Studio Album · No. 14

Van Weezer Songwriting Credits by Weezer

2021 Atlantic Records 10 tracks 31 min

Produced by Suzy Shinn  ·  Engineered by Suzy Shinn, Wesley Seidman, Shawn Everett, Charlie Brand, Ivan Wayman, Matty Green

Atlantic Records Hard RockGlam MetalPop MetalArena RockPower PopAlternative Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Weezer carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Weezer 0 tracksoutside writers
Weezer's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
12
Lyricists
1
Producers
1
No.1 Single
2021
Released
Data Insight

Van Weezer is Weezer's explicit homage to Van Halen and late-1970s and 1980s hard rock and metal. Rivers Cuomo wrote the songs around heavy guitar riffs and Eddie Van Halen-style finger-tapping leads, with the title and logo parodying Van Halen's branding. The album was produced and largely engineered by Suzy Shinn, who pushed the band toward a big, polished arena-rock guitar sound. It is Weezer's most overtly metal-leaning record, and it arrived the same year as the band's orchestral album OK Human.

Van Weezer followed OK Human by four months, arriving on Atlantic in May 2021 and peaking at number 11 on the Billboard 200. Rivers Cuomo built it as a tribute to the hard rock he grew up on, and it borrows enough from those records to put Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads and Billy Joel in the writing credits. The album is dedicated to Eddie Van Halen and to Ric Ocasek, who produced three earlier Weezer records.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Hero #1
Rivers CuomoDaniel BedingfieldDaniel OmelioDenzel BaptisteDavid BiralDave Bassett Rivers CuomoDaniel BedingfieldDaniel OmelioDenzel BaptisteDavid BiralDave Bassett Suzy Shinn Rivers Cuomo (Lead Vocals)
2
All the Good Ones #49
Rivers CuomoCoast Modern Rivers CuomoCoast Modern Suzy Shinn Rivers Cuomo (Lead Vocals)
3
The End of the Game #2
Rivers CuomoTim Pagnotta Rivers CuomoTim Pagnotta Suzy Shinn Rivers Cuomo (Lead Vocals)
4
I Need Some of That
Rivers CuomoTim PagnottaJosh AlexanderBilly Steinberg Rivers CuomoTim PagnottaJosh AlexanderBilly SteinbergGeoffrey DownesJohn WettonDonald Roeser Suzy Shinn Rivers Cuomo (Lead Vocals)
5
Beginning of the End
Rivers Cuomo Rivers CuomoWilliam Martin Joel Suzy Shinn Rivers Cuomo (Lead Vocals)
6
Blue Dream
Rivers Cuomo Rivers CuomoJohn Michael OsbourneRandall William RhoadsRobert William Daisley Suzy Shinn Rivers Cuomo (Lead Vocals)
7
1 More Hit
Rivers Cuomo Rivers Cuomo Suzy Shinn Rivers Cuomo (Lead Vocals)
8
Sheila Can Do It
Rivers CuomoKevin Ridel Rivers CuomoKevin Ridel Suzy Shinn Rivers Cuomo (Lead Vocals)
9
She Needs Me
Rivers Cuomo Rivers Cuomo Suzy Shinn Rivers Cuomo (Lead Vocals)
10
Precious Metal Girl
Rivers CuomoNick Long Rivers CuomoNick Long Suzy Shinn Rivers Cuomo (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 20 contributors

RC
Rivers Cuomo
Writer · Vocals
On this album10 written
TP
Tim Pagnotta
Writer
On this album2 written
BS
Billy Steinberg
Writer
On this album1 written
CM
Coast Modern
Writer
On this album1 written
DB
Daniel Bedingfield
Writer
On this album1 written
DO
Daniel Omelio
Writer
On this album1 written
DB
Dave Bassett
Writer
On this album1 written
DB
David Biral
Writer
On this album1 written
DB
Denzel Baptiste
Writer
On this album1 written
DR
Donald Roeser
Writer
On this album1 written
GD
Geoffrey Downes
Writer
On this album1 written
JM
John Michael Osbourne
Writer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Van Weezer

What is Van Weezer a tribute to?
Van Weezer is Weezer's homage to Van Halen and late-1970s and 1980s hard rock and metal. The album's title and logo parody Van Halen's branding, and the songs feature heavy riffs and Eddie Van Halen-style finger-tapping guitar leads. It is the band's most overtly metal-influenced record.
Who produced Van Weezer?
Van Weezer was produced by Suzy Shinn, who handled the entire album. Shinn also served as the primary recording engineer. Her production leaned into a big, polished arena-rock guitar sound that suited the album's hard-rock direction.
How does Van Weezer differ from Weezer's usual sound?
Van Weezer trades the band's signature power-pop for hard rock, glam metal, and arena rock. Rivers Cuomo built the songs around heavy guitar riffs and metal-style guitar solos. It is a deliberate departure that pays tribute to the band's heavier influences.
What were the singles from Van Weezer?
The singles included 'The End of the Game,' 'Hero,' 'Beginning of the End,' 'I Need Some of That,' and 'All the Good Ones.' 'Hero' reached number 1 on US Alternative Airplay, and 'The End of the Game' peaked at number 2 on the same chart.
Did Hero by Weezer reach number 1?
'Hero' reached number 1 on the US Alternative Airplay chart, making it one of the band's songs to top that chart. It also charted on Mainstream Rock and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. The single helped build momentum ahead of the album's 2021 release.
How did Van Weezer perform on the charts?
Van Weezer debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 and reached number 1 on both Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums. No worldwide sales figure for the album is publicly documented. It was one of the band's stronger commercial showings of the era.

Sources

Wikipedia: Van Weezer Discogs: Van Weezer Wikipedia: The End of the Game (Weezer song) Wikipedia: Hero (Weezer song) MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Van Weezer by Weezer