Beach Boys! It was incredible! The Beach Boys have 60s and 70s 80s and '90s music all hits! The first thing that got us all was the surf songs and the feeling of being from Southern California warmed our hearts. Good Vibrations was the ultimate song for Southern California Kid guy girl it just spoke volumes of our music here in the states and specially Southern California compared to everything coming from England. The Beatles Love The Beach Boys The Beach Boys Love The Beatles you can tell!

Love it. Thank you . I can't wait until you hit groups like Dust, Gypsy, Renaissance, and the harmonies of 3 Dog Night(Eli's Coming live from a tv show is the best one) Thanks again and I am glad I found you

One of the best rock n roll songs ever. I know all about this song. It is a madterpiece. Brian Wilson is a genius.

The reactions of these young kids to older music with more than one section always makes me think, "Their music must be one undifferentiated mass from beginning to end."

This song was EVERYTHING when it came out. I still think is is. Love your reactions btw.

It's a theramin. Beach boys were like lab scientists in the studio. Absolute masters of making cool sounds that at times made some good music.

Try their 'Feel Flows'. The theremin (the high-pitched instrument you hear "wailing in the background") can take radically disparate forms but essentially it produces sounds by interfering with magnetic fields. Many then-startling and eerie sound-effects from horror and sci-fi movies of the era were produced on a theremin. And yes, Brian Wilson is a bona-fide musical genius

It's called creativity.

This was the first song that got me hooked on pop music. A couple months later out came Strawberry Fields / Penny Lane. There was so much cross pollination going on at that time. 1967 saw the release of Sgt Peppers, Respect by Aretha Franklin, the Doors first album with Light My Fire and Axis: Bold as Love by Jimi Hendrix. I'm glad to see you stretching out and listening to this. I recall the first times I listened to jazz. I didn't care for it. Now I really like it. You may nor may not find your taste changes over the years. You might find that some of your favorite Hip Hop artists mention other pop artists and that could be a good road map to follow to learn. BTW - Barbershop Quartet is actually a very real influence. Ha! This is indeed psychedelic! That "alien sound" is just that. It's a theremin. You're right - it does keep switching up. VERY TRIPPY. Very much similar to Day In The Life that way. Are there any Hip Hop songs that use different sections like this? Would like to hear that. I think you're understanding this music really well. Especially coming to it with your background.

Dang man, I really enjoyed this reaction video to the Beach Boys. I personally believe they're the best band to ever have existed. The fact that you had so much insight to provide, especially on your first go at hearing the song, I found personally amazing! Especially when I compare it to the other reaction videos out here in youtube with the reactors just saying the music made them "Happy" and not even providing more of their own ideas. This definitely was not a clout chase video compared to what I thought it was going to be since you even mentioned the Beach Boys was not your cup of tea. You even brought in some more connections I haven't even made and I've listened to this song thousands of times haha. I take pride in knowing the Beach Boys were influential to the Beatles and I (very snobbishly) always bring it up whenever anyone mentions the beatles. Cause i once was also blinded by all of the hits from The Beatles, but i hadn't noticed that the A Day in The Life track sounds extremely similar to this, Brought me so much joy in seeing that connection being made and how i also had similar thoughts of A Day In The Life when i listened to it years ago. Now on a different note, Cause i really wanted to answer that last question in the video. I love The Beach Boys, firstly because the sounds from that time resonate with me so well. Not in the same way ppl will say "I wish I was born in those days" tho haha. Doo-Wop music, the old sometimes sad and longing or upbeat and romantic, with the acapella sound. True 10/10. and when it comes to The Beach Boys, in a way for me at least. They sorta Modernized that sound further into the 1900s. They covered amazing songs from the 50s, some of my favorites being "Come go with me" by Del-Vikings, and "Hushabye" by The Mystics. And i believe they kept Doo-Wop music as a basis for their songs. With heavy harmonizing in the back, I Get Around, and Don't Worry Baby both are reminescent of Doo-Wop and break into the 1960s. Further, Kokomo has that same harmonizing and goes deep into the 80s. Secondly, I just love the beach. although they are a Cali band. I share their joy for the beach in Florida haha. The fact that they also get drowned out by the Fans of The Beatles, knowing several sounds were each almost replicated by them, I always have to root for the smaller band. They just need that recognition haha. Seeing this song sounding so close with A Day In The Life, i Also always saw connections between these songs: God Only Knows=Penny lane (intro part), Sloop John B = Yellow Submarine (Story telling style, also both water transportation lol), In My Room = Strawberry Fields ( a place to retreat to). Those are just some of the songs I think sounded similar even though they do seem like a large claim to make. I always appreciated The Beatles being able to draw ideas from Pet Sounds album into the Sgt Pepper's album. I wish The Beach Boys would've had an amazing international reception like The Beatles had spreading into the states but I also do believe it was easier to appeal to the American consumer/entertainment culture compared to the hard to relate to 'Beach vibes' (hot girls, hot beaches, and car racing) and European audience that the Beach Boys had. I wish Brian Wilson hadn't had such a difficult life either. From his father to his controlling doctor, truly devastating. And he was still able to make absolute bangers. Even songs like "Forever" or "Disney Girls" from Dennis Wilson and Bruce Johnston respectively like others created by other band members shows their diversity, and that it wasn't all just Brian but a group effort. That's why I love the Beach Boys.

