Halupnik 1

Jared Halupnik

English Composition 1201

Prof. Thomas

21 February 2021

Africa

“Africa” was originally written by the band, Toto, who released the song in 1982 before

it became increasingly popular. The song was noticed for its chorus and harmonies, however,

upon further analysis, the lyrics were distinctly broad with no distinct meaning. With the creation

of the music video, viewers were able to make a small conclusion about the song, taking away a

small portion of the true meaning. The original music video focused mainly on the story behind

the lyrics and provided a sense of lyrical understanding. The song was later covered by a band

called “Weezer,” who provided a less specific take on the song. The “Weezer” cover of Africa

brought a rock-style, goofy, and modern approach to the message being told by the original band.

It establishes less of a visual story and allows for a larger audience to interpret the lyrics being

told in a broader sense, in contrast to the story demonstrated in the original music video.

To start with, the original lyrics written by Toto provided a connection to the real world

and the problems within. One of the major topics at the time was the condition of life in some

parts of Africa and the help that is needed. The lyrics bring up several times the idea of a man

who is going to “bless the rains down in Africa,” meaning bringing help and blessings to those

who are struggling. This message is one of the few instances that the song brings up that helps

bring together the big picture of the song. In the music video, the main character is seen

searching for a page out of a book titled “Africa,” which brings a more narrowed focus upon the
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theme being presented. The writer wanted to figuratively show to the audience the main goal of

the man being described in the song. This is done by creating an “on edge” feeling that is

bestowed upon the audience, using the rhetorical technique of pathos to appeal to the viewers.

In the cover by “Weezer,” a different approach is taken to present a more lively message

to a larger audience. The original song was more laid back and peaceful, featuring tribal

instruments and quieter harmonies. Weezer took the song in a different direction, introducing

new sounds and a new intensity. This interpretation brought in a different audience along with

those who already followed the original. By incorporating an intense electric guitar into the song,

the audience is less focused on the message being conveyed by the lyrics. The cover version

instead focuses on bringing in a larger audience, who in turn can interpret the message in a

broader sense. Without a true story being told to the audience through a visual aspect, it leaves

the viewers to decide upon the true meaning of the song.

Referring back to the original, many listeners find difficulty in discerning the true

relationship between the man in the song and the continent of Africa. It can be argued that the

song is about a man who can not decide between a girlfriend and Africa, while some say that it is

about a man who is obsessed with the continent. Regardless of what conclusion is made, the

music video makes no clear stance on the meaning. The original music video simply provides

one possible interpretation out of many, which allows for a wide variety of people to enjoy the

music. One of the large factors behind the success of “Africa” is the fact that the generally broad

lyrics allowed for an immense audience. There is not a specific targeted audience because the

song has several different possible interpretations.

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Similarly, the cover by Weezer allows for a larger audience due to the broadness of the

message being provided. However, with the more intense, modernized music, Weezer was able

to rejuvenate the song and allow for a newer spectrum of people to listen to the song.

Incorporating well-known artists, such as Weird Al Yankovic, brought a modern twist to the

song without altering the lyrical content and meaning. Unlike the original music video, Weezer's

interpretation has no reference to the culture in Africa, and instead focuses purely on emotionally

attaching to the audience. This is done through the goofy, eccentric, and lively behavior of the

band members to bring in a comedic sense. This rhetorical technique helps expand the audience

and conserve the widely interpreted theme of “Africa.”

When comparing the two, the clearest difference is that the cover by Weezer changes

how the audience perceives the same message as the original. The original song provides a

chance for the audience to realize the possibilities within the lyrics and the several ways that they

can be interpreted. Whether the audience believes it to be as simple as a man who wants to help

Africa or a man who is deeply conflicted between a girl and Africa, the original keeps it

simplistic. This is what helped bring in popularity and such a wide variety of listeners, even with

such a deep message being told underneath all the harmonies. The Weezer’s inspires a different

approach, with a more intense, emotional appeal to the audience. It incorporates humor which

appeals to pathos, along with an intense guitar riff throughout the song. By bringing in a new

style of music, the audience has been expanded and the song is broadcasted to a larger variety of

listeners. The same message is being portrayed, but with less focus on the visual aspect. The

cover creates a connection between the lyrical messages and the different styles through different

rhetorical devices such as pathos. Furthermore, both renditions of the song allow for deep

analysis and interpretation of a widely broadcasted message.

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Works Cited

Paich, David, and Jeff Porcaro. “Toto - Africa (Official Video).” YouTube, uploaded by

TOTO, 22 May 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQbiNvZqaY.

Walter, Brendan, and Jade Ehlers. “Weezer - Africa (Starring Weird Al Yankovic).”

YouTube, uploaded by weezer, 24 Sept. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?

v=mk5Dwg5zm2U&list=RDmk5Dwg5zm2U&start_radio=1.