18,613
edits
Blast Off!: Difference between revisions
Various minor tweaks, citation fixes
m (lineage formatting, scrapped some non-encyclopedic writing) |
(Various minor tweaks, citation fixes) |
||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
| COR# = N/A | | COR# = N/A | ||
| Producer = Rivers Cuomo | | Producer = Rivers Cuomo | ||
| Live debut = [[August 19]], [[2011]] | | Live debut = [[August 19]], [[2011]] in [[Weezer concert: 08/19/2011|Seattle, WA]] | ||
| Last played= [[January 19]], [[2012]] on [[Weezer concert: 01/19/2012|The Weezer Cruise]] | |||
| Status = officially released | | Status = officially released | ||
| Misc = {{Extra album cover 2 | | Misc = {{Extra album cover 2 | ||
| Line 41: | Line 42: | ||
}} | }} | ||
}}{{Template:Song lineage:El Scorcho}} | }}{{Template:Song lineage:El Scorcho}} | ||
"'''Blast Off!'''" is the eighth track off of ''[[Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]''. Previously leaked online, the song was originally | "'''Blast Off!'''" is the eighth track off of ''[[Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]''. Previously leaked online, the song was originally written by [[Rivers Cuomo|Cuomo]] as the opening track to the aborted rock opera concept album ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]''. | ||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
| Line 51: | Line 52: | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
===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 [ | The melody for "Blast Off!" originates from an earlier composition by Cuomo written in May of [[1993]], titled "[[Negativland]]", about the experimental music [[Wikipedia: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. | ||
===''SFTBH'' plot=== | ===''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]]. | ||
====''Alone'' liner notes==== | |||
== | |||
{{Alone liner notes|The success of Weezer's first album stirred up a lot of mixed feelings in me-- "Yay, I'm happy" as well as "I'm not sure this is the life I want to lead." I set about exploring and expressing those feelings in a rock musical called ''Songs from the Black Hole''. | {{Alone liner notes|The success of Weezer's first album stirred up a lot of mixed feelings in me-- "Yay, I'm happy" as well as "I'm not sure this is the life I want to lead." I set about exploring and expressing those feelings in a rock musical called ''Songs from the Black Hole''. | ||
| Line 78: | Line 69: | ||
Captain Jonas feels a strange sense of trepidation that his mates, Wuan and Dondó, do not. They are simply stoked to be on this ship, partying, bound to return as heroes. Mechanoid M1 warns them not to forget the mission: ...?}} | Captain Jonas feels a strange sense of trepidation that his mates, Wuan and Dondó, do not. They are simply stoked to be on this ship, partying, bound to return as heroes. Mechanoid M1 warns them not to forget the mission: ...?}} | ||
==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]]," Cuomo (posting as 'ace') called the song "one of the greatest melodies ANYONE'S ever written. pure billy joel."<ref>''Rivers Correspondence Board''. 14 March 2002. Archived by ''Wayback Machine'': https://web.archive.org/web/20110817071209/http://www.members.shaw.ca/ridd2/threads/rcb/03-14-victory1.html</ref> | |||
During a [[Weezer concert: 10/03/2005 - Rosemont, IL|Weezer concert in 2005]], a fan invited up to sing on "[[Undone - The Sweater Song]]" instead sang the lyrics to "Blast Off!"<ref>CLme "Blast Off / Undone" ''YouTube''. 16 October 2007. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNG3RPbxz0M</ref> | |||
The demo featured 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.<ref>weezerpedia "Weezerpedia Interview with Karl Koch - 2017" ''YouTube''. 26 October 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH16IrQRjvk&t=1689</ref> | |||
"Blast Off!" was performed live by Weezer for the first time on [[August 19]], [[2011]] at [[Weezer concert: 08/19/2011 - Seattle, WA|a concert at WaMu Theater in Seattle, WA]], as an encore song during a "Double Memories Night", in which the band performed both ''[[Weezer (The Blue Album)|The Blue Album]]'' and ''[[Pinkerton]]'' in their entirety. | |||
==Live performances== | ==Live performances== | ||
*[[Weezer concert: 08/19/2011]] | |||
*[[Weezer concert: 08/19/2011 | *[[Weezer concert: 01/19/2012]] | ||
*[[Weezer concert: 01/19/2012 | |||
==Music video== | ==Music video== | ||
The music video was directed by [[Karl Koch]] and | The music video was directed by [[Karl Koch]] and debuted on Yahoo! on [[January 11]], [[2008]] (later seeing release on iTunes and YouTube) to promote ''[[Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]''. The video features footage of Cuomo in Japan visiting [[Kyoko Ito|Kyoko's]] family in December [[2007]]. This was, notably, the first time fans saw Cuomo with a mustache. | ||
<youtube>-qFRdW_Ye8Y</youtube> <youtube>9RFntCVJpxU</youtube> | <youtube>-qFRdW_Ye8Y</youtube> <youtube>9RFntCVJpxU</youtube> | ||
==Lyrics== | ==Lyrics== | ||
===Demo=== | ===Demo=== | ||
| Line 186: | Line 180: | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[List of Rivers Cuomo songs]] | *[[List of Rivers Cuomo songs]] | ||
*[[List of Weezer songs]] | |||
{{Reference list}} | |||
[[Category:Songs from the Black Hole]] | [[Category:Songs from the Black Hole]] | ||
[[Category: Rivers Cuomo songs]] | [[Category:Rivers Cuomo songs]][[Category:Weezer 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:Featured song]] | [[Category:Featured song]] | ||