I'm Not Famous Explained

I'm Not Famous
Cover:I'm Not Famous AJR.jpg
Alt:The official cover artwork for "I'm Not Famous".
Type:single
Artist:AJR
Ep:What Everyone's Thinking The Click
B-Side:Weak
Genre:Indie pop[1]
Label:
Producer:Ryan Met
Prev Title:Call My Dad
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Weak
Next Year:2016

"I'm Not Famous" is a song by American indie pop band AJR. It was released as the lead single of their fourth EP What Everyone's Thinking via the band's label AJR Productions on March 24, 2016. It would later appear as the tenth track on their second studio album The Click (2017). The song lyrically takes pride in not being famous, listing positives while using upbeat pop instruments. Two music videos were released for the song.

Background and composition

After the success of their single "I'm Ready" and their debut studio album Living Room (2015), AJR received various fan questions about being famous.[2] The band would reply with "we're not famous", which inspired them to develop the song concept of "I'm Not Famous". The song aims to weaken society's obsession with fame, commentating on it to have listeners think less positively of it.[3]

"I'm Not Famous" was released on March 24, 2016, as the lead single of What Everyone's Thinking.[4] The song utilizes elements of jazz while maintaining the band's standard indie pop sound.[5] It additionally uses a V–vi–IV–I chord progression in the key of F major.

Music videos

A video for "I'm Not Famous" was directed and edited by AJR, and released on April 25, 2016.[6] The video primarily takes place in the streets of New York City, with lead singer Jack Met publicly traversing the city in a onesie to prove that he's not famous.[7] The video was filmed with a budget of $100, using a local YouTube Space to film some scenes.[8] Another video for "I'm Not Famous" featuring Legendary Shots was released on September 6, 2016, with the band performing in front of various stunts.[9]

Commercial performance

"I'm Not Famous" placed at number 25 on Sirius XM's Weekend Countdown for the week of August 27, 2016.[10] The song had little streaming success upon release, amassing 1.6 million plays on Spotify within its first six months of release.[5] It received higher commercial performance after the band released "Weak", with the success of the single echoing onto "I'm Not Famous".[11]

Track listings

Digital download

  1. "I'm Not Famous" – 3:40

US vinyl single[12]

  1. "I'm Not Famous" – 3:40
  2. "Weak" – 3:21

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[13]

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label
VariousMarch 24, 2016AJR
United StatesJune 2016Radio airplayBMG[14]
October 7, 20167-inch[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ABC News. 5 things to know about indie-pop band AJR. ABC News. April 14, 2017. http://web.archive.org/web/20170414202200/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/things-indie-pop-band-ajr/story?id=46798580. April 14, 2017. live. November 25, 2023.
  2. Web site: Espiritu. Camille. Interview: AJR. The Young Folks. en. October 26, 2016. April 16, 2024.
  3. Web site: Mastrogiannis. Nicole. INTERVIEW: AJR Lists Five Advantages Of Not Being Famous. iHeartRadio. en. July 7, 2016. April 16, 2024.
  4. Web site: Appleby. Madison. AJR Hits The Charts With "What Everyone's Thinking". Odyssey. en. October 4, 2016. April 16, 2024.
  5. Web site: Beyond The Stage. 'What Everyone’s Thinking' – AJR EP Review. Beyond the Stage Magazine. en. September 21, 2016. April 16, 2024.
  6. Web site: Lauren G. AJR release music video for "I'm Not Famous". Listen Here Reviews. en. April 26, 2016. April 21, 2024.
  7. Web site: idobi. AJR Releases New Music Video For "I'm Not Famous". idobi Radio. en. April 27, 2016. April 21, 2024.
  8. AJR. Making The Music Video - AJR "I'm Not Famous". YouTube video. Red Music. en. March 13, 2016. April 21, 2024.
  9. Web site: Kaufmann. Andy. Q&A with AJR. Music Connection. en. May 24, 2021. April 21, 2024.
  10. Web site: Carter. Caitlin. The Weekend Countdown with Spyder Harrison (8/27/2016). Sirius XM. en. August 29, 2016. April 16, 2024.
  11. AJR. AJRBrothers. 809855663904002048. Woahh Weak just hit 10 MILLION on Spotify what is happening. en. https://twitter.com/AJRBrothers/status/809855663904002048. December 16, 2016. April 16, 2024.
  12. I'm Not Famous / Weak. AJR. 2016. US vinyl single liner notes. AJR Productions.
  13. The Click. AJR. 2017. AJR Productions.
  14. Web site: Clark. Jeff. Gulfport native on tour with millennial indie rockers AJR. SunHerald. en. June 5, 2016. April 16, 2024.
  15. AJR. AJRBrothers. 780127107733225472. Gonna be selling these vinyl singles on tour, you know you want it. en. https://twitter.com/AJRBrothers/status/780127107733225472. September 25, 2016. January 7, 2024.