Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson always had a special bond, especially in the middle of the 1960s when both bands were at their most experimental, absorbing important new influences. Unusual chord structures, decorative melodies, a talent for orchestrations, and studio tricks were among the many musical traits that the two songwriters had in common. Additionally, each of their albums from this era pushed popular music forward by participating in a kind of cultural discourse.
The Beach Boys’ founder, Brian Wilson, spoke about his first encounter with McCartney in the 1960s in his 2016 memoir, I Am Brian Wilson. Wilson discovered that one of the Beatles’ favorite tunes was the 1966 hit song “God Only Knows” during the in-studio meeting. “It’s the kind of thing people write in liner notes and say on talk shows,” he said. “People who read it sort of glance at that sentence and continue reading. However, consider how important it was to me when I first heard it on Sunset Boulevard.
This individual, who created “Yesterday,” “And I Love Her,” and numerous other songs, claimed that “God Only Knows,” which I wrote, was his favorite. It truly astounded me.
Wilson claimed that they stayed in contact, with McCartney even visiting his home and playing the brand-new Beatles hit song “She’s Leaving Home.” “[He]…told me about the new music he was working on,” Wilson remembered, highlighting the impact of that private encounter. “I want you to hear one song,” he said. “I find the melody to be pleasant.” The song “She’s Leaving Home” was playing when he put the tape on. Marilyn, my wife, who was also present, broke down in tears. I was able to see my own music more clearly after listening to Paul perform a new tune. It was difficult for me to consider how my music affected other people, but it was simple to see when it was performed by someone else.
Wilson and McCartney created a kind of society of mutual adoration, possibly based on constructive rivalry. The widely held belief is that The Beach Boys’ 1966 cinematic masterpiece, Pet Sounds, was greatly influenced by The Beatles’ folky 1965 LP, Rubber Soul. This, in turn, fueled McCartney’s creation of The Beatles’ psychedelic 1967 hit, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
“We ended up [with] kind of like a rivalry,” McCartney told Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood in 2013. “We’d put a song out, and Brian would hear it and do one,” he said. “You’d kind of try to top each other all the time. He eventually came out with his ‘God Only Knows’ on Pet Sounds. I just think it’s a great song…It’s my favorite Beach Boys song…I got to sing it with Brian once. We did a benefit together. And I was OK on the actual performance—I held it together—but at the soundcheck I lost it. Because it’s very emotional, that song, I find. I’m thinking, ‘Oh, my god, I’m singing it with Brian.” Wilson, sadly, died on June 11, 2025 at age 82. As tributes poured in across the music world, McCartney shared a special remembrance of his inspirational friend: “Brian had that mysterious sense of musical genius that made his songs so achingly special,” he wrote in a statement. “The notes he heard in his head and passed to us were simple and brilliant at the same time. I loved him, and was privileged to be around his bright shining light for a little while. How we will continue without Brian Wilson, ‘God Only Knows.’ Thank you, Brian.”
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