In 2021, the pair collaborated on “Right Where I Belong,” which turned out to be the last original song Wilson would release in his lifetime and an experience James would never forget
A few years ago, Jim James got to witness Brian Wilson‘s magic in realtime. They were in the studio together recording “Right Where I Belong,” a song from the documentary film Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road. The record turned out to be the last original song Wilson would release in his lifetime. The musician died this week at the age of 82. It also proved to be an experience James would never forget.
“I’ll never forget hearing Brian sing the song we were working on together for the first time,” James shared in a statement to Rolling Stone. “That VOICE…hearing it pop out of the speakers in real life brought me to tears. I had to turn back into a corner and collect myself.” When “Right Where I Belong” was released in 2021, the My Morning Jacket member put Wilson’s music into the context of his own life, noting, “It has always been there with me in celebrating life’s greatest triumphs and has also sustained me through some of my darkest hours.”
“Stepping into the studio with him brought the expanse of that influence into clear view. “It was so WILD to see him sing in the studio…because just even being around him at all was an honor…but you’d always be wondering…WHAT was going on in his heart and his mind that perhaps he could not find words for in the “real” world?” James said. “And then to see it come to life! And HEAR it with crystal clarity, beyond any shadow of a doubt, see his face LIGHT UP with the music and the sweetest joy spring to glorious life and SING!”
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Wilson remembered their time together fondly, sharing in a statement at the time: “I enjoyed working on the song with Jim, he was the perfect collaborator.”
Wilson mastered the art of capturing the essence of summer in the simplest ways. James did the same while reflecting on their collaboration. “It was like seeing the ocean for the first time, or maybe the sun set on the Grand Canyon,” he continued. “It was an honor of the highest magnitude. Brian said once, ‘For me, the love, that’s what the music really is. I know that love is what I really want to share.’ You did it Brian! Thank you for sharing your love with us.”
