Brian Wilson sang of a sun-drenched, carefree world that stood in striking contrast to his tormented inner life. In songs like "Fun, Fun, Fun," "California Girls," "Surfin' U.S.A.," and "I Get Around,

Brian Wilson, an eclectic genius whose sunny Beach Boys songs like "God Only Knows" and "Good Vibrations" helped define American pop music, has died.

We’re picking up sad vibrations. But how traumatized can we feel, once the first few notes of any of Brian Wilson’s most classic songs hits our tympanic membrane? Even his most sorrowful songs — and there were plenty of those,