Buddy Holly. Is it sad to admit that the only context in which I know that name is as the title of a Weezer song? Granted, I am only twenty five years old, so be both lived and died well before my time. However, in light of the 51st anniversary of his death, I have done some research and given his music a listen. I must admit, it is a shame that I didn’t know much about him or his music considering the significant impact that he had on early rock and roll, as well as many subsequent rock artists such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Don McLean, and Bob Dylan. Having said this, and being new to the music of Buddy Holly, I wish to review one of his classics, “That’ll Be The Day” released in 1957 under Buddy Holly’s band the Crickets because of a legal issue regarding a previous recording of the song which he recorded as Buddy Holly.
The song starts with a typical blues riff, but jumps right into a more pop, rock like sound. However, it maintains rhythm and blues undertones throughout the song. The lyrics are simple and Buddy Holly croons them all the while bumping along to the rhythm of the song. The sound is very similar to some of Elvis’s early work, in the rockabilly style, one of the earliest rock and roll styles. I enjoyed this song immensely, even after more than 15 listens. I can see the appeal and why it was so popular. Buddy Holly was clearly a visionary musician. Had he not tragically died in a plane crash in 1959, he clearly would have made a lot more wonderful music and done wonders for the progression of rock and roll, just consider what he did in a few short years.