Paul McCartney has never shied away from expressing his deep admiration for Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, particularly their iconic song “God Only Knows.” McCartney once described it as “the greatest song ever written,” even admitting, “It’s one of the few songs that reduces me to tears every time I hear it.” The emotional depth, harmonic complexity, and lyrical sincerity of “God Only Knows” left an indelible mark on McCartney, influencing not only his personal taste but also his creative direction with The Beatles.
Released in 1966 on the Beach Boys’ groundbreaking *Pet Sounds* album, “God Only Knows” pushed the boundaries of pop music with its unconventional structure, layered instrumentation, and spiritual depth. For McCartney, Wilson’s songwriting offered a new emotional and musical vocabulary—one that valued introspection and orchestral experimentation just as much as rock ‘n’ roll energy.
McCartney has often credited *Pet Sounds* as a major inspiration behind *Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band*, the Beatles’ own leap into conceptually rich and sonically adventurous territory. In interviews over the decades, McCartney has spoken about the “feeling of awe” he experienced when he first heard Wilson’s work, noting that it challenged him to elevate his own songwriting. The mutual respect between McCartney and Wilson remains one of the most celebrated examples of artistic admiration in modern music history.
Their creative rivalry wasn’t one of competition, but of mutual inspiration. As McCartney once said, “If there’s one person I was jealous of, it would have to be Brian.” That reverence is still evident today, as McCartney continues to hail Wilson not only as a genius but as one of his most important musical touchstones.
