For Hopeless Records' 30th Anniversary Cover Series:
‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’
Listen to “There, There” with an all-new verse from Sweet Pill HERE
Today, Hopeless Records is continuing its 30th-anniversary celebration with the release of an all new cover from Philly rockers Sweet Pill, who covered the beloved, fan-favorite track “There, There” from fellow Philly natives The Wonder Years. As part of the California-based label’s special ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’ 30th Anniversary Series, this track and other covers on the upcoming collection feature the iconic indie punk label’s current rostered artists paying tribute to the beloved songs from their historic catalog.
To cover “There, There,” Sweet Pill took things up a notch by adding a brand-new original verse, written after forming a close relationship with The Wonder Years on the road last year. The result captures the original essence of this wallflower anthem while bringing Sweet Pill’s own experiences into the equation.
Listen to Sweet Pill Cover “There, There” HERE
And listen to the songs released from the cover series so far HERE
Dan Campbell of The Wonder Years shares:
“If my math is right, The Wonder Years have written 108 songs in our time as a band, and “There, There” is probably the only one in the top 3 list for every single member. It’s a special song for us, and we’re so glad that it was covered by a band we love and are rooting so hard for. Sweet Pill are everything that’s right with music—innovative, DIY as fuck, passionate, and totally unafraid (I mean, to choose to write a new verse for a cover song takes guts). They took a song that’s very dear to us and made it sound amazing all over again in a new way.”
Sweet Pill's vocalist Zayna Youssef adds:
“For us, it was a no-brainer to choose to cover The Wonder Years as part of the Hopeless 30th anniversary cover compilation. The guys in The Wonder Years took us out on tour and introduced us to their incredible fan base last fall. We share so much in common, being from Philly, being diy kings, and being label mates. The guys are nothing but kind and believe in us so fiercely. For that, we are so grateful. "There, There" seemed in our wheelhouse and a good opportunity to still have our Sweet Pill sound without sacrificing the integrity of the song (even though we did get a little cheeky at the end adding a whole new bit). Seeing There, There live every night and feeling the energy of when the first chorus dropped was unmatched. Those simple yet effective lyrics, “I’m awkward and nervous” resonated with me. It spoke to me enough to want to sing it in my own way. We hope their fans and ours enjoy our little spin on a classic emo song.”
This newest release in the series comes ahead of the grand opening of two exhibits at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland beginning August 24th. The Museum will host Hopeless’ traveling road show - the “Hopeless Museum” - during a special weekend of performances by Hopeless artists including Awsten Knight from Waterparks, Scene Queen, Illuminati Hotties, and Dan Campbell from The Wonder Years. An additional exhibit dedicated to the label’s 30th anniversary will also open that weekend in the Museum’s Main Exhibit Hall, featuring an array of curated items from the label’s history.
The cover series and Rock Hall exhibits represent and recognize Hopeless’ thirty-year leadership in the alternative music genre, as it’s continued to evolve while staying true to its founding punk rock ethos. Watch this space for more on Hopeless’ 30th Anniversary celebrations, and check out the tracklist for ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’ below.
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‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’ Track List:
- “Deadbolt” | The Wonder Years covering Thrice (listen HERE)
- “Unholy Confessions” | Point North covering Avenged Sevenfold (listen HERE)
- “I Miss Having Sex But At Least I Don’t Wanna Die Anymore” | Noahfinnce covering Waterparks (listen HERE)
- “Aside” | Bayside covering The Weakerthans (listen HERE)
- “Vicious Love” | LØLØ covering New Found Glory (listen HERE)
- “I Hate Myself” | Sincere Engineer covering 88 Fingers Louie (listen HERE)
- “There, There” | Sweet Pill covering The Wonder Years (listen HERE)
- “Best Thing (That Never Happened)” | Scene Queen covering We Are The In Crowd (out 8/23)
- “Hang You Up” | Hey Violet x Jayden Seeley covering Yellowcard (out 9/6)
- “Knead” | Pinkshift covering Illuminati Hotties (out 9/13)
- “Cry” | TX2 covering The Used (out 9/20)
- “December” | Illuminati Hotties covering Neck Deep (out 9/27)
- “Dear Maria, Count Me In” | Fame on Fire covering All Time Low (out 10/4)
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About Hopeless Records:
Hopeless Records has thrived as a beloved home for independent music for nearly 30 years. The music industry has changed drastically in those three decades, but in Hopeless founder Louis Posen’s mind, the company’s approach to music has remained the same. “The essence of the business hasn’t changed to me,” Posen says. “The essence is finding art that connects with fans in a deep and emotional way. The record labels that work with artists who can make those connections and help them develop their careers are the ones that will be left standing in the long run.”
With that guiding principle woven into its fabric, Hopeless has endured largely by adapting to the ever fluctuating alternative music scene. Founded in 1993 as an excuse to release a seven-inch by the band Guttermouth, the Van Nuys, California-based record label spent much of the 90s catering to the prominent pop punk and ska craze with a short roster that included 88 Fingers Louie, Dillinger Four, and Mustard Plug. But as mainstream tastes shifted, so did the label, which became home to a diverse spectrum of alternative music, encompassing everything from Atom and His Package and Thrice, to Avenged Sevenfold. Hopeless has been a haven for accomplished legacy acts like Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, and New Found Glory, but has also fostered emerging new artists like Neck Deep, The Wonder Years, and Illuminati hotties. One of the label’s greatest success stories, All Time Low, joined the roster early on in their career, and the collaboration has since racked up a number of Gold and Platinum records.
A constantly evolving positive force, Hopeless has navigated the changing tides of alternative music to continue reaching new generations of music fans over the years. During the label’s tenure, Warped Tour has come and gone, listening habits have largely moved from physical media to streaming services, and artist discovery has become more prominent on social media apps like TikTok. With this, Hopeless has emerged as a leading voice in developing young talent, proudly fostering Gen-Z voices like Waterparks, Scene Queen, NOAHFINNCE, and DE'WAYNE early on in their careers. As a result, Hopeless has emerged as one of the greatest independent success stories and an institution in alternative music.
Beyond the label’s impressive accomplishments, which boasts several Billboard top ten albums and millions of records sold, Posen’s proudest achievement is the label’s charity and advocacy work, which has long been an integral aspect of the business. Hopeless’ charity arm, Sub City, has raised over $3 million for more than 50 causes since its inception in 1999. The Songs That Saved My Life series, which started in 2018, continues that mission by raising funds and awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. Posen, who is a board member of several prominent industry organizations like Merlin and A2IM, notes, “It’s not enough for Hopeless to be a part of the community. We want to be a positive part of the community.”
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