Released August 28, 2001 Length 3:20 | Format CD, Vinyl | |
B-side "Oh Lisa"
"Always"
"Sugar Booger"
"Brightening Day" Recorded December 2000 at Cello Studios, Los Angeles Genre Alternative rock
power pop | ||
"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. "Island in the Sun" is also the most-licensed track in the Weezer catalog. In 2009, Pitchfork named it the 495th greatest song of the 2000s.
Contents
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". 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". 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".
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.
Track list
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.