Paul McCartney has lengthy been vocal about his admiration for The Seaside Boys‘ Brian Wilson – a few of his quotes concerning the legendary pop innovator and ‘God Solely Is aware of’ at the moment are resurfacing following Wilson’s loss of life.
Wilson’s loss of life was introduced yesterday (June 11) by way of his household – he was 82. Within the hours because the announcement, followers of The Beatles and The Seaside Boys have been reliving pleasantries shared between Macca and Wilson on social media.
Regardless of being engaged in a light-hearted feud formed round sportsmanship and admiration all through their careers The Beatles and The Seaside Boys by no means fostered any dangerous blood between them. Relatively, they have been followers of one another and have been thrilled on the thought of pleasant competitors.
Paul McCartney has very publicly voiced his admiration for Wilson prior to now, and Wilson returned the favour a number of instances over, even performing The Seaside Boys’ ‘God Solely Is aware of’ collectively at a profit present in 2002.
McCartney inducted Wilson into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2000, the place the pair traded anecdotes of their “rivalry”.
Macca stated at that induction ceremony: “Within the ’60s, significantly, he wrote some music that once I performed it, it made me cry and I don’t fairly know why. It wasn’t essentially the phrases or the music, it’s simply one thing so deep in it, that there’s solely sure items of music that may do that to me… I feel it’s an indication of nice genius to have the ability to try this with a bunch of music and a bunch of notes. And this man, he deserves to be within the Corridor of Fame, that’s for certain.
“So thanks, sir, for making me cry. For having that factor you are able to do together with your music – you simply put these notes, these harmonies collectively, stick a few phrases excessive and also you’ve bought me, any day.”
McCartney famously hailed Wilson and The Seaside Boys’ traditional ‘God Solely Is aware of’ as “the best track ever written” within the ’90s, and in 2003 echoed the sentiment once more for the Charles Granata guide Wouldn’t it Be Good: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Seaside Boys’ Pet Sounds.
In 2004, Wilson launched the solo album ‘Gettin’ In Over My Head’, which included the McCartney collaboration ‘A Pal Like You’.
In 2007, Macca doubled down on the reward, saying throughout a BBC Radio 1 interview: “’God Solely Is aware of’ is among the few songs that reduces me to tears each time I hear it. It’s actually only a love track, however it’s brilliantly finished. It reveals the genius of Brian. I’ve really carried out it with him, and I’m afraid to say that in the course of the soundcheck, I broke down. It was simply an excessive amount of to face there singing this track that does my head in and to face there singing it with Brian. So all it’s, it’s little vibrations reaching your music, it’s solely little vibrations, little phrases, and little issues. There’s this highly effective impact, you already know.”
In 2012, McCartney spoke of Wilson and the Seaside Boys in a chat with The Rolling Stones‘ Ronnie Wooden, the place he mirrored on performing ‘God Solely Is aware of’ with the late singer in 2002: “I bought to sing it with Brian as soon as once we did a profit collectively. I used to be okay on the precise efficiency, I held it collectively. However on the rehearsal, on the soundcheck, I misplaced it, as a result of it’s very emotional, this track, I discover it… ‘Oh my god, I’m singing with Brian,’ it simply bought me, I couldn’t.
“So all it’s, it’s little vibrations reaching your music, it’s solely little vibrations, little phrases, and little issues. There’s this highly effective impact, you already know.” Take a look at a clip of his chat with Wooden beneath.
As just lately as 2021, McCartney joined Rick Rubin for a life-spanning chat, the place he as soon as once more spoke of Wilson and The Seaside Boys’ influence on The Beatles: “Seaside Boys, I feel was an enormous affect on our concord. There was somewhat intercontinental rivalry – primarily Brian, his writing. I feel he’d heard one in all our albums and thought ‘I’ve bought to do higher’, and that was ‘Pet Sounds’, which I really like and it’s nonetheless one in all my massive albums. So atmospheric and totally different, and but it was the Seaside Boys nonetheless. And we heard ‘Pet Sounds’ and thought ‘We gotta do one thing higher than that.’ And so we did ‘Sgt. Pepper…’”.
You’ll be able to take a look at a pair extra situations of McCartney praising Wilson beneath.
Brian Wilson & Paul McCartney – “God Solely Is aware of” (2002)
“’God Solely Is aware of’ is among the few songs that reduces me to tears each time I hear it. It is actually only a love track, however it’s brilliantly finished. It reveals the genius of Brian. I’ve really carried out it with him, and I am… pic.twitter.com/2uAqC95LYg
— ⋆°•☁︎⋆ (@maccathoughts) June 11, 2025
I by no means often submit non Beatles associated content material however RIP Brian Wilson an absolute large within the music business who was additionally an enormous affect on the #Beatles. Paul McCartney has publicly acknowledged that “God Solely Is aware of” by The Seaside Boys is his favourite track of all time. #RIPBrianWilson pic.twitter.com/sUxKUsCvLV
— Beatlesfab4ever (@Beatlesfab40) June 11, 2025
Heaven gained one other angel at this time, as Brian Wilson of The Seaside Boys handed away.
