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The Beach Boys are known for a number of hits featuring their signature upbeat surf-rock sound, but there's one slowed-down number that has become a timeless love song.
The band's 1966 ballad "God Only Knows" is one of their most beloved songs, earning a spot on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2011, where it was ranked #11. It was released as the B-side track to their smash hit single "Wouldn't It Be Nice," off their renowned Pet Sounds album.
"God Only Knows" wasn't the group's biggest song on the U.S. charts, peaking at #39 on the BillboardHot 100. It also reached #21 on the Hot Rock Songs chart, while making it all the way to #2 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart in August 1966.
Featuring heartfelt, bittersweet lyrics written by Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson in collaboration with advertising copywriter Tony Asher, paired with tender vocals from Carl Wilson, "God Only Knows," has gone down in history as a stunning song for all forms of love.
It's no surprise that it is frequently included on wedding playlist roundups, and is even named on The Knot's list of suggestions for the emotional father-daughter dance at wedding receptions. Time Out magazine also has "God Only Knows" ranked at #23 on their list of the 30 Best Love Songs of All Time, published in January.
Even several other songwriters and successful music artists have expressed their appreciation for the Beach Boys ballad, including Paul McCartney, who previously described "God Only Knows" as the "greatest song ever written." The Beatles icon also said in a 2007 interview for BBC Radio 1 that it's "one of the few songs that reduces me to tears every time I hear it."
Related: Nostalgic Rock Anthem Is Named the Best One-Hit Wonder of the 2000s
