"Inertia" is a song by American pop band AJR. It appears as the fifth track on the band's fifth studio album, The Maybe Man, released on November 10, 2023 through Mercury Records. An acoustic recording of the song was later released as a single on May 24, 2024.
| "Inertia" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Acoustic version cover | ||||
| Single by AJR | ||||
| from the album The Maybe Man | ||||
| Released | November 10, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2022–2023 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:40, 3:51 (acoustic) | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Ryan Met | |||
| AJR singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Inertia" on YouTube | ||||
Background and composition
editIn 2022, band member Ryan Met had a bank teller friend who often stated "but you know, inertia" in response to his own discontentment with his career. The song's melody and title were interpolated from this moment, with the hook being sung by Ryan and backing vocalist Cat Capps. The remainder of the song's vocals are led by Jack Met, who lyrically lists other life examples to which the scientific concept of inertia applies. "Inertia" is primarily composed in 6
8 time in the key of D-flat major at a tempo of 88 beats per minute (bpm), changing to E-flat major during the final chorus.[1] The song released on November 10, 2023 as the fifth track of The Maybe Man.[2]
Music video
editA music video for "Inertia", directed by Edoardo Ranaboldo, was released on November 29, 2023.[3] The video features the band shrunken down and playing the song around comparably larger objects such as a piano, a book, beverages, and other common items, even a notebook with the song's lyrics written on it.[4] This effect was achieved using a green screen to film the band and macro shots of the objects to alter their size appearance.[5][non-primary source needed] The video received over a million views in under a month.
Acoustic version
editShortly after the release of "Inertia", AJR published a short snippet of an acoustic performance on social media.[2] Throughout early 2024, the band continued to release teaser videos featuring the recording.[6] On May 21, the recording was announced to release on May 24, 2024, where it then became the album's sixth single.[7][non-primary source needed]
Personnel
editCredits adapted from Tidal.[8]
AJR
- Adam Met – bass guitar
- Jack Met – lead vocals, drums
- Ryan Met – instruments, production, programming
Technical
- Dale Becker – mastering engineer
- Joe Zook – mixing engineer
- Katie Harvey – assistant mastering engineer
- Noah McCorkle – assistant mastering engineer
- Brandon Hernandez – assistant mastering engineer
Additional musicians[a]
- Ariel Gendler – additional vocals
- Ruth Kornblatt-Stier – cello
- Emelia Suljic – violin
- Rob Piccione – engineer, backing vocals
- Dane Hagen – guitar, backing vocals
- Cat Capps – backing vocals
- Austin Roa – backing vocals
- Ezra Donellan – backing vocals
- Jabari Golding – backing vocals
"Inertia (Acoustic)"
- Adam Met – bass guitar
- Jack Met – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Ryan Met – instruments, production, programming
- Arnetta Johnson – trumpet
- Ginny Luke – strings
- ^ Original version only
Charts
edit| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[9] | 34 |
References
edit- ^ AJR (November 14, 2023). AJR Breaks Down "The Maybe Man" (YouTube video). Zach Sang Show. Event occurs at 45:34. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ a b ABC Audio (November 28, 2023). "Watch AJR's acoustic performance of 'The Maybe Man' song "Inertia"". 98 KUPD. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ ABC Audio (November 29, 2023). "AJR premieres video for 'The Maybe Man' track "Inertia"". 105.7 The Point. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ Tarney, Caitlyn (December 6, 2023). "Our Favorite Sets from AJR's 'Inertia' Music Video". The Honey POP. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ AJR (November 30, 2023). "Very happy to share a sample of the VFX I made for @ajrbrothers INERTIA music video". Instagram. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ Becker, Sarah (April 11, 2024). "AJR live in Philadelphia review: An experience like no other". AudioPhix. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ AJR (May 21, 2024). "Okay we've heard you. Inertia acoustic comes out Friday 🎻". YouTube (YouTube video). Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ "Credits / The Maybe Man / AJR". Tidal. November 10, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "AJR Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2024.