toto africa yacht rock

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Top 100 Greatest Yacht Rock Songs of All Time

Yacht Rock, a term that has steadily grown in popularity, refers to the smooth, groovy rock music of the '70s and '80s that has been popularized over the recent years. Initially categorized as soft rock or adult contemporary, Yacht Rock places a stronger emphasis on the groove rather than the lyrics, making it some of the easiest and catchiest easy listening music for many rock fans. Interestingly, nearly all Yacht Rock songs were created 35-40 years before the genre was officially recognized as its own distinct style, leaving room for interpretation about what exactly qualifies as Yacht Rock. For our criteria, we analyzed the entire catalog of Sirius XM Yacht Rock Radio alongside Spotify and Apple Music’s Yacht Rock playlists and ranked the songs accordingly. Each song included has been deemed Yacht Rock by at least one of these sources and was scored against all other entries. Some songs may rank higher in a broader rock or soft rock sphere, but here are what we have deemed to be the 100 Greatest Yacht Rock Songs of All Time complete with a playlist of all 100 Songs . For a broader list across at songs across the rock realm, be sure to check out the Top 200 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time .

1. What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers

Deemed almost unanimously as the quintessential Yacht Rock tune by the few publications that have taken the time to dive into this same endeavor , What a Fool Believes  stands out as one of the grooviest rock tunes to ever achieve mainstream success. Featuring the quintessential Yacht Rock vocalist, Michael McDonald, the song topped charts across North America and became one of the most recognizable and frequently played songs of the '70s. Michael McDonald, who joined The Doobie Brothers in 1975, had become the band's primary vocalist by the release of Minute by Minute  in 1978, which houses What a Fool Believes . With this album marking a new sound for the band, especially following the temporary health-related departure of Tom Johnston, the band's new sound was polished to perfection, a dramatic shift from the Toulouse Street  sound of the early part of the decade. Nevertheless, What a Fool Believes  is a serious earworm, a critically "perfect" pop-rock song, if you will, and a song that reinvented The Doobie Brothers.

2. Peg   - Steely Dan

One of the most talented groups on our list, if not the most talented, Steely Dan transcended the typical confines of Yacht Rock during their initial ten-year run. Covering genres from Yacht Rock to jazz rock, progressive rock, and funk rock, Steely Dan captivated audiences uniquely throughout the '70s and early '80s. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen consistently collaborated with the world's finest studio musicians, producing albums of perfectionist caliber. Within the realm of Yacht Rock, Peg  takes their top spot, ranking just behind What a Fool Believes  in the genre. Once again, Michael McDonald provides backing vocals, harmonizing behind Donald Fagen and Paul Griffin. The silky smooth vocals paired with top-notch instrumentals make Peg  a standout track. Furthermore, Aja , the album that houses Peg , is one of the most impressive American albums of all time , beyond its Yacht Rock appeal.

3. Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)   - Looking Glass

Released in 1972, the one-hit wonder by Looking Glass, Brandy , established a much bigger name for itself than the band ever managed to achieve on its own. As one of the smoothest and catchiest songs of the ‘70s, Brandy  consistently appears on nearly every Yacht Rock, adult contemporary, or easy listening playlist available. The song tells a melancholic tale that is open to interpretation, though it is generally understood to describe an attractive bartender based in Northern New Jersey. Featuring catchy harmonies, clean soft guitar, and subtle horn use, what's not to love about this song?

4. Sailing   - Christopher Cross

If it were up to us at Melophobe, the "Yacht Rock Crown" would go to San Antonio’s own Christopher Cross. Although Cross really shined with just his first two studio albums before his later releases (post-1983) fell into obscurity, his early work still grabs all the attention. From his self-titled debut album, Sailing  stands out as a top ten hit that's the epitome of Yacht Rock. Interestingly, the term "yacht rock" itself is often linked right back to this song. His debut album is loaded with iconic tunes in this style, with Sailing  rightfully taking its place at the forefront.

