From ‘DTF St. Louis’ to ‘Project Hail Mary,’ This Dennis Wilson Song Is Having a Moment

Soundtracks From ‘DTF St. Louis’ to ‘Project Hail Mary,’ This Dennis Wilson Song Is Having a Moment "Rainbows," off the late Beach Boys member's only solo album Pacific Ocean Blue , is getting overdue appreciation By Angie Martoccio Angie Martoccio Contact Angie Martoccio on X View all posts by Angie Martoccio March 30, 2026 In August 1977, Dennis Wilson released Pacific Ocean Blue , the late Beach Boy’s first — and only — solo album. Now, nearly 50 years later, one of the songs is getting its due. The Pacific Ocean Blue highlight “Rainbows” has been featured in two releases this month: the sci-fi blockbuster Project Hail Mary and the HBO series DTF St. Louis . It plays in the former when Ryan Gosling’s character, the teacher-turned-astronaut Ryland Grace, is describing Earth’s beauty to his adorable alien friend, Rocky. It fits perfectly in Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s film, alongside songs like Harry Styles’ “ Sign of the Times ,” Neil Diamond’s “Stargazer,” and the Beatles’ “Two of Us.” The wonderfully weird DTF St. Louis — starring David Harbour, Jason Bateman, and Linda Cardellini — aired its fifth episode, “Amphezyne,” on March 29. The song appears in a flashback scene, in which Harbour’s character Floyd is delivering a long-winded, series-long explanation to Bateman about how he got Peyronie’s disease, which makes his penis curved. In the flashback, Floyd is in Chicago for a job interview, but he breaks his wrists. He’s on a rainy street, struggling to open an umbrella, as a motorcyclist drives by and knocks it in the air, up high in the stormy clouds. He catches the umbrella, staring up at it in amazement, and smiles, just as Wilson’s voice enters the scene. “Rainbows” wasn’t a even a single off Pacific Ocean Blue (that was the euphoric “River Song” and “You and I”), yet it’s blissful with a propulsive melody, perfect for the big screen. The lyrics about nature, co-written with Wilson’s brother, Carl, and Stephen Kalinich, are also ideal for both scene...