Top 10 Weezer Songs
weezer, music, rivers cuomo, rock, alternative rock, alt rock, pop punk, punk, power pop, emo, indie, songs, the blue album, buddy holly, pinkerton, el scorcho, the green album, the red album, maladroit, top 10,
Script written by Sean Harris.
Being uncool before it was cool to be uncool... That’s what these guys did best! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten Weezer songs!
For this list, we’ve chosen our entries based on a combination of the artist’s fan’s favorites, and their most commercially successful songs.
#10: “Pink Triangle”
The follow-up album is always a difficult one, especially if your first album was as good as Weezer’s. However, Pinkerton proved another hit for the alt-rockers - and with tracks like this, was it any wonder? “Pink Triangle” is an autobiographical effort from frontman Rivers Cuomo, detailing a particular experience of his while at Harvard. He met a girl who he dreamed of marrying... But she donned a pink triangle, a symbol of Gay Pride... Rivers was crushed, but this song is class!
#9: “Island in the Sun”
One of the band’s most commercially successful songs outside their native U.S., there is a cleaner sound to “Island In The Sun” which has kept it in mainstream culture since its release. The song was not billed as a definite inclusion on The Green Album, but we’re mighty glad it made the cut! Rock music is rarely this relaxed, as the record showcases the alternative Weezer sound, and has us feeling ‘fine’ to the point of cognitive confusion as well! Must. Control. Brain!
#8: “My Name Is Jonas”
Another record well known to mainstream listeners, “My Name Is Jonas” was recorded for the band’s debut album, and was resurrected in 2007 for the popular video game, “Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock.” A song that proved a significant step towards Weezer’s own ‘legendary’ status, it’s an effort that ebbs and flows from start to finish! A fingerpicked intro designed by Jason Cropper is followed by typically intimate Cuomo lyrics, which is followed by a repetitive, riotous finish! ‘The workers were going home,’ Weezer were singing them off!
#7: “In the Garage”
Written amid the band’s excitement at having signed with Geffen Records, this was an image-definer for Weezer. The band is known for being pioneers of geek-chic, and it all started with ‘In the Garage’! Rivers references Dungeons and Dragons, Nightcrawler and the lesser-known members of Kiss, as he establishes the social awkwardness that made him the irregular rock star that he is. They ‘play stupid songs’, ‘write stupid words’, have stupid success and inspire stupid amounts of people. That’s Weezer in a stupid nutshell!
#6: “Only in Dreams”
So you’ve just worked your way through one of the best alt-rock albums ever, there’s one last track to play, and it’s this... Brace yourself! “Only In Dreams” includes perhaps the greatest Weezer bassline, and perhaps the greatest Weezer guitar solo as well. An epic 8 minutes, the lyrics are fairly simple and love-struck... The record leaves us awe-struck! A favorite within Weezer’s diehard following, it isn’t difficult to see why! By the end of this song and this album, the world just seems a little bit better!
#5: “Across the Sea”
From the musically epic to the lyrically emotional! “Across The Sea” was the record that convinced Cuomo to go with the Pinkerton concept for Weezer’s second album, instead of a darker Songs From the Black Hole idea. Inspired by the frontman’s receiving of a letter from a Japanese fan, the song is about how her words helped him during a depressive period. Rivers has never met the girl in question, but as the song details, the mystery is part of its majesty!
#4: “Undone - The Sweater Song”
The very first single ever to be released by the band, and understood as the very first Weezer song ever to be written by Cuomo, “The Sweater Song” was the start of it all! Recounting a slow spiral into insanity, the ‘sweater’ analogy was originally lifted from Cuomo’s seminars at the time. The idea is that as the sweater unravels, so does the mind. The singer doesn’t want to ‘destroy your tank top ‘slash’ psyche’, so why are you battering his? The lyrics are both funny and frightening!
#3: “El Scorcho”
A song that didn’t strike too much of a chord at its release, “El Scorcho” has become a cult hit for fans over time. Once again, Cuomo takes inspiration from infatuation as he pens lyrics for the love he might never have. Where other tracks can be melancholic however, this is full on frustration! Peaking at the bridge, Cuomo can’t seem to take it anymore! He’s making music to avoid direct expression, he’s writing songs to avoid speaking to girls... We want Rivers happy, but we’re not complaining too much with records like this!
#2: “Buddy Holly”
Arguably the band’s most well-known record, “Buddy Holly” was not only a commercial success, but was also a fan favorite. Lyrically inspired by an instance in which the other members of Weezer were making fun of Cuomo’s friend, the chorus had originally referenced Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire! Buddy and Mary made the cut though, for a song accompanied by an iconic video. The Spike Jonze creation superimposes the band onto a “Happy Days” set - an appropriate stage for an awesomely uplifting tune!
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- “Hash Pipe”
Weezer [The Green Album] (2001)
- “Keep Fishin’”
Maladroit (2002)
- “Pork and Beans”
Weezer [The Red Album] (2008)
- “The Good Life”
Pinkerton (1996)
- “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here”
Weezer [The Blue Album] (1994)
#1: “Say It Ain’t So”
The last single to be released off of The Blue Album, it’s our pick for first spot! This record is all-conquering in terms of its scope, its style, its emotion and its attitude! A stark look at alcoholism and its trickle-down effect within a family, Cuomo is the ‘son’ who’s ‘drowning in the flood’! The lyrics put to a relaxed beat and the intensity of the choruses get us every time! But then the bridge... It’s angst-ridden and incredible! It’s anxiety, anger, determination and character! ‘Say It Ain’t So?’ It is so! Our sure-fire winner!
Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Weezer song? For more modern rockin’ Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
Top 10 Weezer Songs
Being uncool before it was cool to be uncool... That’s what these guys did best! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten Weezer songs!