5. Escape (The Pi ñ a Colada Song)  - Rupert Holmes

The second tune in our top ten that found its way onto one of the three Guardians of the Galaxy  soundtracks—as well as its original LP release—comes from yacht rock icon Rupert Holmes. Escape (The Piña Colada Song)  tells a story that feels more comical today than it might have in the ‘70s, describing a personal ad in search of a like-minded, carefree, fun-loving companion. Beyond the quirky lyrics, the sounds of crashing waves and clean guitars have turned the tune into a timeless earworm, cementing its status as a yacht rock masterpiece long before the term even existed. Guardians of the Galaxy  wasn't just a great series for action lovers; who would've guessed its soundtrack would become almost as iconic as the movies themselves?

6. Lowdown  - Boz Scaggs

Part of the same studio musician collective that worked with Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs hit major commercial success in 1976 with the release of his richly decorated album Silk Degrees . Boz Scaggs found success as one of the few artists to achieve substantial mainstream success in the jazz rock world aside from Steely Dan, with both artists utilizing many of the same studio musicians. Released from Silk Degrees , the standout yacht rock tune is Lowdown , a tightly produced masterpiece. Similar to Christopher Cross, Boz's peak in the mainstream was relatively brief, with his fame primarily anchored to Silk Degrees  and sporadic airplay of his other songs over about a decade.

7. Come and Get Your Love  - Redbone

Yet another tune from the Guardians of the Galaxy  soundtracks to make our top ten is Come and Get Your Love , released in 1975 by the swamp rock band Redbone. While often labeled as a one-hit-wonder, Redbone actually scored another American top 40 hit in 1971 and enjoyed scattered success in the R&B scene throughout the '70s. Come and Get Your Love  has since been celebrated as one of the greatest pop songs of the '70s and also managed to somewhat subtly tap into the disco craze of the era.

8. Margaritaville  - Jimmy Buffett

The question of whether Jimmy Buffett fits into the yacht rock category has stirred some debate lately, with the answer remaining somewhat unclear since the term itself is still relatively new. Most agree that Buffett's music is in a category of its own, but there are still those who argue that his unique sound has a place within yacht rock. Regardless, Margaritaville  and a few other Buffett tunes are staples on yacht rock radio stations, so we've deemed them eligible. Buffett's music embodies a carefree lifestyle that mirrors the feel and attitude of yacht rock. His iconic song Margaritaville  instantly puts listeners in a vacation mindset, a unique characteristic that has garnered it extensive praise and airplay over the years. The passing of Jimmy Buffett, an American legend, touched the hearts of many.

9. Africa  - Toto

The first track from the 1980s to make our top ten is Africa  from Toto's fourth album, aptly named Toto IV , released in 1982. Africa  topped the charts across North America and performed exceptionally well worldwide with its powerful chorus, extensive keyboard usage, and subtle guitar playing. Alongside Rosanna , also from Toto IV , Africa  has become a yacht rock staple, but it didn’t stop there—it transcended the genre to become one of the most iconic songs of the '80s. Today, it's still adored, nearing two billion streams on Spotify. The song has also become a favorite for covers, from bar bands to top-notch acts like Weezer.

10. Baby Come Back  - Player

Player carved out a slice of mainstream success in the late '70s, as soft rock began to resonate with those not taken by styles like punk rock and disco. Their biggest hit by far was the North American chart-topper Baby Come Back . Aside from being a soft rock staple, the song has also gained a new life as a meme across the internet. While yacht rock songs typically shy away from overly heartfelt or emotional lyrics, focusing more on the groove, Baby Come Back  manages to do both masterfully. The song blends notable emotional depth with an undeniably groovy beat, making it incredibly memorable—so much so that it's recognized by just about every American

