Thesis/Analysis

Shifting from a questioning, perplexed tone to one of personal satisfaction and assuredness, Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” employs satirical diction, aesthetically based allusion, and juxtapositiional tone to express a reassuring sentiment regarding social rejection.

                In the opening verse, Weezer vocalist and lyricist Rivers Cuomo asks “What’s with these homies dissin’ my girl?/Why do they gotta front?”. The use of this particular variety of slang can be interpreted as a number of things. First and foremost, it gives the listener an idea of who is beleaguering the protagonist and his female acquaintance. Given the listener’s background knowledge of this particular variety of slang, and the context in which it is used, they can determine that Cuomo is being tormented by. Second (and less obvious), Cuomo’s use of this slang can be seen as indicative of the speaker; he is most likely using these terms sarcastically to illustrate his unpopularity.

                During the chorus, Cuomo claims that he “look[s] just like Buddy Holly”. The key to this lyric is the use of the word “look”; Cuomo is making an allusion strictly to the aesthetic qualities of Holly. There are numerous ways in which one could be compared to Buddy Holly (e.g., musically, in terms of legacy, etc.), but Cuomo opts for one used much more infrequently. This could be taken as intended to be reassuring (Cuomo taking solace in the fact that while his appearance is a frequent target for his tormentors, it is similar to that of an accomplished, well-regarded musician), or as brazen and defiant (Cuomo loudly accepts his physical attributes and shamelessly embraces them). Cuomo follows this with the lyric “And you’re Mary Tyler Moore”, which poses a far less specific comparison, but one that can be inferred to be of the same aesthetic nature as the previous lyric.

                The tone of “Buddy Holly” is defined by the juxtapositional shift found in both the music of the song and the lyrics. The verses express confusion and emotional hurt, both lyrically and sonically; the chorus suggests satisfaction and contentment. This is indicative of the narrator’s opinion of the situation; while he initially finds the adversity he and his companions face disheartening, he largely disregards it and decides to ignore it and live life accordingly. This, at its core, is the sentiment driving the entire song, and relates to its audience above all else.