1) American singer-s… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists named Dennis Wilson:
1) American singer-songwriter, musician; founding member of The Beach Boys.
2) British composer.
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1) Dennis Carl Wilson (December 4, 1944 - December 28, 1983) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as one of the founding members of The Beach Boys alongside brothers Brian and Carl. The group's drummer and occasional lead singer for much of his life, easily recognized by his bluesy and raspy voice, he later grew to become a gifted songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His only solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue (1977), is regarded as perhaps the finest Beach Boys solo recording.
Born in Hawthorne, California to Murry and Audree Wilson, Dennis Wilson was the Wilsons' middle child, and a self-affirmed "black sheep." A rebel from a young age, he was constantly at odds with his domineering father Murry, and would, as a consequence, be the one to suffer most from his abusive parenting techniques. As a teenager, Dennis became enamored with the burgeoning surfing scene; when the group that would become The Beach Boys was first formed, it was at Dennis' suggestion that they decided to capitalize on what would in short time become a national phenomenon. Thus, the idyllic notion of sun, surf, and sand that has become emblematic of the state of California, can, by and large, be attributed to the group's impending nationwide and international success, foreseen by Dennis.
As The Beach Boys grew in popularity, Dennis quickly became the sex symbol heartthrob of the group. Ironically, at the time Dennis had little faith in his own ability as a performer, and his earliest lead vocal, "Little Girl (You're My Miss America)", is noticeably shy and restrained compared to his later efforts. His vocal spots would remain few and far between for the first five years of the band's existence; however, his importance to the group's vocal blend, as well as his lively surf-inflected drumming, was a cornerstone of the group's sound. By 1965, Dennis had seemingly overcome his shyness, resulting in a star turn as lead singer of the group's hit single "Do You Wanna Dance?".
On the 1966 album Beach Boys' Party!, an acoustic recording session recorded as a stopgap measure in order to give Brian more time to complete his ambitious Pet Sounds album, Dennis sang a cover version of The Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", on which he accompanied himself on guitar. By this time, he had also learned to play the piano, though it would take a while for his newfound talents to be put to use in the studio. As brother Brian became progressively more reliant on studio musicians, session drummers were often hired in Dennis' place, who by his own admission had limits to what he could do on a drum kit. He did, however, retain his position as drummer for live performances.
As the '60s progressed, Brian's involvement in studio affairs became increasingly lessened as a result of personal issues. His brothers both jumped at the chance for a more active role in recording; Carl became de facto leader of the group, and Dennis composed some of his first notable songs for the 1968 album Friends. He would maintain a steady pace of new compositions, often with one or more co-writers, for the remainder of his life. The song "Forever", co-written with Gregg Jakobson, "Forever", would become Dennis' most enduring and iconic work, awash with Dennis' distinctively loving and melancholy aesthetics.
In the late '60s, Dennis became involved with Charles Manson and his "family," who stayed in his house for a period of time. Dennis tried to get Manson a record deal through his music business connections, but it failed to materialize. Secretly, Dennis recorded Manson's song "Cease to Exist" as "Never Learn Not to Love" for The Beach Boys' 1969 album 20/20, without crediting Manson. Upon learning this, Manson was incensed, and broke of all ties with Dennis (who had already come to suspect Manson's ill intent and began distancing himself from Manson) not too long before the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders. Dennis' involvement in the affair would haunt him for the rest of his days, and he declined to answer any questions asked about this period, partially out of fear of retaliation from the "family."
For The Beach Boys' then-unnamed 1971 album, Dennis recorded the song "(Wouldn't It Be Nice To) Live Again". He wanted the song to serve as the album's closing track, but his wish was vetoed by Carl in favor of "Surf's Up"--a partially re-recorded remnant from Brian's unfinished SMiLE album--which would eventually be the derivation for the album's name. Hurt and frustrated, Dennis decided to leave the song off the album altogether; over four decades later, it was finally unearthed (as part of a career-spanning Beach Boys box set), instantly regarded as some of Dennis' finest work.
