THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

912-Weezer-Buddy Holly.

1994-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 1.39. This is a song for all the ages. ‘Happy Days’ was set in the 1950’s, and was a very popular show in the 1970’s. Weezer recorded this song in the 1990’s, and you are listening to it in the 2020’s.

Weezer were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1992, in total there have been eight official members come and go, with Rivers Cuomo, and Patrick Wilson being the bands two constants. Rivers Cuomo who was born on June 13th, 1970, in New York City, United States, is the groups main songwriter, and lead vocalist. His first name was given to him by his father Frank Cuomo who was also a musician, who played drums on the 1971 album ‘Odyssey of Iska,’ by Jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter (1933-2023.) Rivers father has said that he named his son after three Brazilian, and Italian soccer players, Roberto Rivellino, Luigi Riva, and Gianni Rivera, all of whom played in the 1970 World Cup. ‘Weezer’ was the nickname that Frank called Rivers during his childhood, and that is why he chose that name for the group. Rivers Cuomo’s work with Weezer is considered to be groundbreaking in the genres of ‘Emo,’ and ‘Pop Punk,’ with artists such as ‘Fall Out Boy,’ ‘My Chemical Romance,’ and ‘Blink-182,’ all being influenced, in turn Cuomo has credited the ‘Beach Boys,’ (see also best songs 930-811-180 and 74) and in particular the ‘Pet Sounds’ Album, (1966) as one of the biggest influences in Weezer starting out.

The discography of Weezer includes 15 studio Albums released between 1994-2021, and 37 singles issued between 1994-2022. In America on Billboard, 13 of those Albums have reached the top 10, with ‘Make Believe’ from 2005 charting the highest at Number 2. On the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, their only entry to date in the top 40 is ‘Beverley Hills,’ which reached Number 10 in 2005. In the UK, Weezer have achieved eight top 40 singles, with ‘Beverley Hills’ peaking the highest at Number 9. As a solo artist Rivers Cuomo has also released three studio Albums between 2007-2011, and was the featured artist on the Billboard Number 10, and UK Number 16 hit ‘Magic,’ by ‘B o B,’ in 2010.

‘Buddy Holly’ was the second single released from Weezer’s self titled debut Album (commonly referred to as the ‘Blue Album’) from May 1994. ‘Buddy Holly’ was written by Rivers Cuomo, and produced by Ric Ocasak. Ocasek was born Richard Theodore Otcasek on March 23rd, 1944, and is best remembered as the co-founder of the American Rock band the ‘Cars’ in 1978. With the Cars he released seven studio Albums between 1978-2011, and 26 singles in the same time period. Their 1984 single ‘Drive’ which was written by Ocasek, was their biggest hit in America on Billboard reaching Number 3, while in the UK, it was ‘My Best Friend’s Girl,’ also written by Ocasek, which charted the highest at Number 3 in 1978. Ocasek died on September 15th, 2019, at the age of 75, he had been suffering from both hypertensive heart and coronary artery disease.

‘Buddy Holly’ is loosely based on River Cuomo’s real life experiences. Cumono had a girlfriend (possibly only platonic) that his friends had teased him about because she was Asian. In the song Cumomo is saying he will stand by her because he is Buddy Holly, and she is Mary Tyler Moore. So why were these two iconic names chosen to represent the songs subject? Buddy Holly (1936-1959) (see also best songs 898 and 264) had married Maria Santiago, who was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and there had been some who disapproved of the marriage, while Mary Tyler Moore (1936-2017) has been described as having an ‘Outwardly bubbly personality, and trademark broad toothy smile,’ that is said to have disguised an inner fragility.

‘Buddy Holly was released as a single on September 7th, 1999, on what would have been the 58th birthday of Buddy Holly. The songs video is one of the most popular to ever air on ‘MTV.’ The video is set in the 1950’s, in a replica Drive-In, to replicate the one used in the American sit-com ‘Happy Days.’ Using some very clever editing of old ‘Happy Days’ clips, interspersed with Weezer performing the song, it appears as if Weezer are appearing alongside the shows original cast. Umberto Molinaro (1919-2015) who played Al Delvecchio the owner of ‘Arnold’s’ Drive-In in ‘Happy Days,’ makes a cameo appearance in the video.

‘What’s with these homies dissin’ my girl? Why do they gotta front? What did we ever do to these guys, that made them so violent?(Ooh ooh) But you know I’m yours. (Ooh ooh) and I know you’re mine. (Ooh ooh) and that’s for all of time.’