"Yes I'm a Mess" | ||||
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Single by AJR | ||||
from the album The Maybe Man | ||||
Released | September 29, 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2020–2023 | |||
Length | 2:44 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Ryan Met | |||
AJR singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Yes I'm A Mess" on YouTube |
"Yes I'm a Mess" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on September 29, 2023, via Mercury Records as the fifth single from the band's fifth studio album The Maybe Man .
AJR began writing a concept for an "old western/hip hop" song, titling it "So What" and creating a demo on March 27, 2020. It was intended to be released on OK Orchestra , but was met with negative reactions from friends and family. The band wrote five more iterations before settling on "Yes I'm a Mess", with the lyrical idea of "throwing out your life, moving to another city, [and] just tak[ing] it from scratch". [1]
The song first teased on YouTube on August 9, 2023, featuring an instrumental clip of the song with the band in Pula. [2] More teasers were published on August 13, August 22, September 12, September 16, and September 22 before its release date was announced on September 25, 2023. "Yes I'm a Mess" was teased again on September 26 before releasing on September 29, 2023. [3] In relation to the song being the last single of The Maybe Man before release, [4] the band stated "we put absolutely everything we had into this album, visuals, and tour. Down to every little detail. Get ready to immerse yourself in this world". [5] [6]
"Yes I'm a Mess" is composed in 4
4 time signature in the key of D minor and primarily follows a tempo of 92 beats per minute (BPM). [7]
A music video for "Yes I'm a Mess" was released on October 25, 2023, and was directed by Adam Met, Jack Met, Ryan Met, Austin Roa, Libby Sears, Pranav Arora, Cat Capps, Alba Avoricani, and Rob Piccione. The band claimed they spent three weeks attempting to produce a high-budget video that they found unsatisfactory, so they quickly filmed a low-budget video that they liked more. The video features Jack in Times Square dressed up as Elmo; later in the video, he ends up being chased by the NYPD due to a lack of permit. [8]
AJR
Additional personnel
Chart (2023–2024) | Peak position |
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New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [9] | 16 |
US Adult Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [10] | 26 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [11] | 24 |
US Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [12] | 24 |
US Rock Airplay ( Billboard ) [13] | 17 |
AJR is an American indie pop band founded by brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met, collectively a trio of vocalists, multi-instrumentalists, and songwriters. The brothers grew up in New York City, primarily focused on busking and singing covers until releasing their first album, Living Room, on March 3, 2015. As of 2024, the band has produced and released five studio albums on the independent label AJR Productions that have been distributed by various record labels.
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The Click is the second studio album by American indie pop band AJR. It was released on June 9, 2017, via the band's label AJR Productions and S-Curve Records, later released internationally through Ultra Records and Black Butter Records. The album follows the trio's previous work, maintaining a pop sound with elements of hip-hop, electronic dance music, and jazz. It includes a sole guest appearance from Rivers Cuomo of the band Weezer while taking influence from Fun, Twenty One Pilots, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West.
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