The Beach Boys’ God Only Knows is – if there is ever such a thing – the perfect song. Lyrically, harmonically, emotionally – everything is just right. So much so that I just can’t listen to a cover without wanting to turn it off and listen to the original instead. But the original almost wasn’t the original. Turns out that Brian Wilson was originally slated to sing lead, instead of his brother Carl. According to Brian, his singing lead had been in the cards for a while, and there are even recordings with him in lead:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC_UILNwWrc[/youtube]
It’s interesting. Same voices, same space , but different roles that resulted in a very different song, I think. Not worse, not better. Different in a way that makes me wonder about the choice. But maybe I just say that because it was Carl Wilson’s lead that I’ve been living with:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDfH_J4MAUQ[/youtube]
God only knows.
Peej
If there is such a thing as a perfect [concept]album, Pet Sounds is probably it.
http://bluebigfrog.blogspot.com/2008/10/life-of-brian.html
bethie
Hmm..Theme song of “Big Love”, did not realize it was the Beach Boys. I’m so musically inept.
MB
Oh, Bethie!
And also? Follow that link Peej posted, people. Goldmine.
jeraldrc
I vote for the original…pure sweetness!
God only knows what I would have done without Brian Wilson and his Beach Boys.