For me this is the greatest song ever recorded. And that said. . . a moment of silence for the great Jerry Lee Lewis.

Lyrics were based on a discussion Brian Wilson had I think with his mom, about how dogs pick vibrations, good or bad, from others including humans. Lead singer of the Beach Boys, Mike Love, Brian's cousin [much as I hate to admit it] actually helped on this song, I think pn the chorus or hook, ["I'm picking up good vibrations"] when Brian, doing drugs, was in a slump trying to finish this. They had recorded it over 6 months in three different studios. The idea that many do not know how iconic this song is with all the layers of sound and vices, is incomprehensible to me. No one had EVER done this complicated of a single before a this point in history, and raised the bar several notches.

Brian got the idea from his mom who was watching a show about dogs hearing vibrations that people couldn't hear and called them "Good vibrations" and he went on from there. The first time "Good vibrations" was used as a term, too.

You haven't heard the best of the Beach Boys until you hear the ballads - "Don't Worry Baby", "In My Room", "Surfer Girl", "The Warmth of the Sun", etc.

Brian Wilson called Good Vibrations a teenage symphony to God.

Beach boys have a lot of silly songs, but Pet Sounds, which was made after Brian Wilson had begun losing his marbles, is often ranked among the all time best rock albums.

That high pitched science fiction sounding instrument is the Theremin, an electronic instrument that you play with both hands in the air, moving in the electromagnetic field generated by the instrument, not touching the instrument. Invented by the genius Leon Theremin - who has an amazing life story - and famously played with intensity by Jimmy Page, and many others. Check out the MSG version of Dazed and Confused for Theremin action.

The theremin is an instrument used in old movies for sound effects. It is an electrified wand and the pitch is controlled by the distance you wave near it. Jimmy Page uses one as well.

This is one of the better reviews of any song I have come across. You did point out that what you listened to when you grew up shaped what music you like. Well, in the early sixties "rock" was pretty simple. The Beach Boys primarily were doing songs about surfing and cars. The Beatles tunes were pretty much 2 guitars and bass and drums. But later in the 60's music started to expand and artists started to become much more creating. It is really important to note that what makes Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations so special was that there was really nothing like them before. Without the songs of this time period the music you grew up with would most likely not exist.

Good Vibration is a pocket symphony!

That high pitched instrument in the background is a Theramin. It is a pure electronic instrument that is played by hand motion. It has two antennae connected to an oscillator. One hand controls frequency and the other controls volume. It was invented in Russia around 1930. Very difficult to play well.

Just listen to Pet Sounds. I first listened to it about two years ago and was floored. It is a rare instance where an album lives up to the hype.

