Wheels (Foo Fighters song)

Last updated
"Wheels"
WheelsFoosCover.jpg
Single by Foo Fighters
from the album Greatest Hits
ReleasedSeptember 29, 2009
Recorded2009
Genre
Length4:38
Label Roswell/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)

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

Contents

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

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [27] Platinum70,000
New Zealand (RMNZ) [28] Gold15,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [29] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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