Say It Ain't So
Encyclopedia
"Say It Ain't So" is a song by the American rock
band Weezer
. It was released as the third single from their self-titled 1994 debut album.
Written (like most Weezer songs) by frontman Rivers Cuomo
, the song came to be after he had all the music finished and one line, "Say it ain't so". Cuomo made a connection to an incident in high school where he came home and saw a bottle of beer in the fridge. He believed his mother and father's marriage ended because his father was an alcoholic and this made him fear the marriage between his mother and step-father would end this way as well.
In 2008, Rolling Stone
ranked "Say It Ain't So" #72 on "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time." Pitchfork Media
included the song at number 10 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
Live acoustic tracks were recorded on April 1, 1995 at Cat's Paw Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
.
, met with less success than the previous two Weezer videos directed by Spike Jonze
, but the song still successfully climbed to the top 10 of the Modern Rock Tracks
chart.
As noted in the Weezer DVD collection Video Capture Device
and the slip cover of the re-released special edition of their debut album, they filmed the music video at the house where the band used to rehearse and record. The video also features a cameo by the band's webmaster/band photographer/archivist and close friend for many years, Karl Koch.
A small poster of Mercyful Fate
/King Diamond
frontman King Diamond
is visible several times throughout the video, most clearly during the final chorus, just as Rivers Cuomo turns his mic around.
covered the song on the Weezer tribute album Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer
. An episode of "One Tree Hill
" featured a cover by MoZella
Wakey!Wakey!
, and Juliana Hatfield
. The Deftones, The Sleeping
, Young Guns
and Finch
have also covered the song live. Asher Roth
sampled the song for his debut rap single "I Love College
". After the song leaked onto the internet, Rivers Cuomo reportedly refused to clear sample, which prompted Roth to debut a remixed version of his song as his official debut single. Foster The People
also covered the song in August 2011, after Weezer did a version of "Pumped Up Kicks
".
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
. It was released as the third single from their self-titled 1994 debut album.
Written (like most Weezer songs) by frontman Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
, the song came to be after he had all the music finished and one line, "Say it ain't so". Cuomo made a connection to an incident in high school where he came home and saw a bottle of beer in the fridge. He believed his mother and father's marriage ended because his father was an alcoholic and this made him fear the marriage between his mother and step-father would end this way as well.
In 2008, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
ranked "Say It Ain't So" #72 on "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time." Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
included the song at number 10 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
Song mixes
Two mixes of the song exist. The original album pressings had a mix with slightly different sounding drums, bass and no guitar feedback. However, when they released the single, they used the mix that kept the guitar feedback in the song. The band liked this mix so much they asked for it to replace the version on the album, after the album had sold 3 million copies. The album now features the version with the feedback. The deluxe version features both mixes.UK Retail CD/UK Retail 10" Single (Black Vinyl)
- "Say It Ain't So" (Remix) - 4:17
- "No One Else" (Live Acoustic) - 3:15
- "Jamie" (Live Acoustic) - 3:53
Live acoustic tracks were recorded on April 1, 1995 at Cat's Paw Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Music video
The music video for "Say It Ain't So", directed by Sophie MullerSophie Muller
Sophie Muller is a British music video director, noted for her long-time collaborations with artists like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Sade, Shakira, Shakespears Sister, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics.-Background:...
, met with less success than the previous two Weezer videos directed by Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
, but the song still successfully climbed to the top 10 of the Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart.
As noted in the Weezer DVD collection Video Capture Device
Video Capture Device
Video Capture Device is a DVD released by rock band Weezer. It contains footage from various live gigs in the band's history, from the early stages of their musical career up until 2002. The DVD also contains all of the Weezer music videos from The Blue Album until Maladroit...
and the slip cover of the re-released special edition of their debut album, they filmed the music video at the house where the band used to rehearse and record. The video also features a cameo by the band's webmaster/band photographer/archivist and close friend for many years, Karl Koch.
A small poster of Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Initially active from 1981 to 1985, they reunited in 1992. The band went on hiatus again in 2000, when frontman King Diamond decided to continue his solo career...
/King Diamond
King Diamond (band)
King Diamond is the heavy metal band that King Diamond formed after the split up of his heavy metal band Mercyful Fate, and the departure of Hank Shermann. He was joined by most members of the then defunct Mercyful Fate. The Satanic focus was replaced by a focus on horror stories...
frontman King Diamond
King Diamond
Kim Bendix Petersen , better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Grammy Award nominated Danish heavy metal musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his extensive vocal range, in particular his usage of falsetto. He is the lead vocalist for both Mercyful Fate and the eponymous King Diamond...
is visible several times throughout the video, most clearly during the final chorus, just as Rivers Cuomo turns his mic around.
