Goin’ Home (Sing a Song of Christmas Cheer) – Bobby Sherman (1971)
A CHRISTMAS SONG FROM 1971 SHOULD HAVE FELT LIKE TINSEL — BUT BOBBY SHERMAN MADE IT FEEL LIKE A PORCH LIGHT LEFT ON. “Goin’ Home (Sing a Song of Christmas…
Forever by The Beach Boys
FOREVER SOUNDED LIKE A LOVE SONG — BUT UNDER ITS BEAUTY WAS A FRAGILE PROMISE TRYING TO OUTLAST TIME. Some songs say “I love you” like a celebration. “Forever” says…
You’re So Good to Me by The Beach Boys
“YOU’RE SO GOOD TO ME” SOUNDED LIKE A SIMPLE THANK-YOU — BUT INSIDE IT WAS THE BEACH BOYS TRYING TO HOLD ONTO SOMETHING PURE. The song does not arrive with…
’Til I Die by The Beach Boy
Released in August 1971 as a track on the Beach Boys’ album Surf’s Up, ’Til I Die is a haunting, introspective ballad that stands as one of the band’s most…
Judy, You’ll Never Know – Bobby Sherman (1962)
JUDY, YOU’LL KNOW SOUNDED LIKE A BOY TRYING TO BE BRAVE — UNTIL TIME MADE IT FEEL LIKE THE CONFESSION HE COULD BARELY SAY OUT LOUD. There is a kind…
Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys
GOOD VIBRATIONS SOUNDED LIKE A HIT RECORD — BUT UNDER ITS BRIGHTNESS WAS A MAN BUILDING A WHOLE UNIVERSE OUT OF FEELING. Some songs are written. “Good Vibrations” feels discovered.…
Let Him Run Wild by The Beach Boys
“LET HIM RUN WILD” SOUNDED LIKE A WARNING — BUT INSIDE IT WAS A HEART TOO TIRED TO BEG ANYMORE. Some Beach Boys songs feel like sunlight on chrome. This…
Be True to Your School by The Beach Boys
BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL SOUNDED LIKE A FIGHT SONG — BUT UNDERNEATH IT WAS A LOVE LETTER TO BELONGING. There are songs that ask you to sit still and…
Cried Like a Baby – Bobby Sherman (1971)
CRIED LIKE A BABY SOUNDED LIKE A TEEN-IDOL HEARTBREAK — UNTIL TIME MADE IT FEEL LIKE THE MOST HONEST THING A MAN COULD ADMIT. There was a softness in Bobby…
Heroes and Villains by The Beach Boys
“HEROES AND VILLAINS” SOUNDED LIKE A WESTERN DREAM — BUT BENEATH THE LAUGHTER, SOMETHING STRANGE AND LONELY WAS RIDING THROUGH. It did not sound like an ordinary pop song. It…
Wendy by The Beach Boys
“WENDY” SOUNDED LIKE A TEENAGE BREAKUP — BUT UNDER THE HARMONIES WAS THE FIRST REAL SOUND OF TRUST FALLING APART. The song starts bright enough to fool you. The voices…
The Warmth of the Sun by The Beach Boys
“THE WARMTH OF THE SUN” SOUNDED LIKE A LOVE SONG — BUT INSIDE IT WAS THE MOMENT A BROKEN HEART LEARNED HOW TO GLOW. It does not arrive like most…
Darlin’ by The Beach Boys
DARLIN’ SOUNDED LIKE A LOVE SONG — BUT UNDER THE SWEETNESS WAS A HEART LEARNING HOW TO ASK TO BE CHOSEN. Some songs flirt. “Darlin’” pleads. It arrives with that…
Dance, Dance, Dance by The Beach Boys
DANCE, DANCE, DANCE SOUNDED LIKE A PARTY — BUT UNDERNEATH IT WAS A KID TRYING TO SHAKE OFF THE WEIGHT OF THE WEEK. Some songs are made for stillness. This…
Long Promised Road by The Beach Boys
“LONG PROMISED ROAD” DID NOT SOUND LIKE ESCAPE — IT SOUNDED LIKE A MAN FINALLY ADMITTING THE JOURNEY HAD COST HIM SOMETHING. The Beach Boys could make distance feel beautiful.…
Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys
“LITTLE SAINT NICK” SOUNDED LIKE CHRISTMAS WITH A SMILE — BUT UNDER THE BELLS WAS THE BEACH BOYS TURNING WINTER INTO CALIFORNIA. Most Christmas songs arrive with snow. This one…
Wouldn’t It Be Nice by The Beach Boys
“WOULDN’T IT BE NICE” SOUNDED LIKE A DREAM OF TOMORROW — BUT UNDER THE BEAUTY WAS THE ACHE OF BEING TOO YOUNG TO LIVE IT YET. The song opens like…
Early in the Morning – Bobby Sherman (1972)
EARLY IN THE MORNING DIDN’T SOUND LIKE A SCREAMING TEEN-IDOL MOMENT — IT SOUNDED LIKE THE LIGHTS AFTER EVERYONE HAD GONE HOME. Bobby Sherman was once the face on bedroom…
Surf’s Up by The Beach Boys
“SURF’S UP” SOUNDED LIKE THE END OF SUMMER — BUT REALLY, IT WAS THE BEACH BOYS WATCHING INNOCENCE LEAVE THE ROOM. This was not a surf song. Not in the…
The Beach Boys- I get Around (1964)
“I GET AROUND” IN 1964 SOUNDED LIKE FREEDOM — BUT UNDER THE CONFIDENCE WAS A GENERATION TERRIFIED OF STANDING STILL. The record does not knock. It bursts through the door.…