The Smiley Smile Message Board

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/27/the-beach-boys-40-greatest-songs-ranked

Usually I hate lists like this but there's not much to quibble about with these choices. I would have made it 50 songs though to get in 10 missing favorites, here in no particular order:

We're Together Again
(Wouldn't It Be Nice To) Live Again
The Trader
Somewhere Near Japan
Where I Belong
I'll Bet He's Nice
Airplane
The Little Girl I Once Knew
You Still Believe In Me
Long Promised Road
Angel Come Home (okay that's 11, I'll have to knock something off the list)
Oh heck I also need Let The Wind Blow and Wonderful and Forever... this needed to be at least a 60 greatest songs songs list.

These lists are good conversation pieces, but I actually like seeing the variety in this article's top ten choices. Some unexpected placements, and of course it's all personal opinion, but my own list woukld have "Wouldn't It Be Nice" as #1, and it was refreshing to see "Til I Die" place so high...hopefully people not as familiar with that one will check it out. That moment right before it breaks into the coda and round, where that lone falsetto breaks through the clouds and sings "until I die..." and the chords change unexpectedly....THAT is one of those moments that you can rewind a hundred times to hear over and over and never tire of, and an example of what makes this music special. I'm glad "I Get Around" placed high too - One of the most exciting hit records of the 60's, hands down.

Other than writing that It's About Time is sung by Dennis, I think the writer does a generally good job and has a solid list. IMO, there are two glaring omissions: When I Grow Up (to Be a Man) and Kiss Me Baby.

Here are 8 more from me to make 50:

Breakaway
Don't Talk (Put Your Head on Shoulder)
I'll Bet He's Nice
The Night Was So Young
Long Promised Road
We'll Run Away  -- my choice for most underrated BB song
Slip on Through  -- although Dennis is very well-represented on the writer's list
I'm Waiting For the Day

The list is mostly good but how did they leave out "Forever"?

These lists are always like, whatever, but I can say at least there's nothing like batsh*t insane on the list. I'm always waiting when scrolling through these lists to stumble upon like "Remember Walking in the Sand" or "Sumahama" or "Crack at Your Love" or something.

11. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) (1966)

Nice list but "Please Let Me Wonder" has always been overrated.

Good, balanced list. Of course the #1, for me, is always the unbelievable Heroes and Villains, SMiLE edition.

It's not possible to overrate that song, unless you claim it's better than Good Vibrations or California Girls.