There is no band, no song, no video, no sound, that is more “now” than AJR. The band — three brothers born and raised in New York City — has achieved a startling quick level of success with “I’m Ready,” a buoyant electro-pop single that’s taking off on social media. The numbers: over 1.5M views on YouTube, thousands of singles sold each week, features in Billboard, the NY Post, and on MTV. Festival performances in front of 10,000+ people.
AJR started to become popular with their track "Weak", which they wrote in a few hours and released 16th September 2016, that was made Platinum in 5 countries, including the US, and Gold in 4 more. It has more than 500 million Spotify streams.
They followed this up with their album The Click, released 9th June 2017, featuring the single Weak as well as "Drama" and "Sober Up", the latter of which features Rivers Cuomo. The album reached no. 1 on Mediabase's alternative singles chart the following year. An extended "Deluxe" version of the album was released 21st September 2018, including an acoustic version of Pretender, a track they worked on with Steve Aoki and Lil Yachty.
30th January 2019 saw the release of "100 Bad Days", which was performed on Jimmy Kimmel on 11th March (coinciding with the release of another single, "Birthday Party"), and got included on Taylor Swift's "Playlist by ME!" in May of that year. Dear Winter was released 5th April, and got a sequel, Dear Winter 2.0, on 25th October.
Neotheater was their next album. It was debuted 26th April 2019 and was possibly where the band got noticed the most, hitting number one on Billboard's Top Rock and Top Alternative charts, and 8th on the Top 200 Albums. It featured 100 Bad Days, Birthday Party, and Dear Winter.
"Bang!" came next on 13th February 2020, at first intended for a Deluxe version of Neotheater, but later integrated into their next album OK Orchestra. "Bummerland" was then released 31st August 2020. 22nd of December 2020 saw the release of My Play, 2 days after they announced OK Orchestra as an album. Then 17th February 2021 saw the release of "Way Less Sad".
OK Orchestra, often teased as OKO, was released 26th March 2021, featuring these 4 singles and a track with the Blue Man Group. Merchandise was release on the 23rd March, and a game called OKO World was released on the 21st.
After Hours
AJR Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where did they come from?
Oh, we'll never look like all the models in the movies,
We'll never know.
But tonight, call your friends down,
We're on our way now,
And I feel like shouting, oh, I feel like shouting.
Tonight we're 21 under all these lights
I put my heart, I put my soul, I put my life in it,
Look at me now
We're feeling dumb with coke and rum, we raise a glass to it,
The underdogs oh
I throw my fingers to the ceiling and I won't give in,
Look at me now.
Wait, give me a minute, just a minute, get my focus straight,
They're looking bored.
When did all my friends turn into fake IDs and skinny jeans?
I don't belong.
But tonight, call your friends down,
We're on our way now,
And I feel like shouting, oh, I feel like shouting.
Oh, tonight, it don't matter who you're from,
Tonight we're 21 under all these lights
I put my heart, I put my soul, I put my life in it,
Look at me now (Hey)
We're feeling dumb with coke and rum, we raise a glass to it,
The underdogs oh
I throw my fingers to the ceiling and I won't give in,
Look at me now.
The lyrics of "After Hours" by AJR describe the experience of being at a party where everyone seems to be trying to emulate the Hollywood image of a wild night out. The singer is aware of the facade and knows they'll never live up to the visual standards portrayed on the screen, but regardless they are still caught up in the excitement of the moment. They call their friends down and declare that tonight doesn't matter who they are or where they're from, they're all "21 under all these lights."
Despite feeling out of place initially, the singer eventually succumbs to the tantalizing allure of drugs and alcohol. The lyrics imply that despite the negative consequences that come with substance abuse, the singer is willing to put everything on the line to experience the high. They throw their fingers to the ceiling, won't yield to temptation, and declare themselves to be the underdogs.
AJR is known for their unique style, which blends pop, electronic, and hip hop elements. They write all of their songs themselves, and they also play a variety of instruments, including guitar, trumpet, keyboard, and bass. The group consists of three brothers: Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met.
Line by Line Meaning
Damn, now all the pretty teens and fake IDs around me.
Where did they come from?
Expressing surprise at the presence of attractive teenagers with fake IDs and wondering where they came from.
Oh, we'll never look like all the models in the movies,
We'll never know.
Acknowledging a lack of resemblance to movie models and ignorance about certain things.
But tonight, call your friends down,
We're on our way now,
And I feel like shouting, oh, I feel like shouting.
Oh, tonight, it don't matter who you're from,
Tonight we're 21 under all these lights
Getting excited about the prospect of hanging out with friends, no matter where they're from, and being youthful under the bright lights of the night.
I put my heart, I put my soul, I put my life in it,
Look at me now
We're feeling dumb with coke and rum, we raise a glass to it,
The underdogs oh
I throw my fingers to the ceiling and I won't give in,
Look at me now.
Putting a lot of effort and passion into something that may seem foolish, celebrating being underdogs with drinks, being defiant and determined.
Wait, give me a minute, just a minute, get my focus straight,
They're looking bored.
When did all my friends turn into fake IDs and skinny jeans?
I don't belong.
Asking for time to get focused, noticing that his friends are bored and wondering when they all turned into fake IDs and skinny jeans, feeling like he doesn't fit in.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cadburycat594
Damn, now all the pretty teens and fake IDs around me.
Where did they come from?
Oh, we'll never look like all the models in the movies,
We'll never know.
But tonight, call your friends down,
We're on our way now,
And I feel like shouting, oh, I feel like shouting.
Oh, tonight, it don't matter who you're from,
Tonight we're 21 under all these lights.
(Hey)
I put my heart, I put my soul, I put my life in it,
Look at me now.
(Hey)
We're feeling dumb with coke and rum, we raise a glass to it,
The underdogs.
oohh
(Hey)
I throw my fingers to the ceiling and I won't give in,
Look at me now.
Wait, give me a minute, just a minute, get my focus straight,
They're looking bored.
When did all my friends turn into fake IDs and skinny jeans?
I don't belong.
But tonight, call your friends down,
We're on our way now,
And I feel like shouting, oh, I feel like shouting.
Oh, tonight, it don't matter who you're from,
Tonight we're 21 under all these lights.
(Hey)
I put my heart, I put my soul, I put my life in it,
Look at me now.
(Hey)
We're feeling dumb with coke and rum, we raise a glass to it,
The underdogs.
oohh
(Hey)
I throw my fingers to the ceiling and I won't give in,
Look at me now.
@johnsinnott5419
6 years ago I graduated elementary school. 6 years ago I discovered this artist. 6 years ago this was the first song by AJR that I’ve heard. And today after rediscovering this magic, I’m moving onto my senior year.
@Iswofoa
thats so wack and so cool at the same time lmao
@djcontana2.0
Glad to hear it!
@knightoftime8948
Good to see that you’re still with us.
@johnsinnott5419
Yessir I’m graduated now
@knightoftime8948
@@johnsinnott5419 hell yeah! what kinda job are you planning on getting? any tips for high schoolers?
@jonnybuijze1770
After listening to Neotheater I've got to say this has got a Neotheater-ish vibe to it. Probably because of the dramatic instrumentals.
@AspenBreeze
I would agree
@kenspecks5093
yea
@joashgichuru1335
Sure dude