Why the Beach Boys' God Only Knows is Such A Powerful Song

[@MercuryStudios]

Do you think God Only Knows should be considered one of the greatest songs written?

[@dianemorris5816]

Absolutely 😊

[@EyeArmNiall]

It's a great song, but not every song has been written yet so we'll never know for sure

[@Lkhrobertson]

Without a doubt. The harmony is ….no words.

[@atamagashock]

Without question! It’s a timeless masterpiece

[@jhanbury1968]

Yes!

[@wagstaff4921]

One time ive clicked an advertisement and actually enjoyed it

[@allieversaid]

😄 I never click Ads. How could I resist?

[@bbb462cid]

Plus, Carl doesn't need to sell it. His voice is so earnest and clean and sweet. There's no hint of pretense.

[@NightwingReturns]

The greatest love song of all time. God bless Brian Wilson.

[@daytripper9222]

Absolutely one of the greatest songs written. I was fortunate enough to go to the Wilson's home twice in 1961. I will never forget.

[@josiahcole3186]

That’s amazing, how did you know them?

[@iananderson3799]

Did you ever get caught?

[@daytripper9222]

@@iananderson3799 Don't understand what you mean, get caught what?

[@daytripper9222]

@@josiahcole3186 My brother knew Carl somehow. My brother asked Carl if it was okay if he brought over his two brothers which was me and my middle brother and he said yes. We never actually went inside the house we were on the porch and in the front yard and the second time we went Murray pulled up their father and said you kids need to go home and that's the last time we went. We never did see Al or Mike. I don't even know if Al was around in 61 that's so long ago.

[@daytripper9222]

@@josiahcole3186 Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you.

[@randallbowman7899]

No one can sing this song like Carl Wilson.

[@personanongratano1]

I just heard Mike Love's son Christian sing it on tour and he sounds JUST LIKE Carl did, it's amazing and was a beautiful thing to witness. I bawled my head off.

[@luckykennedy7364]

Even Freddie Mercury couldn’t.

[@TheSSMusicChannel]

It's perfection pure and simple.

[@luminousunicorn]

One of the few songs that I’m okay with crying along to. It’s beauty really can’t be expressed in words.

[@Georgeth-kb6rg]

Amen !

[@Casey3-P-O]

Best pop song ever written period.

[@rachelcastaneda1381]

This song makes me cry every time I hear it. It reminds me of my mother and father. Seeing how my father passed away 6 years ago it made me question how we, his family, would do. 😢💙

[@jhanbury1968]

You don't hear complex chord changes like this anymore.

[@adamholtz733]

Pure perfection in song and voice !!! The Beach Boys ruled on this awesome track !

[@howtodoitdude1662]

I wish you would have gone deeper into the music structure.

[@danielplainview1]

There is an aspect to the lyrics that this video doesn’t seem to appreciate: A lot of the lines are geared towards acknowledging the feeling of the impermanence of intense romantic love, but in doing so and stressing a commitment to love all the same, have an earnest appreciation of what love in reality feels like. It is quite like Shakespeare’s sonnet “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun”.

[@eldergeektromeo9868]

Two words: Brian Wilson!

[@steveskouson9620]

Carl Dean! steve

[@gaylelee1999]

Really great analysis of genuinely one of the best songs ever!

[@linomarongiu53]

Beach Boys very the Best.

[@soulagent79]

Saw them perform it live shortly after Carl had died. It was sung by Bruce Johnston and yes, it was pretty emotional.

[@steveskouson9620]

Last year, the Brian Wilson Band, did a show, here in Phoenix Az. Alan's son Matt Jardine sang Carl's part. Matt was AMAZING! Not quite Carl, but nobody is Carl! First show of Brian's last tour. They collaborated with some group from Chicago. The Brian Wilson concert was a LONG TIME bucket list item. Chicago became one, right after the show started. Alan and Matt were there for Chicago's Wishing You Were Here. (Dennis, Carl, and Alan did the original, with Chicago. Kind of a BeachAgo song.) steve

[@Mandylovesjesus2]

I love The Beach Boys! I love that song!

[@lagboi4539]

1.50 Actually Brian had made introperpective music before Pet Sounds. The B-side of Today album from 1965 is basically a precursor of Pet Sounds

[@Bluem00n7]

Nothing about why its the greatest it just simply is the greatest song ever written.

[@PJS2136]

You are missing the instrument tempo changes and Bass Guitar inversions which are really nice. Not just the words and singing!

[@personanongratano1]

2 months ago at the Iowa State Fair I saw Mike Love's son Christian sing this and he sounds JUST LIKE Carl did; it was amazing and was a beautiful thing to witness. I wept, it was such an emotional moment.

[@dianemorris5816]

Brian wrote this song for Carl to sing.

[@candyc.3163]

I think “Don’t Worry Baby” is just as good!

