16/06/2025
Hearing about the loss of Brian Wilson on Thursday was one of the most devastating moments I’ve experienced in all my years of doing my college radio show. Brian Wilson was one of the greatest songwriters of the twentieth century. A man who lived a life of pain, but still gave the world some of its most beautiful music.
I’ve had a love for The Beach Boys ever since I first discovered “oldies.” My curiosity led me down a rabbit hole of Wikipedia pages and interviews, where I learned about their accomplishments and the massive impact they had on music. One fact that always stuck with me was how they managed to hold their own during the British Invasion, staying relevant with hit after hit. Some even called them “the American Beatles.”
The song “God Only Knows,” released in 1966 on Pet Sounds, is often praised as one of the greatest songs ever written. Paul McCartney even called it that. Bono once said the arrangement was “proof and fact of angels.” Barry Gibb said it “blew the top of my head off.” That’s the kind of power Brian’s music had.
A couple of years ago, I watched the film Love & Mercy as a fan of The Beach Boys. I was excited to see it, but I finished the movie feeling this deep sense of sadness and empathy for Brian Wilson. It gave me a new level of appreciation for who he was, not just as a musician, but as a human being. A beautiful voice, a troubled soul, and a truly brilliant mind.
Tune in this Monday from 5–7pm on OWWR (owwrny.org) to hear a special tribute to Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys on my show.
