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Surfin' U.S.A.
The Beach Boys
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- Album
- Surfin' USA (Remastered)
- Released
- 1963
- Genres
- baroque pop
- Length
- 2:29
- Tempo
- 159 BPM
- Label
- Capitol Records
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About this song
Surfin' U.S.A. gave the Beach Boys their first widespread success, with its title track showing Brian Wilson's growing skill as a songwriter and vocal arranger. The fuller vocal sound came from double tracking, which helped define the band's distinctive style. Wilson wrote the lyrics on purpose to fit the melody of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen", which had inspired him, but under pressure from Berry's publisher and threats of a lawsuit, the copyright was handed to Arc Music, Berry's publisher. Some have speculated that Brian Wilson, rather than the officially listed producer Nick Venet, actually produced the record.
Fun facts
- Sampled in 4 other songs, like “Cringe by Cacola”.
- Covered 14 times, including “Surfin' USA by Jan & Dean”.
- Written by Chuck Berry, Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
- Produced by Nick Venet.