The Beach Boys vs. The Beatles Debate Misses the Point Entirely

Most people would agree that The Beach Boys were immensely talented and had a massive catalogue of hits. Most people would also say the same thing about The Beatles. However, whenever there's a debate discussing which of the two groups are better, people tend to dilute the accomplishments of The Beach Boys entirely.

Is it even close? Not really.

I would argue that The Beach Boys don't hold a candle to The Beatles. It's not even close. Some of The Beatles' best songs weren't even released as singles! The Beatles were a monster with four insanely charismatic members. John Lennon and Paul McCartney are two songwriters widely considered to be considered the best pop/rock songwriters of all time. George Harrison and Ringo Starr were also nothing to write off. Plus, you had George Martin at the helm, providing guidance and arranging when necessary.

This 1967 photo has incredible aura. Look at those pants!

The Beach Boys didn't have that. They had one guy who did it all. Brian Wilson wrote, composed, sang, and created the arrangements for most Beach Boys hits.

Brian Wilson is actually holding a mirror in this photo! Isn't that nuts?

But here's the thing.

The Beach Boys are incredible because they could go toe-to-toe with The Beatles IN SPITE OF all of their issues. There's an entire iceberg dedicated to the insane lore of The Beach Boys. I literally can't think of a messier, more problematic band. The fact that the band could achieve so much despite so many internal problems speaks wonders to the strength of the band.

Despite all of these things weighing against them, The Beach Boys released dozens of incredible and beautiful songs that rival some of The Beatles' best. I think a lot of people write off various members of The Beach Boys, but they are all important to the story. Even Mike Love.

No comparisons are necessary. Both bands are fantastic, and The Beach Boys are proof that you can succeed in your own lane even when fucked up shit constantly happens to you.

I'm not going to talk about The Beach Boys' hits. You can listen to them in this essential compilation. Here's five songs you've probably never heard that demonstrate just how talented this band was.

All I Wanna Do - like floating on air.
Busy Doin' Nothin - bossa flair.
Diedre - what a song! Those choruses are huge!
The Surfer Moon - a very early composition that shows how effortlessly Brian Wilson could sing falsetto
In the Back of My Mind - possibly the peak of their early-middle era.

The Beach Boys vs. The Beatles Debate Misses the Point Entirely

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