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Something in the Stars

Paul McCartney

Look, I don’t believe in astrology. Everything I know tells me it’s bunkum. And science will poo-poo any similar characteristics between two people born under the same star sign as statistical probability, or self-fulfilling prophecy.

Let’s take a look at arguably two of the greatest songs written in the nineteen-sixties. There were LOTS of great songs written in that decade, just as there are in every decade, but for me two stood out, along with a handful of others. These were

YESTERDAY by Paul McCartney

and

GOD ONLY KNOWS by Brian Wilson

Both are fantastic songs and there’s nothing between them in terms of sheer greatness.

Here’s the interesting statistical quirk.

Sir James Paul McCartney CH MBE (born 18 June 1942)

Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942)

Yes, the writers of what I regard as the two finest songs of the sixties were born within two days of each other. Now, there were about two and half million people born in the USA in 1942 and just over three quarters of a million in the UK. So, out of those three and a quarter million people were two, born within two days of each other who went on to have stellar careers in pop music and write the two best songs of their generation. That’s a very satisfying coincidence.

brian wilson

Published inFancy thatMusic

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