Because the information of Brian Wilson’s passing reverberates across the music world, it’s heartening to know that his contributions are celebrated by artists younger and outdated. Paul McCartney, one in all Wilson’s greatest admirers, has referred to as The Seashore Boys’ “God Solely Is aware of” the “best tune ever written.”
The quote comes from Charles Granata’s 2003 e book Wouldn’t it Be Good: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Seashore Boys’ Pet Sounds, and McCartney reiterated his affection for the tune in a 2007 interview with BBC Radio 1, the place he mentioned why “God Solely Is aware of” means a lot to him. “It’s one of many few songs that reduces me to tears each time I hear it,” McCartney mentioned. “It’s actually only a love tune, but it surely’s brilliantly completed. It exhibits the genius of Brian.” (For what it’s value, we agree together with his evaluation.)
McCartney’s respect for Wilson extends past simply “God Solely Is aware of.” Over time, he’s typically mirrored on how Wilson’s musical improvements formed his personal work with The Beatles. “Brian Wilson type of proved himself to be a very superb composer,” McCartney advised The Ronnie Wooden Present in 2012. “I used to be into chords and harmonies and stuff at the moment, and we ended up with form of like a rivalry. We put a tune out and Brian would hear it, after which he’d do one. Which is good – it’s like me and John. You already know, you form of attempt to high one another on a regular basis.” Watch a clip of McCartney discussing Wilson, his efficiency of “God Solely Is aware of” alongside him for a profit live performance, and the genius of his songwriting under, in addition to a clip from the duo’s efficiency collectively.