About the Song
The Beach Boys, a name synonymous with California sunshine, surf culture, and catchy melodies. Formed in the early 1960s, these guys brought a sound that defined an era. But did you know they also had a knack for crafting songs that took you on a mental vacation? That’s exactly what “Kokomo” does.
Released in 1988, “Kokomo” came at a time when The Beach Boys were no longer the fresh-faced youngsters they once were. Brian Wilson, the band’s musical mastermind, had battled mental health issues for years, and the band itself had gone through various lineup changes. Yet, with “Kokomo”, they managed to recapture a bit of their earlier magic.
The song’s title itself is a bit of a curiosity. Kokomo is a real place – a city in Indiana – but it seems unlikely that’s where the band was setting their sights. Instead, “Kokomo” becomes a fictional paradise, a tropical escape far from the everyday hustle and bustle.
Barbara Desetto