Just Say When Explained

Just Say When
Type:single
Artist:Nothing More
Album:The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Recorded:2016–2017
Genre:Soft rock
Label:Eleven Seven
Producer:Nothing More, Will Hoffman
Prev Title:Do You Really Want It?
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Tired of Winning
Next Year:2022

"Just Say When" is a song by American rock band Nothing More. It was their third single off of their album The Stories We Tell Ourselves. It peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in September 2018.

Background

In December 2017, after Nothing More earned three Grammy Award nominations, one for the album The Stories We Tell Ourselves (Best Rock Album), and two for its first single, "Go to War" (Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song), the president of the band's record label, Eleven Seven Music, announced plans to release the track "Just Say When" as a single.[1] This was due to the belief that the softer sound of "Just Say When" was most likely out of the album to appeal outside of the band's core hard rock fanbase and into the alternative rock, indie rock, and pop music radio stations and markets, in an effort to maximize the band's exposure from the Grammy Nominations.[1] While the band would ultimately release the hard rock "Do You Really Want It?" as the album's second single,[2] [3] the band later released "Just Say When" as the third single. The song, alongside an accompanying music video, was released on April 27, 2018.[4] The video was directed by Daniel Cummings and recorded at El Paso International Airport.[5] The video involves a man chasing after a woman, catching up to her, slow dancing with her, only to have one fall to their knees while the other ends up running away.[6] A lyric video had also previously been released in August 2017, as a promotional effort prior to the album's release.[7]

Themes and composition

Frontman and lyricist Johnny Hawkins described the song as being about his emotionally difficult divorce.[8]

Musically, the song was described as an outlier for the band and album; while much of their music has a heavier, hard rock sound, the song was described as an acoustic ballad, consisting of just vocals, acoustic guitar, and strings,[9] and having a pop punk ballad influence.[10]

Personnel

Band

Addition musicians and Production

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Their work ethic will make them one of the biggest bands in the world": How Nothing More scooped three Grammy nominations.
  2. Web site: Nothing More Ask 'Do You Really Want It?' in New Video. Loudwire.
  3. Web site: Watch now: Nothing More debuts hard-rocking "Do You Really Want It?" video. Midwest Communications. Inc.. Rock 94.7. 11 January 2018.
  4. Web site: NOTHING MORE Releases 'Just Say When' Video. 27 April 2018.
  5. Web site: Nothing More Unveil New Video, Just Say When — Kerrang!. Kerrang!.
  6. Web site: Nothing More Soundtrack Airport Connection With 'Just Say When'. Loudwire.
  7. Web site: Nothing More drop lyric video for new song 'Who We Are' from upcoming album.
  8. Web site: Nothing More's Jonny Hawkins on Grammy Nods: 'We're Standing on the Shoulders of Giants'.
  9. Web site: Nothing More Release Heartfelt New Song 'Just Say When'. Loudwire. 7 December 2017.
  10. Web site: Nothing More - The Stories We Tell Ourselves album review. October 9, 2017. Teamrock.com. 20 December 2017.
  11. Web site: Nothing More Chart History.