(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To

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"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To)
I Want You To
"
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To)I Want You To cover
Single by Weezer
Album Raditude
Released August 25, 2009
Recorded July 2009
Length 3:29
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Rivers Cuomo & Butch Walker
Producer(s) Butch Walker
Status Officially released
Live debut August 23, 2009
Stream Play on spotify.png Spotify
Play on Apple Music.png Apple Music
Weezer singles chronology
"The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)"
(2008)
"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To)"
(2009)
"I'm Your Daddy"
(2010)
Raditude track listing
"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To)
I Want You To"
(01)
"I'm Your Daddy"
(02)
Alternate cover
US promo 7"
US promo 7"

"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" is the first single and track from Raditude.

Appearances

  • Raditude (2009)
  • "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" (digital single) (2009)
  • "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" (promo radio single) (2009)
  • "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" (US promo 7", yellow vinyl) (2009)
  • "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" (UK retail 7", Picture disc) (2009)
  • Sessions@AOL (2009) (duet with Sara Bareilles)
  • Raditude ...Happy Record Store Day! EP (acoustic duet with Sara Bareilles) (2010)
  • Official Bootlegs (live versions)
  • Tripping Down the Freeway digital-45 single (live version, iTunes Canada only)

Overview

"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" saw official digital release on August 25, 2009. Nine days prior, on August 16, Wal-Mart accidentally put the entire song up for sale when they were only supposed to post a 30 second clip, as other online retailers such as Amazon.com did. Within an hour the song was leaked all over the internet via YouTube and Albumsix (which had a direct link to Wal-Mart's online Weezer store). Wal-Mart was quick to remove the song after a day or so, but fans were still leaking it through other sources. Due to the leak, the song began receiving radio station airplay as of August 18, sooner than originally planned.

The song was slow to catch on, but a full six months after release, it was the most-played song at Los Angeles radio station KROQ. An AOL Session version was recorded as a duet between Rivers Cuomo and singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, and a similar acoustic duet version was released on the Raditude ...Happy Record Store Day! EP in April of 2010.

During a conversation with Brian Bell about the lyrics, Cuomo revealed that the inspiration for the line "we watched Titanic and it didn't make us sad" came from the movie The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, in which the main characters are seen leaving a movie theater, laughing and smiling, after having watched Platoon. This conversation can be seen in this video at about 40:22.

In January of 2010, Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas told radio station 101.7 WFNX that Dr. Luke, who worked with Rivers Cuomo on Raditude, had pitched a potential Strokes song that sounded very similar to "I Want You To" [1].

Band Commentary

Rivers: Kind of a true story inspired by a situation with the woman who ended up becoming my wife eventually. I don't want to go into too many details 'cause it's kinda personal. But, yeah, it's just about that awkward moment when you like somebody but you're not sure they like you back and you're not sure if you should make the move and kind of hoping that they would make the move. [2]

Audio/Video

Music video

The video was directed by Marc Webb and posted to YouTube on October 22.

Reception

Reception has been mixed from both fans and critics. Opinions of fans range from "best post-Pinkerton single" to "worst single." Many see the song as a departure from a traditional Weezer sound. "I Want You To" has recieved modest commercial success since its release.

Lyrics

The moon was shining on the lake at night
Your Slayer t-shirt fit the scene just right
Through smeared mascara, I looked into your eyes and saw a light
You told me stories about your chickadees
They didn't like BB guns or stupid archery
You charmed the lifeguard, he let them use the pool all day for free

Then the conversation stopped and I looked down at my feet
I was next to you and you were right there next to me then I said

Girl, if you're wondering if I want you to
I want you to
So make a move, 'cause I ain't got all night

The rest of the summer was the best we ever had
We watched Titanic and it didn't make us sad
I took you to Best Buy, you took me home to meet your mom and dad
Your mom cooked meatloaf even though I don't eat meat
I dug you so much, I took some for the team
Your dad was silent, his eyes were fixed to what was on TV

Then the conversation stopped and I looked down at the ring
Your folks were next to you and you were right there next to me then I said

Girl, if you're wondering if I want you to
I want you to
I swear it's true, without you my heart is blue
Girl, if you're wondering if I want you to
I want you to
So make a move, 'cause I ain't got all night

So much pain may come our way
There may come a day when we have nothing left to say

When the conversation stops and we're facing our defeat
I'll be next to you, and you'll be right there next to me then I'll say

Girl, if you're wondering if I want you to
I want you to
I swear it's true, without you my heart is blue
Girl, if you're wondering if I want you to
I want you to
So make a move, 'cause I ain't got all night

See also