Wheels (Foo Fighters song)

"Wheels" is a single by American rock band Foo Fighters. The single premiered on radio on September 23, 2009, though the single was officially released six days later.

"Wheels"
Single by Foo Fighters
from the album Greatest Hits
ReleasedSeptember 29, 2009
Recorded2009
Genre
Length4:38
LabelRoswell/RCA
Songwriter(s)Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett
Producer(s)Butch Vig
Foo Fighters singles chronology
"Let It Die"
(2008)		 "Wheels"
(2009)		 "Rope"
(2011)

Background

The song had its live premiere at the White House as part of an Independence Day celebration honoring military service members.

The song "Wheels", alongside the song "Word Forward", was recorded for the band's Greatest Hits album with producer Butch Vig. Both songs were written during the Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace tour and had their first versions recorded at Grand Master Studios in Hollywood in 2008,[1] later being recorded at the Foo Fighters's own Studio 606 in Los Angeles. Lead vocalist Dave Grohl invited Vig to work on the songs while at a party, and the successful outcome led Grohl to invite him to produce the band's next album Wasting Light.[2]

Reception

Critical

Benjamin Sheehan from Billboard magazine says: "The song has a Weezer-meets-The Fray vibe, and it flies out of the gate with feedback-laden riffs, well-timed stutter stops and a gentle balance of electric and acoustic guitars. Four-chord loops nicely underscore Grohl's frustration as he mourns life's failure to meet his expectations. Grohl sings during the opening verse, 'I wanted something better, man/I wished for something new'. For an act of this stature and talent, it's hard not to agree just a little".[3] Alternatively, Pitchfork described the song as: "particularly aggravating, sounding something like a half-hearted attempt at a country-rock crossover."[4]

Commercial

The song debuted at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was their highest charting Billboard Hot 100 single since their 2007 hit "The Pretender".The song topped the Hot Rock Songs charts for two consecutive weeks.[5]

Music video

A music video was directed by Sam Brown, featuring the band performing in an old warehouse. The video premiered in the early hours of October 1, 2009 on AMTV.[6]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Wheels"4:38
2."Word Forward"3:49

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 21
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 36
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 19
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] 22
Canada Rock (Billboard)[11] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 19
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 45
Finland Download (Latauslista)[14] 24
Germany (Official German Charts)[15] 42
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[16] 43
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[17] 18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 13
Poland (LP3)[19] 24
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 24
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 48
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 22
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 72
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[24] 1
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[25] 4
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[26] 3
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[27] 4

Year-end charts
Chart (2009) Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[28] 42

References
  1. Paul Brannigan (December 2010). "Kerrang's 50 albums you need to hear in 2011 - Foo Fighters (Interview)". Kerrang!.
  2. Dave Grohl Reunites With Krist Novoselic and Butch Vig, Rolling Stone
  3. "New Music Releases, Music Reviews, Album Releases & Song Releases". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  5. "Retrieved on October 8, 2009". Billboard.com. 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  6. "Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  7. "Australian-charts.com – Foo Fighters – Wheels". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  8. "Austriancharts.at – Foo Fighters – Wheels" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Foo Fighters – Wheels" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  10. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  11. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Foo Fighters" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Foo Fighters – Wheels" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  14. "Foo Fighters: Wheels" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Foo Fighters – Wheels". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  16. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  17. "Foo Fighters - Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  18. "Charts.nz – Foo Fighters – Wheels". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  19. "WHEELS". Polskie Radio. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  20. "Swedishcharts.com – Foo Fighters – Wheels". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  21. "Swisscharts.com – Foo Fighters – Wheels". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  22. "Foo Fighters: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  23. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  24. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  25. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  26. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  27. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  28. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
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