Draft:30th anniversary of Weezer (The Blue Album): Difference between revisions

On [[September 4]] — in the same announcement revealing the "Super Deluxe" box set — two special pressings of the remastered album were mentioned.<ref name="boxsetannounced" /> The first was an Interscope.com-exclusive 2xLP, 45 RPM gatefold "audiophile edition", limited to 1,500 copies (originally advertised as 1,000).<ref>Interscope Records (November 11, 2024). Email communication. Screenshot: [[:File:Interscope Nov 11 Blue 30 pressing correction email.png]].</ref> The second was a zoetrope picture disc — a type of vinyl record pressed with an image over its grooves that, when rotated during playback, creates animated images. The zoetrope contained brief shots from ''Blue Album'' music videos on its A-side, and various pieces of Weezer iconography on its B-side. The record also came with an exclusive lithograph print of [[1994]] photograph of the band. These two releases are distinguished from all other pressings of the ''Blue Album'' by the text "weezer 30" (rather than just "weezer") on their covers. Both records were listed for pre-order alongside the "Super Deluxe" box set, all with [[November 1]] release dates.  

Two other exclusive presses of the remastered album went unmentioned in the original announcement but were also set to be released on [[November 1]]: an indie-exclusive "ghostly blue and clear" colored vinyl<ref>[https://recordstoreday.com/UPC/602465845556 "Blue - 30th Anniversary [Indie Exclusive Ghostly blue & clear LP<nowiki>]</nowiki>"]. Record Store Day listing. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250320182747/https://recordstoreday.com/UPC/602465845556 Archived] from the original.</ref> and a Walmart-exclusive "blue galaxy" colored vinyl.<ref>[https://www.walmart.com/ip/Weezer-Blue-Walmart-Exclusive-Blue-Galaxy-Vinyl/11151563643 "Weezer - Blue (Walmart Exclusive) - Vinyl"]. Walmart listing. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240907203859/https://www.walmart.com/ip/Weezer-Blue-Walmart-Exclusive-Blue-Galaxy-Vinyl/11151563643 Archived] from the original.</ref> Unlike the other re-issues, these two records do not have the text on their cover altered.

==Merchandise==

===Johnny Cupcakes merchandise collaboration===

On [[July 22]], novelty T-shirt brand Johnny Cupcakes announced an official collaboration with Weezer, themed after the Voyage to the Blue Planet tour.<ref>johnnycupcakes (July 22, 2024). [https://www.instagram.com/p/C9v5wsHxx-e/ "Say it ain’t so, the official Johnny Cupcakes x Weezer collaboration drops this Friday ..."]. Instagram post. [http://archive.today/2025.05.16-020219/https://www.instagram.com/p/C9v5wsHxx-e/ Archived] from the original.</ref> The brand designed a decorated box housing a T-shirt and three stickers, all featuring artwork of a spaceship and blue cassette tape alongside Weezer branding. It was released on [[July 26]].<ref>Weezer (July 26, 2024). [https://www.facebook.com/weezer/posts/pfbid0DrhkULJRzYBCESfzmFDxnH19Y16v2Lp4XJkp41P3WCjVkbRNMBXx2CPUNifbhKkXl "New collab with Johnny Cupcakes just dropped to celebrate the Voyage to the Blue Planet Tour ..."]. Facebook post. [http://archive.today/2025.05.16-020343/https://www.facebook.com/weezer/posts/pfbid0DrhkULJRzYBCESfzmFDxnH19Y16v2Lp4XJkp41P3WCjVkbRNMBXx2CPUNifbhKkXl Archived] from the original</ref> In addition to celebrating the ''Blue Album'''s anniversary, the collaboration also specifically commemorated the band's then-upcoming [[September 9]] [[Weezer concert: 09/10/2024|concert in Boston, MA]], where Johnny Cupcakes operated a brick-and-mortar storefront.<ref>[https://johnnycupcakes.com/products/jc-x-weezer-official-collab-boxset-boston "JC x Weezer Official Collab Boxset"]. Johnny Cupcakes. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250317185517/https://johnnycupcakes.com/products/jc-x-weezer-official-collab-boxset-boston Archived] from the original.</ref>

 

