“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” is a unique experience when understanding its beauty, especially so after countless times hearing it only within the context of classic pop radio. Taking into account the critical aspect of this round’s listening session, the lyrics to the song, no matter how many “oldies” stations it may occupy at any given time, stand as an outlaw love song when taking them into the context of my own life; “wouldn’t it be nice to live together in the kind of world where we belong?” The song’s sugary sweet overtones mask a theme revolving around two lost lovers, who have been completely blinded to the world outside of their, now shared, existence. Brother, I’ve been there.
“The more we talk about it, it only makes it worse to live without it.” When you’re trapped in that paralleled existence, however you may wish to accept the term trapped, so much time is spent dreaming and memorizing thoughts of a time that has yet to come, and that time seems absolutely perfect in your mind. If we could all live the life we dream of in our minds, wouldn’t that be nice?
It was mentioned during the podcast that before Pet Sounds was released in the UK, McCartney and Lennon heard the album and that its impact can be heard throughout The Beatles’ masterpiece Revolver; further acknowledging both the artistic influence and competitiveness that the two groups had during this period. That to me is something special in itself. Which bands are there today that lead the pack, so to speak, and work almost in spite of each other to create brilliant music? Now I’m not naming names (yes I am) but The Killers aren’t exactly challenging Pete Doherty to make better music, are they? It’s probably the harmonies and contrast throughout the song are what I find strangest, and possibly most influential, especially in the terms of how they’ve aged and what the song has become associated with for me over time.
There’s a scene in one of the Naked Gun movies where Leslie Nielsen and Precilla Presley run through a falling-in-love montage, backed by Hermans Hermits “I’m Into Something Good.” A similar scene is what I envision when I hear this song due to it’s overly background vocals, accordion base and dueling guitar harmonies all run amongst Wilson’s airy vocals. But I must say that I had never taken the time to understand the lyrics, and when learning that Wilson was close to my age during the production of the album I now have a feeling of camaraderie with whomever it was that Wilson was at the time.
“You Still Believe Me” is a track that understands the dream that was at the heart of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” though the dream has evolved into some disappointing reality. As things turn out far different than planned in the reality of Wilson’s character, it becomes crushing to know the concluding reality that the lovers will never be able to lie themselves into a false idea of things being perfect again. But there is the thought of forgiveness and the statement that every time we wake up the day is new, and all is supposedly forgotten, but what a let down, the ultimate contrast to the easy going sounds of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Oh, and the break at 2:10, right before the song kicks back in guiding the strangely perfect bicycle horn is brilliant. Just saying.
The Unofficial Pet Sounds Blog
Pet Sounds Podcast Series: Episode 1 “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
Pet Sounds Podcast Series: Episode 2 “Still Believe In Me”
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