AJ initially posted videos because “I needed to hear feedback from someone other than my parents,” he says with a laugh and nod to their devotion. “We were always singing at home, but when I saw how people were getting famous on social, I thought, ‘I want to do that.’’’ Only AJ hoped to get noticed for songwriting. “I wasn’t thinking other people would perform my songs until I started seeing how positively people were reacting to my singing,” he says. Then it was all about honing his vocal talent.
“I started practicing my runs to make sure I had them down,” says the 17-year-old, whose multifaceted range was highlighted early on in one of his first singles, “Used to Be,” a bittersweet pop/R&B track about a failing relationship he’d penned at the age of 13. The song, which showcases his silky, high tenor, became a crowd favorite during his premier showcase tour, which took him from New York to Los Angeles, where he now resides.
Boldly, his transition to L.A. was one he did alone, without his parents. “I needed to take a chance,” says the self-proclaimed “good kid,” who used to mow lawns before signing to Epic Records in 2018. “My parents always taught me not to procrastinate.” If he had, he might not have gained over 15 million plays on Spotify or performed at the legendary Roxy Theatre on Sunset, the same place where Prince, one of the first artists his parents ever played for him, once jammed. “It was crazy to be up on that stage,” he remembers. “And to see people singing a song that I wrote–it’s the best feeling.”
As a kid, AJ also listened to Stevie Wonder, Kiss, Coldplay, Billy Joel and the Beatles, a band he still loves and whose addictive melodies and lyrics have influenced his sound. Bruno Mars and Lil Wayne, two artists he also admires for their savvy writing skills, are huge inspirations as well.
AJ’s single “Girls,” off the EP Hopeful, proves his writing talent is infectious and that he’s out to evoke a specific vibe. “I want people to dance and be able to relate to my music,” he explains. “I want it to feel good.” Over a smooth bounce punctuated by ‘80s-evoking synths, AJ sings, “Girls / they get in my way / got myself thinking about ‘em all day / girls / they’re all I can see / I don’t care if they out of my reach.”
The singer-songwriter says the lyrics stemmed from the advice he’s received most often through his journey: Don’t get a girlfriend! “It’s good advice,” he laughs. “They can be distracting. But they give me a lot to write about.” Attached or not, he’ll find plenty to address on the road ahead.
AJ's debut album, SKYVIEW, was released on October 8, 2021. The tracklist includes the singles "Used to Be", "Slow Dance" featuring Ava Max, as well as "Cameras On" and "Stop", both of which were released in 2021 prior to the album's release.
Hopeful
AJ Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It′s true
Nothing good comes easy just like you, oh
Your smile
Your only self defense, it drives me wild, oh
I'm so persistent, I can′t walk away
'Cause you get close to me
Close enough I can taste it
Close enough, I can't take it, no
I lean in and you said "Not in a million years"
Come million-one, I′ll still be standing right here
No chance, no chance in hell
I ain′t going anywhere if you couldn't tell
I′m so hopeful
Something inside of my mind is sayin' "Be hopeful"
Something inside of your eyes is sayin′ "Be hopeful" (be hopeful)
The way that you're looking through mine is sayin′ "Be hopeful"
Hopeful, hopeful
I know
I know you know I know there's something more, oh
'Cause why?
You could′ve been anywhere tonight
But you′re by my side
I'm so persistent, I can′t walk away
Know your existence will just be a phase
'Cause you get close to me
Close enough I can taste it
Close enough, I can′t take it, no
I lean in and you said "Not in a million years"
Come million-one, I'll still be standing right here
No chance, no chance in hell
I ain′t going anywhere if you couldn't tell
I'm so hopeful
Something inside of my mind is sayin′ "Be hopeful" (be hopeful)
Something inside of your eyes is sayin′ "Be hopeful"
The way that you're looking through mine is sayin′ "Be hopeful"
Hopeful, hopeful, hopeful
I'm so persistent, I can′t walk away
Know your existence will just be a phase
'Cause you get close to me (close to me)
Close enough I can taste it (taste it)
Close enough, I can′t take it, no (take it)
Can't take it, no
Not in a million years (a million years)
Come million-one, I'll still be standing right here
No chance, no chance in hell (no chance in hell)
I ain′t going anywhere if you couldn′t tell
I'm so hopeful
Something inside of my mind is sayin′ "Be hopeful"
Something inside of your eyes is sayin' "Be hopeful"
The way that you′re looking through mine is sayin' "Be hopeful"
Hopeful, hopeful
The song "Hopeful" by AJ Mitchell is about the persistence of the singer in pursuing someone he is interested in. The lyrics describe how the person's smile is his only defense against AJ's advances and drives him wild. Despite being told "not in a million years," AJ continues to stand by this person's side and remain hopeful that they might one day give him a chance.
