HISTORY OF A SONG: WOULDN'T IT BE NICE

"Wouldn’t It Be Nice" is a famous song by The Beach Boys, the legendary American band, released in their 1966 album Pet Sounds. This song quickly won over listeners with its cheerful, sweet melody and hopeful message about love. "Wouldn’t It Be Nice" speaks about the desire to grow up faster, so one can fully enjoy life with their loved one.

The song was inspired by Wilson's confused infatuations for his sister-in-law, who projected an "innocent aura" that he wished to capture in "Wouldn't It Be Nice". Lyrically, the song describes a young couple who feel empowered by their relationship and fantasize about the romantic freedom they would earn once married to each other. Like the other tracks on Pet Sounds, it subverted listeners' expectations, as past Beach Boys songs had normally celebrated superficial conceits such as material possessions and casual flings.

Wilson produced the record between January and April 1966 with his band and 16 studio musicians who variously played drums, timpani, glockenspiel, trumpet, saxophones, accordions, guitars, pianos, and upright bass. The harp-like instrument heard in the introduction is a 12-string mando-guitar plugged directly into the recording console. One section of the song engages in a ritardando, a device that is rarely used in pop music. The band struggled to sing the multiple vocal parts to Wilson's satisfaction, and the song ultimately took longer to record than any other track on the album.

The song achieved great success on music charts. Notably, it reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, one of America’s most prestigious charts. It's also one of the most iconic songs by The Beach Boys, solidifying their place in pop-rock music history. "Wouldn’t It Be Nice" became a symbol of the golden age of 60s rock music and continues to be widely listened to even today...