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
jay15206, how about this version of that wonderful Zevon song? I think it's marvelous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJQ4E5l8tEk
And I love 12:30, too. My favorite Cat Stevens might be Sad Lisa.
Oh, and what about "He's A Rebel"! Written by Gene Pitney, but made famous by The Crystals?! |
Now that I have had some time to think about it. Here are a few fabulous pop songs. To me, "pop songs" are light, bouncy and really have nothing dramatic to say. "A,B,C" The Jackson 5 "Mama Mia" ABBA "Dancing Queen" ABBA "Eight Days a Week" The Beatles "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" Elvis Presley "Shake It Off" Taylor Swift "Can’t Get You Out of My Head" Kylie Minogue "B-A-B-Y" Rachel Sweet
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Thank you, rpeluso, for the Madeleine Peyroux "Desperados." She does it right. I imagine you've heard her version of Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love" (perhaps a good choice, perhaps a bad, on Rosh Hashanah). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REmk1EaaIzo And yes, I love "He's a Rebel." "Da Doo Ron Ron" as well. By chance, do you have a relative named Marlene. - jay15206 p.s. I like "Hey, Jude." |
