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.
Afterhours
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 song AfterHours by AJR explores the idea of feeling like an outsider in a party scene filled with young, attractive people with fake IDs. The lyrics express the feeling of not fitting in, but ultimately choosing to embrace the party atmosphere and have a good time. The first verse sets the scene with the singer observing the people around them and feeling like they will never measure up to societal beauty standards. However, they then make the decision to enjoy the night with their friends, shouting and having fun despite feeling like outcasts. The second verse delves deeper into this feeling of not belonging, with the singer questioning when their friends became different and feeling disconnected from the party scene. Despite this, they still choose to let loose and raise a glass to the experience, feeling like underdogs and ultimately proving to themselves that they can fit in and have a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
Damn, now all the pretty teens and fake IDs around me.
I am suddenly surrounded by a group of attractive young people with fake identification cards.
Where did they come from?
I am curious about the origins of these individuals.
Oh, we'll never look like all the models in the movies,
We do not have the same physical attributes as those depicted in films.
We'll never know.
We cannot predict what the future holds.
But tonight, call your friends down,
Bring your friends with you tonight.
We're on our way now,
We are heading to a destination as a group.
And I feel like shouting, oh, I feel like shouting.
I have a strong urge to express my excitement and enthusiasm aloud.
Oh, tonight, it don't matter who you're from,
We do not care about your background or where you came from tonight.
Tonight we're 21 under all these lights
We are all equal and having a good time tonight.
I put my heart, I put my soul, I put my life in it,
I have invested my heart, soul, and life into this experience.
Look at me now
I am proud of my accomplishments and my current situation.
We're feeling dumb with coke and rum, we raise a glass to it,
We are enjoying ourselves with alcoholic beverages, and even though we may appear foolish, we are celebrating the moment.
The underdogs oh
We are the underdogs in this situation.
I throw my fingers to the ceiling and I won't give in,
I raise my hands in the air and refuse to give up or give in.
Wait, give me a minute, just a minute, get my focus straight,
Please allow me a moment to regain my composure and refocus my attention.
They're looking bored.
The people around me seem uninterested or unimpressed.
When did all my friends turn into fake IDs and skinny jeans?
I am confused about how my friends have changed and taken on new identities.
I don't belong.
I feel like I do not fit in or belong in this setting.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Adam Brett Metzger, Jack Evan Metzger, Ryan Joshua Metzger
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