The first official release credited to Wilson as a solo artist was the 1966 Beach Boys single "Caroline, No" (b/w "Summer Means New Love"), due to being the single's arranger and sole vocal presence. Around the same time, Wilson also produced cuts for other artists such as The Beach Boys' spear counterpart The Honeys (member Marilyn Rovell was Wilson's first wife), and Jan & Dean, whose "Surf City" became a #1 hit single. The 1977 album Love You and the unreleased Adult/Child (recorded during the same sessions) were tentatively considered for release as Brian Wilson solo albums, although the idea fell through. Love You would be last Beach Boys albums to feature Wilson's extended involvement for the better part of 35 years.
Brian's solo career, despite a few false starts, began in earnest with the 1987 single "Let's Go to Heaven in My Car" (b/w "Too Much Sugar"), featured in the film Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol. A year later, his debut solo album, the eponymous Brian Wilson, was released, at the time hailed as a 1980s equivalent of what is widely regarded as Wilson's magnum opus, 1966's Pet Sounds. A follow-up in much the same vein, Sweet Insanity, was scrapped due to various personal issues.
Also left on the shelf was a fruitful collaborative project with multi-instrumentalist Andy Paley, informally known as "The Paley Sessions". Over the years, a few tracks were released through various albums, but dozens more have been bootlegged, and a comprehensive release has yet to be assembled.
Instead, 1995 saw the release of two albums: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, a collection of re-recordings seemingly meant to reintroduce him to the public, and Orange Crate Art, a song cycle written by one-time lyricist Van Dyke Parks with contributions by Wilson, were released. An album of new compositions entitled Imagination followed in 1998.
Wilson began performing live again in 1999, and with his confidence as a performer growing ever stronger, he chose to release a live album documenting the Imagination tour (Live at the Roxy Theatre). In 2002, he began incorporating Pet Sounds in its entirety into his live performances; this, too, was documented in a live album titled Pet Sounds Live.
In 2004, Wilson revived and completed SMiLE, his unfinished 1967 album, performing the work in its entirety on a celebrated tour. The positive response lead him to record a studio version which met similar acclaim; the album cut "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental. That same year, he released Gettin' in Over My Head (containing many songs originating with the ill-fated Sweet Insanity album), featuring guest musicians Elton John, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and brother Carl, who passed away in 1998. Brian's song "Lay Down Burden" was written in tribute of his brother.
Brian released a collection of Christmas songs entitled What I Really Want For Christmas in 2005. His 2008 album, That Lucky Old Sun, marked his return to Capitol Records. As part of a two-album deal with Disney, Wilson released Reimagines Gershwin (2010), a tribute to his idol George Gershwin, and In the Key of Disney (2011), a collection of cover songs from various Disney films.
2012 saw the The Beach Boys celebrate their 50th anniversary, reuniting a majority of surviving band members including Brian, for a worldwide tour as well as the release of an album, That's Why God Made the Radio, composed almost entirely by Wilson with an assortment of co-writers. The album became the group's biggest chart success in decades, peaking at #3 on the Billboard album charts. Status quo was restored as the group members went their separate ways again after the conclusion of the tour.
In 2015, Wilson released his eleventh studio album, No Pier Pressure. Originally conceived as a follow-up to That's Why God Made the Radio before The Beach Boys reunion fell through, the album features guest appearances by contemporary artists such as Kacey Musgraves, She & Him, and Nate Ruess (of fun.), as well as former Beach Boys Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin, and David Marks. Summer 2015 will also see the public release of Wilson's autobiographical motion picture Love and Mercy (named after Wilson's 1988 comeback single), with actors Paul Dano and John Cusack starring as a younger and older Wilson.
Here Today
Brian Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right away you're thinkin' 'bout romance now
You know you ought to take it slower
But you just can't wait to get to know her
A brand new love affair is such a beautiful thing
But if you're not careful think about the pain it can bring
It makes you feel so bad
It makes your heart feel sad It makes your days go wrong
It makes your nights so long
You've got to keep in mind love is here today
And it's gone tomorrow
It's here and gone so fast
Right now you think that she's perfection
This time is really an exception
Well you know I hate to be a downer
But I'm the guy she left before you found her
Well I'm not saying you won't have a good love with her
But I keep on remembering things like they were
She made me feel so bad
She made my heart feel sad
She made my days go wrong
And made my nights so long
You've got to keep in mind love is here today
And it's gone tomorrow
It's here and gone so fast
Ok, here's we go
Keep in mind love is here today
And it's gone tomorrow
It's here and gone so fast
Love is here today
And it's gone tomorrow
It's here and gone so fast
Love is here today
And it's gone tomorrow
It's here and gone so fast
The lyrics of Brian Wilson’s ‘Here Today’ seem to be a warning to someone who has just fallen in love and might be blinded by the initial excitement of their new relationship. The song advises caution and to take things slow, as falling in love can lead to heartbreak and pain. The writer speaks from personal experience, referring to a previous relationship that ended badly and suggesting that the new lover may not be as perfect as they seem. The repetition of the line ‘love is here today and it’s gone tomorrow’ reinforces the idea that emotions can be fleeting and love should be approached with caution.