A little bit about this song: The Beach Boys made their hits on the surfing/car racing 60s California scene. In 66, Brian Wilson, the principle writer, took a hard turn into psychedelic, more mysterious sounds. He stopped touring, leaving the other members to the road. When they returned to the studio, Wilson had written a whole different kind of music. Listen to Caroline No to get an idea. The secondary songwriter, Mike Love, wanted to stick with the formula. When Wilson played the softer parts of Good Vibrations, Love thought it lacked what it needed to be a hit. Mike wrote the "I'm pickin up good vibration" sections, so yes, like McCartney and Lennon, you're getting two song fragments by two writers fused into one song. I was a fan of the old stuff before, so I was and still am good with it, but it is odd to the new listener. Give a listen to them doing Heroes and Villains for a very surreal approach, or sail On Sailor to hear more of the psychedelic ballad type stuff.

It's *all* cool syed. This is pop genius. The high pitch is a theremin I believe. It was an instant catchy hit with me as a child and I haven't changed my mind - time only reinforces how good it is.

Bruce Johnston took the tracks from Pet Sounds to England and played it for the Beatles and they were totally blown away and said it was the greatest album they have ever heard. In fact, it inspired them to write Sargent Peppers

The Theremin is played WITHOUT TOUCHING. Hand gestures and arm movements above and beside the instrument gives it tone and pitch. First rock tune to use this futuristic instrument. Best known in the soundtracks of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and the "Star Trek" TV show theme song. Check out RU-vid videos to see how it's played. Mind-blowing!

Pause all you want. That’s when you discuss & thats why I’m here!

In Pink Floyd's "The Wall", the song "The Show Must Go On" is Roger Waters tribute to the Beach Boys. Beach Boy bassist Bruce Johnston and Toni Tennille (Beach Boys backing singer) coached the other singers on how to sound like the Beach Boys.

What I love about The Beach Boys? The same thing I love about The Beatles, the Stones, Mozart, Little Feat, Duke Ellington, Patsy Cline,,,. It’s the unexplainable mystery of a beautiful combination of notes, getting together in your head and hitting the pleasure center where music lives. It’s a great song, telling a story, with an intro, a verse, a refrain, a bridge, a surprise, a climax and an ending. Who the hell cares what it’s saying? If there’s a message or a story or a meaning in the song, I don’t give a damn if the music doesn’t bring it to me. As Ellington said, if it SOUNDS good, it IS good. The Beach Boys made some wonderful ear candy. Some of it, like Good Vibrations and Surf’s Up are as good as anything ever written.

In “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles, I always thought that the McCartney’s part was about an adult waking up to go to work. And the Lennon part was the dream/drug mind of this adult who was waking up for work. I never thought and still don’t think that it was supposed to be a child flashback.

That high pitched loopy sound is a THERAMIN. They were used in old 30's horror movies And listen without stopping...it helps.

Brian Wilson's creative writing was a huge inspiration according to Paul McCartney in leading to writing "Sgt Pepper's lonely heart's club band". You may want to listen to "God only Knows" and also to the middle section of "The Trader" by the Beach boys. Some powerful and beautiful emotional lyrics and music in those two. I love vocal harmonies and the beach boys were very good at it, so I can't understand not liking it as "barbershop quartet" music, but another thing to realize is that Brian Wilson and the beach boys evolved over time. Their early songs were about teenage things - cars and being popular in school, etc. But Brian did evolve into writing much deeper music, and he was a musical genius - that's why McCartney and the Beatles were so inspired by their "Pet sounds" album and the non-traditional musical experimentation on that record. The Beatles get credit for example for using orchestral sounds in their pop music, but the Beach boys with Brian Wilson actually did it first! I love the Beatles much more, but Brian Wilson definitely a very gifted writer.

This is such a trippy, psychedelic song but they didn't abandon their surf music roots!😆

I always like their music. I also like going to the drag races and watch them race their cars. Yes, in person. They weren't singing they were racing cars!! Y'all be safe.

This is their best in terms of an aural orgasm but many other great songs including "Heroes and Villains", "God Only Knows" and "Do It Again". Thanks Syed.

The Beatles sited The Beach Boys as innovators that influenced and pushed them to greater heights in their pursuit of new music

When you get into the later 60's and early 70's the Beach Boys music changed dramatically. They were the first band that I liked nearly every album they produced. The music ranges in a way that you do not hear from other artists. If you like trippy songs check out Heroes and Villains.

