Island in the Sun (song)

For the Harry Belafonte song of the same name, see Island in the Sun (Harry Belafonte song).
"Island in the Sun"
Single by Weezer
from the album Weezer
B-side
  • "Oh Lisa"
  • "Always"
  • "Sugar Booger"
  • "Brightening Day"
Released August 28, 2001
Format CD, Vinyl
Recorded December 2000 at Cello Studios, Los Angeles
Genre
Length 3:20
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Rivers Cuomo
Producer(s) Ric Ocasek
Weezer singles chronology
"Hash Pipe"
(2001)		 "Island in the Sun"
(2001)		 "Photograph"
(2002)
Alternative cover
Music video
"Island In The Sun" on YouTube
"Island In The Sun (Spike Jonze version)" on YouTube

"Island in the Sun" is a song by the American rock band Weezer. It is the second single from the band's 2001 self-titled album Weezer. "Island in the Sun" was not originally planned to be on the album, but producer Ric Ocasek fought for its inclusion. It was a successful radio single and perhaps the band's biggest hit ever outside of the United States, reaching No. 31 in the UK and No. 17 in France. In January 2002, the Australian Triple J Hottest 100 ranked the song 7 in its 2001 countdown.[3] "Island in the Sun" is also the most-licensed track in the Weezer catalog.[4] In 2009, Pitchfork Media named it the 495th greatest song of the 2000s.[5]

In late 2001, the band reworked the song's solo for their live show. In 2005, lead singer Rivers Cuomo would often open the band's encore by playing "Island in the Sun" alone on an acoustic guitar in the back of the venue they were playing. On some nights, he would crowd surf back up the stage.

The song is much lighter than the album's first single, "Hash Pipe". It is also a bonus track on some versions of Weezer's next album, Maladroit.

Reception

Melissa Bobbitt at About.com ranked "Island in the Sun" as the 12th best Weezer song, saying it "exemplified a relaxed Southern California spirit".[6] It was named as one of the 12 best post-Pinkerton Weezer songs by The A.V. Club, where they refer to it as "...a reminder that Cuomo really does deserve Brian Wilson comparisons for reasons beyond being a hermetic weirdo with a solid grasp of pop songcraft".[7] Emily Tartanella of Magnet considers it the most overrated Weezer song, stating it should be "retired" from commercials and radio stations. Tartanella describes it as "so laid back it's practically catatonic".[8]

Music videos

There are two different videos for "Island in the Sun".

Version 1: Mexican wedding

This video was directed by Marcos Siega. It shows Weezer playing the song at a Mexican couple's wedding reception and features all four band members. The groom in the video is played by actor/singer Tony Gracia.

Version 2: Animals

This video was directed by Spike Jonze. It features Weezer playing with various wild animals on a supposedly remote hill (though it was actually filmed a short distance outside of Los Angeles, thought to be in the hills near Simi Valley). Only Brian Bell, Rivers Cuomo, and Pat Wilson appear in this video, as bassist Mikey Welsh had left the band shortly before shooting.

Jonze's version was given much wider play on MTV, and as a result it became the much better-known version. However, Siega's version is the one available for download on iTunes.

Tracklist

Radio-only promo CD
No. Title Length
1. "Island in the Sun"   3:20
UK CD1
No. Title Length
1. "Island in the Sun"   3:20
2. "Oh Lisa"   2:45
3. "Always"   2:05
4. "Island in the Sun" (CD-ROM video)  
UK CD2
No. Title Length
1. "Island in the Sun"   3:20
2. "Sugar Booger"   3:40
3. "Brightening Day"   2:11
UK 7" (yellow vinyl)
No. Title Length
1. "Island in the Sun"   3:20
2. "Always"   2:05
Japan CD
No. Title Length
1. "Island in the Sun"   3:20
2. "Teenage Victory Song"   3:05
3. "Starlight"   3:19

An erroneous short mix of "Always" ended up on the singles, and the correct mix (2:48) was released as an MP3 on the band's website.

Musical analysis

This song is written in the key of G Major. The 4 chords that are used throughout the majority of the song are Em (vi), Am (ii), D (V), and G (I). The bass riff is applauded for its glissando at the beginning of the song before all the instruments come in and its main riff throughout the verses.

Appearances in the media

"Island in the Sun" was used as the theme song to the 2001 Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen film Holiday in the Sun. It has also been featured in the films Serendipity (2001), Out Cold (2001), Mr. Deeds (2002), Aquamarine (2006), and Boyhood (2014).

The song was played in the last scene of the 2002 series finale of Spin City. It was also played in The Sopranos season 4 episode "Everybody Hurts" and The Simpsons 2006 episode "The Wettest Stories Ever Told". It also appeared on the first soundtrack of the TV show Smallville in 2003.

The song was released as downloadable content for the Rock Band series on September 13, 2011, as part of the Weezer Pack 04.

Covers

Chart performance

Chart (2001–02) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)[9] 78
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[10] 9
France (SNEP)[11] 17
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 47
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[13] 31
US Billboard Adult Top 40[14] 33
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[14] 11
Chart (2008) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Digital Songs[14] 57

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Weezer – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved February 22, 2014. such songs like "Hash Pipe" and "Island in the Sun" became radio and MTV staples, reestablishing Weezer as one of alt-rock's top dogs.
  2. ↑ "Interviews - Guitar Center". Guitar Center. Retrieved June 6, 2014. Weezer is best known for its breezy, heavy guitar-driven power pop singles like "Say It Ain't So", "Island in the Sun", and "Beverly Hills"
  3. ↑ "hottest 100 2001". Triple J Hottest 100. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Island In The Sun by Weezer". Songfacts. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  5. ↑ "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 500-201". Pitchfork Media. August 17, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Top 13 Weezer Songs". About.com. June 11, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ Adams, Erik (December 1, 2009). Don't let go: 12 great Weezer songs after Pinkerton at the Wayback Machine (archived June 9, 2010). The A.V. Club. Onion, Inc.. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  8. ↑ Tartanella, Emily (June 30, 2009). "The Over/Under: Weezer". Magnet. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  9. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  10. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Weezer – Island In The Sun" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Weezer – Island In The Sun" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Weezer – Island In The Sun". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2001-11-03" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 "Weezer (Green Album) – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved February 22, 2014.

External links

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