Obviously when you mix Paul Simon with Brian Wilson you're gonna perfection.

The pure clarity of his voice, its intonation, embellishment of original line and harmony, and his clean guitar accompaniment elevates lyric, melody, and song. Grateful. So beautiful.

This was not for Willie Nelson, but for Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. It´s a wonderful performance.

I say this is the greatest cover of all time, astonishing.

The simplicity of the song leaves room for the magic to happen. Brilliant tribute from Paul Simon.

Brian "reimagined" Gershwin and Disney - genius. Another musical genius honors Brian by reimagining one of his iconic songs. genius. and to further honor Brian, Paul wears a ball hat and sweatshirt from Brian's high school. Hawthorne High.

This is the ideal of what a cover can be. Take the original as if it was just an idea, and compose it your way, show us what direction you’d have taken it.

The Grand Master , it doesn't get better than this, very advanced musicianship. loved it

I watched this amazing performance when it first aired on July 4th, 2001 and was stunned by Paul Simon's awesome re-imagining of this Brian Wilson classic love song. This show was recorded in New York City's Radio City Music Hall on March 29th, 2001. I have watched Paul's brilliant work on this song maybe 30 times... and it still knocks me out - every time. He comes out by himself... and plays every note perfectly - and sings this new updated creation perfectly as well. He hits every note and takes this song to an entirely new vocal wonderland. Everyone always heaps praise on Art Garfunkel's wonderful vocal work on Simon & Garfunkel's songs (and rightfully so)... but Paul gives us a glimpse of just what an outstanding vocalist he is - with this breathtaking performance. The guy is a master musician/performer.

That was absolutely brilliant. Paul made that song his own.

Weird, but Simon actually tops the original! His rendering is so gentle and sweet (which was I'm sure BW's intent when writing) and his interpretation really shows off his mastery of the guitar, voice and his ability to translate a song in a way that everyone (folk) can appreciate. A stellar performance!

Whew! That made every hair on my arms stand up. I saw the show when it aired, but had forgotten this gem. Absolutely mesmerizing. If you get a chance to see Paul Simon in concert, go! He makes his old songs sound new and fresh with new arrangements. For my money, one of the best singer-songwriters EVER.

Astonishing. Transcending. Almost impossible to believe if I wasn't hearing it.

Paul Simon proves again what a master guitar he is.

This is so beautiful, heard it for the first time, today. Paul is such an exrtraordinary artist, I can only marvel at.

This really great!

This rendition of the Surfer Girl song is epic. Paul understood that he couldn't possibly improve upon perfection by trying to compose something similar to the original Surfer Girl song, so he added his own special tweak to it. Absolutely genius.

Best cover chills!!!

I cant get enough of this. His tenderness and gentleness make it seem almost like a lullaby. If he hasn't put out a record of lullabies, maybe he should!

Greatest cover of all time.

So beautiful!

Brilliant. Paul showed them.

PS - songwriters' songwriter, guitarists' guitarist - genius reflecting genius - sublime.

A master at work.

Beautiful!

wow i love this version! and that ending wow

Love it, Paul is a genius.

Long live the legacy of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys, so glad I got to see them in the 90s and Brian Wilson doing all of Pet Sounds live once many years later for its 50th anniversary.

The greatest interpretation ever composed and performed.

This is just wonderful!

Very Creative Love Paul Simon💜💜

A magical performance - easily the highlight of that show, for my money.

Paul's version of this song brings out hidden emotional depths that the Beach Boys version obscured.

PAUL IS A GREAT SINGER AND GUITAR PLAYER.

Ah yes...the Willy Nelson country classic Surfer Girl.

So talent love this awsom preformer. Every not he Sung 👍

Sooo Beautiful ~~~

Oooh! I loved this so much when I was a teenager! And now its by 'my' Paul Simon. Somehow I think that is unbelieveable:)

Best cover of this song by a mile.

You said it all.One of the best versions of a song I`ve ever heard. Probbably the best.

SO GREAT! There's no substitute for genius.

I wish one day Paul Simon would put together a double album with songs of the 50's and 60's. He would be terrific hand picking around 30 suited for his style. If you want to get rich, just find out what I want and bet against it ever happening.

paul simon is amazing... but here he is paying tribute to HIS IDOL... the real genius, Brian Wilson.

This was the third best performance of the Brian Wilson tribute, behind Vince Gill's stunning "The Warmth of the Sun" and Vince Gill, Jimmy Webb, and Gary Crosby's magnificent rendition of "Surf's Up." Paul Simon gave a beautifully subtle, gentle improvisation on this tune and really made it his own. Quite a gem of a performance.

