http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL2ZBo32I1Y Those of you who know your Beach Boys trivia will know that Brian Wilson has stated that this is his favorite of all the songs that the Beach Boys ever recorded. Therefore, it might be a crime to have this song at no. 7 on a ten-slot list, but... hey. It's Brian's favorite Beach Boys song, not mine. Regardless, I will say that, while I love Katy Perry's (somewhat) homage to this song, it still doesn't hold a candle to its namesake. It's fairly common knowledge that Brian Wilson conceived this song while on his first acid trip; he began and finished the song in a half-hour. One can't help but think that the circumstances under which this song was written contributes to the musical complexity of this tune, because, let's face it, upon reading the lyrics, they don't suggest a deep musical experience. No, this song's strengths lie in its technical construction. In a very ambitious move (and one Murry Wilson hated), Brian begins this song with a classical-style orchestral opening, which steadily rises to a crescendo. Once it rises to its highest points, Dennis pumps out a steady drum solo while Bruce Johnston slides in over the drums, singing Brian's ode to the girls of the Sunshine State with his rich, melodic voice. Although Johnston's voice falters at some points (especially in the chorus, when Johnston tries to hit a Brian-style high note and fails), he, for the most part, sings this song perfectly; his voice conveys a passion and a lust for the sun-bronzed goddesses this song pays tribute to. The best moment in this song, however, is the moment before the last repetition of the chorus, where the rest of the band comes in briefly in an intricately interlocking harmony that's truly astounding. No words are sung during this harmony; in fact, it's merely bass beat, but it's done so well that the simplicity of the moment enhances its quality.
Alan Howell is a native of Southern California. He loves movies of any and all kinds, Hollywood, indie, and everywhere in between. He loves pizza, sitcoms, rock and pop music, surfing, baseball, reading, and girls (not necessarily in that order).