Pitchfork Forkcast: Video: Rivers Cuomo: "Lover in the Snow"

Video: Rivers Cuomo: "Lover in the Snow"

What the hell happened to Joe Cocker, anyway? The video for "Lover in the Snow", from Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo's solo album Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, starts with some faded Polaroids and spoken-word reminiscences that could've been followed by the opening credits from "The Wonder Years"-- except they're, well, not just a TV show. Instead, Cuomo goes on to share an inspiring story about a problem the doctors discovered with his leg when he was 12, and how that caused him to turn his attentions from his beloved sport to music. After Weezer's success, Cuomo explains, he set aside 13 months for a procedure to fix his leg, and afterward he was finally able to play amateur soccer. The rest of the clip depicts how Cuomo overcame his fears and achieved a lifelong dream playing in Mia Hamm's Celebrity Soccer Challenge. His stirring tale draws attention away from the song, a fine power-pop tune with spare percussion and chunky electric guitar. "You fall and hit the ground," Cuomo sings, harmonizing with himself. Sometimes you land on your feet. The video ends with a link to Hamm's non-profit charitable foundation.