This morning’s CarTune is based on a true story, more or less: “Fun, Fun, Fun,” by the Beach Boys.
In Beach Boys lore, Brian Wilson and Mike Love based the song on a story they heard when the band was doing a PR appearance at a Salt Lake City radio station. The station owner’s teen-aged daughter had borrowed Dad’s new Thunderbird to go to the library, but instead got caught up with her friends and went cruising to the local hamburger stand, whereupon… you know, Daddy took the T-Bird away. Kind of writes itself, doesn’t it?
The song almost wasn’t recorded. Murry Wilson, the Wilson Brothers’ father and the group’s manager, didn’t approve of the teen rebellion theme, innocent though it was. But the tune was finished and released in February 1964, rocketing into the top five in the pop charts. The live performance below was taped in March of 1964 at NBC in Burbank.
Truly one of the most iconic car songs ever. Is anyone else impressed that Mike Love can chew gum and sing at the same time?
Greatest white guy overbite dance ever.
The grown up daughters in the audience (about 1:10) are really getting into it. The older fathers look, well, stoic?
Nearly 40 years later Brian Wilson amost looks and sounds human again. despite that he wrote some absolutely iconic music.
Great lyrics. Right to the point and still perfect for the song’s style. Of course, this is just typical of the Brian Wilson genius.