‘Love & Mercy' told Brian Wilson's story in a way that fit him
But the film's real magic came in its recreations of the studio sessions that yielded the glory of the 'Pet Sounds' album and the singular single 'Good Vibrations.' We see Dano's Wilson orchestrating his session players, many of them from the loose, unparalleled collective known as The Wrecking Crew, through the recording of 'Pet Sounds.' We see him obsessing over that perfect cello sound that makes 'Good Vibrations' purr, as Beach Boy Mike Love (Jake Abel) snarls his impatient disapproval. I've seen few movie sequences that better capture the euphoric, frustrating creative process.
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Chris Vognar, a freelance culture writer, was the 2009 Nieman Arts and Culture Fellow at Harvard University.
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Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Good Vibrations: Surf City honors Beach Boy Brian Wilson with paddle out
Brian Wilson wasn't much of a surfer by his own admission, but the legendary musician captured the feeling of Southern California surf culture through his music. His legacy and contribution to the surf community brought about 150 surfers to the north side of the Huntington Beach pier Saturday morning to paddle out in memory of the Beach Boys co-founder who died June 11 at the age of 82. 'The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson had a huge part in establishing what we would call the Southern California beach culture,' said emcee and world champion surfer, Peter 'PT' Townend. A crowd of nearly 400 people gathered on the sand and on the pier overlooking the podium where Townend was joined by Kelly Miller, president and chief executive officer of Visit Huntington Beach and Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean fame, while audio speakers blared classic Beach Boys hits like 1967's 'Good Vibrations.' 'I did not personally know Brian and I did not know the Beach Boys personally but I can tell you that those harmonies, those lyrics and those crafted surf culture songs stirred my soul magically like I am sure it did all of yours,' Miller said to the crowd. The paddle out coincided with International Surfing Day, as well as few other hallmarks highlighted by Miller. 'Ten years ago we did the world's largest surfboard, yesterday was Brian's birthday and this is the first official kick off weekend of summer,' Miller said. In a statement issued June 18 by the Beach Boys, the band stated, 'Brian Wilson wasn't just the heart of the Beach Boys — he was the soul of our sound.' The original band consisted of Wilson, his brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and neighbor Al Jardine. The Beach Boys had numerous hit songs about surf culture, including 'Surfin' Safari' and 'Surfer Girl.' Wilson also co-wrote Jan and Dean's No. 1 hit, 'Surf City' which inspired the city of Huntington Beach's nickname, Surf City U.S.A., which the city trademarked in 1994. At the paddle out, Torrence shared his story of collaborating with Wilson on the hit song. 'Jan (Berry) and I were lucky enough to meet this wonderful songwriter and record producer in the early '60s,' Torrence said. 'We, of course, were looking for material and we said, 'Brian, why don't you write a song for Jan and Dean?' ' Wilson was working on two songs that were contenders for his next single, but they both sounded pretty similar so he was willing to part with one. The songs were 'Surfin' U.S.A' and 'Surf City' and Wilson told Torrence he was leaning toward keeping 'Surfin' U.S.A' 'He said 'If you want the other song, you can finish it, I don't care,' so we took the song,' Torrence recalled. Berry and Torrence finished writing the song and invited Wilson to the studio once they were ready to record. 'He showed up and we did all the vocals and we thought it was pretty damn good,' said Torrence. 'Eight weeks later, it was the No. 1 song in the United States.' Although Wilson's cause of death has not been made public, the late musician was diagnosed with dementia and placed under a conservatorship in 2024. The 2014 film, 'Love & Mercy,' chronicled Wilson's struggles with drug addition and mental health issues. The humanizing biopic was on local Huntington Beach surfer Stacey Rhineer's mind as she carried her board to the water for the paddle out. 'I saw the movie 'Love & Mercy' and that was really special to me,' said Rhineer. 'I have been listening to the Beach Boys a lot ever since, especially Brian Wilson.' Duke Aipa, son of Hawaiian surfer and surfboard shaper Ben Aipa, began the memorial with the ceremonial blowing of the conch shell and kept the good vibrations going by leading the paddle out instruction. 'There is a little bit of a current in the water so the lifeguards are there to assist,' Aipa assured surfers before singing a Hawaiian version of the doxology, a liturgical expression of praise to God. Surfers waded into the choppy waters, guided by Aipa with flowers in hand. The group formed a circle out in the open water before riding waves back to shore. Fans on the sand also honored Wilson. Huntington Beach resident Greg Carcerano said he grew up surfing in Huntington Beach in the 1960's and considers the Beach Boys music an integral part of the surf scene. 'They have always been my favorite band and I have probably seen them in concert 10 or 15 times,' Carcerano said. Wearing a Beach Boys shirt and carrying a portable JBL speaker playing the band's music, Carcerano said he knows Beach Boy enthusiasts like himself will continue to celebrate the music Wilson gave to the world. 'Brian's legacy is that he brought joy and happiness to people through his music,' said Carcerano. 'He is going to be forever in our hearts.'
