Weezer's 'Africa' Cover Hits No. 1 on Rock Airplay Chart

The band earns its first leader on the list, as the track tops Alternative Songs for a second week.

Weezer tops Billboard's Rock Airplay chart for the first time with its cover of Toto's "Africa."

The remake, which concurrently leads Billboard's Alternative Songs airplay chart for a second week, rises 2-1 on the all-rock-format Rock Airplay survey with 10.9 million audience impressions (up 7 percent) in the week ending Aug. 12, according to Nielsen Music.

Weezer posts its first Rock Airplay No. 1 (which began in 2009, about 15 years after the band first made a Billboard chart) with the song; the four-piece peaked at a previous No. 3 best with "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" in January 2010.

"Africa" is the first cover to rule the Rock Airplay ranking. Toto's original topped the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1983.

Concurrently, "Africa" spends a second week atop Alternative Songs, where it became Weezer's first No. 1 since 2008 and the first remake to reign since 311's update of The Cure's "Love Song" in 2004. "Africa" also ranks at No. 38 on Adult Alternative Songs.

Elsewhere, "Africa" becomes Weezer's second top 10 on Adult Pop Songs, rising from No. 11 to a career best-tying No. 8. Previously, the band reached No. 8 with "Beverly Hills" in November 2005.

On the all-format Radio Songs chart, "Africa" ascends 43-36, marking Weezer's first top 40 hit since "Hills" reached No. 17 in October 2005. The band also hit the chart's top 40 with "Buddy Holly" (No. 18) in 1995.