[4] Rivers Cuomo, lead singer and guitarist for Weezer, wrote the song in reaction to a meeting with Geffen executives, who told the band members that they needed to record more commercial material.

[7] The many references to popular culture in the song are said to be a "statement of defiance" according to Internet reviewer David Ritter, who later describes it to be an "anti-anthem anthem" that opens up a "broad space for critical exploration of what it means to be an aging band in the major label system".

"[16] Simon Vozick-Levinson of Entertainment Weekly also gave the song a positive review, saying "That chunka-chunka guitar hook is pure [Weezer] gold, so much so that I didn't focus on Rivers Cuomo's very clever lyrics at first.

"[17] Stereogum was also impressed with the song, stating it was a "sweet, savory dose of self-referential, self-deprecating Weezer rock ...

[12] However, Internet reviewer David Ritter suggested that the song was either "voided by the wholesale capitulation involved in going home and writing said commercial material" or "a calculated attempt to boost record sales by wrapping faux-defiance in pretty paper,"[8] going on to compliment its "Scorcho-y acoustic guitar," he then said that this, along with the "keyboard twinkles" and "squeals and squeaks", has little effect on the song and that they barely register on top of the much more noticeable lead vocals and power chords.

[21][22] "Pork and Beans" was voted number one on Toronto radio station 102.1 the Edge's list of Top 102 Songs of 2008.

[9][29][30] Many YouTube celebrities joined with the band to film in the video, including Mark Allen Hicks (the "Afro Ninja"), Gary Brolsma ("Numa Numa"), Tay Zonday ("Chocolate Rain"), Cara Cunningham ("Leave Britney alone"), Caitlin Upton ("Miss South Carolina"), Liam Kyle "Kelly" Sullivan ("Shoes"), Kicesie, Ryan Wieber, Michael Scott, Judson Laipply, and Fritz Grobe and Stephen Voltz performing Diet Coke and Mentos eruptions.

Joe public service announcements, catching Raybans with one's face, "All Your Base Are Belong to Us", the Dancing Banana, "Will It Blend?

[30] Neil Cicierega's Potter Puppet Pals were slated to be in the video but were left out due to problems with shipments of props.

[35] The YouTube celebrities were flown into Los Angeles, California to work with the band for the four-day shooting of the video.

[4] On June 2, 2008, a video of an acoustic version of the song, with Brian Bell on guitar and Tay Zonday on vocals, was released on Weezer's official YouTube channel.