In 1971, Dennis co-starred in the film Two-Lane Blacktop alongside James Taylor; this would be the only acting credit for either man. Having suffered a debilitating hand injury in the early '70s, Dennis was by necessity replaced by Ricky Fataar as drummer. No longer stuck behind a drum kit, Dennis rose to the occasion to become co-frontman alongside Love, as well as playing keyboards and singing. During the mid-'70s, Dennis' voice deteriorated markedly as a result of smoking and drinking. His onstage antics would also become more edgy and unpredictable around this time.
Around the mid-'70s, The Beach Boys split into two factions: one stuck on oldies and nostalgia (Love and Al Jardine), and one bent on progress and evolution (Dennis and Carl; brother Brian would remain a neutral party). As a result, Dennis withdrew from the group to record a solo album. Songwriting partners included Carl, Love, and Jakobson. The recording sessions were decidedly sporadic, to the point where much recording date documentation was lost, or never documented in the first place. Though Dennis dismissed Pacific Ocean Blue as having "no substance," it sold surprisingly well (rivaling the recent Beach Boys album Love You in sales), and remains critically well-regarded to this day. A subsequent solo tour was planned, but ultimately cancelled; Dennis would, however, occasionally perform material from his solo album during Beach Boys live performances.
Almost immediately after the release of his first album, Dennis eagerly planned his follow-up, Bambu. A good number of songs were recorded, but the album never materialized due to Dennis' increasing financial problems, as well as commitment to Beach Boys-related projects; some of the material recorded for his second album were salvaged for use on Beach Boys albums. At the turn of the decade, Dennis had all but become persona non grata to the group he had given a sense of identity so many years before, as a result of his increasingly erratic and self-destructive behavior. Outside of the context of his former group, Dennis got together with Brian to record; though never released, their sessions together were widely bootlegged.
On December 25, 1983, Dennis Wilson, at the time all but homeless, drowned after diving off a pier in Marina Del Rey in search of personal items he had thrown off his boat, the Harmony, many years prior. He was granted the unique honor of a burial at sea, a privilege usually reserved for war heroes . Some of Dennis' songs and vocal spots are still performed by other band members to this day; during The Beach Boys' 50th anniversary tour, performances of "Forever" utilized archival video and audio footage of Dennis performing his signature song.
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2) Dennis Miller Wilson (1920–1989) was a British pianist, composer, arranger and conductor born 16 February 1920 in Leicester.
Biography:
During his schooldays in his native town of Leicester, Wilson played the piano for the school orchestra before he was sixteen years old. After leaving school, he played in local bands and when the Army claimed him in 1939, he was eventually posted to India where until 1946, he directed the music at one of the garrison theatres.
His next move was to join Harry Parry's Sextet for three years, after which he featured in several of the popular bands of the period, including those of Harry Hayes and Kenny Baker. From 1949 he was free-lance with recording, radio and television orchestras and has also had much to do with film music.
He was with George Melachrino, Malcolm Lockyer, Peter Yorke and other well-known orchestra leaders, as well as having his own set-up for some popular radio series, such as “ Educating Archie" and "Pertwee's Progress". He later joined the B.B.C. Show Band and in addition played for commercial T.V. He was an outstandingly good pianist and made numerous recordings playing in combos as trio, quartet, quintet, octet and with his own orchestra. His album Dennis Plus Three was originally released in 1957 and remastered in Aug 2013.
He was married in 1950, lived at Beckenham, Kent and had two children - Nicholas and Penelope. His principal hobbies were sailing and gardening. He died 15 July 1989 in Cambridge.
