Brian Wilson was in Every Way Made for These Times

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." - Brian Wilson

I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times

Brian Wilson (Arr. Gomez)

The 1960s was one of the definitive golden eras of unbridled creativity and rapid transformation in Western music history. It was a time when the boundaries between genres blurred, when disparate composers drew inspiration from one another freely, fearlessly embraced emerging technologies, looked reverently to tradition, and looked outward toward other cultures with openness and curiosity. No one embodied this spirit more fully than Brian Wilson, who helped shape the cultural zeitgeist of the decade with remarkable musical accessibility and a seemingly endless ocean of warmth and kindness.

Wilson had a rare ability to capture the pains and melancholies of the human experience without turning toward despair, defeat, or dissonance. Instead of despondence, he illuminated those emotions with inviting melodies, lush modulating harmonies, and compassionate lyricism. His answer to darkness was beauty and optimism — not the kind that comes off as insincere or saccharine, but with genuine hope. It is a delicate yet powerful balance that I continue to strive for in my own work.

As I sit and listen to my favorite of his songs, I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times, I find myself peering out the window at a world engulfed in pain, confusion, and debilitating noise. His lyrics feel uncannily resonant. The chaos, the mistrust, the rising dissonance of the present moment echoes the vitriol and political unrest that surrounded his most creative years. I deeply empathize with his sense of alienation and helplessness. And yet, the fact that his music still speaks so deeply to me and to countless others only underscores the irony that Brian Wilson was in every way made for these times.

His music continues to offer us refuge, a sanctuary where the noise of the world recedes and we are blessed with harmony, tenderness, and surreal beauty. Despite Wilson’s adversities and illnesses, he was able to surf the wave of the moment, innovating timeless music with a grace that continues to invite and inspire.

Brian Wilson will be forever missed. In a world full of static and uncertainty, his voice remains a north star that is gentle, aching, and full of hope.

Thank you, Brian, for giving me so much inspiration to create, for the permission to feel, and for giving us all something beautiful to hold onto. Love and Mercy.