# "Good vibrations" by the Beach Boys **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298 "2005-12-19T15:30:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dead\_Battery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@Dead\_Battery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Battery)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/1 "2005-12-19T15:30:02Z")
What makes that weird ufo-like sound during the chorus? ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/2 "2005-12-19T15:33:02Z")
The [theremin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin). ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/3 "2005-12-19T15:33:20Z")
A [theramin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theramin). ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/4 "2005-12-19T15:33:24Z")
> [@Dead Battery](#): > > What makes that weird ufo-like sound during the chorus? I always thought it was a theramin (or some 60’s version of that device). ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/5 "2005-12-19T15:34:14Z")
(Or rather the Electro-Theremin, forgive me.) ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/6 "2005-12-19T15:38:01Z")
Actually, it’s a popular misconception that the noise is made by a [theramin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theramin). In fact, an actual UFO flew through the studio while the chorus was being recorded. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/7 "2005-12-19T15:51:14Z")
> [@Borborygmi](#): > > Actually, it’s a popular misconception that the noise is made by a [theramin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theramin). In fact, an actual UFO flew through the studio while the chorus was being recorded. Shhhhhh!!! You aren’t supposed to tell anyone! Now I’ll have to report you and everyone who reads this thread to the agency! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/8 "2005-12-19T15:51:52Z")
fnord ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/9 "2005-12-19T15:52:29Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > I always thought it was a theramin (or some 60’s version of that device). Ah, it’s a 1960s style death theramin. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Roboto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@Mr.Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Roboto)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/10 "2005-12-19T15:57:20Z")
To enjoy other music featuring the Theremin… Listen to, Lothar and the Hand People ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/11 "2005-12-19T17:13:34Z")
And after all that, it’s not a Theremin at all, but a [Tannerin.](http://www.tompolk.com/Tannerin/Tannerin.html) ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/12 "2005-12-19T17:13:53Z")
> [@Mr. Roboto](#): > > To enjoy other music featuring the Theremin…Listen to, Lothar and the Hand People To enjoy your sanity, you may want to avoid that recommendation. Unless, of course, you’re able to sit in a comfortable chair, relax and climb aboard a starship of stone. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/13 "2005-12-19T18:32:02Z")
Rent the film **Theremin – An Electronic Odyssey** (1994): > **[Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey (1993) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108323/)** > > Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey: Directed by Steven M. Martin. With Leon Theremin, Clara Rockmore, Robert Moog, Nicolas Slonimsky. A documentary about the inventor of the first electronic synthesiser instrument and his subsequent life after he was... It covers not only the history of the instrument and its inventor (They tracked him down and filmed him just before he died), it also shows clips of films where the Theremin appeared and interviews Brian Wilson about how he came to obtain a Theremin and use it (He built his own!) Great flick. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/14 "2005-12-19T19:41:41Z")
was the theremin also used in **Rio, by Duran Duran**? ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/15 "2005-12-19T21:23:50Z")
By the by, the “UFO sound” in old sci fi movies was in fact a theremin. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/16 "2005-12-19T21:24:23Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > was the theremin also used in **Rio, by Duran Duran**? Just for 20 minutes… oh, nevermind. I have a Theramin, FWIW. I play it, poorly, but it’s fun. I have an old guitar effects box (can’t remember what it’s called, a Roland something) that really makes it a more versatile instrument. It just sounds like a UFO without the effects. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-vibrations-by-the-beach-boys/336298/17 "2005-12-20T10:44:22Z")
Btw, on seeing the OP, one of my initial reactions was “You aren’t going to be getting any good vibrations with a **Dead Battery** ” 😃