In 2013, on the DizastaMusic YouTube channel, Miller created the video "Do the Harlem Shake (Original)," which originated from a clip of the video "Filthy Compilation #6 – Smell My Fingers",the video has been viewed 60 million times (as of February 2019). The original clip led to the creation of the Harlem Shake meme, which was directly responsible for the debut of Baauer's "Harlem Shake" song atop the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to the DizastaMusic channel (inactive since 2015), he has operated two other channels: TooDamnFilthy (a secondary channel) and TVFilthyFrank (main channel).
His absurdist YouTube channel, now defunct, consisted of music, rants, ukulele performances, and a bizarre show, with all of the main characters played by Miller including the titular character of Filthy Frank. He also produced absurdist comedy music under the moniker Pink Guy, with his discography spanning two full-length albums and an EP. His second album, Pink Season, debuted at number 70 on Billboard 200.
In late 2017, Miller retired from the YouTube channel to focus on his music career under the name Joji, producing more nuanced and serious music, releasing the EP In Tongues, which peaked at number 58 on the Billboard 200, and his debut studio album BALLADS 1, which reached number 1 on Billboard's top R&B and hip-hop chart in November 2018. With this, Miller became the first Asian artist to do so. Miller's music has been described as a mix between R&B and trip-hop. As of 2022, Joji has released two more studio albums: Nectar on September 25, 2020, and SMITHEREENS on November 4, 2022.
High Hopes
Joji Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
High hopes
High hopes
High hopes
A little messed up, do you feel it?
A little bit of this and a little bit of that
She wanna know which way I'm leanin'
And is it so bad if you need me?
Just a little bit, whoa, don't get rid of me
Ayy, but love is so blind when you feel it (so blind)
Can't defeat it, hope you feelin'-
High hopes
High hopes
High hopes
High hopes
I'ma talk like I don't really mean it, ayy
Bless me, St. John's, I'ma act like I don't really need it
But you see these funds, ayy, they gon' cheer me up, ayy
Brand new whip, sound like Cheerios, ayy, yeah, ayy
Wake me up, Rey Mysterio, ayy, yeah, ayy
Wipe my eyes, can't see clearly, though
I been on the block, boy move soft like some cereal, ayy, yeah
High hopes with you, man, I wanna see you again
High hopes with you, man, I wanna see you again
Yeah, yeah
I don't think you good at keepin' secrets
All the bags on the floor make you heated
Blind my eyes, boy too bright, got them sequins
And I hope you comin' back to cop that free shit
Let her cop that free shit
That's elite shit
High hopes
High hopes
In Joji's song "High Hopes," he sings of being in a state of confusion and uncertainty about how he is perceived by his partner. He begins by acknowledging that he is "a little messed up," and questions whether he is made of different parts. He admits that he needs his partner even if it's just a little bit, but he worries that he might be blind to love's faults. Throughout the song, he expresses his desire for a deep connection with his partner, but also hints at a reluctance to fully commit. He talks about "brand new whips" and "bags on the floor," suggesting that he is preoccupied with materialistic things.
Beyond these surface-level observations, the song's lyrics evoke a sense of longing and vulnerability. Joji's repeated refrain of "high hopes" is a kind of mantra, a plea for something better, a desire for a deeper connection. He talks about wanting to see his partner again, but also admits to being bad at keeping secrets. The juxtaposition of these conflicting feelings gives the song its emotional weight, creating a sense of tension that makes the listener want to know more about what's going on inside Joji's head.
Line by Line Meaning
High hopes
Expressing a desire for optimistic expectations.
High hopes
Expressing a desire for optimistic expectations.
High hopes
Expressing a desire for optimistic expectations.
High hopes
Expressing a desire for optimistic expectations.
A little messed up, do you feel it?
Questioning the listener's state of mind and asking if they can relate to feeling slightly unstable.
A little bit of this and a little bit of that
Acknowledging that life comes with a mixture of good and bad experiences.