Line by Line Meaning
It starts with just a little glance now
The beginning of a potential love affair can be as simple as a passing look.
Right away you're thinkin' 'bout romance now
As soon as this glance is exchanged, thoughts of love and affection begin to appear in your mind.
You know you ought to take it slower
You recognize that it may be best to approach the situation cautiously and not rush into anything.
But you just can't wait to get to know her
Despite this awareness, you're eagerly anticipating the opportunity to learn more about the other person.
A brand new love affair is such a beautiful thing
The beginning stages of romance can be exciting and enjoyable, filled with potential for a positive experience.
But if you're not careful think about the pain it can bring
It's important to remember that if you're not mindful and cautious, a new love affair can also lead to heartache and distress.
It makes you feel so bad
When love doesn't work out, the resulting emotions can be extremely negative and hurtful.
It makes your heart feel sad
Your emotions can be heavily impacted by the experience and may leave you feeling melancholic and sorrowful.
It makes your days go wrong
Negative emotional experiences can have a strong impact on your daily life, causing disruptions and difficulties.
It makes your nights so long
The negative feelings can persist and make it hard to get restful sleep, leading to long and anxious nights.
You've got to keep in mind love is here today
Even though there are risks associated with love, it's important to remember that it's currently present and real in the moment.
And it's gone tomorrow
But this love is fleeting and can disappear just as quickly as it appeared, so it's important to cherish it while it lasts.
Right now you think that she's perfection
In the early stages of love, it's common to see the other person as perfect in every way.
This time is really an exception
Even if past love affairs have been difficult, there may be hope that this one will be different.
Well you know I hate to be a downer
The singer recognizes that their words may not be well-received as they caution against potential negative outcomes.
But I'm the guy she left before you found her
The artist has past experience with the person in question and has been on the receiving end of heartache and disappointment.
Well I'm not saying you won't have a good love with her
Despite this past history, the artist doesn't want to discourage the new relationship entirely and recognizes that it has the potential to be positive.
But I keep on remembering things like they were
The singer can't help but recall past negative experiences and how they may repeat themselves.
She made me feel so bad
The singer's past experiences with the person were not positive and were filled with negative emotions.
She made my heart feel sad
The artist's emotions were heavily impacted by the negative experiences and were filled with sorrow and melancholy.
She made my days go wrong
The negative emotions impacted the artist's daily life and made things difficult and unpleasant.
And made my nights so long
The negative emotions carried into the night and made restful sleep difficult and elusive.
Ok, here's we go
The singer suddenly changes topic, perhaps to emphasize the importance of the upcoming statement.
Love is here today
The presence of love in this moment is emphasized once again.
And it's gone tomorrow
And once again, the fleeting nature of love is emphasized, reminding the listener to cherish it while it lasts.
It's here and gone so fast
The singer concludes by emphasizing just how little time love may be present, as well as the importance of valuing it while it's still there.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN WILSON, TONY ASHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@keanuconfer2252
Brian hopping the octaves is insane wow.. the brilliance of that man in his younger stages phew
@italianboy1963
As Tom Petty has said , there are not to many guys who come down the pike like Brian Wilson. Music to me would not be the same if Brian never came around.
@impalaman9707
Brian has about three different voices--the obnoxious Brian, like on "You're So Good To Me", the soft falsetto Brian like on "You Still Believe in Me", and the in-between Brian like here and on "Caroline No". The funny thing is, he sounds so different with each voice, you don't even know its him!
@przemekgrabowski
@@impalaman9707 he even could sing two different voices in a single song (I'm Waiting For The Day, Good Time).
@impalaman9707
@@przemekgrabowski Exactly right--both songs sound like a duet---or a "duel". I always imagined "I'm Waiting For The Day" as a "duel" between a "good" Brian and an "evil" Brian!
@branson9271
@@przemekgrabowski Good Time had part of a 60s recording and a 70s so part of it is him when he was younger and his older gruffer voice
@jerrysmith2354
Brian really could have sang all the songs on the album, and Id be happy.
@KevyNova
True.
@josephharnett5075
I agree this was and could have been Brian Wilson solo album
@doodledangernoodle2517
Less Mike Love is a good thing