Weezer won the 1995 MTV Best Alternative Video Award for “Buddy Holly.” The award recognized the song’s inventive music video, directed by Spike Jonze, which blended the band’s performance with footage and visual styling inspired by the 1970s sitcom Happy Days.
Released in 1994 as the second single from Weezer’s debut album, the video helped turn the band into an MTV breakthrough. Its retro setting, fast editing, and playful use of television footage made it stand out from more conventional alternative-rock videos of the period.
“Buddy Holly” had a particularly successful night at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards. In addition to Best Alternative Video, it won Breakthrough Video, Best Direction, and Best Editing, while also receiving a nomination for Video of the Year. A common mix-up is to remember the song’s several awards but confuse the band with Spike Jonze, who won recognition for directing the video.