She wanna know which way I'm leanin' (I'm leanin')
A woman Joji is interacting with wants to know more about his inclinations and intentions.
Am I really made of this, am I really made of that?
Joji is questioning if he has what it takes to get what he wants.
And is it so bad if you need me?
Asking if it is a negative thing to need the support of others.
Just a little bit, whoa, don't get rid of me
Joji is saying he can offer a little bit of help and doesn't want to be left behind.
Ayy, but love is so blind when you feel it (so blind)
Love can make people ignore logic and reason.
Can't defeat it, hope you feelin'-
Nothing can stop love, and Joji hopes the other person feels the same way he does.
I'ma talk like I don't really mean it, ayy
Joji is going to act like he is indifferent, even if he isn't.
Bless me, St. John's, I'ma act like I don't really need it
Joji is asking for good luck while pretending he doesn't need it.
But you see these funds, ayy, they gon' cheer me up, ayy
Money can make Joji happy.
Brand new whip, sound like Cheerios, ayy, yeah, ayy
Joji has a new car that sounds like the popular cereal Cheerios.
Wake me up, Rey Mysterio, ayy, yeah, ayy
Comparing himself to Rey Mysterio, a professional wrestler who is known for his resilience.
Wipe my eyes, can't see clearly, though
Joji is trying to clean his eyes so he can see better, but he is still struggling to make sense of things.
I been on the block, boy move soft like some cereal, ayy, yeah
Joji is moving around cautiously like a cereal snack that softens in milk.
High hopes with you, man, I wanna see you again
Joji has optimistic expectations about seeing the person he's talking to again.
High hopes with you, man, I wanna see you again
Joji has optimistic expectations about seeing the person he's talking to again.
Yeah, yeah
Affirming agreement with what was previously said.
I don't think you good at keepin' secrets
Joji implies that he thinks the other person isn't trustworthy with confidential information.
All the bags on the floor make you heated
The mess on the floor is irritating the other person.
Blind my eyes, boy too bright, got them sequins
The other person is shining too brightly, causing Joji to close his eyes.
And I hope you comin' back to cop that free shit
Joji hopes the other person will return and take advantage of the free items available to them.
Let her cop that free shit
Joji is encouraging someone to take advantage of the free items available to them.
That's elite shit
Joji approves of people who take advantage of free things.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Daniel Tannenbaum, Daniel D. Wilson, George Miller, Omar Velasco, Tyler Reese Mehlenbacher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ikewwww
[Joji:]
High hopes
High hopes
High hopes
High hopes
A little messed up, do you feel it?
A little bit of this and a little bit of that
She wanna know which way I'm leanin'
Am I really made of this, am I really made of that?
And is it so bad if you need me?
Just a little bit, woah, don't get rid of me, ayy
But love is so blind when you feel it (So blind)
Can't defeat it, hope you feelin'
High hopes
High hopes
High hopes
High hopes
[Omar Apollo:]
I'ma talk like I don't really mean it
Bless me St. John’s, I’ma act like I don’t really need it
Bet you see these funds, they gon cheer me up, ayy
Brand new whip, sound like cheerio (Yeah, yeah)
Wake me up, Rey Mysterio (Ayy, yeah)
Wipe my eyes, can't see clearly, though
I been on the block, boy move soft like some cereal, ayy ayy
High hopes, with you man, I wanna see you again
High hopes, with you man, I wanna see you again
I don't think you're good at keepin' secrets
All the bags on the floor make you heated, yeah
Blind my eyes boy too bright he got them sequins
And I hope you comin' back to cop that free shit
Let her cop that free shit
That's elite shit
[Joji:]
High hopes
High hopes
High hopes
High hopes
@MoFiTheMagnificent
I literally just got done writing an essay about Ballads 1 for class 10 minutes ago. It was for a time capsule.
Hey, a lot of you guys wanted to see what i wrote for my essay. Unfortunately, its a little rushed in order to meet the deadline (Due Thursday = Do Thursday) but I'm still proud of it...
