Superfriend
| "Superfriend" | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Demo by Rivers Cuomo | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Album | Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Released | December 18, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | February 1995 in Hamburg Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 3:30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Label | Geffen | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Rivers Cuomo | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| RC# | 205 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| COR# | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Producer(s) | Rivers Cuomo | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Released | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional reviews | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo track listing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Rivers Cuomo song chronology | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Songs from the Black Hole cover | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Cover for SFTBH demo |
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"Superfriend" is one of the most famous unreleased Weezer songs. Originally intended as the turning point of Songs from the Black Hole, "Superfriend" was once the most sought after song in the Weezer archive.
Contents
Appearances
- Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
- Songs from the Black Hole (Tracklist 1)
- Songs from the Black Hole (Tracklist 2)
- Songs from the Black Hole (Tracklist 2) (Reprise)
Overview
"Superfriend" is a slow ballad where Jonas confides to Laurel, the "good girl" and other female character in the story. It takes place during Act 1. During the song, Jonas reprises his sentiments from the previous two tracks, chiding himself for giving into Maria's seduction despite the fact he does not love her. Laurel urges Jonas to grow up and be better than that. Jonas finds himself smitten with Laurel, but she can see through his act and tells him to get real. From the liner notes:
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"Superfriend" is from Act I. It's a conversation between Jonas and Laurel, after Jonas has slipped again with Maria.
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The song has a completely different track placement on the two different track lists - on Track List 2, "Superfriend" comes several tracks after the pivotal "She's Had a Girl". Like "You Won't Get with Me Tonight", whether the meaning and/or lyrics of this song would have changed as a consequence is unknown.
This song was released as a demo, with Rivers singing both parts, on Alone - The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo.
History
The History of "Superfriend" is a long one. Long said to be Karl's favorite unreleased Weezer track, "Superfriend" eluded fans for some time. It was to be featured on the Buddyhead Presents: Gimme Skelter compilation, but was removed in favor of You Won't Get With Me Tonight. After being long demanded by fans, and with several speculations and theories, "Superfriend" was at long last announced to appear on Weezer's Video Capture Device -- a somewhat false statement.
VCD Appearance
"Superfriend" appears in two different places on the VCD. During the "Making of Pinkerton" video, the band is seen recording basic tracks for "Superfriend". Certain words and melodies are understandable, but the large majority were incomprehensible. Furthermore, a phone call interrupts part of the song.
The second appearance of "Superfriend" on the VCD is played by Rivers while he sits on a bed in a hotel. It is just the melody played on an acoustic guitar. During, Brian is on the phone talking.
Alone Announcement
When Rivers first posted a blog on his MySpace entitled Alone, explaining the details and plans of his demo album, speculation immediately began as to whether or not "Superfriend" would be on the album. After being confirmed as part of the official tracklist, fans were able to hear Superfriend for the first time as a complete song when the track leaked weeks ahead of Alone's December 18, 2007 release.
A few differences were of note between Rivers' demo and the version being rehearsed on Video Capture Device. Of course, the female vocals were absent, but surprisingly, the key change ending present in the VCD rehearsal were absent from the demo. Regardless, fans consider "Superfriend" to be one of Rivers' finer compositions.
Reprise
Karl Koch has stated that the "Superfriend" reprise on Track List 2 is a short instrumental of the song.
Reception
Weezer Songblog Teenage Victory Songs marked this song with the distinction of "The Grand Playlist," a collection that recognizes Weezer's just-below-best material.
Audio
Personnel
- Rivers Cuomo – lead guitar, lead vocals, percussion, rhythm guitar, bass guitar
Lyrics
[JONAS:]
What the hell am I doing
Thinking with my willy?
Knowing I don't love her
I tell her no,
Then kiss her toes.
[LAUREL:]
What the heck are you doing?
Leading on that poor girl
I know there's something better
Deep in you.
Now let it through
[JONAS:]
Pain, pain, go away (LAUREL: go away)
Come again another day (LAUREL: another day)
'Cause I've got a friend tonight (LAUREL: friend tonight)
A super friend to [TOGETHER:] make things right
[JONAS:]
I'll turn away from weakness
And turn to something better.
Show me how to live right
I never noticed you
But now I worship you.
[LAUREL:]
Don't be talking silly (JONAS: Now I worship you)
Save the sweets for the young girls (JONAS: Now I worship you)
You can talk for real to me (JONAS: Ooh...)
Close your eyes
[TOGETHER:]
And leave the lies