He composed the theme music for a number of television series and sitcoms:
Marriage Lines (1961)
Steptoe and Son (1962) (music for some episodes, but not the theme music)
Meet the Wife (1963)
Till Death Us Do Part (1965)
Birds on the Wing (1971)
My Wife Next Door (1972)
Rising Damp (1974)
My Honourable Mrs (1975)
Fawlty Towers (1975 - 1979)
End of the Show
Dennis Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With our dreams in the sky
We all have our dreams
It's wonderful to know we're alive
At the end
It's over
There you are
Mem'ries are real
It's wonderful to know you're alive
At the end
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever wanted
Oh oh oh
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever needed
Oh oh oh
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever dreamed of
Whoa whoa
It's over
Thank you
very much
For everything you've ever given
Oh oh oh
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever taken
Oh oh oh
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever dreamed of
Whoa whoa
It's over
The lyrics of Dennis Wilson's song End of the Show are a reflection on the passing of time and the inevitable end that we all face. The song speaks to the fact that while we are alive, we have dreams and aspirations that we pursue. However, ultimately the end comes for all of us, and the song encourages us to appreciate everything that we have experienced in life.
At the end of the show, we are left with memories of what once was. This can be interpreted as a reflection on what we have accomplished and what we have left behind. We can take comfort in knowing that our memories are real and that we have lived. The song encourages us to be grateful for everything we have ever wanted, needed, dreamed of, given, and taken. There is a sense of finality in the lyrics, as if the singer is saying goodbye to life itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we are
We are currently present in the moment
With our dreams in the sky
We all have aspirations, goals and aims that we look up towards
We all have our dreams
Everyone has individual desires or plans for their life
It's wonderful to know we're alive
It's great to feel happy and satisfied with life, despite its complexities
At the end
Refers to a time in the future where things come to a close, in this case, the end of the show or the end of a lifetime
There you are
Someone has reached the end of the show of their life
Mem'ries are real
Memories are true experiences that one will take with them, even after the show ends
It's wonderful to know you're alive
It's great to feel content, grateful and living life to the fullest up until the very end
Thank you very much
A message of gratitude to everyone and everything, thankful for the things they've achieved, done, experienced and created throughout their life
For everything you've ever wanted
Acknowledging that over the course of their life, there were things that encapsulated them, that they strived for, thought were important or valuable
For everything you've ever needed
Thanking all things that were significant to their existence, both on the inside and outside, that they simply couldn't live without it
For everything you've ever dreamed of
Acknowledging that there were dreams, aspirations, goals that they pursued that inside made them feel whole and joyful
Whoa whoa
An expression of emotions such as excitement, joy or awe
It's over
Their journey or the show of their life is now complete
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DENNIS WILSON, DENNIS C. WILSON, GREGG JAKOBSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Morrisey35
Here we are
With our dreams in the sky
We all have our dreams
It's wonderful to know we're alive
At the end
It's over
There you are
At the end of the show
Mem'ries are real
It's wonderful to know you're alive
At the end
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever wanted
Oh oh oh
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever needed
Oh oh oh
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever dreamed of
Whoa whoa
It's over
Thank you
finkemon9
Either the most uplifting, or most depressing music ever. Or it's both. To be sure though, it is beautiful.
Hal Erickson
+finkemon9 Well put.
Benjamin Lewis
I always heard it in an uplifting context, even with my knowledge of Dennis' death
finkemon9
@Benjamin Lewis Maybe I should have said "bittersweet". The song makes me feel like he's saying "Well, we're at the end, but wasn't it a great time?"
Jason Terry
Dude, that's the Wilsons. Sad songs about being happy.
Luminescent Nymph
This album is soo underrated and soo GOOD! 💕
Eugene Mosher
"It's over. Thank you very much, for everything I've ever wanted... for everything I've ever needed... for everything I've ever dreamed of. It's over."
Daniel Spear
A goodbye to stardom and, in retrospect, perhaps life itself. Also could be a generic break up song. Truly stunning.
Morrisey35
Here we are
With our dreams in the sky
We all have our dreams
It's wonderful to know we're alive
At the end
It's over
There you are
At the end of the show
Mem'ries are real
It's wonderful to know you're alive
At the end
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever wanted
Oh oh oh
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever needed
Oh oh oh
Thank you very much
For everything you've ever dreamed of
Whoa whoa
It's over
Thank you
C Stanz
heartwrenching :(