GOOD (STRING) VIBRATIONS

Surf, sand and entire orchestral sections

ARUBA, JAMAICA, oh I want to take ya to … the symphony? Yes, The Beach Boys, long the heralds of carefree summer fun, kick off the season this year by teaming with some of London’s finest musicians for The Beach Boys With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, pairing the vocals from their classic tunes with a full orchestral arrangement.

On the surface, the addition of orchestral accompaniments to light, summery tunes like “California Girls” and “Fun, Fun, Fun” might seem counterintuitive. But The Beach Boys are, of course, famed for their vocal harmonies and multi- layered musical compositions – elements that album producer Nick Patrick says only enhanced the musical pairing. “What we found, making this record, is when you dig down into the arrangements, they’re extraordinary,” he notes in a promotional video. “They’re fresh, they’re new, they’re complex, they’re beautiful and constructed in a completely original way.” Beach Boy co-founder Brian Wilson concurs, noting he “always knew the vocal arrangements I did back ... would lend themselves perfectly for a symphony.” —Mike Crisolago