[@twoblacklabs904]

I’m partial towards “The Warmth of the Sun.”

[@Georgeth-kb6rg]

This song has transcended its place in pop history... it's a classical stunner

[@danstokesmusic]

“God only knows what we’d be without this song”… chefs kiss last line

[@dotfern3010]

Wow... ! This was so very informative... Thanks for sharing... ! Beautiful song... ! Heart touching lyrics... ❤ Perfect song... !

[@davidnissim589]

Brian is a genius

[@MIKELIN8]

"Sometimes I have a weird way of showing my love" is a lyric from "She Knows Me So Well" which was an earlier Beach Boys song. from (I think) the Today album.

[@eeeeeetp]

God only knows why

[@christophernash8166]

This song was played at the end of the greatest scene in the HBO show The Leftovers.

[@damianbroderick3913]

Because it bloody is- that's why!🙂

[@johnhill3706]

Beautiful song great song great words even for today’s times.

[@hahayou6405]

If you need an ad to sponsor your video it probably isn't a good video/sustainable business practice for example, 1 million subscribers and only 22k views (on a sponsored video!) is a really bad sign that you have paid for/uninterested subs

[@thejonathandoan]

Beautiful retrospective. You hit on all the important points in this video. Nicely done!

[@metaphoria3]

Extremely well written podcast and executed

[@subgirl3739]

Great song.

[@bruceparkhurst300]

Perfection...

[@twoblacklabs904]

This song is a legacy component of the true genius of Brian Wilson. I have to laugh whenever a Mike Love fan claims he was as integral a part of The Beach Boys’ songwriting, because he could NEVER write such emotional music or lyrics that would ever be as treasured or as remembered as the classic songs Brian constructed…after all, he’s the one that harshly admonished Brian to not “f-ck with the formula…” Brian was always the “secret sauce,” although everyone’s in on that secret…

[@steveskouson9620]

Lab, "the beach boys" is now owned by Hateful Mikey "love." For most of my life, if anyone was to ask who my favourite band was, The Beach Boys! Now, the beach boys, are a third rate Beach Boys cover band! Jan and Dean were better. Papa Doo Run Run are STILL better. (Saw them as Papa Do Run Do Run, in Sunnyvale Ca.) Mikey "love" IS an integral part of the beach boys. The Brian Wilson Band, saw them a year ago, is now The REAL Beach Boys. Yes, they don't have Dennis Carl, or Carl Dean. But, they have Brian, Alan, and Matt! Saw them on the opening date, here in Phoenix. With some band from Illinois. (Chicago.) I've heard, that was Brian's last tour. He turned 80, later that month. Two days after Sir Paul also hit 80. steve

[@twoblacklabs904]

@@steveskouson9620…. Just read your comment, 6 months after posting. You’re absolutely right, Mike Love tours with Bruce Johnson (and less occasionally with Al Jardine, who’s also toured w/Brian…) as “The Beach Boys,” but we all know if not for Brian’s genius, there’s no Beach Boys legacy as innovators, great songwriting, and memorable classics. The few additional lyrics Love may have contributed, and the screwed-up fact that there’s only Love and Brian Wilson left of the original nucleus, and the fact that Love is a litigious m*therf_cker that’d sue his own grandmother is the ONLY reason he’s still out there trying to capitalize on the nostalgia, while Brian’s STILL creating new music. Great comment. Glad I read it…albeit a few months late.

[@steveskouson9620]

@@twoblacklabs904 100% RIGHT! steve

[@steveskouson9620]

I noticed that you mentioned Brian a LOT! But, you overlooked the amazing singer of this beautiful song. Brian has said that he wrote this just for his baby brother Carl Dean to sing. Maybe, a single mention of Carl Dean Wilson? One should NEVER mention "love," in less Mikey is in NO WAY part of the discussion! PERIOD! The three people who RUINED The Beach Boys, Murry, Mikey and Landy! Mikey now owns "the beach boys" name. But, there is no way in HELL, he can compete with his cousins' creativity. Mikey could not, in a BILLION years, come up with Carl's voice, Dennis' drumming, or Brian's writing skills! He should still be working in dad's sheet metal shop! steve

[@reserrano50]

Clear as a choir boy, Carls voice is ethereal. I don't go for Mike Love's singing at all. Sounds like he's blowing snot through a tire hose.

[@steveskouson9620]

44 seconds in, and you mention the flip side. GOOD! steve

[@metaphoria3]

3:10 ha I see what u did there being the best way to describe that brilliant turn of lyrics

[@curly_wyn]

While it’s not my absolute favorite song, I agree with Paul McCartney; God Only Knows is THE greatest song of all time. 🖤

[@spacecat3198]

I mean Beach Boys are a good band but why did you pay for your video to become an ad?

