Drama (AJR song)
| "Drama" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork used for the song's Spotify single. | ||||
| Single by AJR | ||||
| from the album The Click | ||||
| Released | May 12, 2017 | |||
| Studio | Sterling Sound (New York City) | |||
| Length | 3:24 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Ryan Met | |||
| AJR singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Lyric video | ||||
| "Drama" on YouTube | ||||
"Drama" is a song by American indie pop band AJR. It was released on May 12, 2017, via their own label AJR Productions as the second single from the band's second studio album, The Click (2017).
Background[edit]
"Drama" is described by the band as exactly what was happening at the time, pointing out the "most unimportant problems in life that everyone is obsessed with" such as interest in Katy Perry and Taylor Swift rather than major political issues.[1] The band later played the song live at Spotify's New York City studio, Sterling Sound, and released the recording alongside a cover of Khalid's song "Location" on August 11, 2017.[2]
Composition[edit]
"Drama" is composed in 4
4 time signature in the key of D major and follows a tempo of 156 beats per minute (bpm). The band took a hip-hop approach to the song, taking inspiration from Kendrick Lamar while incorporating their own sound.[3] During AJR's The Click Tour in 2018, they revealed the step-by-step production of the song, showcasing the use of distorted drums and snares, hi-hats, a "kinda dark and moody but also a little bit partyish" bassline, piano, violin, spoons, and a pitched-up vocal sample of Jack Met.[4]
Commercial performance[edit]
"Drama" was picked for iHeartRadio's song of the day on July 26, 2017.[5] Alongside a lyric video for the song,[6] the song was released to Billboard's Top 40 on August 8,[7] becoming the #3 most added song within the week through 25 stations.[6] Time additionally complimented "Drama", describing it as "calling attention to some of the more challenging elements of contemporary social life while maintaining unstoppable melodic momentum".[8]
Personnel[edit]
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[9]
- Adam Met – vocals, instruments, composer
- Jack Met – main vocals, instruments, composer
- Ryan Met – vocals, instruments, composer, producer
- Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer
- Tony Maserati – mixing engineer
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] | Tip |
References[edit]
- ^ AJR (August 2, 2017). "AJR Talks The Click, Jon Bellion and Shawn Mendes" (YouTube video). Zach Sang Show. Event occurs at 6:07. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ Bottomley, Andrew (August 21, 2017). "AJR – Spotify Singles". Busk Music. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Met, Ryan (July 30, 2017). ""HOW WE MADE: "DRAMA"". Twitter. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ Ogden, Matthew (October 18, 2018). "AJR Kicks Off Homecoming Week With Energetic Performance". Onward State. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ Ron (July 26, 2017). "#DAILYDOWNLOAD: AJR "Drama"". iHeartRadio. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Govel, Nicole (August 10, 2017). "AJR Unveils Lyric Video for New Single Drama". Trendsetter. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Sperry, Alan (July 20, 2017). "AJR; Live with Kelly and Ryan on July 24th Performing Current Single "Drama", 'What Everyone's Thinking Tour Part II' Underway Now". Denver Entertainment Hub. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Bruner, Raisa (May 12, 2017). "5 Songs You Need to Listen to This Week". Time. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ The Click (Media notes). AJR. AJR Productions. 2017.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "AJR – Drama" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 23, 2023.