===Amazon Merch on Demand "''Blue Album'' Anniversary Collection"===

Around [[September 3]], a section for the "''Blue Album'' Anniversary Collection" was added to Weezer's official Artist Merch Shop storefront on Amazon.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/CD7A7070-FF06-43BE-81AE-F678181B4FA0 "Weezer: Blue Album Anniversary Collection"]. Amazon Artist Merch Shop storefront. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250516082057/https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/CD7A7070-FF06-43BE-81AE-F678181B4FA0?ingress=0&visitId=78a9d151-cdf8-4ce6-b6f1-2eb30f1fa928 Archived] from the original.</ref><ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Weezer-Album-Anniversary-Tracklist-T-Shirt/dp/B0DFZ2D3RC "Weezer - Blue Album Anniversary Tracklist T-Shirt"]. Amazon listing. "... Date first available: September 3, 2024 ...". [https://web.archive.org/web/20250516090637/https://www.amazon.com/Weezer-Album-Anniversary-Tracklist-T-Shirt/dp/B0DFZ2D3RC?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&customId=B0752XK16C&customizationToken=MC_Assembly_1%23B0752XK16C&psc=1 Archived] from the original.</ref> The collection included six new designs licensed by [[Manhead Merchandise]] and distributed by Amazon Merch on Demand; two T-shirts, a crewneck sweatshirt, a zip hoodie, a PopSocket, and a tote bag. Each item featured a variation on the cover art of the ''Blue Album''.

 

Weezer announced an exclusive line of merchandise celebrating the anniversary of the ''Blue Album'' on [[September 25]]. It was variably referred to in marketing as the "''Blue Album'' Anniversary Collection", the "''Blue 30'' Anniversary Collection", and the "''Blue'' Capsule Collection". Upon release, it was exclusively available on Shopify's Shop App marketplace. The first 500 U.S. orders (over $40) recieved a free 3 oz. package of Weezer-themed surf wax manufactured by Sticky Bump.<ref>Weezer (September 25, 2024). [http://archive.today/2025.05.16-210814/https://x.com/Weezer/status/1838972990869864578 "The leaves may be turning yellow, but we're only getting more Blue! ..."]. Twitter post. Archived from the [https://x.com/Weezer/status/1838972990869864578 original].</ref> The collection was later made available on the [[weezer.com]] webstore.

 

Included in the collection was three T-shirts, a cardigan, a sweater, a crewneck sweatshirt, a pin set, a knit hacky sack toy, the 3 oz. pack of Sticky Bump surf wax, and a gag card manufactured by Joker Greeting and originally mailed to random fans<ref>Weezer (August 27, 2024). [https://x.com/Weezer/status/1828515075138662660 "👀The Voyage to the Blue Planet begins September 4th 👀"]. Twitter post. [http://archive.today/2025.05.16-213547/https://x.com/Weezer/status/1828515075138662660 Archived] from the original.</ref> in the lead-up to the Voyage to the Blue Planet tour. Each product featured artwork associated with the ''Blue Album''. The collection was marketed as limited edition, although the precise quantity of each item that was available was not shared.<ref>[https://weezerwebstore.com/collections/blue-capsule-collection "Blue 30 Anniversary collection"]. [[weezer.com]] webstore. [https://web.archive.org/web/20241012113547/https://weezerwebstore.com/collections/blue-capsule-collection Archived] from the original.</ref>

===''Blue'' holiday merchandise collection===

===Brooklyn Projects merchandise collaboration===

On [[June 24]], Spotify released ''[[The 30th Anniversary of Weezer]]'' (also titled ''The Blue Album LIVE'') onto YouTube and the Spotify streaming platform. The second entry in a series of three "Spotify Anniversaries" releases by the music company,<ref>Spotify (October 15, 2024). [https://newsroom.spotify.com/2024-10-15/revisit-some-of-musics-most-iconic-hits-with-our-spotify-anniversaries-video-series/ "Revisit Some of Music’s Most Iconic Hits With Our ‘Spotify Anniversaries’ Video Series"]. ''Spotify''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250321201758/https://newsroom.spotify.com/2024-10-15/revisit-some-of-musics-most-iconic-hits-with-our-spotify-anniversaries-video-series/ Archived] from the original.</ref> ''The 30th Anniversary of Weezer'' is a professional 30-minute video directed by Bradley Calder featuring four live performances of ''Blue Album'' songs alongside interview segments with the band. Three special guests — "unofficial fifth member" [[Karl Koch]], Shinn, and Barry Johnson of [[Joyce Manor]] — are also present. Shinn and Koch perform the spoken segments in "[[Undone - The Sweater Song]]" and Johnson provides vocals on "[[Surf Wax America]]". The four songs performed were also made available as a standalone EP release (of the same name) on Spotify.  