11. Just the Two of Us  - Grover Washington Jr, Bill Withers

12. Southern Cross  - Crosby, Stills & Nash

13. Take it Easy  - Eagles

14. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)  - Christopher Cross

15. Year of the Cat  - Al Stewart

16. Hey Nineteen  - Steely Dan

17. Still the One  - Orleans

18. Sharing the Night Together  - Dr. Hook

19. Sister Golden Hair  - America

20. Dreams  - Fleetwood Mac

21. Summer Breeze  - Seals & Croft

22. Guitar Man  - Bread

23. Thunder Island  - Jay Ferguson

24. Lido Shuffle  - Boz Scaggs

25. Give Me the Night  - George Benson

26. How Much I Feel  - Ambrosia

27. Reminiscing  - Little River Band

28. Doctor My Eyes  - Jackson Browne

29. Sara Smile  - Hall & Oates

30. Rosanna  - Toto

31. All Night Long (All Night)  - Lionel Richie

32. I.G.Y.  - Donald Fagan

33. Minute By Minute  - The Doobie Brothers

34. If You Leave Me Now  - Chicago

35. Time Out of Mind  - Steely Dan

36. Kokomo  - The Beach Boys

37. Eye in the Sky  - Alan Parsons Project

38. Sentimental Lady  - Bob Welch

39. Rich Girl  - Hall & Oates

40. What You Won't Do for Love  - Bobby Caldwell

41. Ride Like the Wind  - Christopher Cross

42. I'd Really Love to See You Tonight  - England Dan & John Ford Coley

43. Lovely Day  - Bill Withers

44. Graceland  - Paul Simon

45. Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes - Jimmy Buffett

46. Time Passages  - Al Stewart

47. One of These Nights  - Eagles

48. She's Gone  - Hall & Oates

49. Silly Love Songs  - Wings

50. Hold On  - Santana

51. Steal Away  - Robbie Dupree

52. Dance With Me  - Orleans

53. Listen to the Music  - The Doobie Brothers

54. How Long  - Ace

55. So Into You  - Atlanta Rhythm Section

56. Diamond Girl  - Seals & Croft

57. Lotta Love  - Nicolette Larson

58. We Just Disagree  - Dave Mason

59. Mexico  - James Taylor

60. Keep on Loving You  - REO Speedwagon

61. Baker Street  - Gerry Rafferty

62. Tender is the Night  - Jackson Browne

63. Love Will Find a Way  - Pablo Cruise

64. You Can Do Magic  - America

65. Key Largo  - Bertie Higgins

66. When You're In Love With a Beautiful Woman  - Dr. Hook

67. Dirty Work  - Steely Dan

68. All Out of Love  - Air Supply

69. I Saw the Light  - Todd Rundgren

70. Let Me Love You Tonight  - Pure Prairie League

71. I Love You  - Climax Blues Band

72. I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)  - Michael McDonald

73. This is It  - Kenny Loggins

74. The Things We Do For Love  - 10cc

75. Say You Love Me  - Fleetwood Mac

76. Biggest Part of Me  - Ambrosia

77. You're the Inspiration  - Chicago

78. Dream Weaver  - Gary Wright

79. Longer  - Dan Fogelberg

80. You Are  - Lionel Richie

81. Just a Song Before I Go  - Crosby, Stills & Nash

82. Right Down the Line  - Gerry Rafferty

83. New Frontier  - Donald Fagan

84. I Love a Rainy Night  - Eddie Rabbitt

85. Cool Night  - Paul Davis

86. Get Down On It  - Kool & The Gang

87. It's Raining Again - Supertramp

88. Vincent  - Don McLean

89. Crazy Love  - Poco

90. Spooky  - Atlanta Rhythm Section

91. Vienna  - Billy Joel

92. Cool Cat  - Queen

93. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You  - George Benson

94. Hypnotized  - Bob Welch (Also Released by Fleetwood Mac)

95. Casablanca  - Bertie Higgins

96. Think of Laura  - Christopher Cross

97. Fooled Around and Fell in Love  - Elvin Bishop

98. Private Eyes  - Hall & Oates

99. Lonesome Loser  - Little River Band

100. Moonlight Feels Right - Starbuck

All of the picks from this list have been compiled into a streamable Spotify Playlist below entitled Yacht Rock Top 100 .

