Buddy Holly was one of the greatest figures of rock & roll and one of its most tragic losses. The anniversary of his death is February 4th, but I figured I'd have more time to post something now.
3 songs by the man himself:
"Maybe Baby" (American Graffiti Original Soundtrack)
The joy of a simple pop song. What's also interesting about this song is the uncertainty. It's not "we're happy and in love." It's "maybe I'll have you for me."
"Dearest" (Down the Line Rarities)
This is on the Juno soundtrack. It's a very simple, sweet love song.
"(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" (Buddy Holly)
The first "hip to be square." It's also a clear precursor to "Can't Explain."
Some Covers:
The Beatles: "Words of Love" (Beatles for Sale)
The Beatles idolized Buddy Holly. In fact, their name was a play on his Crickets. This is basically Buddy Holly's song with very little interpretation on the Beatles' part, but they do a nice job with it.
M. Ward: "Rave On" (Hold Time)
This is a great cover. It's a very unique and yet clearly reverent interpretation of one of Holly's classics. Get this album when it comes out on February 17 because from the leaks I've heard it is really really good.
The Rolling Stones: "Not Fade Away" (Big Hits: High Tides and Green Grass)
I used to listen to this compilation all the time on vinyl.
Blondie: "I'm Gonna Love You Too" (Parallel Lines)
This sounds like a Blondie song, but it is, in fact, a Buddy Holly cover. It is simply a perfect pop song.
Tributes/Inspirations/etc.:
Weezer: "Buddy Holly" (Weezer)
Buddy Holly looked like a gigantic nerd which was part of the reason that he is so fascinating, the nerd who drove the girls wild. And this song is all about a nerd being bullied because he looks like Buddy Holly.
Bob Dylan: "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine" (Blonde on Blonde)
Dylan loved Buddy Holly before he loved protest songs, old blues songs, and Romantic poetry. There is a simple Buddy Holly pop side to Dylan that occasionally comes on out on songs such as this.
Elvis Costello: "You Belong to Me" (This Year's Model)
Elvis Costello looks a lot like Buddy Holly and the similarities don't end there. He's a nerdy awkward-looking guy who is both confidently suave and neurotic in the same song.
Simon & Garfunkel: "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" (Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme)
A simple pop song with a Buddy Holly innocence and beauty to it.
The Ramones: "I Want You Around" (Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology)
Joey Ramone always had a soft cuddly pop side to him. He loved Phil Spector, girl groups, surf rock, and Buddy Holly. This is one example of the Ramones playing a song that wasn't about sniffing glue or scoring "Chinese rock."
The Velvet Underground: "Here She Comes Now" (White Light White Heat)
There is a definite Buddy Holly-side to Lou Reed's songwriting. When he isn't writing about heroin and sadomasochism, he sometimes graces us with a pop gem such as this.
The Who: "I Can't Explain" (Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy)
As I said before, "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" is clearly this song's predecessor. I love this period of the Who before they became an arena rock band.
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