Beginner’s Guide to the Beach Boys: Best and Most Popular Songs
Since their formation in 1961, The Beach Boys rose to popularity with songs that embodied the bright youth culture of California in the United States.
After the release of the historic masterpiece Pet Sounds, which fully showcased the artistic talents of their central figure Brian Wilson, their musical style evolved, and the band became a towering influence on generations to come.
On June 11, 2025, news of Brian’s passing at age 82 was widely reported by media in Japan, and surely introduced many younger listeners to the extent of his impact.
In this article, especially for beginners, we’ll introduce a selection of must-hear tracks—from their early hits to songs from the 1970s and beyond, after Brian stepped back from the spotlight.
Beach Boys Masterpieces and Popular Songs Summary [For Beginners] (1–10)
Wouldn’t It Be NiceThe Beach Boys
The opening track of Pet Sounds, known in Japanese translation as “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” It begins with a dreamy, cute guitar intro and features Mike Love’s powerful vocals.
Though short, this love song brims with the Beach Boys’ charm—its refreshing vibe and straightforward lyrics—and continues to be cherished around the world today.
Good VibrationsThe Beach Boys
A 1966 single brimming with the Beach Boys’ experimental flair.
True to their image, it’s a song sung to a cute girl.
The efficient incorporation of cello and the electronic instrument theremin—both uncommon in basic rock instrumentation—into a rock band sound astonished listeners at the time.
It’s a hit number often credited with shaping the history of modern pop songs.
God Only KnowsThe Beach Boys
A track from the classic album Pet Sounds that begins with a beautiful intro featuring a striking bell rhythm and horn timbre.
As the literal title “God Only Knows” suggests, it’s a song about how fate is unknowable to anyone.
With percussion sounds created by adding effects to tongue clicks and various inventive, experimental touches throughout, it’s a piece that even impressed Paul McCartney at the time.
Caroline, NoThe Beach Boys
A track with an experimental sound, where metallic tones from an instrument you can’t even imagine and heavily effected percussion create an exotic mood.
The falsetto vocals are so beautiful that you can listen in a daze—it’s a masterpiece—but in the latter half, the field recordings of a passing train and a dog barking add a strangely unique atmosphere, making it a song that leaves you with a curious feeling after just one listen.
California GirlsThe Beach Boys
It’s a song you can blissfully sink into, set to a laid-back rock ’n’ roll rhythm.
The lyrics are about a West Coast California girl, perfectly matching their image.
It’s a youthful Beach Boys number for the guys in the hot summer, expressing the feelings boys have for girls—unchanged from the ’60s to today.
Surfin’ USAThe Beach Boys
A smash hit by The Beach Boys released in 1963.
Since then, countless artists have covered it and it’s been used in many films and TV shows, so even younger people who may not know The Beach Boys have probably heard it at least once.
It was also memorable that the film Dreamgirls touched on something like the song’s origin story.
The moment this track starts, you can almost see Santa Monica’s white beaches and blue waves leaping before your eyes.
It’s a cheerful tune that showcases The Beach Boys’ signature beautiful harmonies and stands as one of the great classics of the ’60s.
Heroes And VillainsThe Beach Boys
Although work began in 1967, the album SMILE was ultimately shelved when the leader, Brian, suffered a mental breakdown after the poor reception of Pet Sounds.
Years later, in 2011, recordings from those original sessions were released.
After completing this experimental album release, this track—constructed by splicing songs together into an arrangement brimming with madness—continues to captivate fans to this day.