Album: 20/20 (1969)

Charted: 10 24

License This Song 

• Ah, ooh
  
  This is the way
  I always dreamed it would be
  The way that it is, oh oh
  When you are holding me
  I never had a love of my own
  Maybe that's why when we're all alone
  
  I can hear music
  I can hear music
  The sound of the city, baby, seems to disappear
  I can hear music
  Sweet, sweet music
  Whenever you touch me, baby
  Whenever you're near
  
  Lovin' you
  It keeps me satisfied
  And I can't explain, oh no
  The way I'm feeling inside
  You look at me we kiss and then
  I close my eyes and here it comes again
  
  I can hear music
  I can hear music
  The sound of the city, baby, seems to disappear
  I can hear music
  Sweet, sweet music
  Whenever you touch me, baby
  Whenever you're near
  
  I hear the music all the time, yeah
  I hear the music, hold me tight now, baby
  I hear the music all the time
  I hear the music
  I hear the music (baby)
  
  Ah
  
  I can hear music
  I can hear music
  The sound of the city, baby, seems to disappear
  I can hear music
  Sweet, sweet music
  Whenever you touch me, baby Writer/s: Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil Spector
  Publisher: Abkco Music Inc., BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 13

• Kssmart from Maryland, UsaRegarding Andrew from Birmingham's comment:
  
  I think you misunderstand the timeline - "I Can Hear Music" was recorded in 1969, so calling it a blend of "late '60s through mid-'80s style" doesn't make much sense chronologically. The song predates most of what we'd consider the disco era by several years.
  
  More fundamentally, it reduces the Beach Boys' incredibly sophisticated harmonic and production innovations to just "oldies style" versus "new rock style with disco beats." This misses so much of what made their music revolutionary - the complex vocal arrangements, unconventional song structures, studio experimentation, and the way they incorporated elements from classical, jazz, and avant-garde music alongside rock and pop.
  
  "I Can Hear Music" itself is actually a cover of a Phil Spector-produced song, so the production style reflects both Spector's Wall of Sound influence and the Beach Boys' own approach to layered vocals and instrumentation. Carl Wilson's lead vocal brings its own distinctive character to the track. Calling it a "masterpiece" while describing it in such generic terms seems to miss what actually makes it special.
  
  The Beach Boys were constantly experimenting and blending styles throughout their career - from surf rock to sophisticated pop to psychedelia to more experimental territory. Reducing that complexity to just two basic categories really doesn't capture the richness of their musical journey.
• New F. from Long Island, NyWhen you Google who was the lead singer on "I can hear Music", many sites say it was Brian Wilson. Incorrect, it's Carl Wilson, please see if this can be corrected as Carl's voice Can not be lost on his Best song. Thank you.
• Kb from CtFreddie Mercury recorded this song in the 70’s. His was the best version in my opinion.
• Dawn from Redding CaliforniaFreddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Brian May also did this song under the name Larry Lurex. They kicked the Beach Boys harmonies to the curb.
• Noah BlandfordDoes no one know that Freddie Mercury also sung this song when he went solo in 85’
• Mavis from Upper MidwestCarl Wilson had the voice of an angel.
• Jennifur Sun from RamonaSuch a GREAT VOICE. Carl wish you had never taken up smoking maybe you would still be here.
• Elmer from Westville, OkI still love "I Can Hear Music" by the Beach Boys! And I also love the original Ronettes' hit too. Back in the early 1960s, I learned that anything written by the wonderful Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry were true Rock & Roll Gems! I was saddened when Ellie passed on in 2009, but I will always remain a fan. I first heard this song in 1966 by TheRonettes. Really apparent is Ronnie's soulful voice. Now, the Beach Boys' version is simply OUT Of SIGHT! When it was hitting the rock charts in 1969, I heard it when I was in Vietnam (U.S. Army, Bien Hoa base) and it knocked my socks off. It got very good air play by the AFVN radio over there. I didn't know that the late Carl Wilson was singing lead on that hit, until much later, but his vocals brought the song alive. And what a legacy this song has: Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil Spector, The Ronettes, and The Beach Boys.
• Martin from Fresno, CaI never heard the ronettes version but it is hard to imagine anyone doing a better job on this song than the Beach Boys.
• Teresa from Mechelen, BelgiumMy wonderful, beautiful Ellie Greenwich, you left us on August 26 2009 but I'll continue listening to all your supersongs. R.I.P. Ellie.
• Sean from Chicago, IlWhat's crazy is that had Spector been found guilty, that would have been THREE songs on the same Beach Boys album that would have a murderer as either (co)writer or CREDITED co(writer) -- "Cotton Fields" (Leadbelly did prison time for murder), "Never Learn Not To Love" (Charles Manson, though technically not a murderer, had murders carried out under his command), and "I Can Hear Music."
• Andrew from Birmingham, United StatesThis song is a typical Beach Boys kind of song, but it's unique. The Beach Boys had been recording many oldies of early to mid-'60s style for a good while. Later on, the Beach Boys started using the new rock style that began in the late '60s and lasted until about the mid-'80s - the style with some kind of disco beat behind it. The Beach Boys used the late '60s through the mid-'80s style all throughout "I Can Hear Music" except for the bridge; they threw in a little bit of old times. I don't recall anything else by the Beach Boys with one rock style running through and another thrown in the middle. This is definitely a masterpiece.
• Teresa from Mechelen, BelgiumThis is my favorite song of the Beach Boys, a wonderful song written by the super-writingteam of Phil Spector/Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry.
  They have written many beautiful songs for the Crystals, the Ronettes but their best one is the superb "River deep, mountain high" that I consider as Phil Spector's masterpiece.

More Songfacts:

Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)The Stranglers

"Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)" by The Stranglers was written about the then Premier of Queensland, Joh Bjelke-Petersen. His political shenanigans were observed by the band during their first tour of Australia.

Private IdahoThe B-52s

The B-52's chose the location of their song "Private Idaho" because the state has a reputation for being wacky and mysterious. The title is a play on the phrase "private eye."

Let's Stay TogetherAl Green

Al Green's commitment classic "Let's Stay Together" launched Tina Turner's comeback when she covered the song in 1983.

Pinball WizardThe Who

Pete Townshend wrote The Who's "Pinball Wizard" to coax a good review for the Tommy album out of a rock critic who loved pinball. It worked.

HeroinThe Velvet Underground

When the Velvet Underground song "Heroin" got screechy, Maureen Tucker stopped drumming, figuring it would bust the take, but her bandmates kept going. You can hear it at the 5:20 mark.

Enter SandmanMetallica

The original "Enter Sandman" lyric was about crib death, with the "sandman" killing a baby.

Editor's Picks

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.