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The Good Life
| "The Good Life" | |||||
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| Single by Weezer | |||||
| Album | Pinkerton | ||||
| Released | September 24, 1996 | ||||
| Format | CD | ||||
| Recorded | Spring, 1996 at Sound City Studios, Van Nuys , CA | ||||
| Length | 4:17 | ||||
| Label | Geffen | ||||
| Writer(s) | Rivers Cuomo | ||||
| RC# | 215 | ||||
| Producer(s) | Weezer | ||||
| Status | officially released | ||||
| Weezer singles chronology | |||||
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| Pinkerton track listing | |||||
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| Rivers Cuomo song chronology | |||||
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"The Good Life" is the second single and sixth track from Pinkerton.
Contents
Appearances
- Pinkerton
- The Good Life (Radio Only Promo CD) (Remix)
- The Good Life (Radio Only Promo CD)
- The Good Life (UK, Europe and Japan Retail CD)
- The Good Life (Australian "OZ EP" CD)
- The Good Life (Australian "OZ EP" CD) (Live Acoustic)
- Y100 Sonic Sessions Vol. 1 (Live Acoustic)
- Weezer (The Red Album) - Japan Deluxe Edition Bonus DVD (Live Video)
- Official Bootlegs (Live)
- Pinkerton Deluxe (2010)
MP3 Previews
Source is www.LastFM.com unless otherwise stated
Overview
"The Good Life" is the first track on the second half of Pinkerton, and was also released on an EP entitled "OZ EP". The song is about Weezer lead singer Rivers Cuomo's time at Harvard after having corrective surgery on his legs. Cuomo sings of feeling detached from everyone and his rock star life. The song makes references to the cane Cuomo had to walk around with a cane in post-recovery from this leg-lengthening surgery. The song opens with a distinct G Major to E Minor chord progression riff and then all the instruments enter for the verses. It is also about the desire Cuomo had to get back to recording, touring and groupies. It is the opposite kind of longing that "Across the Sea" (the track before it) craves. Rather than a specific girl, someone to love, etc, Cuomo simply wants to make sweet love all night.
In its review of Pinkerton around the time of the album's release, allmusic.com expected the song to be a hit, writing "Weezer can still turn out catchy, offbeat singles -- "The Good Life" has a chorus that is more memorable than "Buddy Holly".
While the single did garner a respectable amount of radio play in some regions, it wasn't enough to help the album, which was a rapidly sinking ship by late 1996.
Cover art
The cover of all retail versions of "The Good Life" single is a crowd shot, taken at the Tower Records in-store performance (in truth, it was an outdoor, parking lot performance) the day of Pinkerton's release, September 24, 1996. The shot, generally attributed to Karl Koch, was taken as the set's closer, "Surf Wax America", drew to a close, and the crowd was moshing and going crazy. This madness can be viewed, as a coda to the live/B-roll version of "El Scorcho", on Video Capture Device. In the picture, one can spot then-members of Weezer's fan club Daniel Brummel of Ozma, as well as Allthingsweezer boardie and Weezerpedia editor BringHomeTheTurkey.
The inside cover features a real x-ray of Cuomo's leg with the brace on.
Track listings
Promo CD single
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Retail CD singles
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Music video
Significance of music video
The music video for "The Good Life" is often pinned as a clear representation of the crumbling relations of all of Weezer's band members at that time. Then-bassist Matt Sharp and drummer Pat Wilson take the video as an opportunity to goof off, while Cuomo and guitarist Brian Bell take the video much more seriously, attempting to represent the emotion of the song. Fans have often claimed that two different videos were trying to be made by the band.
Reception
"The Good Life" is one of the most beloved Weezer songs. Somewhat unknown to mainstream audiences, "The Good Life" has found ample support from fans of Weezer's earlier work. The song's lyrics, structure, guitar solo, and percussion have been almost unanimously praised by fans. A particular drum fill after the first chorus of the song (played by Wilson in 3/2 time) is praised time and time again by fans for its quirkiness and appropriateness for the song. A Rolling Stone review claimed that "The Good Life was "catchier than syphilis." Teenage Victory Songs, a popular Weezer songblog, marked "The Good Life" in its "The Very Best" category.
Personnel
- Rivers Cuomo – lead guitar, lead vocals
- Patrick Wilson – percussion
- Brian Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Matt Sharp – bass guitar, backing vocals
Lyrics
<lyrics>When I look in the mirror I can't believe what I see Tell me, who's that funky dude starin' back at me? Broken, beaten-down can't even get around Without an old-man cane I fall and hit the ground Shivering in the cold, I'm bitter and alone
Excuse the bitchin' - I shouldn't complain I should have no feeling, 'cuz feeling is pain As everything I need is denied me And everything I want is taken away from me But who do I got to blame? Nobody but me
I don't wanna be a old man anymore It's been a year or two since I was out on the floor Shakin' booty, makin' sweet love all the night It's time I got back to the Good Life It's time I got back, it's time I got back 'n' I don't even know how I got off the track I wanna go back, yeah!
Screw this crap, I've had it! I ain't no Mr. Cool I'm a pig, I'm a dog, so 'scuse me if I drool I ain't gonna hurt nobody, ain't gonna cause a scene I just need to admit I want sugar in my tea Hear me? Hear me? I want sugar in my tea!
I don't wanna be a old man anymore It's been a year or two since I was out on the floor Shakin' booty, makin' sweet love all the night It's time I got back to the Good Life It's time I got back, it's time I got back 'n' I don't even know how I got off the track I wanna go back, yeah!
I wanna go back, I wanna go back and I don't even know how I got off the track It's time I got back, it's time I got back 'n' I don't even know how I got off the track I wanna go back, yeah!
I don't wanna be a old man anymore It's been a year or two since I was out on the floor Shakin' booty, makin' sweet love all the night It's time I got back to the Good Life It's time I got back, it's time I got back 'n' I don't even know how I got off the track It's time I got back, it's time I got back 'n' I don't even know how I got off the track I wanna go back</lyrics>
