Troublemaker by Weezer

Album: Weezer (The Red Album) (2008)

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Songfacts®:

This was originally going to be the first single off The Red Album. However, after a meeting with their record label it was agreed that Weezer would write and record more commercial material. The result was "Pork and Beans," which replaced this as the initial release from the set.
This is a tongue-in-cheek dig at those who have tried to get Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo to fit a mold. The subject of the song (it's unclear if this is autobiographical) is stuck in high school dreaming of becoming a guitar hero. He hopes to become a successful but non-conformist Rock star. The lyric, "moving out to Cherokee" refers to Cherokee Avenue in Hollywood where Cuomo first started writing and recording.
Cuomo told AOL: "My big inspiration when I was writing 'Troublemaker' and some of the other songs was Eminem, and I took some of the way he uses language and just his general attitude of having fun with rhymes and being boastful but also being goofy and just having fun with words. So he was my beacon on 'Trouble Maker.'"
During the filming of the song's music video, five different world records were broken, which were all authorized by Guinness World Records official, Stuart Claxton. They were:
(1) The Largest Game of Dodgeball- Two teams of 50 people (100 in total) played against each other during the filming of the clip.
(2) The Most People in a Custard Pie Fight- 120 people took part in a custard pie fight during the filming of the clip.
(3) Most People Riding on a Skateboard-22 people were filmed riding on a skateboard for the clip.
(4) Largest Air Guitar Ensemble- 233 participants played an air guitar during the filming of the clip.
(5) Longest Guitar Hero World Tour Marathon- A Guitar Hero World Tour Marathon lasting 10 hours 12 minutes and 54 seconds was filmed as part of the clip.

Comments: 6

Moanin' Lisa from Chillicothe Mo.I still love dis song & Weezer. I was known as a troublemaker in high school when this song & album came out. I didn't want to be a troublemaker, but it just worked out that way. A talent, I guess. Rock it, weezer !!
Rocky from Tulsa, OkI just heard "Troublemaker" on my fav alt rock radio station request hour tonight. Brought back good memories of high school in 2008. I heard that Rivers was influenced by Eminem's music or lyric-making for writing this song. I still love the Red Album along with most of Weezer's albums & wish they'd release a new album soon.
Rotunda from Tulsa, Ok"Troublemaker" was played yesterday on our local alternative rock radio station & I hadn't heard it for a few years. I've still got The Red Album CD from 2008. I love the whole CD. And I love the music video. Love all the band members of Weezer too. It's interesting that the song is about a guy who's a non-conformist. I understand the lyrics were probably influenced by Weezer's record company pressuring them into recording more "mainstream" music. I don't think that's always a wise move, even if it's for commercial means. Commercialism has some good points, but you also have to have creativity too. All I know is that whatever Weezer records, most of it is great.
Randy from Fayettevile, ArAwesome song! I can remember how great I felt when "The Red Album" was first released & the day I bought it! "Troublemaker" is the first track of the album & was produced by "Jacknife" Lee. Didn't know that Rivers drew inspiration for this song from Eminem. But I think it's one of their best album cuts. Right now it's 2014 & I hear that Weezer is working on a new album. Don't know the estimated release date, but I can hardly wait !!
Don from Sf, Cai know, they did forget the smallest drum set
Ashley from Tonopah, AzThis song is so awesome. I love the music video. Plus, there another record that was broken. Pat Wilson, Weezer's drummer, played on the world's smallest drum kit. The Guinness World Record offical, Stuart Claxton is seen measuring the drum kit after Pat played it.

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