USA Today
13 hours ago
- USA Today
Rebel Wilson's 'Pitch Perfect 4' prediction makes Anna Camp giddy
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Forbes
14 hours ago
- Forbes
The Beach Boys's Most Celebrated Album Debuts On Multiple Billboard Charts
After Brian Wilson's death, Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys returns to Billboard's charts, debuting on ... More the Top Album Sales and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts. Portrait of members of American Rock and Roll group the Beach Boys as they pose on a beach, Los Angeles, California, July 1967. Pictured are, from left, Carl Wilson (1946 - 1998), Alan Jardine, Brian Wilson (1942 - 2025), Mike Love, and Dennis Wilson (1944 – 1983). (Photo by Michael) When Rolling Stone re-ranked its famous 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2021, Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys placed at No. 2. It came in behind only What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, which vaulted to the top spot. Following the news that Pet Sounds mastermind and Beach Boys member Brian Wilson had passed, which was shared online in mid-June, Pet Sounds became a bestseller in America once again. Decades after its initial release, the title manages to debut on several Billboard rankings as Americans revisited the collection in huge numbers. Pet Sounds Appears on Multiple Billboard Charts Pet Sounds currently appears on a trio of Billboard tallies in America. As it returns to one list, the set also debuts on two others — rankings that didn't exist back in the mid-1960s when Pet Sounds was new. The title opens highest on the Top Album Sales chart, kicking off its time on that roster at No. 23. Luminate reports that the Beach Boys' classic sold just under 3,700 copies in the past tracking period – a significant increase from the previous week. At the same time, the title finally arrives on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums ranking. That roster lists the most consumed efforts in those genres in America, blending both pure purchases and streaming activity. Pet Sounds enters at No. 32 this week. The Beach Boys Debut in a New Low Point The Beach Boys score just a third career win on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, with Pet Sounds now standing out as the band's lowest-peaking success. The beloved act has previously landed one top 10, as Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys reached No. 10 at the end of 2020. The Warmth of the Sun debuted and stalled at No. 13 nearly 20 years ago. The Beach Boys Fare Better With Sales The Beach Boys have performed significantly better on the Top Album Sales chart, where Pet Sounds becomes the band's seventeenth placement. Several of those titles have cracked the top 10, while others rose into positions that no longer exist, as the tally has featured just 50 spaces for several years now. Pet Sounds Reappears on the Billboard 200 The Beach Boys manage to bring Pet Sounds back to the Billboard 200 for the first time in a while, as the title reenters at No. 136. Looking at total consumption, Pet Sounds shifted a little less than 10,700 equivalent units, with plays of the album's many hits on Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms aiding in its ascent. The masterpiece once climbed as high as No. 10 and has now spent 48 weeks somewhere on the ranking of the most consumed albums in America across more than 50 years.