For my time capsule, I have decided to choose Joji's debut studio album, Ballads 1. Joji has a big history on the internet. He started off as an internet personality, youtuber, and comedian but this was only to grab fans for his true intentions of becoming a singer. As an internet personality, Joji had several different personalities but his most famous one was "Filthy Frank". As a comedian, vlogger, Chef, Musician, satirist, and absolute madman, Filthy Frank was the edgiest man on the internet. He was described as the literal embodiment of "everything a person should not be", and that's what made him so unfathomably funny, though, he was very controversial which recently became a problem in Joji's music career. If you are a fan of dark satirical humor, I highly recommend his videos.
[Insert picture of filthy frank]
Joji was also responsible for starting the "Harlem Shake Dance" back in 2013 under another alias known as "Pink Guy". Unfortunately, creating such internet personalities became a major toll on Joji's mental health. He was known for being a method actor and his aliases were too much for him to reenact, even claiming that he was having seizures.
With the end of joji's career on Youtube, he began to focus on his music. Joji's most recent album is "Ballads 1". Joji is known for making sad melancholy rnb music and that vibe is pushed even futher in "Ballads 1". Personally, I classify the album in a subgenre of music known as bedroom pop. Bedroom pop is a form of lofi music the emphasizes on jazzy pop music that sounds like it has been recorded at a lower quality. Despite being Joji's first Studio album, Ballads undoubtedly has a lower quality feel to it given from the fact that he records a lot of his samples himself, supposedly in his bedroom. I'm a big fan of "Ballads 1" because it pushes the lofi medium in new directions that most people are unaware of. I believe it will be one of the driving factors to bringing lofi music to a mainstream audience which I believe to be very important because it is a form of music that anybody can create regardless of their audio equipment. Its a medium that focuses on the quality of the music, not the quality of the sound.
Another reason why I am a big fan of Joji's album "Ballads 1" is for its melancholy lyrics. Joji's lyrics are usually about a former love life that he once had but he is no longer in. His music can be very comforting for anyone who has been through a heartbreak or feels alone. One of my favorite songs from the album is "Attention" because Joji is able to get so much out of it with so little which holds the essence of everything lofi. The melody is literally only two notes on a piano going back and forth with another note an octave lower serving as a bass. Only two notes are ever playing at the same time yet he understands which notes he should play in order to still hold the song together. This gives him a lot more room to show off his vocals which he does flawlessly. Here is a video to the song if you would like to check it out.
[Insert video to Attention]
As music evolves, I personally want to push it in a direction that focuses on simplicity for individuals who are more than capable of making and writing music but don't have the best audio equipment. I enjoy music that doesn't have the best quality but is naturally good. If anything, this lower quality makes it charming and that's what I think about Ballads 1, as Joji might purposely distort his vocals or the bass to create a feeling of emotional fragility. With that being said, if lofi/bedroom pop music becomes a popular form of music in the future, I'd love them to know that Joji's first debut album, "Ballads 1" helped to make that a reality.
[Insert covert art for ballads]
@joji
Joji Presents: The Extravaganza
October 23rd. One Night Only Livestream Event
Tickets at: https://jojiextravaganza.com
@johnyboy228
Before 1 hour gang?
@jhondlerdospueblos3293
Before 1 hour here
@Danklovic
lol nice
@ethanpanes7510
Im broke af
@dion1291
im too poor to buy ticket rn :( atleast i got a joji spoon hehehe
@treasuretreereynolds1764
If it wasn’t for Shameless, I would not have known about this beautiful song and extremely talented and visionary artist. I’m an older lady, a product of 60’s and 70’s music. I usually don’t listen to this genre but damn, I’m hooked. 🎼
@erniemoorer5103
Me tooo! Shameless did it for me! This song is pure 🔥🔥🔥
@JustGENERALL
It showed me a Youtuber had more then just comedy to offer. Thanks Shameless sad ending to the show though.
@Matt-gh4kj
Same, here from shameless. I Absolutely LOVE this song. This playing during frank's final monologue and death sent chills down my spine