To most people, The Beach Boys‘ “God Only Knows” comes across as an earnest expression of love, and perhaps of faith. Brian Wilson often sang about his connection to a higher power. He wasn’t always explicit about his beliefs, but he wasn’t afraid to venture into that side of himself in his songwriting. Because of this, we can interpret “God Only Knows” as an honest expression of praise for the love in his life. Nevertheless, controversy surrounded this beloved track. One word nearly got this song banned from the radio. Learn more below.
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The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” Faced a Radio Ban Over Just One Word
In the ’60s, mentioning God in your music was a controversial idea. While many liberal states didn’t think much about the inclusion, more conservative (and in stride, more religious) markets found Brian Wilson’s title to be blasphemous. At the very least, there was enough fear of backlash in those areas that the song was barred from their radio stations entirely.
Reportedly, Wilson anticipated this issue. Fans nearly missed out on this timeless ode as Wilson was set to name it “Fred Only Knows.” It doesn’t hit the same, does it? Luckily, Wilson decided to take a leap of faith with this song, delivering what is known as his magnum opus.
The Success of “God Only Knows”
Despite several radio stations refusing to play “God Only Knows,” the song’s success was not hindered. Even Wilson’s peers were jealous of this masterpiece. Paul McCartney once deemed it his favorite Beach Boys song.
“I just think it’s a great song—melody, harmonies, words, you know,” McCartney once said. “I love it, you know…It’s my favorite Beach Boys song.”
“When I played it, it made me cry and I don’t quite know why,” he continued elsewhere. “It wasn’t necessarily the words or the music, it’s just something so deep in it, that there’s only certain pieces of music that can do this to me.”
While a compliment from McCartney certainly means a lot, it’s far from the only compliment that has been paid to this track. In 2014, many top artists joined forces to cover this irreplaceable song. Everyone from Elton John to Florence Welch to Wilson himself paid tribute to this Beach Boys classic. Needless to say, this song has touched many generations. Revisit “God Only Knows” below.
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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