Inertia (song) explained

Inertia
Cover:Inertia Acoustic.jpg
Caption:Acoustic version cover
Type:single
Artist:AJR
Album:The Maybe Man
Recorded:2022–2023
Genre:Pop
Length:3:40, 3:51
Label:Mercury
Producer:Ryan Met
Prev Title:Yes I'm a Mess
Prev Year:2023
Inertia
Year:2024

"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.

Background and composition

In 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 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

A 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] The video received over a million views in under a month.

Acoustic version

Shortly 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]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[8]

AJR

Technical

Additional musicians

"Inertia (Acoustic)"

Notes and References

  1. AJR. AJR Breaks Down "The Maybe Man". YouTube video. Zach Sang Show. English. 45:34. November 14, 2023. January 3, 2023.
  2. Web site: ABC Audio. Watch AJR's acoustic performance of 'The Maybe Man' song "Inertia". 98 KUPD. November 28, 2023. January 3, 2024.
  3. Web site: ABC Audio. AJR premieres video for 'The Maybe Man' track "Inertia". 105.7 The Point. November 29, 2023. October 29, 2023.
  4. Web site: Tarney. Caitlyn. Our Favorite Sets from AJR's 'Inertia' Music Video. The Honey POP. December 6, 2023. January 3, 2024.
  5. Web site: AJR. Very happy to share a sample of the VFX I made for @ajrbrothers INERTIA music video. Instagram. November 30, 2023. January 4, 2023.
  6. Web site: Becker. Sarah. AJR live in Philadelphia review: An experience like no other. AudioPhix. en. April 11, 2024. May 24, 2024.
  7. Web site: AJR. Okay we've heard you. Inertia acoustic comes out Friday . . YouTube video. en. May 21, 2024. May 24, 2024.
  8. Web site: Credits / The Maybe Man / AJR . November 10, 2023 . . January 3, 2023.