Brian Wilson, who passed away at 82, was quintessentially Southern California, yet he portrayed its culture from an introverted perspective. His Beach Boys music celebrated sun and surf while unveiling an underlying melancholy, balancing youthful exuberance with deep-seated anxieties. Early hits like 'Fun, Fun, Fun' and 'In My Room' showcased his complexity, blending catchy pop with introspective lyrics. As the 1960s evolved, Wilson's style shifted dramatically from surf pop to more avant-garde sounds, reflecting personal and societal changes, marking him as a pioneering figure with a profound legacy in music.
Wilson's earliest work preached a regional gospel of sun, sand, and surf, yet approached this mythology from an unconventional angle-as an introvert and nonparticipant.
For every anthemic endorsement of 'Fun, Fun, Fun,' the anxiety-prone Wilson would admit that he just wasn't made for these times, and make you wonder the same about yourself.
Wilson had barely established his formula when he began to abandon it, as exemplified in the ballad 'In My Room,' which memorialized his agoraphobia with exquisite, deep-pile harmonies.
The early '60s turned into the middle '60s. Out went the candy-striped shirts, with their wholesome vibe of suntan lotion and the senior prom.
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