Say It Ain't So: Difference between revisions
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"'''Say It Ain't So'''," written by [[Rivers Cuomo]] is the third single from ''[[Weezer (The Blue Album)|The Blue Album]]''. It was also released on [[July 13]], [[1995]] as a radio single. | "'''Say It Ain't So'''," written by [[Rivers Cuomo]], is the third and final single from ''[[Weezer (The Blue Album)|The Blue Album]]''. It was also released on [[July 13]], [[1995]] as a radio single. | ||
===Appearances=== | ===Appearances=== | ||
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
"Say It Ain't So" was one of the earliest [[Weezer]] songs to be written. Originally, Rivers had written all of the music and had only the line "Say it ain't so". Rivers made the connection between the line and an experience he had in high school where he came home to find a bottle of alcohol (belonging to his [[ | "Say It Ain't So" was one of the earliest [[Weezer]] songs to be written. Originally, Rivers had written all of the music and had only the line "Say it ain't so". Rivers made the connection between the line and an experience he had in high school where he came home to find a bottle of alcohol (belonging to his [[Stephen Kitts|stepfather]]) in the refrigerator. Rivers recalled that around the time his biological father left, he started drinking. He began to fear that Stephen, his step father, would soon leave his mother much the way his father did. | ||
In the song, Rivers draws parallels between his family and a bottle of alcohol. Setting up the metaphor, Rivers begins to drop hints that something is wrong with words like, "Somebody's cold one is giving me chills." Nervous lyrics, sung over relaxed and calm-seeming verses set the tone that something is wrong, but that Rivers is trying to cover it up. Furthermore, the falsetto of [[Matt Sharp]] over every line puts an almost goofy or lighthearted feel on the lyrics, adding to the feeling of denial on lines like, "I guess I'll just close my eyes". During the second verse, Rivers mentions watching television and wrestling with his younger brother, [[Leaves Cuomo|Jimmy]] to try and take his mind off of the bottle of alcohol. Still, Rivers cannot help but feel that, "Something is bubblin' behind [his] back." Leading into the chorus, Rivers gently sings, "The bottle is ready to blow," as feedback bursts into the relaxed verses like a breaking dam. | In the song, Rivers draws parallels between his family and a bottle of alcohol. Setting up the metaphor, Rivers begins to drop hints that something is wrong with words like, "Somebody's cold one is giving me chills." Nervous lyrics, sung over relaxed and calm-seeming verses set the tone that something is wrong, but that Rivers is trying to cover it up. Furthermore, the falsetto of [[Matt Sharp]] over every line puts an almost goofy or lighthearted feel on the lyrics, adding to the feeling of denial on lines like, "I guess I'll just close my eyes". During the second verse, Rivers mentions watching television and wrestling with his younger brother, [[Leaves Cuomo|Jimmy]] to try and take his mind off of the bottle of alcohol. Still, Rivers cannot help but feel that, "Something is bubblin' behind [his] back." Leading into the chorus, Rivers gently sings, "The bottle is ready to blow," as feedback bursts into the relaxed verses like a breaking dam. | ||
The song climaxes in the bridge where Rivers sings a letter to his | The song climaxes in the bridge where Rivers sings a letter to his biological father. In the letter, Rivers begins by explaining that he is writing despite, "Years of silence." Rivers knew very little about what his father was doing, but he did mention some of what he was aware of in lines like, "You've cleaned up, found Jesus, things are good (or so I hear)." Then, Rivers explains why he is writing; "This bottle of Stephen's awakens ancient feelings." Finally, Rivers expresses his pain; Just like his real father drinking and leaving, he is beginning to realize that his step-father is no different and soon too will leave. Before entering the guitar solo, Rivers yells out that he is "drowning in the flood," which is symbolic of the exploding alcohol bottle/Kitts' family structure. | ||
==Single== | ==Single== | ||
The artwork for the "Say It Ain't So" single comes from a childhood drawing Rivers made of him and his father playing | The artwork for the "Say It Ain't So" single comes from a childhood drawing Rivers made of him and his father playing s occer--something they mutually loved. Prominently featured in the artwork is the image of Rivers scoring a goal (spelled "goll"), and his father encouraging him on with lines like, "Yay, my son." This information about the cover was not known until 2007, when Rivers revealed these facts in the beginning of the video for the ''Alone'' track "[[Lover in the Snow]]". | ||
All versions of the "Say It Ain't So" single feature the remixed version of the song (see below), and various editions contain one or both songs "[[No One Else]]" and "[[Jamie]]", recorded acoustically in the spring of 1995 at at Cat's Paw studios for Atlanta radio station 99X. Bootlegs of all five songs recorded that day (including "[[Buddy Holly]]", "[[In The Garage]]", and "[[Undone]]") can be found online. | |||
==Song mixes== | |||
There are two mixes of the song. The original mix, featured on initital pressings of ''The Blue Album'', had slightly different sounding drums and no guitar feedback was used. However, when released as a single, the recording was remixed, which tweaked the drums sound and utilized guitar feedback in the song. The band liked this mix so much that they asked for it to replace the version on the album, after the album had sold about a million copies. The single version is now the version on the album. As the album has sold over two million copies since the switch, the ratio of remixed versions to original mixes is about 2:1. The original mix is featured as a bonus track on disc two of the deluxe edition of ''The Blue album''. | |||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
"Say It Ain't So" is one of the most beloved Weezer songs. Many Weezer fans cite it as their favorite as well as band members. Band member [[Brian Bell]] has expressed before that it is his favorite Weezer song. In 2008, the song was ranked #72 on Rolling Stone's "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time." | "Say It Ain't So" is one of the most beloved Weezer songs. Many Weezer fans cite it as their favorite as well as band members. Band member [[Brian Bell]] has expressed before that it is his favorite Weezer song. In 2008, the song was ranked #72 on Rolling Stone's "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time." It is also one of the band's more visible songs among casual music fans and the general public. | ||
The song is available for play on ''Rock Band''. | The song is available for play on ''Rock Band''. | ||
==Tracklist== | ==Tracklist== | ||
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==Music video== | ==Music video== | ||
<youtube>YU7LZts87Zg</youtube> | <youtube>YU7LZts87Zg</youtube> | ||
The music video was directed by Sophie Miller. [[Scott Shriner]] expressed on the ''[[Video Capture Device]]'' commentary that the video caught his eye because it was different from what was around at the time. The video shows the band in the wake of their success playing in their old [[The Garage|garage]] at their [[Amherst House|old house]]. The video also features band friend, historian and unofficial member [[Karl Koch]]. During the solo, the band is shown playing hacky sack in their backyard. | The music video was directed by Sophie Miller. [[Scott Shriner]] expressed on the ''[[Video Capture Device]]'' commentary that the video caught his eye because it was different from what was around at the time. The video shows the band in the wake of their success playing in their old [[The Garage|garage]] at their [[Amherst House|old house]]. The video also features band friend, historian and unofficial fifth member [[Karl Koch]]. During the guitar solo, the band is shown playing hacky sack in their backyard. | ||
==Personnel== | ==Personnel== | ||