The Beach Boys is an iconic American rock band, frequently cited as one of the most influential and commercially successful groups in the history of popular music due to their intricate vocal harmonies, studio experiments, and novel approaches to pop songwriting. Rooted in doo-wop and rock and roll, their early string of vocal surf hits defined the '60s California Sound. For a period afterward, they notably delved into progressive pop styles. often combining elements from classical and jazz in innovative ways. Read Full BioThe Beach Boys is an iconic American rock band, frequently cited as one of the most influential and commercially successful groups in the history of popular music due to their intricate vocal harmonies, studio experiments, and novel approaches to pop songwriting. Rooted in doo-wop and rock and roll, their early string of vocal surf hits defined the '60s California Sound. For a period afterward, they notably delved into progressive pop styles. often combining elements from classical and jazz in innovative ways.
Formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961, the original group comprised singer-musician-composer and bandleader Brian Wilson, his brothers Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Wilson neighbor David Marks appeared on their first four albums and was a member from 1962 to 1963 as a temporary replacement for Jardine, who had left the group to pursue a career in dentistry.
On their first few studio albums, the group primarily played surf music, but this changed after 1964 as their songs became more sophisticated and autobiographical. The 1965 album Today! particularly represented this shift in sound. Bruce Johnston joined the group that same year. Session drummer Hal Blaine is quoted: "We all studied in conservatories; we were trained musicians. We thought it was a fluke at first, but then we realized Brian was writing these incredible songs. This was not just a young kid writing about high school and surfing."
Following their most esteemed work, Pet Sounds (1966), the band became symbols of psychedelic counterculture. The highly anticipated follow-up, Smile, was left unfinished, and Brian soon relinquished his creative hold on the group. A trilogy of lo-fi releases followed: Smiley Smile (1967), Wild Honey (1967), and Friends (1968). Brian would not be credited as a primary composer for any Beach Boys album until 1977's Love You, an album on the fringe of synth-pop, new wave, and punk.
In Brian's absence, the Beach Boys still managed to release music that was regarded favorably by fans and critics despite poor sales: Sunflower (1970) and Surf's Up (1971). South African musicians Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar played and sang with the band on the next two albums: Carl & the Passions - So Tough (1972), and Holland (1973).
Many changes in both musical style and personnel have occurred in their sometimes-stormy career: Brian Wilson's mental illness and drug addiction; the deaths of Dennis Wilson in 1983 and Carl Wilson in 1998; and continuing legal battles among surviving members of the group. With the release of 1974's Endless Summer they became a more popular touring act, playing their greatest hits. They have recorded 36 Billboard Top 40 hits (including four number-one singles), have had over 100 million sales, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Official site: http://www.thebeachboys.com
Formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961, the original group comprised singer-musician-composer and bandleader Brian Wilson, his brothers Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Wilson neighbor David Marks appeared on their first four albums and was a member from 1962 to 1963 as a temporary replacement for Jardine, who had left the group to pursue a career in dentistry.
On their first few studio albums, the group primarily played surf music, but this changed after 1964 as their songs became more sophisticated and autobiographical. The 1965 album Today! particularly represented this shift in sound. Bruce Johnston joined the group that same year. Session drummer Hal Blaine is quoted: "We all studied in conservatories; we were trained musicians. We thought it was a fluke at first, but then we realized Brian was writing these incredible songs. This was not just a young kid writing about high school and surfing."
Following their most esteemed work, Pet Sounds (1966), the band became symbols of psychedelic counterculture. The highly anticipated follow-up, Smile, was left unfinished, and Brian soon relinquished his creative hold on the group. A trilogy of lo-fi releases followed: Smiley Smile (1967), Wild Honey (1967), and Friends (1968). Brian would not be credited as a primary composer for any Beach Boys album until 1977's Love You, an album on the fringe of synth-pop, new wave, and punk.
In Brian's absence, the Beach Boys still managed to release music that was regarded favorably by fans and critics despite poor sales: Sunflower (1970) and Surf's Up (1971). South African musicians Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar played and sang with the band on the next two albums: Carl & the Passions - So Tough (1972), and Holland (1973).
