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Weezer's biggest hit in a very long time is a cover of Toto's 'Africa'
Chicago Tribune ^ | 2018 | Allison Stewart

Posted on 07/21/2018 7:29:54 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege

It started on Twitter, as these things often do.

A then-14-year-old Weezer fan named Mary (@weezerafrica) began a public campaign to persuade the alt-rock band to cover the 1982 Toto hit “Africa.” For months, she kept at it, tweeting at the band’s members: When would they bless the rains down in Africa?

Weezer eventually complied, and were shocked when their cover hit No. 1 on iTunes. One of the internet’s few universally beloved comfort food songs, “Africa” is the gift that keeps giving: Weezer hasn’t had a hit this big in almost a decade.

The band is currently in the middle of a tour with the Pixies that hits the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on Saturday (they are co-headliners, though Weezer plays last). Bassist/sometime vocalist Scott Shriner, who joined the band in 2001 as a replacement for Mikey Welsh, got on the phone to talk about Weezer’s unlikely resurgence, and his former life in the Marine Corps.

The following is an edited transcript of that conversation:

Q: Would you have believed it, if someone told you a few years ago that you’re going to have your biggest hit of the decade, but the bad news is, it’s going to be Toto’s “Africa”?

A: It’s a great story how it started, with a fan reaching out, and us tweeting back. Then we released (a cover of Toto’s) “Rosanna,” that really confused everyone. I guess we were just kind of doing it for us, because it was fun, having no idea it was such a good story...

Video:

https://youtu.be/E4c7EE8_IX0

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: africa; cover; music; toto; weezer
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To: Drew68

I’m a big fan of Toto.


21 posted on 07/21/2018 9:18:06 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam

Hydra was a great album, didn’t really care for the rest of them.

But Lukather has always been one of my favorite guitarists, especially the solo from The Tubes’ “Talk To Ya Later”.

LOL, this is also Steve:

From “Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH9_y91ihTo


22 posted on 07/21/2018 9:19:55 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: ClearCase_guy

I agree...not interesting musically.


23 posted on 07/21/2018 9:22:05 PM PDT by dinodino
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

The Foo Fighters covered “Baker Street”?

No, just no. I’m glad I haven’t heard that one.

I like Toto and “Africa”. For some reason, my favorite Toto song is “99”.

I am currently obsessed with Deep Purple and am listening to “Fireball” and “Fools” right now.

I enjoy all three lineups of Purple but prefer “Mark II” with Ian Gillan. Not only did Gillan have an incredible voice but he was also HOT!!!


24 posted on 07/21/2018 10:12:32 PM PDT by CrimsonTidegirl (Free Tommy Robinson!)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

another marker in the descent of Western music

These guys are a major act and they haven’t in a decade produced something better than a cover of a mediocre band’s pop hit from 36 years ago.


25 posted on 07/21/2018 10:19:16 PM PDT by thoughtomator (Number of arrested coup conspirators to date: 1)
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To: wastedyears

I just finished listening to Flight 666 from 2008. Awesome live album. This, and Powerslave are my favorite albums to listen to recenyly. Now onto Dan Bongino and my conservative podcasts.


26 posted on 07/22/2018 2:24:47 AM PDT by lefty-lie-spy (Stay metal. For the Horde \m/("_")\m/ - via iPhone from Tokyo.)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Who doesn’t like some Toto? Heh


27 posted on 07/22/2018 4:11:00 AM PDT by Bulwyf
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To: wastedyears

Best band in the world right there.

Steve became a Christian a while back.


28 posted on 07/22/2018 4:12:47 AM PDT by Bulwyf
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Crap, we can’t write a hit song to save our lives. What to do? What to do? OH, I know!!! Lets re-record a big hit and then we’ll have a big hit too!

LOL. Pathetic.


29 posted on 07/22/2018 4:15:21 AM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (End the Mueller Gestapo now. Free the Donald.)
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To: BenLurkin

That is just flat out cool.


30 posted on 07/22/2018 5:16:48 AM PDT by tbpiper
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To: Paradox

If you like that, you’ll enjoy this- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HuiwIFLKa2I


31 posted on 07/22/2018 5:34:15 AM PDT by NativeSon ( Grease the floor with Crisco when I dance the Disco)
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To: Bulwyf

The drummer is no Jeff Porcaro...RIP.


32 posted on 07/22/2018 5:41:23 AM PDT by CTyank
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To: wastedyears

Listen to “Rhapsody in Blue” by Gershwin in its entirety sometime. It’s impossible for me to conceive of an orchestra being able to rehearse it, much less play it and get it right. It’s something like 16 minutes long, and weaves in and out of a lot of complex melodies and instrument interplay. Wow.


33 posted on 07/22/2018 5:45:19 AM PDT by Hardastarboard (Three most annoying words on the internet - "Watch the Video")
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

This is the only Weezer I know.

34 posted on 07/22/2018 6:21:14 AM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola.")
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Haven’t heard the newest version, but the original was great.

When Wheezer was big & touring a friend saw them & said it was the best concert he had ever attended.


35 posted on 07/22/2018 6:31:49 AM PDT by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: leaning conservative

Weezer


36 posted on 07/22/2018 6:32:32 AM PDT by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

They could have faded the heavy electric guitar at the end of the chorus instead of abruptly ending it where the electric piano picks up. It sounds bad. At best it is an ok cover, but I don’t see the hype over.


37 posted on 07/22/2018 7:42:13 AM PDT by PJBankard
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
There's no such thing as too many Spotted Cows!


38 posted on 07/22/2018 8:06:34 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
A !of of people detest this song
Author Steve Almond on "Africa" CLICK HERE
39 posted on 07/22/2018 10:37:49 AM PDT by BansheeBill
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