Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo introduced the band to the world as lovable geeks who loved grunge guitars and power-pop hooks. But this was far from a naive attempt at winning friends. This was a carefully orchestrated plan. And it was “Buddy Holly” that cemented the group’s relationship with the public.
But what does the song mean? And where does the beloved rock n’ roll singer of the 1950s fit into Cuomo’s bid for massive success?
Here’s a look at the meaning of the lyrics to “Buddy Holly.” Here’s why the video looked like it’d been shot in the 1950s. And here’s what happened to Weezer and the cherished happy grunge sound of “The Blue Album.”
Weezer’s Journey to Making “Buddy Holly”
Rivers Cuomo always knew he wanted to be a musician. Just not what kind.
Initially, the future bespeckled sognwriter liked heavy metal. He particularly enjoyed guitar virtuosos like Yngwie Malmsteen.
Cuomo bought a Fender Stratocaster and practised so much that he could play “Far Beyond the Sun” and the repertoire of the guitar heroes.
But then, against Malmsteen’s public advice, Cuomo listened to a little punk-rock band from Seattle. Nirvana‘s “Nevermind” was changing many lives. It changed Cuomo’s. Suddenly, he wanted to make simple, catchy, emotional music.
He ditched the solos. He started writing about his own life while adding humour to the sad tales. And he started studying the masters of pop-rock melodies and production.
Weezer was formed in 1992. Patrick Wilson, Matt Sharp and Jason Cropper rounded up the original line-up. Cuomo wrote dozens of demos. Some of them included future Weezer favourites “Say It Ain’t So” and “Undone (The Sweater Song).”
Passing tapes around and playing live shows helped the band land a deal. They were signed to Geffen, the same label that had made Nirvana big.
This was a quick trip to the big time, right? This was the moment that the world would see Rivers Cuomo’s music as serious and view him as a great artist on par with his hero Kurt Cobain, correct? Fate’s tricky and fickle, it turns out.
Recording “Buddy Holly”
Weezer lucked out. Geffen paired them with Ric Ocasek. The former frontman of The Cars produced the band’s debut, the so-called “Weezer (Blue Album).” There was arguably nobody who understood power-pop dynamics better than him.
But it took longer to make than the band expected. And when it was released, it was instantly praised, although not for the reasons Cuomo hoped it would.
The music press described Weezer as geeky, laid-back, and humorous. Cuomo, meanwhile, had poured his heart and soul into the project.
“Undone (The Sweater Song)” had been a minor hit. Spike Jonze’s music video helped with that. Still, the impression that Weezer were having fun at grunge fans’ expense lingered.
“Buddy Holly” was the song that made “The Blue Album” very successful. It cemented the group’s geeky public persona. It was, however, one of the great songs of the era.
The Meaning of the Lyrics to “Buddy Holly”
What’s the first thing you think about when you recall Buddy Holly? You might think of the iconic songs if you’re of his generation. Otherwise, frankly, your mind drifts to the large-rimmed, oversized glasses instead.
The song “Buddy Holly” is about feeling like a dork, accepting it, and finding people who are the same way.
Cuomo wrote after some of his friends ridiculed his Asian, dorky girlfriend. It was a quirky love song. But it wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. Hell, it wasn’t even meant as a single or even an album track.
Rivers would write tens of songs like this as exercise. Ric Ocasek, however, heard the demo and pleaded with Cuomo to include it on the album.
Once the song was out and became a hit, Cuomo further explained that he wrote the lyrics as a defence for a platonic friend. It’s a song about sticking up for the people you like.
Cuomo sings about being out of touch and uncool. He references actress Mary Tyler Moore, singer Buddy Holly and dancers Fred & Ginger. In an era obsessed with grunge cool, Weezer singing about being happy with being dorks felt like a breath of fresh air.
The Meaning of the “Buddy Holly” Music Video
“Buddy Holly” also benefited from one of the most eye-catching videos of the time. Heavily promoted on MTV, the Spike Jonze-directed video launched Weezer directly onto the set of the classic 1970s television show, “Happy Days.”
The illusion was created by splicing shots of Weezer performing on stage at “Arnold’s Drive-In” with actual unused scenes from “Happy Days.”
The video was so popular, in fact, that it earned four MTV Video Music Awards. At the time, this was the highest honour for a rock promo.
Aftermath and Influence of “Buddy Holly”
“Buddy Holly” became a hit. It’s arguably Weezer’s biggest one. In fact, I suggest reading my Weezer Top 10 article to see where it ranks and just where Cuomo took the band’s music next.
While “Buddy Holly” wasn’t sold as a single in the U.S., it did help boost sales for “The Blue Album.” Critics loved it and praised Weezer as the new kings of power-pop.
Fans also loved them, but not quite in the way Cuomo hoped. The band fought to shake its geek-rockstar image for a while before giving up and counting their blessings.
Did Cuomo write anything else? Yes, thousands of songs. In fact, you can find the demos registered on Cuomo’s website. Many of them stand alongside Weezer’s hundreds of officially released songs.
Rolling Stone has picked “Buddy Holly” as one of its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” VH1 picked it as one of the best 100 songs of the 1990s. And everyone else thinks it’s catchy as hell.
Weezer remains one of the most successful rock bands in the world, capable of playing festivals and stadium crowds. It started with a story about geekdom. Rivers Cuomo can’t easily walk away from it now.