A genius reminiscent of the scene.

One of my favorite chord progressions ever

Easily my favourite BB cover.

A pre-eminnent poet/philosopher/composer singing a favorite song and playing his very favorite guitar. Exquisite! I don't know how turnnig art into a competitive sport by ranking or assigning scores to it helps anyone experience the pure pelasure of something this good. Fine arrangement well payed on a first-quality vintage instuemt, sung expressively with great love by a superb and highly experienced performer. What's not to like?

beautiful.

A true master of music and lyrics...covering the ultimate master of the same! This is done with Paul's own flair....very touching. Would like to hear Paul's views on Brian...would be very interesting.

Goosebumps

Beautiful.

Excellent rendition

amazing how he turns this into his song, tremendous performance, would like to hear "willie" do it I bet he could do a decent version also...

If this is only 3rd best, I've got to watch the other two. In my opinion, this may be the 3rd best song on KZfaq!!

Transposed from Santa Monica all the way to Coney Island.

Luv it❤❤❤

TV used to be so much better. Everything other than technology was better.

I like your video

This was so cool and creative. Paul was one of the best to ever do it, and probably THE best when it came to lyrics. This made me tear up. He was such of my part of my memories growing up.

Best Willie Nelson song ever! ;)

Hard to describe......

Wow. This is wonderful, thank you for sharing!

esto es perfecto en todo sentido, que cosa mas linda por Dios.

WOW!!!

Beauty incarnate

Sigge brought me here. This is so pure.

Genius so lovely!

This is a tribute to the great Brian Wilson, not Willie Nelson. Paul Simon's interpretation is just genius

very good!

Very much always💖💕❤️

Do you love me? Do you...Surfer Girl?

Why does this show up under "Season 3" of Hiking with Kevin Nealon?

Agreed just a brilliant onyerproyay

Wow👍

I truly loved the original all these decades .. but now Paul’s version harkens the sadness of my youth now long lost .. in my advancing age this rendition fits my nostalgia so well .. Paul’s rendition is humble and totally amazing. I’ve heard nothing like it before, except in Paul’s own arrangements. He is an amazingly gifted artist and has filled my life for the past 70 years .. ✨thanks for sharing his genius

👏🔥

Minha conexão com este Divino cantor é de 360º. É mais além do que às palavras possam decifrar. E tudo se resume em “amor.” É o que desejo para ele e por ele.❤️❤️

Paul pulled out the Gurian for this performance. He must be serious.

I got to be the 100th 'like' -- except I don't like this. I LOVE it!!

yep

Willie Nelson? Where??? Is Brian Wilson Tribute!

Interesting folky take! 👍🏻🤔

Gangnam Style has a gazillion views, and this Paul Simon gem has only 36000. Sad, sad, sad.

@BenBarfuss very well said. JHP

Why make a perfect song... more complicated? To each his own I guess.

Who's here because Kevin Nealon accidentally added this to an unrelated playlist on his KZfaq channel? Unite!

Auto-tune uses Paul Simon as its reference for pitch.

Wotta Force the two "Paul's" have been, i.e. Paul Simon and Paul M'Cartney. Just spelled M'Cartney wrong again (you know you're well known when you're corrected on a celeb and by SPELL check). Have looked for the correct spelling of Paul Mac's name a million times - why can't it just be easy like SIMON. M'Cartney needs to look into this! (example, change spelling of last name to much-easier "Paul Cart.") -is this a lot to ask?

LOL WILLIE NELSON

Beautiful, but very strange that after all these years they haven't changed 'Willie Nelson' for 'Brian Wilson' in the opening title credit - very strange indeed?!

I posted my view of what looked like a misunderstanding. Please explain in plain Englisn how I altered your music by doing so.

Brian Wilson tribute

Suggest brought me here.

Why do you wrte this ia Willie Nelson tribute ??? This wa from a Brian Wilson tribute in NYC at Radio cu=ity Music Hall Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson?

As for the "Willie Nelson" thread: If you check, you'll see the poster is NOT a native speaker of English, which makes it more likely he or she could confuse the sound of "Brian Wilson" with that of "Willie Nelson." Would I be correct in thinking none of you who complain have EVER made a mistake in public?

I’m laughing at the idea of Willie Nelson writing songs like this and California Girls. Yeah maybe if there was reefer growing on the beach.

@mysterytrain74 rather mundane? Are you serious?

🤔What, exactly, does this have to do with Willie Nelson??