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The greatest Pop song yet written and recorded.

 

This thread is an offshoot and was inspired by @mahgister’s wonderful thread "Interesting videos about sounds and music." I made a couple of contributions to that thread, recommending a video recorded quite a few years ago by (I believe) a music teacher, who sits at his keyboard while explaining and demonstrating the construction of the utterly majestic "God Only Knows", written by Brian Wilson (music) and Tony Asher (lyrics), recorded by The Beach Boys (vocals) and the L.A. studio musicians who comprised the legendary Wrecking Crew (instruments), the song found on the Pet Sounds album.

In my posts, I made the case for the highly sophisticated and incredibly brilliant chord progressions, modulations (key changes), and use of inversion (playing a bass note below the tonic of the chord being played on the piano) in the song’s composition. So when the video below appeared when I just jumped onto YouTube, it’s title really caught my eye. It is entitled "Exploring The Mythical Chords Of "God Only Knows"." Brian is well known for his harmony vocal arrangements, but that’s just the icing on the cake; the song itself is in it’s chords and melody. Some of the chord sequences in "God Only Knows" bring me to tears. Add to that the vocal harmonies---many sung in counterpoint---and Carl Wilson's angelic singing of the melody, and you have an absolute masterpiece of a song.

I have long considered "God Only Knows" my favorite song, and imo the "best" song ever written. I’m not alone in that; Paul McCartney has stated he feels the same. I could have added this video to @mahgister’s thread, but I believe the song and it’s appreciation warrant it’s own thread. Watch and listen to this video (and the one I posted in mahgister’s thread), give the song a new listen, and see if you don’t agree with Paul and I. 😉

 

https://youtu.be/I2PHOt9_fGc?si=7NVfhFUBn4aw_GGo

 

 

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Showing 3 responses by vair68robert

vair68robert's avatar
vair68robert
596 posts
 

the Association  " Windy " 

the Go Go's  " Vacation "

the Temptations  " Heard it Thru the Grapevine "

the Drifters  " Under the Boardwalk "  ( also by Rickie Lee Jones ) 

the Bangles  " Walk Like an Egyptian " 

Cyrkle  " Red Rubber Ball "

any or all of these songs make me want to sing and move ( I wouldn't say dance )

I think Pop songs  have to be simple , not multiple layers of over dubbing or orchestra addons but that's just me  .

vair68robert's avatar
vair68robert
596 posts
 

@bdp24 

I have to ask you this What is a Pop song ?  

I'm seeing all kinds of music being listed as Pop songs , I wouldn't consider the Beach Boys " Only God Knows " as Pop or John Lennon's " Imagine " or Jefferson Airplane's  " Comin Back to Me "  , but " Walk Away Renee " ( I like Rickie Lee Jones version )  maybe all of what ABBA did or Diana Ross and the Supremes  or all the Beach Boys surfer songs or all the Beatles up to Revolver is the type of music that I would think of as Pop .

Am I way off base with my categorization ?

 

 

 

 

  

vair68robert's avatar
vair68robert
596 posts
 

bdp24 

yes what do we call or categorize the music that doesn't' fit neatly into a box ?    

Maybe a better question could have been  "my favorite song, and imo the "best" song ever written "  Then I would not have answered with Windy , or Vacation or Walk Like An Egyptian , all Poppy songs but not my quite my favorites and definitely not the best songs ever written .

As all album forum questions I enjoy reading what others think and listen to , I've discovered new music that I wouldn't have otherwise , so thanks for this discussion.

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