For this list, we’ve chosen our entries based on a combination of the artist’s fan’s favorites, and their most commercially successful songs.
#10: “Pink Triangle”
Pinkerton (1996)
The follow-up album is always a difficult one, especially if your first album was as good as Weezer’s. However, Pinkerton proved another hit for the alt-rockers - and with tracks like this, was it any wonder? “Pink Triangle” is an autobiographical effort from frontman Rivers Cuomo, detailing a particular experience of his while at Harvard. He met a girl who he dreamed of marrying... But she donned a pink triangle, a symbol of Gay Pride... Rivers was crushed, but this song is class!#9: “Island in the Sun”
Weezer [The Green Album] (2001)
One of the band’s most commercially successful songs outside their native U.S., there is a cleaner sound to “Island In The Sun” which has kept it in mainstream culture since its release. The song was not billed as a definite inclusion on The Green Album, but we’re mighty glad it made the cut! Rock music is rarely this relaxed, as the record showcases the alternative Weezer sound, and has us feeling ‘fine’ to the point of cognitive confusion as well! Must. Control. Brain!#8: “My Name Is Jonas”
Weezer [The Blue Album] (1994)
Another record well known to mainstream listeners, “My Name Is Jonas” was recorded for the band’s debut album, and was resurrected in 2007 for the popular video game, “Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock.” A song that proved a significant step towards Weezer’s own ‘legendary’ status, it’s an effort that ebbs and flows from start to finish! A fingerpicked intro designed by Jason Cropper is followed by typically intimate Cuomo lyrics, which is followed by a repetitive, riotous finish! ‘The workers were going home,’ Weezer were singing them off!#7: “In the Garage”
Weezer [The Blue Album] (1994)
Written amid the band’s excitement at having signed with Geffen Records, this was an image-definer for Weezer. The band is known for being pioneers of geek-chic, and it all started with ‘In the Garage’! Rivers references Dungeons and Dragons, Nightcrawler and the lesser-known members of Kiss, as he establishes the social awkwardness that made him the irregular rock star that he is. They ‘play stupid songs’, ‘write stupid words’, have stupid success and inspire stupid amounts of people. That’s Weezer in a stupid nutshell!#6: “Only in Dreams”
Weezer [The Blue Album] (1994)
So you’ve just worked your way through one of the best alt-rock albums ever, there’s one last track to play, and it’s this... Brace yourself! “Only In Dreams” includes perhaps the greatest Weezer bassline, and perhaps the greatest Weezer guitar solo as well. An epic 8 minutes, the lyrics are fairly simple and love-struck... The record leaves us awe-struck! A favorite within Weezer’s diehard following, it isn’t difficult to see why! By the end of this song and this album, the world just seems a little bit better!#5: “Across the Sea”
Pinkerton (1996)
From the musically epic to the lyrically emotional! “Across The Sea” was the record that convinced Cuomo to go with the Pinkerton concept for Weezer’s second album, instead of a darker Songs From the Black Hole idea. Inspired by the frontman’s receiving of a letter from a Japanese fan, the song is about how her words helped him during a depressive period. Rivers has never met the girl in question, but as the song details, the mystery is part of its majesty!#4: “Undone - The Sweater Song”
Weezer [The Blue Album] (1994)
The very first single ever to be released by the band, and understood as the very first Weezer song ever to be written by Cuomo, “The Sweater Song” was the start of it all! Recounting a slow spiral into insanity, the ‘sweater’ analogy was originally lifted from Cuomo’s seminars at the time. The idea is that as the sweater unravels, so does the mind. The singer doesn’t want to ‘destroy your tank top ‘slash’ psyche’, so why are you battering his? The lyrics are both funny and frightening!#3: “El Scorcho”
Pinkerton (1996)
A song that didn’t strike too much of a chord at its release, “El Scorcho” has become a cult hit for fans over time. Once again, Cuomo takes inspiration from infatuation as he pens lyrics for the love he might never have. Where other tracks can be melancholic however, this is full on frustration! Peaking at the bridge, Cuomo can’t seem to take it anymore! He’s making music to avoid direct expression, he’s writing songs to avoid speaking to girls... We want Rivers happy, but we’re not complaining too much with records like this!#2: “Buddy Holly”
Weezer [The Blue Album] (1994)
Arguably the band’s most well-known record, “Buddy Holly” was not only a commercial success, but was also a fan favorite. Lyrically inspired by an instance in which the other members of Weezer were making fun of Cuomo’s friend, the chorus had originally referenced Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire! Buddy and Mary made the cut though, for a song accompanied by an iconic video. The Spike Jonze creation superimposes the band onto a “Happy Days” set - an appropriate stage for an awesomely uplifting tune!Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- “Hash Pipe”
Weezer [The Green Album] (2001)
- “Keep Fishin’”
Maladroit (2002)
- “Pork and Beans”
Weezer [The Red Album] (2008)
- “The Good Life”
Pinkerton (1996)
- “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here”
Weezer [The Blue Album] (1994)
#1: “Say It Ain’t So”
Weezer [The Blue Album] (1994)
The last single to be released off of The Blue Album, it’s our pick for first spot! This record is all-conquering in terms of its scope, its style, its emotion and its attitude! A stark look at alcoholism and its trickle-down effect within a family, Cuomo is the ‘son’ who’s ‘drowning in the flood’! The lyrics put to a relaxed beat and the intensity of the choruses get us every time! But then the bridge... It’s angst-ridden and incredible! It’s anxiety, anger, determination and character! ‘Say It Ain’t So?’ It is so! Our sure-fire winner!Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Weezer song? For more modern rockin’ Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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