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
Good Vibrations
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
I hear the sound of a gentle word
On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air
I'm pickin' up good vibrations
She's giving me the excitations (oom bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (good vibrations, oom bop bop)
She's giving me the excitations (excitations, oom bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (oom bop bop)
She's giving me the excitations (excitations, oom bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (oom bop bop)
She's giving me the excitations (excitations)
Close my eyes, she's somehow closer now
Softly smile, I know she must be kind
When I look in her eyes
She goes with me to a blossom world
I'm pickin' up good vibrations
She's giving me excitations (oom bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (good vibrations, oom bop bop)
She's giving me excitations (excitations, oom bop bop)
Good, good, good, good vibrations (oom bop bop)
She's giving me excitations (excitations, oom bop bop)
Good, good, good, good vibrations (oom bop bop)
She's giving me excitations (excitations)
Ah, ah, my my, what elation
I don't know where but she sends me there
Oh, my my, what a sensation
Oh, my my, what elation
Oh, my my, what
Gotta keep those lovin' good vibrations a-happenin' with her
Gotta keep those lovin' good vibrations a-happenin' with her
Gotta keep those lovin' good vibrations a-happenin'
(Ahh)
Good, good, good, good vibrations (oom bop bop)
She's giving me the excitations (excitations, oom bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations
Na na na na na, na na na
Na na na na na, na na na (bop bop-bop-bop-bop, bop)
Do do do do do, do do do (bop bop-bop-bop-bop, bop)
Do do do do do, do do do (bop bop-bop-bop-bop, bop)
The opening lines of The Beach Boys' hit "Good Vibrations" celebrate the beauty and energy of a woman, conveyed through the vivid image of colorful clothes and sun-lit hair. The song continues with the narrator sensing a "gentle word" carried by the wind and tracing the source to the woman who fills his world with vibrant and positive feelings. As he closes his eyes and smiles, he enters a "blossom world" with her, filled with good vibrations, sensations, and elations that he cannot fully comprehend but cherishes.
At its core, "Good Vibrations" appears to be a love song that celebrates the power of connection and the feeling of being alive in the presence of the right person. The lyrics also suggest a sense of awe and wonder at the mysteries of attraction and emotional resonance that cannot be captured by words alone. Musically, the song is equally innovative, blending different genres and sounds from rock, pop, classical, and experimental music to create a unique and dynamic sonic experience that matches the lyrics' colorful and complex imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
I-I love the colorful clothes she wears
I really like her vibrant wardrobe
And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
I appreciate the way the sun shines on her hair
I hear the sound of a gentle word
I hear her speak kindly
On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air
Her fragrance is carried by the breeze
I'm pickin' up good vibrations
I'm sensing positive energy
She's giving me the excitations (oom bop bop)
She's bringing me excitement
Close my eyes, she's somehow closer now
With my eyes shut, she feels closer to me
Softly smile, I know she must be kind
When she smiles softly, I sense her kindness
When I look in her eyes
Her eyes invite me in
She goes with me to a blossom world
Together, we enter a beautiful, colorful world
Ah, ah, my my, what elation
I feel an incredibly joyful sensation
I don't know where but she sends me there
I don't know how, but she takes me to a wonderful place
Oh, my my, what a sensation
Oh wow, the feeling is amazing
Gotta keep those lovin' good vibrations a-happenin' with her
I need to cultivate positive energy with her
(Ahh)
A celebratory expression of joy
Na na na na na, na na na
A vocalization of excitement and happiness
Do do do do do, do do do (bop bop-bop-bop-bop, bop)
A playful, carefree melody
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Douglas Wilson, Mike E. Love
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brazen Archer
When this song was released, Paul McCartney was heard to say "How do we compete with this?". Masterpiece
David Mitchell
Yes l heard they were in the studio for 6 months to create this masterpiece
Bas Koenraadt
Surfin USSR❤
Count Alucard
@Funtime Freddie John is the Messiah
Count Alucard
Paul also said he wished he had written “God Only Knows”
Larry & Lindy M
What a superb arrangement. What fascinates me is that not only did Brian Wilson use a Theremin in this song, but that he modulated the tone up perfectly in the last few choruses. He employed an electronic instrument that was almost always associated with “creepy” scenes in tv and movies, and turned it into a classic rock song hook. Brilliant.
peter bamforth
Not half well said :}
Danny Owen-Kohutek
ha, I never thought of that. Awesome.
Erik T
@Aaron Shan It's actually neither a ribbon synth or a theremin. It's a tannerin and the inventor ot it, Paul Tanner, actually plays it on this track.
Todd Berner
@Larry and Lindy M....the instrument was actually a STRINGER which was a type of theremin, but easier to play than a true theremin.