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Oh Jonas: Difference between revisions

272 bytes removed ,  16 September 2023
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| Writer  = [[Rivers Cuomo]]
| Writer  = [[Rivers Cuomo]]
| RC#      = 201
| RC#      = 201
| COR#    = N/A
| Producer = Rivers Cuomo
| Producer = Rivers Cuomo
| Status  = Released
| Status  = Released
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}}
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"'''Oh Jonas'''" (also known as "'''Maria's Theme'''") is the eighth track on ''[[Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]'' and the third track on both track listings of ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]''.
"'''Oh Jonas'''" (also known as "'''Maria's Theme'''") is the eighth track on ''[[Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]''.
 
===Appearances===
===Appearances===
* ''[[Alone II]]''
* ''[[Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]'' (Tracklist 1) (Maria's Theme)
* ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]'' (Tracklist 2)
 
==Overview==
==Overview==
"Oh Jonas" was written by [[Rivers Cuomo]] in [[1995]] while at [[Harvard]] and was intended to be on ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]''. The demo that was released on ''Alone II'' is likely from the second ''SFTBH'' soundtrack, which can be inferred by the fact that it segways into "[[Please Remember]]". Prior to its release, the song was covered numerous times by fans using only the sheet music that Cuomo published online. In "Oh Jonas", [[Maria]] sings of her affection for [[Jonas]] in this short interlude. However, Cuomo provides all vocals for the song, as this ''SFTBH'' project was never realized. To simulate a female voice, Cuomo pitch-shifted his vocals up several keys. Joan Wasser was the singer that Cuomo intended to use for the character of Maria.
{{Alone liner notes|In '93 I had spent a lot of time listening to ''Jesus Christ Superstar''. In '94, on the road with Weezer, I listened to ''Les Miserables'', Verdi's ''Aida'' and Puccini's ''Tosca'' and ''Madama Butterfly''. I loved how these works married music and drama, how the different characters would sing to each other instead of talk and how the story unfolded through song. I realized that musical-drama could be the larger scale composition I wanted to write for Weezer's second record: a new-wave influenced rock musical in which I could explore my feelings about relationships, stardom, and my life in Weezer. I would call the musical, ''Songs from the Black Hole''. I purchased an Electro-Harmonix keyboard and a Korg keyboard from Center Music in Newington, Connecticut on January 3, 1995, to add a sci-fi tone to Weezer's guitar crunch. I got excited, now knowing what I wanted to do. I started planning and writing out sketches, music, and songs. To stand for my relationship with [[Jennifer Chiba|Chiba]], I imagined a character named [[Maria]] (a role which I hoped to be sung by [[Joan Wasser]]man{{sic}} of the Dambuilders, though I abandoned the project before asking her.) In the liner notes to ''Alone I'', I quoted the opening scene of ''The Black Hole'' in which Maria lets the guys known how she feels about being called a "b***h". Next Maria opens up to Jonas in private.
 
==''Alone II'' liner notes==
{{Alone liner notes|In '93 I had spent a lot of time listening to ''Jesus Christ Superstar''. In '94, on the road with Weezer, I listened to ''Les Miserables'', Verdi's ''Aida'' and Puccini's ''Tosca'' and ''Madama Butterfly''. I loved how these works married music and drama, how the different characters would sing to each other instead of talk and how the story unfolded through song. I realized that musical-drama could be the larger scale composition I wanted to write for Weezer's second record: a new-wave influenced rock musical in which I could explore my feelings about relationships, stardom, and my life in Weezer. I would call the musical, ''Songs from the Black Hole''. I purchased an Electro-Harmonix keyboard and a Korg keyboard from Center Music in Newington, Connecticut on January 3, 1995, to add a sci-fi tone to Weezer's guitar crunch. I got excited, now knowing what I wanted to do. I started planning and writing out sketches, music, and songs. To stand for my relationship with Chiba, I imagined a character named Maria (a role which I hoped to be sung by Joan Wasserman[sic] of the Dambuilders, though I abandoned the project before asking her.) In the liner notes to ''Alone I'', I quoted the opening scene of ''The Black Hole'' in which Maria lets the guys known how she feels about being called a "b***h". Next Maria opens up to Jonas in private.


<blockquote>{{#tag:span style="color:#aa0000"|<u>The Black Hole</u> synopsis<br>Act I<br>10 May 2126<br>Scene I (The Main Deck)}}
<blockquote>{{#tag:span style="color:#aa0000"|<u>The Black Hole</u> synopsis<br>Act I<br>10 May 2126<br>Scene I (The Main Deck)}}


{{#tag:span style="color:#aa0000"|...Jonas tries to calm Maria, taking her into the hall. Maria says she loves him.}}</blockquote>}}
{{#tag:span style="color:#aa0000"|...Jonas tries to calm Maria, taking her into the hall. Maria says she loves him.}}</blockquote>|''[[Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]'' [[Alone II liner notes|liner notes]]}}
 
==Reception==
As is typical for most ''SFTBH'' songs, "Oh Jonas" is viewed positively by many Weezer fans. Although it is a bare, short song, the melody is praised by fans. The pitch-shift that Cuomo used is often spoken of humorously by fans, as seen in the positive review it received from [[Teenage Victory Songs]].


"Oh Jonas" was written by [[Rivers Cuomo]] and likely first demoed in February of [[1995]], at a studio in Hamburg, Germany, where [[Weezer]] had to stay for a week to allow bassist [[Matt Sharp]] to fly back to the United States after his father suffered a stroke. The song was intended as an interstitial track for the unrealized concept album ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]''. Cuomo pitch-shifted his vocals to sing the character of [[Maria]]. Early drafts of ''Songs from the Black Hole'' suggest that the song (referred to as "Maria's Theme") was considered as a recurring leitmotif for the character.<ref>Cuomo, Rivers. ''[[The Pinkerton Diaries]]''. [[2011]]. Self-published</ref> Prior to its release, the song was covered numerous times by fans using sheet music that Cuomo published online. "Oh Jonas" was released as part of the compilation album ''[[Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]'' in [[2008]].
==Personnel==
==Personnel==
*[[Rivers Cuomo]] - guitar, synthesizer, vocals
*[[Rivers Cuomo]] - guitar, synthesizer, vocals
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Nobody else loves you like I do
Nobody else loves you like I do
Oh Jonas, I need you
Oh Jonas, I need you
Nobody else, nobody else, loves me, loves me, like you do
Nobody else, nobody else
Loves me, loves me, like you
</poem>
</poem>
==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of Rivers Cuomo songs]]
* [[List of Rivers Cuomo songs]]
 
{{References list}}
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://tvs.soymilkrevolution.com/?p=717 Teenage Victory Songs entry for "Oh Jonas"]
*[http://tvs.soymilkrevolution.com/?p=717 ''Teenage Victory Songs'' entry for "Oh Jonas"]
 
[[Category:Songs from the Black Hole]]
[[Category:Songs from the Black Hole]]
[[Category: Rivers Cuomo songs]]
[[Category:Rivers Cuomo songs]]
[[Category:Songs that appeared on the 4 and 5 Star Demos of Rivers Cuomo list]]
[[Category:Songs that appeared on the 4 and 5 Star Demos of Rivers Cuomo list]]
[[Category:Songs on Alone II]]
[[Category:Songs on Alone II]]
[[Category:Self-produced Rivers Cuomo songs]]
[[Category:Alone series]]
[[Category:Alone series]]