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.
Heroes and Villains
Brian Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taken for lost and gone and unknown for a long, long time
Fell in love years ago with an innocent girl from the
Spanish and Indian home of the Heroes and Villains.
Once at night, cotillion squared, the fight, and she was right
In the rain of the bullets that eventually brought her down
But she's still dancing in the night unafraid of what
A dude'll do in a town full of Heroes and Villains.
Heroes and Villains
Just see what you done-done
Heroes and villains
Just see what you done-done
Stand or fall, I know there shall be peace in the valley, and
It's all an affair of my life with the Heroes and Villains.
In the cantina, Margarita keeps the spirits high.
There I watched her, she spun around and wound in
The warmth, her body fanned the flame of the dance.
Dance Margarita! Don't you know I love you!
My children were raised, you know they suddenly rise.
They started slow long ago, head to toe, healthy, wealthy, and wise.
I been in this town so long, so long to the city
I'm fit with the stuff to ride in the rough, and Sonny,
Down snuff, I'm alright by the Heroes and Villains.
The lyrics of Brian Wilson's "Heroes and Villains" tell of a love story set amidst the backdrop of a town full of heroes and villains. The singer has been in the town so long that he has been taken for lost, but he fell in love with an innocent girl from the Spanish and Indian home of heroes and villains. One night, during a cotillion squared, the girl was right in the rain of bullets that eventually brought her down, but the singer states that she still dances in the night unafraid of what a dude'll do in a town full of Heroes and Villains. Despite the chaos in the town, the singer is sure that there will be peace in the valley, and his life is an affair with the Heroes and Villains.
Line by Line Meaning
I been in this town so long that back in the city I been
Taken for lost and gone and unknown for a long, long time
I have lived in this small town for so long that when I returned to the city, I was unrecognizable and unknown for a considerable period.
Fell in love years ago with an innocent girl from the
Spanish and Indian home of the Heroes and Villains.
I fell in love with a naïve girl who lived in a place with diverse cultures, which had a reputation of being fickle and unpredictable.
Once at night, cotillion squared, the fight, and she was right
In the rain of the bullets that eventually brought her down
On a particular night, a violent fight broke out during a fancy ball, and my lover found herself in the crossfire of intense gun battle, leading to her deadly downfall.
But she's still dancing in the night unafraid of what
A dude'll do in a town full of Heroes and Villains.
Despite the danger, my deceased lover's spirit still dances joyfully at night, undeterred by those violent and unpredictable individuals who inhabit that town.
Heroes and Villains
Just see what you done-done
Heroes and villains
Just see what you done-done
This repetitive verses about the heroes and the villains, serves as a critique and a warning to people about the corrupt and dangerous individuals who inhabit a place.
Stand or fall, I know there shall be peace in the valley, and
It's all an affair of my life with the Heroes and Villains.
In spite of the struggles and conflicts that people encounter, I am confident that eventually, there will be peace, and my life's journey is intertwined with the heroes and villains.
In the cantina, Margarita keeps the spirits high.
There I watched her, she spun around and wound in
The warmth, her body fanned the flame of the dance.
In a local bar, Margarita does an excellent job of keeping the customers upbeat, and I am delighted every time I watch her dance as her movements symbolize the warmth and energy that fans the flame of life.
Dance Margarita! Don't you know I love you!
I sing a song of admiration for Margarita as her movements fill me with the warmth of her love, and her energy gives me strength.
My children were raised, you know they suddenly rise.
They started slow long ago, head to toe, healthy, wealthy, and wise.
My children had a gradual and peaceful upbringing, but suddenly, they sprang to life, strong and well-rounded; thus, they are now blessed with good health, wealth, and knowledge.
I been in this town so long, so long to the city
I'm fit with the stuff to ride in the rough, and Sonny,
Down snuff, I'm alright by the Heroes and Villains.
I have spent such a long time in this town that its unpredictability no longer scares me; thus, I can withstand any harsh situation around here and come out unscathed.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertschirm5185
he looks so much happier in this song. usually brian looks like he doesn't want to be there
@ichibirofl
The whole concert he's looking so happy!
@jaggass
Brian admitted himself to hospital before the show because he was so anxious and after the show he was so pleased that he finally conquered his fear of Smile.
@Snakeskin94
Probably helped that Mike Love wasn't there lol
@Hahaa99
Fuck Mike Love
@Mozart1220
Ironic as well because for over 30 years he was terrified of this song.
@leokimvideo
Brian's concert is like going to musical heaven.
@janeamandaford4199
🙏 YES! 🙏
@fazg2
“The best touring band in the world. Period.” -Sir Paul McCartney
@yourmother3207
What did he say that about Brian's touring band or the beach boys in their prime?