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.…
Do It Again by The Beach Boys
DO IT AGAIN SOUNDED LIKE A RETURN TO THE BEACH — BUT UNDERNEATH IT WAS A BAND TRYING TO TOUCH ITS OWN YOUTH AGAIN. Some songs look backward with sadness.…
I Get Around by The Beach Boys
“I GET AROUND” SOUNDED LIKE FREEDOM ON FOUR WHEELS — BUT UNDER THE ENGINE NOISE WAS A BOY RUNNING FROM STILLNESS. The song does not begin by asking permission. It…
Feel Flows by The Beach Boys
FEEL FLOWS DIDN’T SOUND LIKE THE BEACH BOYS LOOKING BACK — IT SOUNDED LIKE THEM FLOATING AWAY FROM THE OLD DREAM. Some Beach Boys songs come with sand on their…
You Make Me Happy – Bobby Sherman (1964)
YOU MAKE ME HAPPY SOUNDED LIKE PURE SUNSHINE — UNTIL TIME MADE IT FEEL LIKE A THANK-YOU NOTE FROM A VANISHED YOUTH. Bobby Sherman had a voice that seemed to…
Easy Come, Easy Go – Bobby Sherman (1970)
EASY COME, EASY GO SOUNDED LIKE A TEEN-IDOL SMILE — UNTIL TIME TURNED IT INTO A QUIET LESSON ABOUT LETTING GO. Bobby Sherman sang it with the bright ease of…
Disney Girls (1957) by The Beach Boys
DISNEY GIRLS SOUNDED LIKE NOSTALGIA — BUT UNDER THE SOFTNESS WAS A MAN TRYING TO GO BACK SOMEWHERE THAT NEVER REALLY STAYED. Some Beach Boys songs are made of sunlight.…
409 by The Beach Boys
409 WAS ONLY A CAR SONG ON PAPER — BUT INSIDE THAT ENGINE, THE BEACH BOYS WERE ALREADY CHASING AMERICA’S DREAM. Before the world fully understood The Beach Boys, before…
All Summer Long by The Beach Boys
ALL SUMMER LONG SOUNDED LIKE SUNSHINE — UNTIL YEARS LATER, YOU REALIZED IT WAS ALSO A FAREWELL TO BEING YOUNG. There are songs that feel like a postcard. Then there…