Weezer Shoves Pop in Label’s Face

I’ve never known pork and beans to have a bitter taste. But the new single from Weezer’s forthcoming self-titled album comes with a background story that might give the song a little dash of – what is that – sarcasm?

According to NME, “Pork and Beans” was inspired by a tiff between front man Rivers Cuomo and his band’s label, DCG (Geffen Records). It seems the label, as labels do, had a different take on what Weezer’s new album should sound like. Rejecting some of Cuomo’s original material during a meeting, the label told him to write catchier, more pop-like songs.

“I came out of it pretty angry,” Cuomo said. “But ironically, it inspired me to write another song.”

“Pork and Beans,” the resulting epiphany, is a happy, sing-along song, but with cynical, insider lyrics designed for mocking label execs. The gist of the song: Rivers needs to hit the gym, dress better, and start using Rogaine in order to be a better musician. Because isn’t that what rock and roll is about anyway?

Obviously, DCG got off easy taking lyrical flak from a softie like Rivers Cuomo. If they’d tried that with a less cute band, say Motorhead, the resulting song would probably instill fans with the inexplicable urge to mail anthrax to the label headquarters. Or, you know, something like that.


RELATED: rivers cuomo, weezer

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