Africa (Weezer cover)

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"Africa"
File:Weezer Africa Album Cover.jpeg
Single by Weezer
from the album Weezer (Teal Album)
B-side "Rosanna"
Released May 29, 2018
Recorded 2018
Genre
Length 3:58
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Patrick Wilson[4]
Script error: The function "ucfirst" does not exist. singles chronology
"Happy Hour"
(2017)		 "Africa"
(2018)		 "California Snow"
(2018)
Music video
"Africa" on YouTube

"Africa" is a song by American rock band Weezer, released as a single on May 29, 2018, and later included on their 12th studio album Weezer, also known as the "Teal Album." It is a cover of Toto's song of the same name.

Release

In December 2017, Twitter user "@WeezerAfrica," run by 14-year-old Cleveland, Ohio resident Mary Klym,[5] 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".[6]

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.[7] "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 since "Pork and Beans" in 2008.[8]

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.[9][10]

Shortly after the song's release, Weezer appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! along with keyboardist Steve Porcaro of Toto to promote the single.[10] 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.[11][12]

Weezer included the cover on their surprise release of the all-covers "Teal Album" in January 2019.[13]

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.[14]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[15] 33
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[16] 42
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 51
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] 19
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[19] 3
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[20] 5
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[21] 26
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[22] 1

Year-end charts

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

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ "Weezer – Chart history" Billboard Canada Rock for Weezer.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ "Weezer – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Weezer.
  18. ↑ "Weezer – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Weezer.
  19. ↑ "Weezer – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Weezer.
  20. ↑ "Weezer – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Weezer.
  21. ↑ "Weezer – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Weezer.
  22. ↑ "Weezer – Chart history" Billboard Rock Airplay for Weezer.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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