Surf Music in California The Beach Boys

1
Surf Music in CaliforniaThe Beach Boys

• Rock music and California
• Hollywood further normalizes Rock music as truly
  American music
• Glamorizes new kind of suburbia
• Landscapes, beaches, parties combined
• Wealth, fast cars, endless roads, and beautiful
  people
• Surf Rock (Paradox)
• Celebrates this
• Also shows hints of tedium with suburban life

2

• The Beach Boys
• Epitomize movement
• Brian Wilson and band caught both sides of
  paradox
• Surfin U.S.A. (1963)
• Anthem of surf music and California
• Signifies California lifestyle
• Considered a classical Rock song
• Co-written by Chuck Berry and Brian Wilson
• Same melody and form as Chuck Berrys Sweet
  Little Sixteen (1958)
• Surfer Girl (1963) Doo Wop Influence

3
I Get Around (1964)

• No. 1 on Billboard singles chart for 2 weeks
• Broke Beatles monopoly on the position
• At time when Beatles invaded
• Superficially, a celebration of cars and
  cruising, but
• Expresses frustration and boredom with suburban
  life and working-class culture (Lyrics)

4
The Beach Boys as Innovators

• Rivals with Beatles
• Brian Wilson as Arranger/Producer
• Inspired by Spectors recordings
• Independent and layered sound
• Vocals dominated by Wilsons falsetto
• Unique instrumental combination
• Catchy rhythmic patterns
• Driving bass lines
• Influenced by Middle Eastern musics
• In My Room (1963)
• Co-written by Brain Wilson and Gary Usher
• Introspective and vulnerable
• Suggests suburban agoraphobia
• 1966 Wilson has nervous breakdown on stage while
  touring
• Remains in group as songwriter and studio
  producer
• Allows him to push musical boundaries

5
Pet Sounds (1966)

• Inspired by Beatles Rubber Soul (1965)
• Break from Surf Sound
• Collaboration with Tony Asher
• First Concept album?
• Unified musically and thematically around notions
  of God, love, and alienation
• Tells the story of the difficult transition from
  youth to adulthood in Sixties America, the
  exciting but often fleeting nature of love, and
  the yearning for a better future.
• God Only Knows (1966)

6
Good Vibrations (1966)

• Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love
• Elaborate concept of a rock song
• Among greatest achievements
• Long
• Multiple contrasting musical sections
• Complex production
• Sound effects
• Unusual instruments
• Sleighbells
• Theremin (electronic instrument)
• Required 6 months, 20 recording sessions, 4
  studios, and 50,000 to create
• Recording technique and production now important
  element in rock music
• Reached No. 1 on Billboard chart
• Sold 400,000 copies in only four days