God Only Knows

Show Business is a Rolling Wheel of Humility

Welcome to the beginning of the end of the weekend. The problem with only having two days off in a row is that by the time you’re really hitting your weekend groove, you’re back in the trenches gearing up for the week ahead. That’s why our Puritan ancestors were smart enough to know that you never stop working. Because in showbusiness, it’s always about the gig.

I hope that you’re reading this Sunday morning scrolling in bed with someone you love.

With the recent passing of Brian Wilson, a lot was made of how great Pet Sounds is, its towering achievement and how the song “God Only Knows” especially from Pet Sounds is a pinnacle of the songwriting craft as brought to life by a beautiful harmony with the perfect lead vocal by Carl Wilson. But that’s not showbiz. That’s art.

If you want to know what showbiz is, below is a great video that is a perfect illustration.

Here’s Carl Wilson doing “God Only Knows” as part of a short set for a friend’s event at a restaurant. The venue is not setup for a show, has no stage, but they found a way to make it work.

And that’s by placing Carl right in front of the kitchen. So no matter how successful you get in the business, at some point you’re going to do a gig singing in front of the chefs and the busboys busy doing their work, not listening.

No matter how great you are, showbusiness will always have a dose of humility around the corner, waiting to remind everyone that at the end of the day, you’re only human.