First of all let me clarify that it is not I who is making the argument that good vibrations is the greatest pop song of all time. However, nearly every critic seems to regard this song as either the greatest pop song of all time, or the closest thing to the perfect pop song that's ever been recorded? What are peoples thoughts on this? Even if you don't like the Beach boys, you have to acknowlegde that this is an extraordinary piece of music. But does it deserve it's seemingly undisputed status as the greatest single ever? If not what songs do you think are better candidates or contenders?

jacktheimprovident said:

I think they have better songs that could be given that honour instead. Honestly I never really liked that song that much. It's ok. But not their best.

maybe not the greatest ever, but definately in the list of best ever
love this song

here's a couple of my personal picks for the "rivals" for best twentieth century popular music song

Take The A-Train
A Day in the life
As
Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
Johnny B. Goode
Dance To The Music
Satin Doll
What A Wonderful World
Jeepers Creepers
So what
Tutti Frutti
Salt Peanuts

jacktheimprovident said:

Damn good song.

it would be in my top ten...i believe the other great beach boys song "god only knows" may well be the greatest song ever written...it stuns me every time i hear it...here is the critics top ten songs of all time at present.
..
..
1 The Rolling Stones
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
1965

2 Bob Dylan
Like a Rolling Stone
1965

3 The Beach Boys
Good Vibrations
1966

4 Nirvana
Smells Like Teen Spirit
1991

5 Aretha Franklin
Respect
1967

6 Marvin Gaye
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
1968

7 Otis Redding
Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay
1968

8 The Kingsmen
Louie Louie
1963

9 Chuck Berry
Johnny B. Goode
1958

10 The Kinks
You Really Got Me
1964
http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/

jacktheimprovident said:

The Dance to the Music medley is awesome. Though thats far too long to be a pop song.

Not.

Even.

Close.

Chico1 said:

It's a great song but it's not their best. Music critics are full of shit anyway, they're so conservative.

FunkMistress said:

Ditto

Good Vibrations has a good hook, but as a single, it's just not all that great. i thnk tunes like In My Room, and God Only Knows are much better. I never understood why Good Vibrations got so much attention.

"Good vibrations" is an amazing song, a marriage of music AND production.

But I think "Heroes and Villains" is a better Beach Boys single, but it wasn'r as big a hit, so it's not as well known

blackboab said:

Notice the Beatles have too many classics to just put one on this list.

Not to knock any of these artists, they're all great, all legends (except the Kingsmen? Biggest one hit wonder ever?), but all of them are closely tied to these specific songs. Which one song could you tie to the Beatles?

Good Vibrations is not even the best beach boys song.

I can't really pinpoint why, but I never liked "Good Vibrations". I'm not a Beach Boys fan either though.

Maybe it's because Sunkist used that song for a commercial back in the 70s, and I can't hear it now without thinking about the ad. But I still don't really like it anyway.

It's the song's very satisfying semi-classical structure, the sheer innovation (nothing really sounded like it at the time, except one or two other Beach Boys tracks) and IMO it's one of the most beautiful songs ever.

Brian Wilson/ The Beach Boys don't seem to get the respect they deserve around here, maybe due to their 'conservative', clean cut look/ image. When they were great (as on 'Pet Sounds' and 'Smile'), no-one could match them. I like the Beatles, but IMO they never produced an album with as gorgeous melodies and original music, or as consistent, as the finished version of 'Smile'.

Miles said:

Hmmm, maybe it's just me, or just because I've only listened to it once, but I wasn't all that impressed by smile. I wouldn't rate it besides the best of the Beatles' albums, or even above Pet Sounds itself. I do kinda like what Brian did with Good Vibrations for the re-recording though (made it longer, added the africanized chanting)

Jacktheimprovident said -

Hmmm, maybe it's just me, or just because I've only listened to it once, but I wasn't all that impressed by smile. I wouldn't rate it besides the best of the Beatles' albums, or even above Pet Sounds itself. I do kinda like what Brian did with Good Vibrations for the re-recording though (made it longer, added the africanized chanting)


Some people do have problems with Van Dyke Park's impressionistic lyrics on 'Smile', and the Beach Boys' often 'sentimental' lyrics in general. Personally, they don't bother me. At least Park's lyrics are original, and not the usual 'love' lyrics we've all heard a million times before.

As to the Beatles comparisons (I consider them to be basically working in the same 'progressive' field), IMO every later Beatles album has at least one clunker. I think 'Smile' has none. The melodies on 'Smile' are awesome. Just when you think he can't top this one, here comes another! When on form, Brian Wilson alone, as a composer was/is the equal, if not superior to Lennon/McCartney (often greatly assisted by George Martin, the true 'fifth Beatle IMO!) at their best. And the Beatles could never match the playing on 'Pet Sounds' and 'Smile' (all carefully selected session musicians, including on 'Pet Sounds', the jazz guitar legend Barney Kessel).