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Bless the Rain With 42 Very Different Covers of Toto’s ‘Africa’

For a song so that practically defines the slickness of '80s light rock, Toto 's " Africa " sure has lent itself to numerous arrangements over the years. We've found 41 covers of the 1982 hit, which was originally released on the Grammy-winning Toto IV .

Some of the covers are straightforward remakes, but you'll also hear acoustic renditions, as well as arrangements for R&B, metal, New Orleans-style brass band, synth-pop, electronic, 8-bit video game, bluegrass, a cappella and more from musicians all over the world.

While the earliest remake we found, by Key of Dreams, came out before "Africa" topped the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1983, slightly more than half of them stem from after 2010. Check them out below.

Matt Heafy (2018)

Trivium frontman Matt Heafy has been known to record all kinds of covers, from Earth, Wind & Fire 's "September" to Bing Crosby's Hawaiian Christmas classic "Mele Kalikimaka" to Cher 's "If I Could Turn Back Time." He decided to bless the rains and upload his "Africa" cover to his YouTube channel in July 2018.

Weezer (2018)

In December 2017, a Cleveland-area teenager created a Twitter account calling for Weezer to cover "Africa." The campaign went viral and, six months later, the band obliged . But a week before, they teased her by releasing  a version of another Toto IV hit, "Rosanna."

Chris De Burgh (2008)

Chris De Burgh is best known for his ballad "The Lady in Red," which went to No. 3 in 1986. In addition to "Africa," his 2008 album  Footsteps found him putting his stamp on Bob Dylan 's "All Along the Watchtower," Badfinger 's "Without You" and three Beatles songs.

Ninja Sex Party (2017)

Although the musical comedy duo Ninja Sex Party have gained fame for such sophomoric originals as "Dinosaur Laser Fight," "Everybody Shut Up (I Have an Erection)" and "Samurai Abstinence Patrol," they've also put out a few albums comprised of cover songs. "Africa" kicked off 2017's Under the Covers, Vol. II .

True Kiss Destination (1999)

True Kiss Destination were a Japanese pop duo consisting of Asami Yoshida and Komuro Tetsuya. After getting signed to Sony on the strength of their self-titled debut, they launched a career by releasing a take on Toto's classic.

Howie Day (2000)

The singer-songwriter had frequently covered "Africa" in concert in the early '00s, accompanied solely by his acoustic guitar. By 2003, he had signed with Epic Records and released Stop All the World Now . The album featured "Collide," which reached No. 20 a year later.

SubAudible Hum (2007)

For years, Australia's Triple J radio station has been inviting bands into its studio once a week to play covers; they were then compiled on the  Like a Version CD series. Melbourne's SubAudible Hum chose "Africa" when they performed on the show in 2007.

Pyogenesis (1998)

Hailing from Stuttgart, Germany, Pyogenesis helped popularize gothic metal in their home country. Their cover of "Africa" appeared on their fourth album, 1998's Mono … Or Will It Ever Be the Way It Used to Be .

Lowry (2008)

Lowry came out of New York's "anti-folk" movement in the late '90s. Their take on "Africa," which featured Heidi Sidelinker taking the lead vocal from Alex Lowry in the chorus, appeared on Guilt by Association Vol. 2 , which featured numerous indie-rock bands recording cover songs.

Avant (2010)

Myron Avant, who only uses his last name professionally, topped the U.S. R&B chart in 2000 with his debut single "Separated," and has reached the Top 10 six times since then. "Africa" appeared as a bonus track on 2008's The Letter CD.

Hackney Colliery Band (2011)

A London version of a New Orleans brass band, the Hackney Colliery Band have received acclaim for their live shows, and even played the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics. They released "Africa" on their debut record, which featured original songs as well as new arrangements of the Red Hot Chili Peppers ' "Under the Bridge" and Blackstreet 's "No Diggity."