His track “God Solely Is aware of” is described by Sir Paul McCartney as ‘the best track ever written’
Sit again. Have a hear. Consider a liked one. pic.twitter.com/LNMnp4Ae2X
— YoDanno #DragonlanceDragonlance (@YoDanno) June 11, 2025
RIP to the magnificent Brian Wilson. I really like this image of him with Paul McCartney singing ‘God Solely Is aware of’ at a profit gig in 2002. Such admiration for one another, a lot pleasure directly. pic.twitter.com/P0Yc0O1oDq
— Beatles Books Podcast (@BooksBeatles) June 11, 2025
RIP to Brian Wilson. The Seaside Boys legend died at 82.
Paul McCartney has stated “God Solely Is aware of” is the best track ever written and one of many few to deliver him to tears.
In 2000, McCartney inducted Wilson into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame with a heartfelt speech:
“He wrote… pic.twitter.com/kpO5Kz1D2F
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) June 11, 2025
Surf’s up.
R.I.P Brian Wilson
Paul McCartney usually cited Pet Sounds as his all-time favourite album and “God Solely Is aware of” as “the best track ever written”, declaring in 1990 that “nobody is educated musically ’til they’ve heard that album.”
We concur. pic.twitter.com/1kn98TM7Fu
— YGK Rogue Metropolis 🇨🇦 (@YGKRogue) June 11, 2025
Paul McCartney has stated greater than as soon as that “God Solely Is aware of” is the best track ever written.
Who’re we to disagree?
RIP, Brian Wilson pic.twitter.com/stqRoVl97P— Brian Govatos (@briangovatos) June 11, 2025
Followers of Wilson have since taken to social media to echo McCartney’s sentiment round ‘God Solely Is aware of’. Piers Morgan wrote: RIP Brian Wilson, 82. Co-creator of the Seaside Boys, and the person who wrote one of many best pop songs in historical past, ‘God Solely Is aware of’, when he was simply 23.”
RIP Brian Wilson, 82.
Co-creator of the Seaside Boys, and the person who wrote one of many best pop songs in historical past, God Solely Is aware of, when he was simply 23. A posh man however a musical genius and showbusiness icon. What a legacy he leaves. pic.twitter.com/MaenGYpuUv— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 11, 2025
RIP Brian Wilson.
God Solely Is aware of is one in all my favourite songs ever. https://t.co/YMspN3EDTr pic.twitter.com/M4U5CLUaAH
— Stefan (@steftweetshere) June 11, 2025
RIP Brian Wilson. Nonetheless nice different songwriters are they did not write ‘God Solely Is aware of’ pic.twitter.com/S3likDeLxi
— Bruce Gorrie (@bsgorrie) June 11, 2025
God solely is aware of what the world of music could be with out Brian Wilson’s affect in it.
Immediately we misplaced one of many greats, could he relaxation in peace, as his works will stay eternally.
Thanks for the music, Brian. 🤍📸 Paul & Brian, 2004. ✨ pic.twitter.com/G5kZ3m11jt
— The McCartney Archive (@mccartney_arch) June 12, 2025
God Solely Is aware of, Brian Wilson. That track bought so lots of by greater than we ever dreamed a track might. Relaxation in peace. Could the Angels carry you to God. pic.twitter.com/F873iMsXGH
— Jeanne Allen (@JeanneAllen) June 11, 2025
The best second of my life was marrying my bride. After we stated “I do”, the primary track we heard was ‘God Solely Is aware of’ and we walked down the aisle to it as husband and spouse. Can’t consider a greater strategy to begin a wedding.
Godspeed, Brian Wilson. You modified my life. pic.twitter.com/uOXFDJ9JnD
— Michael Guastella (@mpguastella) June 11, 2025
God Solely Is aware of is among the most lovely songs ever created.
Brian Wilson one of many purest individuals.
Thanks for the music Brian.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) June 11, 2025
Ah man. I really like Brian Wilson, have listened to Pet Sounds and Smile a lot over time. Really feel so fortunate to have gotten to see him on the Hollywood Bowl. An absolute genius who should not have needed to wrestle as a lot as he did. God Solely Is aware of is perhaps one of the best track of all time https://t.co/fDz9hAqsGF
— Mr. Chau (@Srirachachau) June 11, 2025
Quite a lot of figures have since paid tribute to Wilson – Ringo Starr wrote a easy message: “God bless Brian Wilson. Peace and like to all his household.”
John Lennon and Yoko Ono‘s son and acclaimed solo artist Sean Ono Lennon wrote: “Anybody who actually is aware of me is aware of how coronary heart damaged I’m about Brian Wilson passing. Not many individuals influenced me as a lot as he did. I really feel very fortunate that I used to be capable of meet him and spend a while with him. He was all the time very variety and beneficiant. He was our American Mozart. A one in all a sort genius from one other world.”
You will discover extra tributes from different musical greats right here.
