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. 😉
@mrskeptic: You misunderstand my intent in the use of the term "greatest" (but @tony1954 doesn’t). It was deliberately chosen not to apply that adjective as a simple-minded statement of fact, but rather to make a polemic assertion. My statement assumes all readers are aware of the fact that in art there is no greatest, except for the music of J.S. Bach, of course.
Still, in the world of Pop music songwriting, "God Only Knows" stands alone. Says who (or is it whom, rpeluso? 😉)? Me. And Paul McCartney (a pretty good songwriter himself). And a few excellent songwriters I personally know (or knew. A few are dead).
But I have plenty of others. "The Weight" by J.R. Robertson, "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" by Gary Brooker & Keith Reid, "Nowhere Man" by John Lennon (which contains my favorite bit of George Harrison’s guitar playing in the song’s short/perfect solo), "Waterloo Sunset" by Ray Davies, "Waterloo" by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, "Shake Some Action" by Cyril Jordan and Chris Wilson, "Fresh As A Daisy" by Emitt Rhodes, "Why Don’t We Talk About It" by Rodney Crowell (found on his perfect album The Houston Kid, which I rate higher than Pet Sounds), "No Time To Cry" by Iris DeMent (about which and whom and I learned of in an interview with Merle Haggard), "Love Hurts" by Boudleaux Bryant (the original by The Everly Brothers please, not the inferior remake by Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris), "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, and "Like A Rolling Stone". There are dozens and dozens more I could name. All great, unique, and incomparable with each other.
For me, it all starts with the song. That’s why I don’t love than many Rock bands: most don’t have a great songwriter amongst it’s members. Being a musician, even a very, very good one, has NOTHING to do with writing songs. Prior to Brian Wilson and Lennon & McCartney, Pop music was most commonly made by separate teams: professional songwriters, studio musicians, the featured singer(s), and the record producer. After The Beatles, all Rock bands were expected to write their own material. That has resulted in a lot of mediocre music being made. IMO, of course..
i take the long view if we are talking greatest, and not from a musical theory perspective. more culturally and longevity, as well as great music and performance too.
what songs will the western world still be listening to and singing in 100 years?
written and recorded by.....
"Blowing In The Wind", Bob Dylan--most thought provoking.
"Here Comes the Sun", the Beatles---most joyful
"Somewhere Over The Rainbow’, Arlan/Harburg--Eva Cassidy---most inspiring.
good for what ails you.
these are not my three favorite, but have stood the test of time and will continue to do that.
As with any type of art, music is 100% subjective and for people to say "so and so is the greatest song (of any type) ever", is silly and pointless. It's simply an opinion that some may share but most probably won't.
Instead of saying greatest song ever written, maybe what song would I not want to live without? Done by the then other then, Stevie Ray, Tin Pan Alley. As per stuartk, many eligible as per personal preference.
@rpeluso: Oh yeah, if you remove the "Paul and" the sentence would read "agree with me". So even with "Paul" in the sentence, "me" is correct. Smarty-pants. 😉
Another Top 10 song for me is "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted". Like "God Only Knows", it’s chord structure/modulation/inversion just kills me. The bass part---played by my favorite bassist, James Jamerson---raises the hair on the back of my neck.
As for Beatles covers of Motown songs, give the original recording of "Money (That’s What I Want)"---written by Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, sung by Barrett Strong---a listen. Good as The Beatles version is---and it’s good---the original is even better (a very visceral feeling of tension-and-release is created by The Funk Brothers), with a very wicked little guitar solo (incredible tone, too).
John Lennon’s vocal on "Twist And Shout" is one of his best. I don't remember whether or not The Beatles did the song when I saw them live in '65. But I vividly remember looking up at Lennon on stage, standing on the floor of The Cow Palace in S. San Francisco about ten yards away from him. He had an electric piano next to him, which he played on only one song. He smiled a lot that night, appearing to be having a great time. Amazing to think he was murdered only fifteen years later.
It’s not as though "God Only Knows" is the only well-crafted Pop song -- there are many in the top tier. It all comes down to what moves us, particularly.
Simply consider the many gems in Stevie Wonder’s catalogue, for example. His composing is as harmonically/melodically sophisticated as anyone’s. This may or may not matter, depending upon whether his music appeals to you. Songs like "All Is Fair In Love" and "Visions" would certainly rank very highly on any list I’d compile, though.
What is the time span we’re considering? Think of all the Standards, some going back to the Twenties -- the Pop music of that era. These tunes from the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s are still being both sung and utilized for instrumental Jazz improvisation.
Just listened to God Only Knows by the Beach Boys and can confirm that it is not the best pop song. Top of my head, these are better.
Dancing In the Street by Martha and the Vandellas
Be My Baby by The Ronettes
California Dreamin'
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
Let it snow by Ella F.
Dancing Queen by Abba
I understand the passion one has for a song, and for me (although I love this BB song) it might be San Francisco Mabel Joy, a Mickey Newbury song, that would top my list. It gets to me each time I hear it/play it. Very different that GOK, but as great none the less. I think.
I'm not sure there's a GOAT pop song, but Paul McCartney's "Yesterday" certainly deserves to be near the top of the list. The Beatles original still retains its power, and it's been recorded by thousands of artists over the years.
It's always had been "The Shape Of My Heart" on my list of pop songs having the fact that I officially dislike pretty much all vocals and prefer to listen to instrumentals only.
I want to begin by saying that I have tremendous respect for your vast knowledge of rock and pop music. I always find your stories and inside knowledge very interesting. Being 68 myself, I lived with and through most of the same music that you have, but I couldn’t scratch the surface of all that you know.
That said, I have never subjectively regarded this as anywhere near the greatest pop song ever. I never knew everything that went into it (thanks for the video), and yes, Brian was a pretty amazing arranger, and the whole song is beautifully realized, but I don’t find any of it very emotionally powerful, or tear inducing. There are many pop songs that do have that effect on me, but his has never been one of them.
This is a very interesting subject, and it will be interesting to see what other members have to say.
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