Vocal Surf Rock

The song was written by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Mike Love. Evidently, the story is that Brian’s mother had explained to him when he was a child that dogs sometimes bark at people because they are responding to bad vibrations. Brian meditated on that. The result was “Good Vibrations,” which features vocal harmony from the Beach Boys, amazing production, and many instruments. Wilson is credited with using the recording studio as an instrument, and was one very expensive single to make. The sounds are layered and feature unusual instruments, including a jaw harp and an Electro-Theremin — not to mention the cello or the string bass that plays a bowed tremolo over the song’s chorus. On the track were Bruce Johnston, Mike Love, Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, and Dennis Wilson. Of course, there were the fabulous session musicians of The Wrecking Crew.  In 1966, “Good Vibrations” went to #1 in the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. It went to #2 in Canada, The Netherlands, and Norway, as well as to #3 in Sweden. It sold more than one million copies and earned an RIAA gold record.

The song is in the Grammy Hall of Fame. It’s also on the Mojo Top 100 Records of All Time list, Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

Here are the lyrics to “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys:

“I-I love the colorful clothes she wears
And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
I hear the sound of a gentle word
On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air

I’m pickin’ up good vibrations
She’s giving me excitations (Oom bop bop)
I’m pickin’ up good vibrations (Good vibrations, oom bop bop)
She’s giving me excitations (Excitations, oom bop bop)
Good, good, good, good vibrations (Oom bop bop)
She’s giving me excitations (Excitations, oom bop bop)
Good, good, good, good vibrations (Oom bop bop)
She’s giving me excitations (Excitations)

Close my eyes, she’s somehow closer now
Softly smile, I know she must be kind
When I look in her eyes
She goes with me to a blossom world

I’m pickin’ up good vibrations
She’s giving me excitations (Oom bop bop)
I’m pickin’ up good vibrations (Good vibrations, oom bop bop)
She’s giving me excitations (Excitations, oom bop bop)
Good, good, good, good vibrations (Oom bop bop)
She’s giving me excitations (Excitations, oom bop bop)
Good, good, good, good vibrations (Oom bop bop)
She’s giving me excitations (Excitations)

(Ahh)
(Ah, my my, what elation)
I don’t know where but she sends me there
(Oh, my my, what a sensation)
(Oh, my my, what elation)
(Oh, my my, what)

Gotta keep those lovin’ good vibrations a-happenin’ with her
Gotta keep those lovin’ good vibrations a-happenin’ with her
Gotta keep those lovin’ good vibrations a-happenin’

(Ahh)

Good, good, good, good vibrations (Oom bop bop)
(I’m pickin’ up good vibrations) (Oom bop bop)
She’s giving me excitations (Excitations, oom bop bop)
Good, good, good, good vibrations

Na na na na na, na na na
Na na na na na, na na na (Bop bop-bop-bop-bop, bop)
Do do do do do, do do do (Bop bop-bop-bop-bop, bop)
Do do do do do, do do do (Bop bop-bop-bop-bop, bop)”

For more songs by The Beach Boys: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Sloop John B,” “Help Me Rhonda,” and “Barbara Ann.”

For More Golden Oldies Music                                

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that werewere hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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