By Stig Editor 
The Beach Boys Song That Paul McCartney Hailed As a Stroke of Genius
“God Only Knows” — The Song That Left Even a Beatle Speechless
When legends recognize legends, the moment tends to echo through musical history. Such is the case with Paul McCartney’s deep admiration for Brian Wilson, the creative force behind The Beach Boys and especially the masterpiece, “God Only Knows.”
It wasn’t just a passing compliment. McCartney has repeatedly called “God Only Knows” “the greatest song ever written.” And coming from a man who penned Let It Be, Yesterday, and Hey Jude, that’s saying something.
> “God Only Knows is one of the few songs that reduces me to tears every time I hear it,” Paul once said. “It’s just a great, great song it’s simple and elegant and beautifully produced. Brian Wilson is a genius.”
🎼 A Song That Transcended Pop
Released in 1966 on The Beach Boys’ iconic Pet Sounds album, “God Only Knows” was unlike anything the world had heard. It was tender, vulnerable, and harmonically complex a bold departure from the surf rock image the band was known for.
With its lush arrangements, French horn intro, and Carl Wilson’s heartfelt vocal, the song whispered where other pop tracks shouted. It wasn’t just a song; it was a moment of emotional intimacy captured on vinyl.
🌟 When Pet Sounds Met Sgt. Pepper
Paul McCartney has long credited Pet Sounds and “God Only Knows” in particular as the inspiration behind The Beatles’ own masterpiece, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The friendly rivalry between the two bands sparked some of the most creative music of the century.
> “Without Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper wouldn’t have happened.” — McCartney
That mutual inspiration between Wilson and McCartney elevated the entire music industry, pushing the boundaries of what pop music could be.
So the next time you press play on “God Only Knows”, remember: you’re not just listening to a Beach Boys classic. You’re hearing the song that made a Beatle cry and call his contemporary a genius.