Just a quick throwback to arguably the most influential song of the last century...

[sir pball]

It literally defined The Studio As An Instrument.

[highplainsdem]

1. Since you opened this to debate by calling this "arguably the most influential song of the last century"...

I don't think much of it, and IMO treating "the studio as an instrument" is every bit as likely to result in crappy recordings as good ones.

It was certainly expensive to record.

It was certainly overproduced.

It wasn't one of the Beach Boys' better songs, was a showcase more for technology than their vocal talents.

I agree with this section of Wikipedia's article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Vibrations

In a 1966 issue of Arts Magazine, Jonathan King said: "With justification, comments are being passed that 'Good Vibrations' is an inhuman work of art. Computerized pop, mechanized music. Take a machine, feed in various musical instruments, add a catch phrase, stir well, and press seven buttons. It is long and split. ... impressive, fantastic, commercial—yes. Emotional, soul-destroying, shattering—no."

[world wide wally]

2. My favorite Beach Boys song:

By far.

[highplainsdem]

3. Better than Good Vibrations. The video below is my favorite Beach Boys song, by far, & Brian thought it was their best:

From Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Worry_Baby

Legacy and recognition

OK, so maybe the appeal of this one has nothing to do with the specifics of the story, but surely we can all relate to the idea of support, how knowing that someone cares for you regardless of what happens gives you strength to do great things. And the music is such a perfect accompaniment to this theme, so damn cozy and warm, a tender respite from the stressful reality of the main narrative.

—Pitchfork editor Mark Richardson[25]

Biographer David Leaf declared that "Don't Worry Baby" became Wilson's first "pop standard",[1] while Dillon decreed that it marked "one of his defining [vocal] performances on one of his greatest records."[3] In a 1970 interview, Wilson opined, "Probably the best record we've done was 'Don't Worry Baby'. It has about the best proportion of our voices and ranges."[26] Wilson has since called his vocal on the song the best he has done for the band, commenting, "I think I sang it sweetly enough that you could feel the love in my voice."[27]

In 1988, "Don't Worry Baby" was ranked number 11 on Spin's list of the greatest singles in history.[3] In 2010, it was ranked number 178 on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest songs in history.[28] In 2010, it was ranked number 14 on Pitchfork's list of the greatest songs of the 1960s.[25]