[@steveskouson9620]

Purity, that defines Carl's voice. steve

[@metaphoria3]

As crazy as it may sound u can break down the melodic creative genius of the Bleed American album which I feel rivals any including Surfs up

[@KikiMeowKitty]

Fucking love that song. Catchy af and Just sounds so happy

[@sydneybarwick6538]

Why do I imagine you doing this in a Rick Beato voice?

[@mbkfox]

I looked up god only knows Rick beato hoping he did a video on it. Found this one instead. Oh wells, it's appreciative

[@oldbutbeautiful]

Its the beautiful chord progression, and the use of the bass actually doing its own thing, The three part outro is actually very very simple to do, Just listen very carefully to it,

[@steveskouson9620]

Isn't the ending a "round?" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_(music)#:~:text=A%20round%20(also%20called%20a,Knows%22%20by%20The%20Beach%20Boys. Wikipedia thinks so. steve

[@mr.nobody68]

"It is an un-improvable classic" Hold my beer while I very violently twist the volume knob clockwise, and then hit the repeat button

[@steveskouson9620]

Piss off all your neighbors? I'd "never" do that! (Well not more than 2 or 3 times day.) steve

[@gold5383]

Fire

[@RogerBates7]

2:54 Brian & Tony Asher went out on a little bit of a limb with that lyric, at the time. It wasn't common for popular culture to reflect imperfect relationships at that point.

[@edw7001]

I think it’s more of the composition of the song that makes it a great song

[@rosellaaj3709]

4:27 xDDDDD

[@rosellaaj3709]

WE ALLKNOW THOSE TARGET TOWELS

[@metaphoria3]

God only know what Brian is feeling with the recent loss of his ‘longtime wife’ Melinda riparadise

[@steveskouson9620]

Brian is a Parrot head? Jimmy Buffett covered In My Room! steve

[@steveskouson9620]

Angels have the voice of Carl Dean Wilson. If they are lucky. steve

[@captaindunsell8568]

During the Reagan Presidency, The Beach Boys played at the National Mall in DC for several July 4 celebrations… for free drawing as many as 500,000 people. Carter killed it … want an ass

[@steveskouson9620]

James Watt, (not the guy who developed the steam engine) wanted to cancel that concert. President Reagan canceled that! Just one more reason to like The Gipper! steve

[@MoFackle]

It’s Art, so it’s all opinion.

[@mv11000]

That's it? All you did was analyze the lyrics

[@animaljustice7774]

Whoahh. Whose the guy pictured on the far right on the video cover? Boy did he get screwed!

[@reserrano50]

Guitarist David Marks. Lived across the street. Left the group then returned when Brian traded in performing for writing and producing. Doesn't look bad for his age because he stayed slim his whole life.

[@percy4unow136]

Excellent analysis of the lyrics but not of the music

[@kendalldawson162]

Omg

[@captaindunsell8568]

This was one of this first songs that used GOD in the title … scared the record company…

[@Skizzo321]

@0:43 I wanted to slap you but you earned my sub.

[@odiedodieuk]

This is one of those songs where live versions are infinitely better.

[@sonyahiter537]

What about a country song God only knows by Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefanie Shelton

[@paperboy8865]

Jesus, seriously? God only knows how you can compare what those two do, (NOT MUCH), with the magic of The Beach Boys.

[@philbreen7152]

Fluff

[@Crazy_Worlds]

Not the greatest, but pretty damn good.

[@georgeluna7232]

Funny how none of Beach Boys surfed.

[@reserrano50]

Untrue. Dennis did.

[@davids6898]

Song is perfect except when he sings “without you”. It sounds like “without chew”. Other than that it’s a masterpiece.

[@caeserromero3013]

God only knows 😂

[@tedmccarron]

It's a good song but I like Darlin' better.

[@purplegoose22]

wow i love this song and the beach boys and was really hoping for a lot more substance from this video instead of whatever this...personality?...is supposed to be. really undercuts the majesty of the subject here. oof.

[@criops]

Because Dave Grohl covered it.😐

[@JohnSmith-cf4gn]

It's pretty self explanatory. Gee. 😜🤪

[@paperboy8865]

Taylor Swift? Good Lord, is nothing sacred? Her 15 minutes were up years ago.

[@lesd2633]

Because it’s not!

[@h7283]

Allah will be the ultimate blessing judge of the Situational awareness programme and the end

[@bobmartin7409]

It doesn't suck, but greatest song ever written...no!

[@rogervaessen9172]

God has nothing to do with a great song.

[@밍키동생-e3n]

the song is great but a bit overrated cuz Paul said it's the best song i hear it again and again but it's just a good one, not the greatest of all time...

[@robw8173]

The most overrated band in history!!!

[@candyc.3163]

Underrated maybe!

[@R17..]

*Underrated

[@rogervaessen9172]

God has nothing to do with a great song.