Just know the Wrecking Cure is the band except some bass and piano. Beach Boys members only played most of the tracks during the tours. Pure genius Mr. B Wilson!!!!

I've heard this song dozens of times and never noticed that sound before. It sounds like something you would hear from an alien space ship.

Yes you are correct Brian Wilson had a load of LSD, put some sand under his feet under the piano and played :) And when I say a load I mean grade "A" not illegal super professional LSD in 300ug tabs like hundreds , California was flooded from early 66 onwards , "you cant just make a little bit of LSD!" Bear The Beach boys were clean, and loved, the usual Whites singing black and famous (you would have been called ""lovers if you sang like that) Then LSD , then they became , you either saw the façade or you saw beyond it

Brian Wilson calls it a pocket symphony. It was a departure from what was the norm for pop music, and did influence the Beatles and so on. This came before A Day in a Life.

I was never a big Beach Boys fan, but about 2 years ago I started to work my way through Rolling Stones Top 500 albums of all time. When I listened to Pet Sounds all the way through the first time and my opinion of them improved quite a bit.

There was a shitload of acid going around during the these times, and I'm sure it influenced Brian, as well as other groups. But the underlying musical genius of Brian Wilson is undeniable.

Brian Wilson who wrote, composed, directed and sang in the song had been using LSD and some other drugs to come up with a new sound to rival The Beatle's album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band. If you listen closely there was a jaw harp played for a moment during the song. The "alien" sound you hear is a Theremin.

Their time has passed long ago, for me. Also from the '60s, would you hear a female group, please? The time for a lot of their music has passed, but there is one that rocks out. And the studio band for Motown that plays on it is sensational (same people/place where the Marvin Gaye song was recorded. Title is "Love Child", by The Supremes. But you have to understand that nobody openly talked about something like a "Baby Daddy", back then. Having a child out of wedlock was considered quite shameful.

Brian Wilson wanted this to be a mini opera with different movements within the context of a pop song. More than a genius - he is a musical savant. PS - The electric theremin is the high pitched sound - see the beginning of an original Star Trek episode.

Check out the entire album Pet Sounds...it will change your life. The eerie high pitched whine is proudly an instrument called a Therramin...played without being touched.

Brian Wilson is a musical/ arrangement genius. Barber shop quartet? Come on man.

I remember hearing Brian Wilson call this song a "pocket symphony".

Early Beach Boys simplistic fun surf music was one thing. The Pet Sounds album was a whole nother thing. That high pitched whine is a theremin.

The Beatles absolutely loved the beach boys and the Beach boys loved the Beatles and they both inspired each other

In the mid 60’s Brian Wilson was very anguished over the innovations the Beatles were making in writing and recording. He went into the studio and after six months, this was the result; inspired by Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, the album.

Love the way you went back to the beginning. It was so wonderful giving everything a chance

It's cool watching people mature musically. Inspiration comes from the least expected sometimes and combined with a newer sound can produce new sounds and genre's. That space sound you like comes from a theremin and has been around since 1930s I think

Great art, music does not dictate. It challenges your mind. It means what it means to you.

i think the beach boys have a very pleasant sound and some subtly beautiful, unique instrumentation - stemming from the fact that brian wilson was pretty much a genius and real visionary in terms of pushing the boundaries of what pop music is allowed to sound like - similar to what george martin's classical training allowed the beatles to do! there was a really excellent biopic about brian wilson made a few years ago called "love and mercy," and the best sequence in my opinion is when they show his creative process in the studio with the wrecking crew laying down the backing for pet sounds and good vibrations. i'd definitely say check it out!

This is Brian saying "take THAT!, BEATLES!!" Dude went to war against the biggest band in the world on his own at 18

The switch up part is brilliant 👏

Interesting reactions you caught the prog element . The melodies are insane . I remember hearing it on the radio back in '66. Yeah it was a mindblower.

This is a simple sounding song until you really start listening closely. The layering of sounds is wild.