Nektar (2012)

For 2012's A Spoonful of Time , progressive rock band Nektar covered some of their favorite songs and invited some of their heroes -- like Steve Howe , Rick Wakeman and Ian Paice of Deep Purple  -- to sit in. "Africa," which closes the album, features vocals by Toto singer Bobby Kimball and keyboards from another Yes alum, Patrick Moraz.

Relient K (2011)

Similar to REO Speedwagon , Relient K named themselves after an automobile, in this case the Plymouth Reliant K, which helped turn around Chrysler's fortunes in the '80s. The Christian rock band recorded "Africa" -- as well as covers of Justin Bieber 's "Baby," Tom Petty 's "Here Comes My Girl" and Tears for Fears ' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" -- on 2011's Is for Karaoke .

Eric Benet (2014)

Neo-soul singer Eric Benet rose to fame when his 1996 debut, True to Myself , spawned four R&B hits. He topped that chart in 1999 with "Spend My Life With You." Halle Berry 's former husband has also starred in movies and TV shows. His covers album, From E to U: Volume 1 , came out in Japan in 2014.

Varius Manx and Kacper Gołda (2015)

Polish stars Varius Manx recorded "Africa" for a compilation put out by radio station RMF FM to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Sharing vocals with Edyta Kuczynska is Kacper Golda, who's competed on Poland's versions of The X Factor  and The Voice .

Bacall + Malo (2016)

Swedish DJ Bacall had a No. 11 hit in his home country when he and Malo covered "Africa." Prince Osito was brought in to do some Jamaican toasting.

Leo Moracchioli feat. Hannah Boulton and Rabea Massaad (2017)

Multi-instrumentalist Leo Moracchioli, who owns Norway's Frog Leap Studios, gave metal arrangements to a diverse array of songs -- including "Africa," The Lion King 's "Hakuna Matata" and R. Kelly 's "I Believe I Can Fly" -- on a 2017 album. Hannah Boulton helped out on vocals; Rabea Massaad provided a guitar solo.

Zo! and Tigallo (2008)

In 2006, a Washington, D.C.-based musician named Zo! joined forces with a singer and rapper named Phonte (Little Brother, the Foreign Exchange) to record some covers. Their album, Zo! and Tigallo Love the 80's , came out two years later. "We started out doing this project just for fun," Phonte said . "But although we did it for fun, this is not a 'joke' record by any means. Me and Zo take our work very seriously, and have the utmost respect for all the artists that we covered."

Justin Mauriello (2010)

Justin Mauriello recorded a faithful cover of "Africa" on 2010's Justin Sings the Hits . Mauriello has been in the alternative and punk worlds since 1995, first as a member of Zebrahead, then as the frontman for Darling Thieves.

Legowelt (2009)

Born Danny Wolfers, Dutch musician Legowelt has been making electronic music rooted in the Chicago house sound since the mid-'90s. His instrumental take on "Africa" features synth sounds and beats that were common in the late '80s, even though he recorded it in 2009.

The Shadows (1983)

The Shadows, who backed English rock legend Cliff Richard on his earliest hits, celebrated their 25th anniversary in 1983 with XXV . In addition to "Africa," the album included instrumental recordings of songs by Mark Knopfler , Procol Harum, Dusty Springfield and Booker T. & the M.G.'s.

Yacht Rock Revue (2013)

Calling themselves a cross between a "tribute, an original act and a comedic troupe," the Yacht Rock Revue plays the music of that genre in clubs around the country and on rock-themed cruises. In addition to "Africa," 2013's Live at the Georgia Theatre features covers of Hall & Oates ("Rich Girl"), Little River Band ("Reminiscing"), Steely Dan ("Peg") and Looking Glass ("Brandy [You're a Fine Girl])."

