Africa (Weezer cover)

"Africa" is a cover version of Toto's popular 1982 song, as performed by American rock band Weezer. The cover was released as a single on May 29, 2018, and later included on Weezer's self-titled 12th studio album, nicknamed the Teal Album.

"Africa"
Single by Weezer
from the album Weezer (Teal Album)
B-side"Rosanna"
ReleasedMay 29, 2018
Recorded2018
Genre
Length3:58
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Patrick Wilson[5]
Weezer singles chronology
"Happy Hour"
(2017)		 "Africa"
(2018)		 "California Snow"
(2018)
Music video
"Africa" on YouTube

Release

In December 2017, Twitter user "@WeezerAfrica," run by 14-year-old Cleveland, Ohio resident Mary Klym,[6] tweeted, "@RiversCuomo it's about time you bless the rains down in Africa." The band released a cover of "Rosanna", a different Toto song, in order to troll Klym and those clamoring for a version of "Africa".[7]

Weezer finally released "Africa" on May 29, 2018. It was the band's first Hot 100 hit since "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" in 2009.[8] "Africa" reached number 51 on the Hot 100 and peaked at number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in August 2018, becoming the band's first number-one single in that chart since "Pork and Beans" in 2008.[9]

A limited edition 7-inch vinyl pressing was released by Weezer in July 2018 and sold exclusively through Urban Outfitters. The pressing was limited to 1,500 copies, with "Africa" as the A-side and "Rosanna" as the B-side. The cover artwork features a background of palm fronds with the tweet that inspired the song in the center of the cover.[10][11]

Shortly after the song's release, Weezer appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! along with keyboardist Steve Porcaro of Toto to promote the single.[11] Toto responded on August 9, 2018, by releasing a cover of Weezer's 2001 single "Hash Pipe", after debuting it in concert a week prior.[12][13]

Weezer included the cover on their surprise release of the all-covers "Teal Album" in January 2019.[14]

Music video

Weezer released a music video of their "Africa" cover in September 2018, styled as a parody of the video for their earlier single "Undone – The Sweater Song." Stand-ins for the band members perform the song on a soundstage, with "Weird Al" Yankovic replacing singer/guitarist Rivers Cuomo, with his band members replacing Weezer. Yankovic had previously appeared onstage during the band's tour to perform "Africa" with them.[15]

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[16] 33
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[17] 42
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 51
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19] 19
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[20] 3
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] 5
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[22] 26
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[23] 1

Year-end charts
Chart (2018) Position
US Adult Contemporary Songs (Billboard)[24] 47
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[25] 23
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[26] 10
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[27] 6

References
  1. "Weezer's Cover of "Africa" Is Now Officially A Thing With It Charting In The Top 100 And Being Performed On 'Kimmel' / the NOISE". Bringthenoise.com. 2018-06-13. Archived from the original on 2019-01-20. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  2. "Meet the Hero Teen Determined to Convince Weezer to Cover Toto's "Africa" - Noisey". Noisey.vice.com. 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  3. "The Scoreboard: Weezer, Toto, Kanye West, Drake, Ariana Grande". Uproxx.com. June 5, 2018. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  4. Rolling Stone Staff (December 14, 2018). "50 Best Songs of 2018". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 7, 2022. Rivers Cuomo rocked his yacht straight into the dark heart of our collective pop culture consciousness...
  5. @Weezer (July 12, 2018). "A true meeting of the minds behind..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. McKinstry, Lee. "Teen Tweets Weezer Into Covering "Africa"". Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  7. Monroe, Jazz (May 24, 2018). "Weezer Cover Toto's "Rosanna," Trolling Viral Campaign for "Africa" Cover". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  8. Goldberg, Benjamin. "Weezer's Toto cover is the band's biggest hit in a decade". The A.V. Club. Onion, Inc. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  9. "Alternative Songs: Top Alternative Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  10. Trapp, Phillip (July 2, 2018). "Weezer Announce Limited Africa Vinyl, But Good Luck Getting One". Altpress. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  11. "Weezer's "Africa" Cover Gets Vinyl Release". Pitchfork. June 29, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  12. Roffman, Michael (July 31, 2018). "Toto have never sounded younger covering Weezer's "Hash Pipe": Watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  13. Roffman, Michael (August 9, 2018). "Toto finally share studio version of Weezer's "Hash Pipe": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  14. "Weezer Surprise-Releases Covers Album". Variety. January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  15. Kreps, Daniel (September 24, 2018). "Weezer Recruit 'Weird Al' Yankovic for Video of Toto Cover 'Africa'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  16. "Weezer Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  17. "Weezer Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Mexico Ingles Airplay for Interpol. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  18. "Weezer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  19. "Weezer Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  20. "Weezer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  21. "Weezer Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  22. "Weezer Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  23. "Weezer Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  24. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  25. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  26. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  27. "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
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