Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney Sing The Words of Stephen Kalinich - Noise11.com
Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. photo by Ros O'Gorman, Noise11, Photo

Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. photo by Ros O'Gorman

Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney Sing The Words of Stephen Kalinich

by Paul Cashmere on April 30, 2004

in News

Poet and lyricist Stephen Kalinich has written the lyrics to not one but two songs for the new Brian Wilson album ‘Getting’ In Over My Head’ and one of those songs is a duet between Brian and Paul McCartney.

The McCartney song is titled ‘A Friend Like You’. “I was almost speechless and very touched and moved” Stephen tells Undercover News about his reaction when he heard the finished playback of the song. “Tears came gushing out because it is such a dedicated sweet, kind friendship. It is an honor, a dream come true, a thought for the world and I see Brian and Paul together.”

The song started out like this. “Brian gave me a melody one night with no ideas and I put it in my car tape deck” he says. “I started playing it over and over and the words to a lyric or poem I had in my heart for a few months started forming around the music. It all started to come together. I started crying in the car. It was a breath taking moving experience”.

The song was completed by the end of his journey. “By the time I got to my house the entire lyric to match almost each note was intact and complete. It was miraculous. I called Brian on the phone and sang it to him. He loved it”.

It was Brian’s wife Melinda who suggested Paul McCartney for the song. “I think he did a little demo at home and then he and Melinda (probably Melinda) somehow said it is a good song for Brian and Paul”.

That worked for Stephen. He had met Paul before through a mutual friend. “Paul I love” he says. “I met Heather a few years back at Adopt a Minefield. Cameron Crowe introduced me”.

His friendship with Brian goes back decades. “I love Brian like a brother. Beyond his music his soul is so kind and good. His consciousness is sweet”.

Stephen’s other song on the album is ‘You Touched Me’. ‘Getting’ In Over My Head’ will be released in June.

For news as it happens follow Noise11 on Facebook

Noise11.com

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Related Posts

John Farnham The Age Music Victoria 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame Concert inducts Victorian music legends at the Palais in St Kilda on Friday 20 November 2015. photo by Ros O'Gorman
John Farnham Becomes A Grandfather

John Farnham is a grandfather. Jett James Farnham was born in Melbourne on June 18, 2025. The family has just now announced the news.

2 days ago
The Grateful Dead Movie
The Grateful Dead Movie To Screen In Cinemas Worldwide In August

The Grateful Dead movie will screen at IMAX in August to mark the 60th anniversary of the band’s final performance.

5 days ago
John Fogerty photo by David McClister 2
John Fogerty Shares New Solo Versions of CCR Classic ‘Born On the Bayou’ and ‘Lodi’

John Fogerty has premiered two new solo remakes of his Creedence Clearwater Revival classics ‘Born on the Bayou’ and ‘Lodi’.

6 days ago
Norman Greenbaum Spirit In the Sky
Norman Greenbaum’s Classic ‘Spirit In the Sky’ Gets Its First Ever Music Video

56 years after its original release, the Norman Greenbaum classic ‘Spirit In The Sky’ gets its first ever music video and Norman makes a cameo in the video.

6 days ago
Steve Kalinich photo by Stephen Rood
Poet and Brian Wilson Collaborator Stephen Kalinich To Release Second Album ‘I Love My Life’

Poet Stephen Kalinich will release ‘I Love My Life’ on July 11.

June 26, 2025
A Tribute To The King of Zydeco
The Rolling Stones and Steve Riley Mark Clifton Chenier’s 100th with ‘Zydeco Sont Pas Salés’

The Rolling Stones have contributed to a Clifton Chenier tribute album with their recording of ‘Zydeco Sont Pas Salés’ in collaboration with Steve Riley.

June 26, 2025
Bobby Sherman
Bobby Sherman Dead at 81

Former teen idol Bobby Sherman has died. He was 81.

June 25, 2025