Middle School Musicians Throw Back to the 1990s with Weezer Hit

In the spring of 1994, the American alternative-rock band Weezer released their debut recording, The Blue Album, and with it, what is widely regarded as one of the best songs of the 1990s, “Say It Ain’t So.” Arriving little more than a month after the death of Kurt Cobain—the Nirvana frontman who helped bring the aggressive Seattle grunge sound into the mainstream in the earliest years of the decade—Weezer and their hit song about family trauma almost immediately redefined the pop music landscape that followed, with an emotionally vulnerable, melodic style that bridged the gap between heavy rock and power-pop and made way for contemporary, confessional genres.

Well, Weezer are back—performing live in Denver in September to support the August release of their 20th studio album—and more than 30 years after their first, Colorado Academy Seventh and Eighth Graders are rocking “Say It Ain’t So” once again, as part of a trimester-long Middle School Arts elective. Though it debuted decades before they were born, the iconic song remains a pillar of alternative rock and the perfect vehicle for young musicians to test their chops. It also serves as a sort of touchstone for bands of today, who can be heard reaching back to the early 1990s for pre-social-media sincerity and authenticity that seem elusive in today’s world of highly produced pop songs and carefully curated star personas.

According to Phil Jones, CA Middle School Arts Director and Music Instructor, the Rock Band elective is a unique opportunity for students to experience real ownership of their musical education.

“Because it’s a small group, every member is a crucial part of the sound,” explains Jones. “They get to make their own decisions about how to cover the song, whether to imitate the original or create their own take. That ownership and sense of responsibility to one another are what really makes this feel so relevant.”

The wonderful thing about a song like “Say It Ain’t So,” Jones continues, is that the enduring power and impact of the composition—an oft-imitated structure which alternates between quiet lyrical sections and power-chord choruses—stem in large part from its simplicity: Even a less-experienced musician can master the basics in a few rehearsals and rock the song convincingly.

“I can’t count the number of students who’ve come into one of the Rock Band electives”—there are offerings for both Middle School and Upper School students—“because it’s always been something they wanted to try, but never thought they could actually pull off. It feels accessible, an entry point for students who maybe don’t picture themselves as a polished musician but still want that chance to get on stage and take a risk in front of their peers.”

And for those musicians who want to keep practicing and progress to greater proficiency, notes Jones, there are the advanced Academy Rock Ensemble and Academy Jazz electives in the Upper School. These auditioned groups stretch musicians’ abilities by focusing on more difficult works in the repertoire and performing not only on campus, but also in front of public audiences at local venues.

The anxiety induced by playing popular music on stage—whether inside CA’s Leach Center for the Performing Arts or at a music venue such as Moe’s Original BBQ and Bowl—is a challenge for any rocker, Jones acknowledges. But it is also the reason Rock Band feels so exhilarating for CA’s young musicians.