Many changes in both musical style and personnel have occurred in their sometimes-stormy career: Brian Wilson's mental illness and drug addiction; the deaths of Dennis Wilson in 1983 and Carl Wilson in 1998; and continuing legal battles among surviving members of the group. With the release of 1974's Endless Summer they became a more popular touring act, playing their greatest hits. They have recorded 36 Billboard Top 40 hits (including four number-one singles), have had over 100 million sales, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Official site: http://www.thebeachboys.com
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California Girls
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Well, East coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there
The Midwest farmer's daughters really make you feel alright
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night
I wish they all could be California (girls)
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
The West coast has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a French bikini on Hawaiian island
Dolls by a palm tree in the sand
I been all around this great big world
And I seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the States
Back to the cutest girls in the world
I wish they all could be California (girls)
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Douglas Wilson, Michael Edward Love
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Michael Colello
@Vinyl 77 Well, I always found their 'fun fun fun' sound, squeaky clean image and saccharine harmonies really off-putting. But having discovered Pet Sounds I am now a fan of Brian's creativity - I love the songs and sounds of that record. Parts of Smiley Smile and later, more obscure items in their catalogue too.
Ironically: I'm Gen X, my parents are Boomers. I was telling them the other day that I've finally developed appreciation for the Beach Boys. They groaned.
"They're TERRIBLE," they said.
"No!," I protested. "Just listen to 'Let's Go Away for Awhile.' You'll see."
I don't think they're hearing me.
Colby Agerter
Lyrics:
Well East coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there
The Mid-West farmer's daughters really make you feel alright
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
The West coast has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a french bikini on Hawaii island
Dolls by a palm tree in the sand
I been all around this great big world
And I seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the states
Back to the cutest girls in the world
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
I wish they all could be California
(Girls, girls, girls yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California
(Girls, girls, girls yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California
(Girls, girls, girls yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California
(Girls, girls, girls yeah I dig the)
Cholid Tusitala
"Hey, " I said. Startled, she look at me, then at my T-shirt, then drained the rest of her Coke.
"How'd you find out where I worked?" she asked in a voice steeped in resignation.
"Pure chance. I came to buy records. "
"What're you looking for? "
"The Beach Boys LP with the song 'California Girls.'"
She nodded a skeptical nod, got up, srtode over to the shelves, grabbed a record, and brought it back like a well-trained dog.
"This is it, right?"
I nodded. With my hands still jammed in my pockets, I scanned the store.
Form
Haruki Murakami - Hear the Wind Sing
Jim Reuterskiold
Fall 1976 the Beach Boys played in Portland Oregon. The house lights go out, and the stage fills with fog. I got goosebumps as the opening chords of "California Girls" played. It remains my favorite Beach Boys song.
Jackie Peck
So happy you had this incredible experience.
jacob neuharth
Hey I’m from Portland!
Anon B
1976... Bit past their prime then.
redvette91
Jim Reuterskiold Portland sucks
Marvin Thiessen
@Brenda Drumm Hey Brenda, nice to meet you! Were you able to attend Brian's 2002, 3 night concert at London's Royal Festival Hall? He had a new, larger group with a different sound than the original band. The new group were young professionals with a wider range of talent and no "Mike Love type" member to sabotage the flow of good vibes. The concert DVD is a must for any Brian Wilson fan's music library.
Marvin Thiessen
The first 25 seconds is a small masterpiece by itself, thank you Brian!
Marvin Thiessen
@Ty Willinganz No worries, everyone here loves Brian Wilson's catalogue of music, if someone doesn't, it's their loss.
Ty Willinganz
@Marvin Thiessen I expressed myself imperfectly. Love's mundane, accessible lyrics made Wilson's genius accessible to the American public is what I meant
Marvin Thiessen
@Ty Willinganz Mike was a good singer, songwriter, and co-founded the group, that's it. Brian was all of that plus an arranger, composer, bass player, without his musical genius the band would've been another SoCal lounge act playing at state fairs, colleges, and classic car meets. Believe what you want, the facts I mentioned are public knowledge unless you took a 60 year nap.
In the early to mid-sixties Brian didn't have the studio high-tech to utilize like musicians now have and he still made incredible albums. Who else could've done that?