The chorus repeats the phrase "be hopeful," which is both a message to the person AJ is pursuing and a reminder to himself to stay positive and optimistic about his chances. He knows there is something more between them, as evidenced by the fact that this person could have been anywhere but chose to be by his side. The song ends with AJ reiterating his persistence and commitment to staying hopeful, despite the odds against him.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
Expression of surprise or admiration
It's true
Acknowledgement of the following statement
Nothing good comes easy just like you, oh
Comparison between the difficulty of a task and the complexity of the person referred to
Your smile
Expression of admiration towards the person's smile
Your only self defense, it drives me wild, oh
The person's smile is seen as their only defense mechanism and it attracts the singer
I'm so persistent, I can't walk away
The singer is determined and won't give up easily
Know your existence will just be a phase
The singer is aware that the person may not be a permanent fixture in their life
'Cause you get close to me
The person gets close physically or emotionally to the singer
Close enough I can taste it
The singer feels an intense connection with the person
Close enough, I can't take it, no
The intensity of the connection is overwhelming
I lean in and you said "Not in a million years"
The person rejects the singer's advances
Come million-one, I'll still be standing right here
The singer won't give up and will wait for them
No chance, no chance in hell
The person believes there is no possibility of a relationship happening
I ain't going anywhere if you couldn't tell
The singer won't leave the person's life regardless of their rejection
I'm so hopeful
The singer is optimistic about a possible relationship
Something inside of my mind is sayin' "Be hopeful"
The singer's inner voice encourages them to be optimistic
Something inside of your eyes is sayin' "Be hopeful" (be hopeful)
The singer perceives hopefulness in the person's eyes
The way that you're looking through mine is sayin' "Be hopeful"
The person's gaze makes the singer feel hopeful
Hopeful, hopeful
Repeated expression of the singer's optimism
I know
The singer is aware
I know you know I know there's something more, oh
The singer acknowledges the mutual attraction between them
'Cause why?
Rhetorical question meant to emphasize the following point
You could've been anywhere tonight
The singer acknowledges the fact that the person chose to spend time with them
But you're by my side
The singer expresses gratitude for the person's company
Close enough I can taste it (taste it)
Reiteration of the intensity of the connection
Close enough, I can't take it, no (take it)
Reiteration of the overwhelming feeling the connection produces
Can't take it, no
The singer repeats their inability to deal with the intensity of the connection
Writer(s): Svante Clas Halldin, Michael Pollack, Aj Mitchell, Jakob Gustav Hazell
Contributed by Mila A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
a healy
[Intro]
Oh
[Verse 1]
It's true
Nothing good comes easy just like you, oh
Your smile
Your only self defense, it drives me wild, oh
[Pre-Chorus]
I'm so persistent, I can't walk away
Know your existence will just be a phase
'Cause you get close to me
Close enough I can taste it
Close enough, I can't take it, no
[Chorus]
I lean in and you said "Not in a million years"
Come million-one, I'll still be standing right here
No chance, no chance in hell
I ain't going anywhere if you couldn't tell
[Post-Chorus]
I'm so hopeful
Something inside of my mind is sayin' "Be hopeful"
Something inside of your eyes is sayin' "Be hopeful" (be hopeful)
The way you look into my eyes sayin' "Be hopeful"
Hopeful, hopeful
[Verse 2]
I know
I know you know I know there's something more, oh
'Cause why?
