4 bizarre Brian Wilson songs that prove genius can be totally unhinged

Brian Wilson was a highly esteemed pop songwriter during the 20th century. His collaboration with The Beach Boys significantly impacted the musical style of the 1960s, and the album “Pet Sounds” is widely recognized as one of the most influential recordings in music history.

However, alongside every lofty melody or heartfelt song, an unusual aspect of Wilson surfaced that could not be overlooked.

Or:

For each uplifting harmony or heartwarming ballad, there was a peculiar side to Wilson that demanded attention.

Both sentences convey the same meaning but use different word choices and sentence structures for variety and readability.

Through battles with mental health issues, substance abuse, or perhaps an unusual creativity, some of his songs veered wildly, showcasing a captivating yet disturbing level of madness.

Sometimes the Beach Boys got weird but it was mostly great

Re-expressing in a more natural and readable manner: The song “A Day in the Life of a Tree,” from the 1971 album Surf’s Up, appeared to be a tale narrated by a dying tree on paper. However, in reality, it was one of the darkest, most unusual recordings ever made by the Beach Boys.

The music was minimalistic and somber, prompting Wilson to find the lyrics too disheartening for him to perform. Ultimately, their manager Jack Rieley took on the vocals. It had an eerie quality more akin to a farewell speech than a typical pop tune. Strangely captivating, yet quite unexpected.

After that, there was “Mt. Vernon and Fairway,” an additional EP called a bonus suite, which came with the album Holland in 1973. Wilson worked on this during the time when the rest of the band concentrated on more down-to-earth songs, and it clearly showed. The suite tells the story of a boy who discovers a magical transistor radio that speaks a strange, winding fairy tale.

The tune had a vibe closer to a low-fidelity kids’ bedtime story rather than a classic Beach Boys song, featuring spooky narration and random synth effects. Despite Wilson’s earnestness, the band themselves appeared unsure about its interpretation.

In a significant departure from the norm in 1977’s album “The Beach Boys Love You“, Brian Wilson utilized advanced Moog synthesizers and automated vocal effects to create a unique tribute to Johnny Carson. The track essentially consisted of Wilson enumerating the many impressive aspects of Johnny Carson.

In a straightforward manner, Brian offered genuine praise to the talk show host, admiring his ability to maintain composure at all times. It was unusual and surprisingly detailed, yet somehow engaging. This incident served as clear evidence that Wilson’s thought process deviated from the typical pop songwriter.

Some of his uncompleted or partially finished works had a touch of the absurd, verging on the surreal. The song titled “Vegetables,” originating from the abandoned Smile project, was particularly noteworthy for its whimsical yet disconcerting nature.

The tune was an amusing ode to wholesome dining, featuring crackling sound cues, supposedly courtesy of Paul McCartney munching on celery within the recording studio. Wilson found it quite funny, whereas for many other listeners, it struck a balance between being unusual and intriguing.

These tunes might not have been outright poor; rather, they were insightful aspects of Wilson’s repertoire. They illustrated the fine boundary that exists between genius and disorder. At his best, Wilson composed some of the most enchanting melodies of the 20th century.

When he veered off course, it wasn’t merely a matter of becoming eccentric; rather, he wholeheartedly immersed himself in the unusual. This very contradiction is what made him such an indelible figure. With his departure, the entire spectrum of his influence seems even more crucial to explore.

Brian Wilson wasn’t just a genius; he was an extraordinary creator who often defied conventional norms. Occasionally, this led to flawless harmonies and enduring ballads. On other occasions, it resulted in songs about vegetables, talking trees, and homages to late-night television personalities. However, whatever he produced, it was always distinctively his own.

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2025-06-23 19:00