MAYBE if you took 'Sgt Pepper' and added the best tracks from the (contemporary) 'Magical Mystery Tour' album (eg 'Strawberry Fields', 'Penny Lane', 'I Am the Walrus', you'd make 'Pepper' an album that might rival 'Smile', but I'm still not sure ...

Miles said:

I gotta disagree. I'd rather listen to Revolver, the White Album, Abbey Road or Sgt. Pepper than Smile Or Pet Sounds. And I think there's a very strong argument that the Beatles were much more inventive in the recording studio that Brian ever was: Did brian ever put together such a dissonant, nightmarish collage as the beatles did on "Tomorrow never knows" (which was largely the work of Paul McCartney) or use backwards guitars to simulate sleepiness (I'm only sleeping)...I could go on and on. And, overall, the Beach Boys never rocked as hard as the Beatles.

blackboab said:

Very cool web site! Thanks for posting it.

Jacktheimprovident said

Well, there is the famous 'Fire Music' from 'Smile', 'Mrs O'Leary's Cow', which sounds like some scary modern classical music (and nearly drove Brian completely mad, they say). 'Tomorrow Never Knows' is great and 'I'm Only Sleeping', which slightly pre-dates Hendrix in the use of backwards guitar sounds, is OK-ish. As to who was more inventive in the recording studio, using the sound of chewing vegetables (as on 'Vege-tables' on 'Smile', the original version of which featured Paul McCartney on 'vegetable percussion') is pretty out there ...

Actually, I would say Frank Zappa and Hendrix were more inventive than either Beach Boys or Beatles in terms of studio techniques at the time. Like 'em or not, some of Zappa's sound collages of the sixties wipe out anything the Beatles ever attempted in that area, such as his reply to 'A Day in the Life', 'The Chrome-Plated Megaphone of Destiny', from his dark classic, 'We're Only In It For the Money'. That is pretty scary stuff in some ways. His 'Lumpy Gravy' album is also amazing, and has the odd passage that sounds vaguely Beach Boys-ish. Tho often in the Beatles case, darkness does not necessarily equal quality (says the Zappa fan! ) .

As to rocking out, the Beach Boys weren't really that kind of group, tho in their time, Brian and the Boys recorded with both Gary Moore and Eric Clapton. Also, early on, Carl Wilson was IMO a much better rock n' roll lead guitarist than George Harrison, who sounds/ looks quite hesitant up until the mid-sixties. Carl also had the voice of an angel (which cannot be said of George), and the Beach Boys' vocal harmonies are one of the wonders of pop music. And the Beach Boys (in the late 60's and early 70s) and Brian Wilson solo (from 1988 to now) have so many hidden masterpieces that deserve wider appreciation.

It shouldn't really be 'Beach Boys versus Beatles', anyway. We can enjoy both. I just think overall that the Beatles, much as I like them, are slightly over-rated, while the Beach Boys (even in their immediate post 'Smile' years) are slightly under-rated. And Zappa, while not for everyone, probably beats them both! So there!

Good Vibration is the greatest song ever, hands down, any genre. It was pure genius the way those funky guys teamed up with with the guy on lead vocals. I can never quite remember his name, but I'm sure he played in the Planet of the Apes remake.

hakinat said:

I can agree that it's a great song. Brian Wilson created some of the most beautiful harmonies in the history of pop music. Personally, I think God Only Knows, In My Room and Don't Worry Baby are better tunes, but there's no denying that Good Vibrations is a classic pop tune. I really don't like it when people hate on the Beach Boys.

RipHer2Shreds said:

I'm not hating on the Beach Boys, I just don't agree that it's "the best song ever, hands down, of any genre..." as was posted by the orger above you.


The orger above you is apparently me, so I meant the orger above the orger above you.
[Edited 2/6/05 14:00pm]

minneapolisgenius said:

I wasn't singlin' you out darlin' And I do believe he's referring to Marky Mark's Good Vibration. Nobody from the Beach Boys was in Planet of the Apes.
[Edited 2/6/05 14:01pm]

hakinat said:

Yo
It's about that time
To bring forth
The rhythm and the rhyme
I'm-a get mine
So get yours
I wanna see sweat
Coming out your pores

minneapolisgenius said:

RipHer2Shreds said:

I didn't even read past the first sentence, so I didn't see the Planet of the Apes comment.