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"'''Blast Off!'''" is a song by [[Rivers Cuomo]] which was intended to be the opening track to the unfinished rock opera, ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]''. Although previously leaked, this song saw an official release on ''[[Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]'', where it has a fixed intro (the original has the word 'blast' truncated) and also leads directly into "[[Who You Callin' Bitch?]]".
"'''Blast Off!'''" is the eighth track off of ''[[Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]''. Previously leaked online, the song is one of [[Rivers Cuomo's]] most storied demos, as it was originally intended as the opening track to the unfinished rock opera ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]''. The song has had a long life, from fan holy grail to eventually being given a full-band arrangement and played live.


==Appearances==
==Appearances==
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===Origins===
===Origins===
The melody for "Blast Off!" originates from an earlier composition by Cuomo written in May of [[1993]], titled "[[Negativland]]", about the experimental music [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negativland band of the same name]. An [[Songs from the Black Hole, draft 1|early draft]] of ''Songs from the Black Hole'' retained some lyrical elements from "Negativland" for the song that would later be named "Blast Off!". This version consisted of a conversation between band members [[Jonas]], [[Wuan]], and [[Dondó]] following a performance at the club The Black Hole.
The melody for "Blast Off!" originates from an earlier composition by Cuomo written in May of [[1993]], titled "[[Negativland]]", about the experimental music [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negativland band of the same name]. An [[Songs from the Black Hole, draft 1|early draft]] of ''Songs from the Black Hole'' retained some lyrical elements from "Negativland" for the song that would later be named "Blast Off!". This version consisted of a conversation between band members [[Jonas]], [[Wuan]], and [[Dondó]] following a performance at the club The Black Hole.
===Blast Off!===
===''SFTBH'' plot===
The lead-off track (Act 1, Scene 1) for ''Songs from the Black Hole'' takes place on the main deck of the spaceship [[Betsy II]] on May 10, 2126.  The lyrics are a conversation between the main character [[Jonas]] and his shipmates [[Wuan]] and [[Dondó]]. Jonas is excited yet reserved about the prospect of doing what he thinks is his dream job, that is, going out into space to save [[Nomis]] from being swallowed by it's sun. Wuan and Dondó are much more upbeat about the experience. In the middle of the song, [[M1]] interjects via vocoder to remind them of the task at hand. In the last verse we find that a female character, [[Maria]], the ship's cook, has entered the scene and that Jonas has a history with her from back at [[Star Corps Academy]].
The lead-off track (Act 1, Scene 1) for ''Songs from the Black Hole'' takes place on the main deck of the spaceship [[Betsy II]] on May 10, 2126.  The lyrics are a conversation between the main character [[Jonas]] and his shipmates [[Wuan]] and [[Dondó]]. Jonas is excited yet reserved about the prospect of doing what he thinks is his dream job, that is, going out into space to save [[Nomis]] from being swallowed by it's sun. Wuan and Dondó are much more upbeat about the experience. In the middle of the song, [[M1]] interjects via vocoder to remind them of the task at hand. In the last verse we find that a female character, [[Maria]], the ship's cook, has entered the scene and that Jonas has a history with her from back at [[Star Corps Academy]].


The song was initially released to fans online by Cuomo in [[2002]]. In response to a thread on the [[Rivers Correspondence Board]] analyzing the song alongside [[Death and Destruction]], Rivers (posting as 'ace') mentioned "blast off is one of the greatest melodies ANYONE'S ever written. pure billy joel."[https://web.archive.org/web/20110817071209/http://www.members.shaw.ca/ridd2/threads/rcb/03-14-victory1.html] He went on to add, "BO is a better melody. D+D is a better song."
==Release history==
The song was initially released to fans online by Cuomo in [[2002]]. In response to a thread on the [[Rivers Correspondence Board]] analyzing the song alongside "[[Death and Destruction]]," Rivers (posting as 'ace') mentioned "blast off is one of the greatest melodies ANYONE'S ever written. pure billy joel."[https://web.archive.org/web/20110817071209/http://www.members.shaw.ca/ridd2/threads/rcb/03-14-victory1.html] He went on to add, "BO is a better melody. D+D is a better song."


The version found on [[Alone]] is edited in some areas, as the original master tape was damaged. According to [[Karl Koch]], a full-band version was attempted during the sessions for ''[[Pinkerton]]'' and was in consideration for release on the Deluxe Edition of that album in [[2010]], but Cuomo and drummer Pat Wilson ultimately decided the performance wasn't adequate. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH16IrQRjvk&t=1689]
The version found on [[Alone]] is edited in some areas, as the original master tape was damaged. It has a "fixed" intro, as the original demo had the word 'blast' truncated. It also segues directly into "[[Who You Callin' Bitch?]]." According to [[Karl Koch]], a full-band version was attempted during the sessions for ''[[Pinkerton]]'' and was in consideration for release on the Deluxe Edition of that album in [[2010]], but Cuomo and drummer Pat Wilson ultimately decided the performance wasn't adequate. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH16IrQRjvk&t=1689]


"Blast Off!" was played live for the first time with the full band on [[August 19]], [[2011]] at [[Weezer concert: 08/19/2011 - Seattle, WA|a concert at WaMu Theater in Seattle, WA]]. It was the encore song after a "Double Memories Night", during which the band performed both the Blue album and Pinkerton in their entirety.
"Blast Off!" was played live for the first time with the full band on [[August 19]], [[2011]] at [[Weezer concert: 08/19/2011 - Seattle, WA|a concert at WaMu Theater in Seattle, WA]]. It was the encore song after a "Double Memories Night", during which the band performed both the Blue album and Pinkerton in their entirety.