Brad Davis (2017)

The veteran bluegrass musician cut his version of "Africa" for volume two of CMH Records' Pickin' on the Biggest Hits of the '80s series. "Of all the renditions of our song -- and there are many -- Brad Davis has taken it to a place I never expected in the coolest way," said Toto's  Steve Lukather .

Christina Ashley (2011)

While still a teenager, San Diego's Christina Ashley released Let It All Go in 2011. The 17-song record interspersed her own compositions between takes on songs by influences like  Paul Simon ("Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes"), Elton John ("Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word") and Jackson Browne ("Running on Empty").

Andy McKee (2004)

Marco Pigolotti (2013)

Starting out as a metal guitarist as a 13-year-old, Andy McKee switched to acoustic a few years later and released his debut, Nocturne , in 2001. His cover of "Africa" appeared on 2004's Dreamcatcher , but he uploaded a performance to YouTube in 2009, and it has since been viewed more than 4 million times. Italian finger-picking guitarist Marco Pigolotti released his own arrangement in 2013.

8 Bit Arcade (2016)

Music Legends (2015)

Floppotron (2018)

Given how synonymous "Africa" is with the '80s, the song is a natural fit for those who specialize in creating 8-bit music -- the sounds heard in vintage video games -- like 8 Bit Arcade and Music Legends. On a similarly retro vibe, the Floppotron makes music out of the sounds made by obsolete computer parts -- 64 floppy disc drives, eight hard discs and two optical scanners.

Erock (2014)

Calling himself "Erock," Eric Calderone has been uploading metal reworkings of seemingly any song that pops into his head to YouTube since 2009. He heard the drums echoing in 2014, and his version has been viewed more than a million times.

Emmerson Nogueira (2002)

Beginning in 2001, Brazilian guitarist Emmerson Nogueira has been releasing albums of cover songs, including an entire volume devoted to the works of the Beatles . His take on "Africa" showed up on 2002's Versão Acústica 2; the live version above appeared on 2008's Ao Vivo .

Retrocity (2006)

An a cappella octet from Toronto, Retrocity specialize in instrument-free takes on hits of the '80s. Released in 2006, Totally 80s A Cappella includes Toto's hit among Queen and David Bowie 's "Under Pressure," Michael Jackson 's "Human Nature" and Cyndi Lauper 's "Time After Time."

The Moon Loungers (2015)

The Moon Loungers , from Bristol, England, have been playing weddings since 2006, first as an acoustic duo and then bringing on a drummer a year later. Their diverse song list has twice earned them a regional Wedding Industry Award for best live wedding band in the South West of England.

Mike Massé and Jeff Hall (2012)

For years, attorneys Mike Massé and Jeff Hall have been setting up shop in a Utah pizzeria, recording some of their favorite songs with just acoustic guitar and bass and uploading the results to YouTube. "Africa" appeared in 2010 and has since been viewed more than 10 million times.

St. Lucia (2016)

Brooklyn-based, South Africa-born musician Jean-Philip Grobler has been recording under the name St. Lucia since 2013, with his songs featured in commercials for Taco Bell and Victoria's Secret. His version of "Africa" was recorded during a 2016 stop at the Wiltern in Los Angeles.

Affiance (2016)

As Affiance singer Dennis Tvrdik explained , the band recorded a version of "Africa" while on a tour of South Africa in 2014. The Cleveland-based metal band released the song as a single in 2016, but a year later, they announced that they were "going on an indefinite hiatus."

Mario Paint (2010)

In 2010, Alec Britt made a version of the song using Mario Paint, a video game that allowed players to create music tracks with the characters representing different musical instruments. He found some intriguing ways to get around the game's limitations, including using soundsets made by other people. It has since been seen more than 1 million times.

Key of Dreams (1982)

They Say Fall (2013)

Starlite Saxophones (2015)

Taff (2008)

Sum of the Acoustix feat. Justin Belew (2014)

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Toto Founder on Weezer’s Hit Cover of ‘Africa’: ‘No One’s Laughing Harder Than Us’

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With the Yacht Rock revival in full swing, it was only a matter of time before someone tackled a cover of Toto ’s “Africa,” the 1982 hit written by David Paich and the late Jeff Porcaro, inspired by a late-night documentary Paich caught on TV one night. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, spurred by the Steve Barron-directed video starring Paich as a researcher in a library-turned-jungle, with the book he’s reading coming to life.

