"All My Favorite Songs" is a song by the American rock band Weezer, released on January 21, 2021, as the first single from their fourteenth studio album OK Human. A music video was released on the same day.
Composition The song begins with an introduction in A-flat major. After this, the song transitions to E major, which continues throughout the rest of the song.
In contrast to the recent hard rock-oriented singles from Van Weezer, "All My Favorite Songs" is more of a baroque pop and chamber pop song. According to Spin, "The orchestral pop-rock song is right in the Weezer wheelhouse, sounding like the logical next step in the evolution of Rivers Cuomo." Analog Planet, in their review, says the track "makes clear, right from the start, that Weezer's emo-essence is intact."
In regards to the song's title and lyrics, Cuomo stated that it reflects his music taste, by declaring "All my favorite songs are slow and sad."
Reception Chris Deville at Stereogum gave the song a positive review, stating "The song strikes a pleasing balance between chipper music and melancholy lyrics, landing squarely in Weezer’s radio-friendly zone without feeling entirely corny or sterile." In a more critical review, Clara V. Nguyen of The Harvard Crimson stated "Maybe viewing the orchestra as a dynamic and contemporary creative force, rather than a relic of the past, would help the band better integrate it into their work. “All My Favorite Songs" lingers somewhere between the 18th and 21st centuries, not quite knowing which it would rather inhabit."
Music video A music video for the song was released on January 21, 2021. It was directed by Colin Read, and produced Pulse Films and Obra House.
Personnel Personnel taken from OK Human liner notes, except where noted.
Weezer Rivers Cuomo – lead vocals, piano Brian Bell – acoustic guitar, organ, backing vocals Patrick Wilson – drums, backing vocals Scott Shriner – bass guitar, backing vocals
Production Jake Sinclair – producer Suzy Shinn – vocal producer, engineer William Wittman – chief engineer, orchestra engineer (Van Gelder) Jonathan Allen – chief engineer William Carroll – engineer Zach Fisher – engineer Brian Fombona – engineer Perry Margouleff – engineer Paul Pritchard – engineer Maureen Sickler – engineer Rachel White – engineer Lawton Burris – assistant engineer Andy Maxwell – assistant engineer Branko Presley – assistant engineer Karl Wingate – assistant engineer Lazaro Zarate – assistant engineer John Sinclair – mixing Pete Lyman – mastering
Additional musicians Rob Mathes – string, horn, and woodwind arrangements, conducting Van Gelder String, Wind, and Horn Sections Lisa Kim – concertmaster, first violin Sharon Yamada, Joanna Maurer, Ann Lehmann, Matt Lehmann, Jung Sun Yoo, Peter Bahng – violin Becky Young, Michael Roth, Will Frampton – viola Alan Stepansky, Joel Noyes – cello Ray Riccomini, Tony Kadleck – trumpet Erik Ralske, Anne Sharer – French horn John Romero, Ryan Keberle – trombone Tara Helen O'Connor – flute, piccolo Pavel Vinnitsky – clarinet, bass clarinet Keisuke Ikuma – English horn, oboe Dan Shelly – bassoon, contrabassoon
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for "All My Favorite Songs" Chart (2021) Peakposition Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade) 86
Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for "All My Favourite Songs" Chart (2021) Position US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard) 27 US Rock Airplay (Billboard) 4
AJR remix
An alternate version of the song, featuring indie pop band AJR, was released on May 12, 2021, five days after the release of Weezer's fifteenth studio album, Van Weezer.
Accolades Year Ceremony Category Result 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards Alternative Song of the Year
Personnel Credits adapted from Tidal.
Weezer Rivers Cuomo – lead vocals, piano Brian Bell – acoustic guitar, organ, backing vocals Scott Shriner – bass, backing vocals Patrick Wilson – drums, backing vocals
AJR Adam Met – writing Jack Met – lead vocals, writing Ryan Met – production, writing
Production
Ashley Gorely – writing Ben Johnson – writing Ilsey Juber – writing Jake Sinclair – production, audio mixing Jonny Coffer – production Andy Maxwell – assistant engineer Branko Presley – assistant engineer Karl Wingate – assistant engineer Lawton Burris – assistant engineer Lazaro Zarate – assistant engineer Jonathan Allen – chief engineer William Wittman – chief engineer Brian Fombona – engineer Maureen Sickler – engineer Paul Pritchard – engineer Perry Margouleff – engineer Rachel White – engineer Suzy Shinn – engineer William Caroll – engineer Zach Fisher – engineer Joe LaPorta – mastering Joe Zook – mixing
References