You could've been anywhere tonight
But you're by my side
[Pre-Chorus]
I'm so persistent, I can't walk away
Know your existence will just be a phase
'Cause you get close to me
Close enough I can taste it
Close enough, I can't take it, no
[Chorus]
I lean in and you said "Not in a million years"
Come million-one, I'll still be standing right here
No chance, no chance in hell
I ain't going anywhere if you couldn't tell
[Post-Chorus]
I'm so hopeful
Something inside of my mind is sayin' "Be hopeful" (be hopeful)
Something inside of your eyes is sayin' "Be hopeful"
The way you look into my eyes sayin' "Be hopeful"
Hopeful, hopeful, hopeful
[Pre-Chorus]
I'm so persistent, I can't walk away
Know your existence will just be a phase
'Cause you get close to me (close to me)
Close enough I can taste it (taste it)
Close enough, I can't take it, no (take it)
Can't take it, no
[Chorus]
Not in a million years (a million years)
Come million-one, I'll still be standing right here
No chance, no chance in hell (no chance in hell)
I ain't going anywhere if you couldn't tell
[Post-Chorus]
I'm so hopeful
Something inside of my mind is sayin' "Be hopeful"
Something inside of your eyes is sayin' "Be hopeful"
The way you look into my eyes sayin' "Be hopeful"
Hopeful, hopeful
a healy
[Intro]
Oh
[Verse 1]
It's true
Nothing good comes easy just like you, oh
Your smile
Your only self defense, it drives me wild, oh
[Pre-Chorus]
I'm so persistent, I can't walk away
Know your existence will just be a phase
'Cause you get close to me
Close enough I can taste it
Close enough, I can't take it, no
[Chorus]
I lean in and you said "Not in a million years"
Come million-one, I'll still be standing right here
No chance, no chance in hell
I ain't going anywhere if you couldn't tell
[Post-Chorus]
I'm so hopeful
Something inside of my mind is sayin' "Be hopeful"
Something inside of your eyes is sayin' "Be hopeful" (be hopeful)
The way you look into my eyes sayin' "Be hopeful"
Hopeful, hopeful
[Verse 2]
I know
I know you know I know there's something more, oh
'Cause why?
You could've been anywhere tonight
But you're by my side
[Pre-Chorus]
I'm so persistent, I can't walk away
Know your existence will just be a phase
'Cause you get close to me
Close enough I can taste it
Close enough, I can't take it, no
[Chorus]
I lean in and you said "Not in a million years"
Come million-one, I'll still be standing right here
No chance, no chance in hell
I ain't going anywhere if you couldn't tell
[Post-Chorus]
I'm so hopeful
Something inside of my mind is sayin' "Be hopeful" (be hopeful)
Something inside of your eyes is sayin' "Be hopeful"
The way you look into my eyes sayin' "Be hopeful"
Hopeful, hopeful, hopeful
[Pre-Chorus]
I'm so persistent, I can't walk away
Know your existence will just be a phase
'Cause you get close to me (close to me)
Close enough I can taste it (taste it)
Close enough, I can't take it, no (take it)
Can't take it, no
[Chorus]
Not in a million years (a million years)
Come million-one, I'll still be standing right here
No chance, no chance in hell (no chance in hell)
I ain't going anywhere if you couldn't tell
[Post-Chorus]
I'm so hopeful
Something inside of my mind is sayin' "Be hopeful"
Something inside of your eyes is sayin' "Be hopeful"
The way you look into my eyes sayin' "Be hopeful"
Hopeful, hopeful
Giulia C.
Alex Dolan thank you!
L
Alex Dolan merci 😊
Aaliyah Hassan
Omg Dolan twins DO have another brother!!
Lena Oxton
Thank you💞
Carly
His voice is heaven😍❤️
Soleil Kabasele
I can sing way better
lay.00
@Soleil Kabasele bet
Grace .G
Omg I love the beat and just everything oml😂❤️❤️❤️your voice is so beautiful 😍
britany cortes
Lily Logan righttttt