Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson is the lead singer of The Beach Boys. He went into seclusion after experiencing drug problems and a nervous breakdown, and for about three years, he spent most of his time in bed. The song is both a tribute to Wilson and a look at his life. A few of the references: "Dr. Landy" - Wilson's psychologist, who was a constant presence in his life for much of the '70s and '80s. "Smiley Smile" - A 1967 Beach Boys album that was released as a truncated version of their highly anticipated album Smile. "I'll be out in the sandbox" - Around the time he was working on the Smile album, he had a sandbox constructed in his dining room and his grand piano placed in the middle. He thought the beach atmosphere would enhance his creativity.

Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies wrote this song and sang lead. He admired Wilson as a songwriter and visionary, and cites the Beach Boys as an inspiration. When Page left the group in 2009, performing this song without him proved challenging. They went with a simplified arrangement with Ed Robertson on lead vocals.

This song helped break Barenaked Ladies in America. It appeared on their first album, Gordon, in 1992 and reached #18 in their native Canada. Over the next few years, they built a small following across the border, and finally made an impact on the American charts in 1997 when "The Old Apartment" hit #88. By this time, "Brian Wilson" was a concert favorite, with the crowd joining in on certain lines ("record shop!"). In 1997, a live version from their Rock Spectacle album was released as a single in the US and reached #68 in February 1998. Hearing the adoring crowd on the song clued in American listeners to Barenaked Ladies live appeal, and when their album Stunt was released in July, they were primed for Stateside success. The group made a huge push to promote the album in America, playing lots of radio station showcase concerts and expanding their following one city at a time. They brought a catchy new single along for the ride: "One Week," which went to #1 in October (where it stayed for, yep, one week).