On [[August 5]], Weezer announced the ''Blue Rooms'' browser game on their social media pages.<ref>Weezer (August 5, 2024). [https://x.com/Weezer/status/1820476083499667620 "Come on a voyage with us through the Blue Rooms. ..."]. Twitter post. [http://archive.today/2025.05.16-170343/https://x.com/Weezer/status/1820476083499667620 Archived] from the original.</ref> The game is designed in Rooms.xyz, a social platform where users can create, program, and interlink interactive 3D voxel-based "rooms". The ''Blue Rooms'' game involves eleven consecutive "rooms", each with a puzzle which must be completed to progress. The first ten rooms are themed after songs from the ''Blue Album''; their puzzles mostly involve completing unfinished lyrics by finding hidden objects. The final room asks the player to create a [[flying =W=]] symbol, then allows them to follow a link to "whatsinsidetheroom.com", where they may enter a phone number to join the band's mailing list. It is not known whether joining the mailing list via this webpage (as opposed to signing up on [[weezer.com]]) resulted in any unique promotional messages or offers. The rooms were designed and programmed by artist Thai Vo (also known as Voxel Play Yard).<ref>Thai Vo [@voxelPY] (August 8, 2024). [https://x.com/voxelPY/status/1821397349157286269 "Finally, it's here! Huge thanks to the Crush Music team and @jasontoff for letting me be part of this project. ..."]. Twitter post. [http://archive.today/2025.05.16-042319/https://x.com/voxelPY/status/1821397349157286269 Archived] from the original.</ref>

===''Fortnite Festival'' bundle and "Sweat(er) City" event===

On [[October 11]], three songs from the ''Blue Album'' ("[[Buddy Holly]]", "[[Say It Ain't So]]", and "[[Undone - The Sweater Song]]") were made available for purchase in the [[List of Weezer song appearances in rhythm video games|rhythm game]] ''Fortnite Festival'', an offshoot of the popular video game ''[[Fortnite]]'', in celebration of the album's anniversary.<ref>Fortnite Festival (October 11, 2024). [https://x.com/FNFestival/status/1844787874438185123 "You just got Weezered (Fortnite Festival Edition) ..."]. Twitter post. [http://archive.today/2025.05.16-204059/https://x.com/FNFestival/status/1844787874438185123 Archived] from the original.</ref> The songs could be purchased together as the "Blue Bundle" item, or bought separately. "[[Buddy Holly]]" was first added to the game a year prior, in [[2023]].<ref>Riley MacLeod (December 14, 2023). [https://aftermath.site/it-should-be-illegal-that-im-not-better-at-buddy-holly-in-fortnite "It Should Be Illegal That I’m Not Better At “Buddy Holly” In Fortnite"]. ''Aftermath''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20241111210703/https://aftermath.site/it-should-be-illegal-that-im-not-better-at-buddy-holly-in-fortnite Archived] from the original.</ref>

On the same day, Weezer announced a collaboration with game development studio Look North World, known best for designing ''Fortnite'' maps and game modes. For one month, the studio replaced its map "Sweat City" (a "24-player FFA open world-style island"<ref>[https://looknorth.world/games/sweat-city "Sweat City"]. Look North World. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250116042431/https://looknorth.world/games/sweat-city Archived] from the original.</ref>) with "Sweat(er) City"; the map was altered to include references to Weezer and the ''Blue Album'', including a recreation of the "[[Buddy Holly]]" music video set, a boss fight with [[Rivers Cuomo]], and ten hidden "Weezered moments" (blue objects which play the "[[Buddy Holly]]" riff upon interaction).<ref>Weezer (October 11, 2024). [https://x.com/Weezer/status/1844770452624838959 "Weezer + @FortniteGame, does it get any better? ..."]. Twitter post. [http://archive.today/2025.05.16-094611/https://x.com/Weezer/status/1844770452624838959 Archived] from the original.</ref><ref>Genghis Husameddin (October 11, 2024). [https://xboxera.com/2024/10/11/weezers-back-in-fortnite-in-sweater-city-in-game-event/ "Weezer’s Back in Fortnite in “Sweat(er) City” In-game Event"]. ''XboxEra''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250412031253/https://xboxera.com/2024/10/11/weezers-back-in-fortnite-in-sweater-city-in-game-event/ Archived] from the original.</ref> The event was developed by Jon Jungemann (also known as SleightedSloth). Although promoted alongside the official ''Fortnite Festival'' content, this event was not officially associated with ''Fortnite'' developer Epic Games.