Pop pioneers: The one musician Brian Wilson would like to have been
There are few figures more integral to the history of pop music than Brian Wilson. As the primary songwriter of The Beach Boys, he penned sunny singalong hits like ‘Surfin’ U.S.A’, produced the band’s magnum opus Pet Sounds, and created perhaps the greatest composition of all time in ‘God Only Knows’, which even takes the title for Paul McCartney’s favourite song.
Like all artistic pioneers and progenitors, Wilson has been endlessly borrowed from and emulated for decades. He influenced the sound of fellow 1960s phenomenon The Beatles, extended his impact into the rock realm with the likes of Pink Floyd, and still continues to sway the stylings of pop and indie stars today. Just this year, the sound of the Beach Boys can be heard in new albums from Jessica Pratt and The Lemon Twigs.
While Wilson is often the subject of imitation, his lush orchestral compositions and distinctive harmonies continually bleeding into the work of those who followed him, the Beach Boy is just as appreciative of and susceptible to the talents of others. When Mojo posed the question of which other musician he’d most like to step into the shoes of, Wilson responded with the name of another pop icon: Elton John.
Not long after Wilson invented the sound of California and pioneered pop production, Elton John took the torch to turn the genre into something else entirely. In ornate outfits and a wide array of shimmering sunglasses, he forged countless hits of his own, ranging from the soaring ‘Rocket Man’ to the tender ‘Your Song’.
While explaining his choice, Wilson was particularly complimentary about John’s vocal talent and his piano skills, both of which have proven integral to his success. His songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin provided the catchy choruses and gorgeous melodies that would find their way onto radio shows for decades to come, but it was John’s voice and playing that brought them to life.
On ‘Tiny Dancer’, for example, his earnest, increasingly powerful vocals drive the emotion of the song home, while his tender twinkling keys provide a beautiful backdrop. These two elements are present on almost every track in his catalogue, so familiar that they almost guarantee a chart spot. However, it wasn’t only John’s musical talents that Wilson felt compelled to praise. “I admire him as a person, too,” he concluded.
Outside of his career making hits and selling out stadiums, John has used his platform and success to charity work, particularly in the fight against AIDS and HIV. Beyond his stunning voice and his stellar abilities behind a piano, John has had a positive impact on the world through his philanthropy, work that commands Wilson’s admiration alongside the appreciation of countless others.
Both Wilson and John have earned their places amongst the best of the best in the world of pop. While the former had a transformative impact on the production of the genre, creating one of the greatest albums of all time along the way, the latter found success through extravagant fashion and emotive pop hits, using the opportunity to make the world a better place.
Fortunately, technology hasn’t quite reached the point of body-swapping, so we are left with two pop icons instead of one.
