The Beach BoysWouldn't It Be Nice (2:22)

On 71 albums see all

Buy at Amazon MP3 ($0.99) | Send Ringtones to Cell
Buy
Save

Popular tags: , , , ,  See more

Shouts: 573 shouts

Share this track:

About This Track

“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” is the opening track on the 1966 album Pet Sounds and one of the most widely recognized songs by the American pop group The Beach Boys. It was composed and produced by Brian Wilson, with lyrics by Tony Asher and Brian Wilson, and the lead vocal was sung by Brian Wilson with Mike Love singing lead vocals on the bridge.

The layering of harmonies upon harmonies, and lyrics on top of harmonies make this one of the quintessential Beach Boys songs. In the Endless Harmony documentary, Brian Wilson described the song as “what children everywhere go through… wouldn’t it be nice if we were older, or could run away and get married”.

Wilson was quoted as saying:

Listen for the rockin’ accordions and the ethereal guitars in the introduction. Tony and I had visualized a scene. We had a feeling in our hearts, like a vibration. We put it into music, and it found its way onto tape. We really felt good about that record.

In a 1996 interview, Wilson stated, “‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ was not a real long song, but it’s a very ‘up’ song. It expresses the frustrations of youth, what you can’t have, what you really want and you have to wait for it.”

Wilson also used the title of the song for the title of his autobiography.
Send Ringtones to Cell

Albums featuring this track

See all 71 albums

Shouts

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).
  • paradrome

    ooooh, such fine memories! <33

    Sunday evening
  • Marjo47

    one of the bests

    Saturday afternoon
  • samforshort

    It's sadness disguised as happiness, like most of Pet Sounds

    Wednesday afternoon
  • davidbowiegirl

    Great song <3

    last week
  • matt_white

    I'm sure it's the exact opposite if you're in a loving relationship

    10 days ago
  • matt_white

    depresses the fuck out of me

    10 days ago
  • Qbert_16

    sad?!?! It's such a beautiful song for me! The joys, simplicity and naivety of love!

    17 days ago
  • giggleloop1

    Feelgood tune!

    24 days ago
  • pacificdust

    Catchiest goddamn song ever written.

    27 days ago
  • Sandman2527

    ultimate make out song like ever

    29 days ago
  • katana0317

    50 first dates -- Lucy sings this if she's in love :)

    last month
  • LaChiara83

    <3 <3 <3 <3

    last month
  • The_Groove_Girl

    <33 love love love

    last month
  • karolynejones

    last month
  • karolynejones

    vontade de sair correndo e pulando por aí como se a vida fosse muito bela etc

    last month
  • secret_nick

    Stereo version is pretty awesome.

    last month
  • Tamer_Of_Horses

    The saddest song ever? Are you all crazy? This is practically the happiest song I've ever heard. Life affirming.

    last month
  • Panecea

    It would be nice to be around when this song was huge. [2] Knowing what I know now, I'd be buying bullion like crazy!! END the FED.

    last month
  • oldiesfanjohn

    yeah it still rawks!

    last month
  • LSBumblebee

    So many layers to this pop symphony..perfection!

    last month
See all 573 shouts

Track Stats

2,865,506 Scrobbles 570,908 Listeners

Recent Listening Trend

Listening Now

Top Listeners

See more

Recent Activity

Related Journals

See more