The Beach Boys are an iconic American rock band, frequently cited as one of… Read Full Bio ↴The Beach Boys are 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

White Christmas
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleighbells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmasses be white

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys's rendition of the iconic Christmas song White Christmas is a nostalgic and sentimental tribute to the holiday season. The lyrics reflect the longing for a classic, old-fashioned Christmas that many people have come to associate with the holiday, complete with snow-covered landscapes, dreamy sleigh rides, and the sound of jingling bells. The opening lines of the song, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know," suggest that the singer is yearning for a sense of familiarity and tradition that has been lost over time. The second line, "Where the treetops glisten," evokes the image of a picturesque winter wonderland, while "And children listen to hear sleighbells in the snow" conjures up the sounds of the holiday season that have become synonymous with it.

The second verse of the song expresses the desire to spread the joy of the holiday season through Christmas cards, which have long been a popular way to send warm wishes and season's greetings to friends and loved ones. The sentiment of "May your days be merry and bright" is a heartfelt wish for happiness and cheer during this special time of year, while "And may all your Christmases be white" reiterates the longing for that idyllic, snow-covered setting that is so often associated with Christmas.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
I am longing for a Christmas with snow.

Just like the ones I used to know
Similar to the Christmases I have experienced before.

Where the treetops glisten
The snow on the treetops shines in the sunlight.

And children listen
Kids eagerly wait to hear the sound of sleighbells.

To hear sleighbells in the snow
The children are excited to hear the sound of sleighbells from the snow-covered roads.

With every Christmas card I write
While writing Christmas cards for others.

May your days be merry and bright
Wishing that your days be happy and cheerful.

And may all your Christmases be white
Also hoping that all your future Christmases will be snowy.

Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Irving Berlin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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