Like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” in the finale of “The Sopranos,” “Africa” has taken on new life after being used on “Stranger Things” and as a ubiquitous Internet meme, with the likes of Dax Sheppard and Kristen Bell posting videos of themselves lip-synching to the song. Toto’s even collaborated on covers of “Africa” with EDM artists such as Skrillex and Aussie What So Not.

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Now, responding to a teenage fan’s viral social media campaign (after hearing the song on “Stranger Things”), Weezer ’s Rivers Cuomo has performed faithful covers of the band’s classics “Africa” and “Rosanna,” storming into the Top 100 with the former as Toto song streams and YouTube views skyrocket.

Popular on Variety

Toto guitarist and founding member Steve Lukather checked in from Prague, where he is currently on tour with Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, to weigh in on this phenomenon. Toto embarks on its 40th anniversary North American tour July 30 in Vancouver, which carries through until November.

Can you explain the enduring appeal of “Africa”? When we cut this track in 1981, there was no such thing as world music. We created this from the dust and ether. David came in with this tune mostly written, Jeff heard it and suggested we use a ton of real African percussion as well as traditional instruments, and we had legendary engineer Al Schmitt working with us and he knew how to do all this crazy stuff. It was the last track we cut for “Toto IV.” I loved the track and the hook was catchy as hell, but I thought the lyrics were silly. We never saw it as hit song. “Rosanna” was the hit, but “Africa” resonated with everyone who heard it. The fact it has endured and gotten bigger the last 35-plus years is insane to us. We never saw it coming. No one is laughing harder than us, but it has brought huge attention to us and our back catalog is flying out because people don’t realize we have like 17-18 albums out.

When did you first find out that Rivers wanted to cover both songs? The likelihood of Toto and Weezer in the same breath is strange at first glance. It was a true WTF moment for us; maybe for them, too. I think they did on a dare or as a gag. I guess Weezer covers ‘80s songs for a laugh. I am sure they never saw this coming any more than we did. I see it as a win-win for both sides and we all laugh our asses off wishing we could see the so-called “hipster press” writhing in their worst nightmare of collaborations. But the kids don’t care. They like what they like and somehow this “Africa” thing has caught on. Never thought I’d live to see it.

How did you like their version? We were flattered. They made it a bit more their own, but we were surprised to see they kept to the original arrangement with just some harder-edged guitars in the chorus. Our music is harder to play than it sounds. It’s the small details you don’t realize are there until you try and re-do it.

Isn’t there an “irony” or “camp” aspect to it? Of course — huge!!! But they were very nice. The band reached out to Steve Porcaro and he sat in on Jimmy Kimmel and played the keyboard solo and walked off. It was hysterical and a huge surprise. Their manager reached out to me — I manage Toto now — so I had to ask if they were taking the piss out of us. He insisted the band really likes us. I’m not sure I believed him, but I told them to go for it, and they did. Now, wait until they hear our Weezer cover we just started recording, and will be out in the next couple of months. I dig them. I was never really aware of them outside their hits, but my kids hipped me to them. They are really good, inventive and quirky, hooks for days.  Thanks to Weezer for doing this.  We’re thankful for the gift.

With populist bands like Jon Bon Jovi, Journey and Rush being inducted into the RRHOF, do you feel Toto now has a shot? No, I don’t see that. It’s a personal vendetta. In sports, stats count. Music? Not so much. I have personally worked with 75 people now in the Rock Hall, yet we don’t even exist in their data base. Forty million records sold, and literally thousands of albums as session musicians on the likes of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”  There is no one like Toto in history in that we were both successful as session musicians and also had a band that sold so many million records. Yet none of that counts.

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