Covers
The band Further Seems ForeverFurther Seems Forever
Further Seems Forever is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Pompano Beach, Florida and disbanded in 2006. Over the course of their career the band experienced several lineup changes, resulting in a different lead vocalist performing on each of their three studio albums...
covered the song on the Weezer tribute album Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer
Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer
Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer is an album released by Dead Droid Records. As the album title implies, it is a series of Weezer songs covered by a wide range of bands. The vinyl version contains two versions of "Say it Ain't So", covered by Further Seems Forever. One with the band's original...
. An episode of "One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
" featured a cover by MoZella
MoZella
MoZella is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known for her raspy vocals and smooth, soul/pop sound.She has toured with Tyler Hilton, Dave Matthews Band, and Lifehouse...
Wakey!Wakey!
Wakey!Wakey!
Wakey!Wakey! is an Alternate Indie Rock/Pop group fronted by Michael Grubbs and based in Brooklyn, New York. Michael Grubbs is also known for his role as "Grubbs" on One Tree Hill, where the band's music has been featured. They reached critical acclaim with their 2010 release, Everything I Wish I'd...
, and Juliana Hatfield
Juliana Hatfield
Juliana Hatfield , is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter and author from the Boston area, formerly of the indie rock bands Blake Babies and Some Girls. She currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
. The Deftones, The Sleeping
The Sleeping
The Sleeping is an American rock band from Long Island, New York, formed in 2003. The band was founded by Cameron Keym, Sal Mignano, and Joe Zizzo from the remains of Skycamefalling, after auditioning twenty-two potential singers, they came across Doug Robinson, former singer/guitarist of the band...
, Young Guns
Young Guns (band)
Young Guns are an English alternative rock band from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. On 22 June 2009 they released their debut EP Mirrors, and their debut album All Our Kings Are Dead was released a year later on 12 July 2010, peaking at #43 in the UK Albums Chart, and #3 in both the UK Rock and...
and Finch
Finch (American band)
Finch was an American rock band from Temecula, California. The band released an EP Falling Into Place and two full-length albums, What It Is to Burn and Say Hello to Sunshine before declaring a hiatus in 2006. Finch reformed in 2007, playing a reunion show on November 23 at the Glasshouse in...
have also covered the song live. Asher Roth
Asher Roth
Asher Paul Roth is an American rapper.-Early life:Asher Roth was born and raised in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, a small town about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. His mother, Elizabeth , is a yoga instructor, and his father, David Roth, is the executive director of a design firm...
sampled the song for his debut rap single "I Love College
I Love College
"I Love College" is the debut single by American rapper Asher Roth, from his debut album Asleep in the Bread Aisle. The song was released on January 13, 2009....
". After the song leaked onto the internet, Rivers Cuomo reportedly refused to clear sample, which prompted Roth to debut a remixed version of his song as his official debut single. Foster The People
Foster the People
Foster the People is an American indie pop band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2009. The group is composed of Mark Foster , Mark Pontius , and Cubbie Fink...
also covered the song in August 2011, after Weezer did a version of "Pumped Up Kicks
Pumped Up Kicks
"Pumped Up Kicks" is a song by American indie pop band Foster the People. It was released as the group's debut single in September 2010, and was later included on their EP Foster the People and their debut album Torches. The song was written and recorded by frontman Mark Foster while working as a...
".
Personnel
- Rivers CuomoRivers CuomoRivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, lead vocals - Patrick WilsonPatrick Wilson (musician)Patrick "Pat" George Wilson is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band Weezer. He joined the band in 1992. In addition to his work in Weezer, he also fronts his own band, The Special Goodness....
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Brian BellBrian Bell (musician)Brian Bell is an American guitarist and songwriter. Active since 1989, he is best known as the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist for the American alternative rock band Weezer. Bell joined Weezer in 1993 following the departure of founding member Jason Cropper...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, vocals - Matt SharpMatt SharpMatthew Kelly Sharp is a founding member and former bassist for the band Weezer. In 1994, he started a band called The Rentals and released their debut album shortly after Weezer's first release, their second album in 1999, and an EP in 2007...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Ric OcasekRic OcasekRic Ocasek is an American musician and music producer. He is best known as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band, The Cars....
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...