Brian Wilson was the mastermind behind The Beach Boys. Often hailed as a musical genius, he didn’t just write many of the group’s biggest hits. He also penned timeless tunes for groups like Jan and Dean. Later in life, he came to be known as one of the most significant songsmiths of the 20th century. Within a few short years of the group releasing their first album, Wilson had developed the formula that would help him make history.
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In a rare 1964 interview on The Ida B Show, Wilson discussed his creative process, revealing how he built songs for The Beach Boys and other artists. He also shared what drove him to write so many songs.
Brian Wilson on Writing Songs for the Beach Boys
At the time of the interview, the Beach Boys had released “When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)” and “She Knows Me Too Well” from their album The Beach Boys Today! Brian Wilson was just 22 years old, but he already had a firm vision for the band.
At the time, Wilson had penned several hits for Jan and Dean. But, as he explained, he had all but stopped writing for other artists. “Not as heavily. I don’t really have a chance. We’re on the road quite a bit now. When I have a chance, I’m so busy doing Beach Boy work. I sort of limit myself to the Beach Boys,” he said when asked if he still wrote for other groups.
Then, he explained what inspired him to write so many songs. “Usually, just the fact that we’re in the industry and there’s a lot of groups competing with us, and I feel that competition,” he said. “Also, I love music in general. I get very inspired.” Wilson added.
“Usually, the music comes first,” Wilson said of his creative process. “Then, I write the lyrics over the melody,” he explained. “We usually like to identify and associate with teenagers,” he said of the band’s lyrics. “Usually, the lyrics are supposed to be aimed at the everyday lives of kids.”
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