THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

930-The Beach Boys-California Girls.

1965-Number 26 single.

Best Bit-At 0.22.California, or Colorado, or Carolina, or Connecticut, or even Cleckheaton, as long as she’s got a pulse.

The Beach Boys (see also best songs 811-180 and 74) were formed in 1961, in Hawthorne, California, U.S., by the brothers, Brian, Dennis, (1944-1983) and Carl Wilson (1946-1948,) their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston who sang for the very first time with the band, on this song, joined in 1965.

‘California Girls’ was written by Brian Wilson (music,) and Mike Love (lyrics,) Wilson said, ‘I came up with the introduction first, I’m still really proud of that, it has a classical feel.’ He has also said that he got inspiration for the intro from ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,’ (Joy,) the piece of music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1723. Mike Love who wrote the lyrics, has told the tale of Paul McCartney using the theme of ‘girls and places,’ as inspiration for the Beatles song ‘Back in the USSR.’

As well as The Beach Boys there were a total of 13 other musicians playing on this track, including Hal Blaine (drums,) and Carol Kaye (bass guitar,) both of whom feature on many other songs in this countdown.

‘And the Northern girls with the way they kiss, they keep their boyfriends warm at night.’