Well folks, this is it.
To this point I’ve subsisted on either connecting artists, time periods, or a kinda iffy theme based on the weather.
Couldn’t do it this week.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a couple of great songs for you this week! However, after a decent amount of time spent brainstorming, I can’t make a respectable theme connecting them. So it’s just gonna be straight up analysis of two solid but pretty much unrelated songs. *sigh*
I’ve just recently started listening to Weezer, in large part because of “Say It Ain’t So”, probably their most famous song.
The song was written by Rivers Cuomo, the group’s frontman, based around his fears that his stepfather’s and mother’s marriage would be destroyed by alcoholism, the same reason he perceived his biological father’s and mother’s marriage ended. While that provides a little background, the main reason I like to this song is simply because it sounds great to me; you may be surprised to learn that there are some songs where I don’t think much about some deeper meaning, but here you go. I’ve heard “Say It Ain’t So” various times throughout my life because it’s a fairly famous song, but was first really introduced to it through playing Rock Band. I am at this point still better at the Rock Band guitar than at the real guitar, although that gap is closing, thankfully.
The other song is, as promised, completely different. Some background: George Harrison is one of the Beatles, writing such classic Beatles songs as “Something”, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, and “Here Comes the Sun”. Unfortunately, as the youngest member of the group stuck behind two songwriting titans in Paul McCartney and John Lennon, lots of George’s songs ended up not making it onto The Beatles’ albums. The silver lining? When The Beatles broke up in 1970, George was ready. In November 1970, he released All Things Must Pass, a triple album that proved that “the Quiet One” was more ready for his solo career. Including the album’s title track, which I’m showcasing here, many songs on the album were songs the other Beatles had cut from their final album recorded together, Let it Be. Their loss I guess!
“All Things Must Pass” is a deeply philosophical song, and I strongly encourage you to take a look at the lyrics as you listen to it. As the name addresses, it addresses the temporary nature of everything in life, both good and bad. It can be taken in a number of ways; a wistful reflection on good things come and gone, an acceptance of mortality, or an optimistic anthem that hard times will go away. This last interpretation is particularly applicable in our current times, which is why I’ve been playing this song on piano and cueing it up on my phone for months now. Next time you’re frustrated with the state of your life, especially during these rather frustrating times, try to keep that message in mind: “It’s not always going to be this grey… all things must pass away”.
I love Weezer! My favorite song of theirs is Island in the Sun, because it was in the movie Aquamarine, which was a favorite of mine when I was younger. I still really enjoy the song though.
First of all, I love your writing style because I always feel like I’m having a conversation with you when I’m reading your blogs. Also, I was so excited about your choice of the song “Say It Ain’t So” because that was one of my go-to songs on Rockband when I was younger and I totally forgot it existed, so thank you haha!
I also remember playing “Say it Ain’t So” with my brother on Rock Band, that one was his favorite song. Coincidentally, he also loves “All Things Must Past,” so there wasa theme for me.
I remember listening to “Say it Ain’t So” all the time with my dad. It definitely alters my views on the song knowing its background (in a better deeper way).