I was totally made for these times

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

I've got a pretty big confession here, I've finally decided what I consider the greatest Beach Boys song.

I Just Wasn't Made For These Times.

From the amazing chords with an amazing bass line to one of the greatest leads ever...

The lyrics are perfect, anyone can feel them yet they're so deep.

The piano playing the "swing" during the chorus that you can feel, but only hear on instrumental mixes.

The BEAUTIFUL Spanish lyrics may be my favorite part of any Beach Boys song.

The first thermin solo probably on any rock track...

That amazing fade out...

And most of all... it is everything that makes Pet Sounds great in one track.

So, that's my #1, even over Surf's Up and Good Vibes.

[Micha]

Mine is "Here Today". Hell of an album, Pet Sounds, isn't it?

[Niko]

Instrumentals aside (but only due to lack of lyrics) I think you could say this about any song on Pet Sounds.

Not that I don't agree with you on IJWMFTT though 

[leggo of my ego]

Yur not trying to influence the Survivor thread now are ye?

Good, good timin.  

[mlanoue]

My favorite, too.  Amazing song. 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I think it just might be my favorite too...

[Rotat]

This song was always one of my top 5 favorite BB tracks.. The lyrics I related to heavily, and I felt it mirrored my own life and philosophy so much when I first heard it that my mind was blown. Rarely has a song connected with me as hard as this song has. The vocal and instrumental arrangements are another story, complex and amazing.. It all comes together in that song.. I look up to it more than God Only Knows.

However Sloop John B is my favorite backing track from this album. Just an absolutely sublimely beautiful track.

[silodweller]

You're absolutely correct.  This track is perfect!  It has always been my favourite. 

[D409]

"Beautiful Spanish lyrics"

[Fall Breaks]

"Beautiful Spanish lyrics"

Chorus background: "un dia sere, un quando sere". Can be heard as a hidden track on one of the PSS discs.

[beacharg]

it's exactly: "oh, ¿cuando seré?, un día seré".
Translation: "oh, when will I be?, one day I will be.

[Marcella]

Killer bass line…I became more aware of it on the MiC version than Pet Sounds….don't know why, maybe it's just me but I feel like the MiC has the bass slightly more "up front"

[Don Malcolm]

This song was always one of my top 5 favorite BB tracks.. The lyrics I related to heavily, and I felt it mirrored my own life and philosophy so much when I first heard it that my mind was blown. Rarely has a song connected with me as hard as this song has. The vocal and instrumental arrangements are another story, complex and amazing.. It all comes together in that song.. I look up to it more than God Only Knows.

However Sloop John B is my favorite backing track from this album. Just an absolutely sublimely beautiful track.

Agreed 100%. There are many times when nothing else will do but to hear "Sloop" sans the great vocals. A work of total genius.

IJWMFTT has one of Brian's most beautiful and sublime melodies, however. Those show up in profusion on Pet Sounds. It really is a staggering embarrassment of riches. BW's still got it, though: the last three songs on TWGMTR are proof of that.

[RangeRoverA1]

2 the original poster: Except "the greatest Beach Boys song" & "BEAUTIFUL Spanish lyrics" (you even capitalized the 1st word), I agree with everything you said regarding this song. While my fave is Sloop John B, I can totally see why you'd choose the subject as the shining moment of Pet Sounds or, more accurately, "Pet Sounds in a nutshell". After all, SJB isn't an original, so it's obviously out of question. And I think you're right on saying "IJWM..." is the pioneer of the theremin solo. I know The RS had theremin in one of their songs but as I recall it was later, circa late 1966-7. As for Spanish lyrics, well, to me, it's one of the worst-sounding languages, this & French (+- German, Greek, Japanese etc. etc.). Just my humble opinion. Still, great post, Mike!

Btw, you got your username wrong: Brian's fake name was Vito SaluTation, not SaluLation.

[Micha]

As for Spanish lyrics, well, to me, it's one of the worst-sounding languages, this & French (+- German, Greek, Japanese etc. etc.). Just my humble opinion.

I think Spanish sounds much better than, say, Russian. The best sounding language to me though is English (I'm German).