“For those who shut your eyes and consider California, you’ll be able to’t assist however image the waves, the solar, the sand,” narrates Tom Hanks as he opens A Grammy Salute to the Seashore Boys, which airs on CBS this Sunday (April 9) at 8 p.m. ET/PT. “And in case you hear intently over the crash of the surf, you’ll be able to hear a guitar riff and the vocal harmonies of three brothers who grew up singing within the South Bay. In 1961 these brothers, Brian, Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike and their buddy Al, fashioned a band. They weren’t simply making music, they had been exporting good vibrations to the remainder of the world.”
Just like previous Grammy salutes to Paul Simon, The Beatles, and Stevie Marvel, the particular options up to date artists recreating a few of the honorees’ most-loved songs. And, within the case of the Seashore Boys, that’s a really deep effectively to attract from: The group charted 32 prime 40 hits on the Billboard Sizzling 100 — and, led by Wilson’s producing genius, created probably the most influential and revered signature sounds in pop music historical past.
Taped in February on the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, and attended by Wilson and Mike Love (who sat at separate ends of a row in a loge field) in addition to Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks, the particular featured (amongst others) Beck, Brandi Carlile, Michael McDonald, Pentatonix, St. Vincent, Weezer, Norah Jones, John Legend, Mumford & Sons and Hanson, all singing the soundtrack to everybody’s infinite summer time.
Beneath are the highest six performances.
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LeAnn Rimes, “Caroline No”
With the barest of accompaniment, Rimes confirmed off her beautiful vary and talent to carry a notice as she delivered a mesmerizing model of Pet Sounds’ heartbroken closing observe. Wilson’s mournful ode to a previous love was changed into one thing spectral and nearly non secular in Rimes’ rendering.
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Norah Jones, “The Heat of the Solar”
Whereas most artists went for straight-ahead recreations of the unique preparations, Jones turned “The Heat of the Solar” right into a languid, jazz-tinged take that saved a lot of the identical melancholy and longing, however one way or the other performed up the component of hope. The spare model, with Jones on vocals and piano surrounded by delicate backing vocals and subdued cello, guitar and drums, highlighted her beautiful rendition.
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Brandi Carlile & John Legend, “God Solely Is aware of”
The vocal acrobatics and harmonies that Carlile and Legend delivered to the Pet Sounds basic turned the track right into a choral lesson created by simply the 2. The baroque tune, bolstered by its French horn intro, is certainly one of Wilson’s most beloved and impressive songs, with lead vocals initially sung by Carl Wilson. Carlile and Legend soared individually, however then turned the track right into a spherical of kinds as they circled one another vocally.
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Pentatonix, “Heroes & Villains”
For sheer vocal complexity, Seashore Boys songs don’t come a lot tough than “Heroes & Villains,” from the unfinished Smile album (after which launched on 1967’s Smiley Smile after Smile was shelved). It’s arduous to think about any group aside from Pentatonix even being prepared to take it on. However the a cappella quintet nailed the Western imagery-filled track with beautiful harmonies, as their voices weaved out and in effortlessly.
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Hanson, “Barbara Ann”
Just like the Seashore Boys, the three brothers in Hanson have that inbuilt familial, wonderful means with harmonies. Because the trio tackled the Boys’ 1965 doo-wop basic (initially a success for The Regents in 1961), they relied on their brotherly bond — with Zac getting a uncommon probability to sing lead and exhibit his falsetto, whereas Isaac and Taylor supplied glorious assist.
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Weezer, “California Women”
It’s not simple to tackle probably the most iconic songs within the Seashore Boys’ canon, however Weezer even had the Seashore Boys smiling and clapping alongside as Rivers Cuomo delivered notice excellent lead vocals — together with an on-point falsetto — whereas the remainder of the band’s backing vocals and harmonies paid homage to the Rock and Roll Corridor of Famers, whereas nonetheless maintaining their very own signature sound intact. Like lots of the night time’s acts, they appeared understandably nervous to be performing in from the that band that created the historic track — so Cuomo’s fist pump after they nailed it was all of the extra endearing.
