3 O'Clock Things

AJR began writing the song with the intent of creating a "stream of consciousness" song, grabbing thoughts that would be had at 3 AM and weighing if others would have an instant feeling from it. Each line is taken from different one-sided perspectives, with the song's final line "if you're fuckin' racist, then don't come to my show" tying in as one thought given as a fact rather than an uncertainty.{{cite AV media |last=AJR|date=March 30, 2021 |title=AJR Breaks Down Their New Album "OK ORCHESTRA" |medium=YouTube video |language=English |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pfg6AJ8WCc |access-date=October 29, 2023 |time=42:52 |publisher=Zach Sang Show}} During live performances, the line is often shouted by the audience.{{cite web |author=AJR|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzDoLOhE24I|title=One thing I know|website=YouTube|date=June 8, 2023|accessdate=October 29, 2023}}

"3 O'Clock Things" is composed in Time signature in the key of B major and follows a tempo of 94 beats per minute (bpm). The song's intro and bridge vocal melodies were inspired by close-harmony choirs featured in the 1940s jump blues song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", similarly to the band's previous album, Neotheater, which took inspiration from 1930s barbershop quartets. The Beu Sisters perform these vocal sections in "3 O'Clock Things".{{cite AV media |last=AJR|date=March 30, 2021 |title=AJR Breaks Down Their New Album "OK ORCHESTRA" |medium=YouTube video |language=English |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pfg6AJ8WCc |access-date=October 29, 2023 |time=51:33 |publisher=Zach Sang Show}}

On June 23, 2021, a video directed by Jack Met and Edoardo Ranaboldo was released.{{cite web |author=iHeartMedia|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-06-25-new-ajr-vid-3-oclock-things-official-video/|title=New AJR Vid! 3 O'Clock Things (Official Video)|website=iHeartRadio|date=June 29, 2021|accessdate=October 29, 2023}} The music video features AJR absent of Jack, with the band's lighting designer Ezra Donellan taking his place.{{cite web |last=Maeoka|first=Toshio|url=https://www.pmstudio.com/music/music.html?page=20210624-14184|title=AJR Shares New Music Video for "3 O'Clock Things"|website=pm studio|date=June 24, 2021|accessdate=October 29, 2023}} Donellan recreates scenes from previous AJR music videos with the other members, including "I'm Not Famous", "Dear Winter", "Sober Up", "Bang!", "My Play", "Bummerland", "Way Less Sad", "OK Overture", "Come Hang Out", and "Weak", while additionally recreating a Jimmy Kimmel Live! performance of "Way Less Sad" and an interview with Zach Sang.{{cite web |last=Louie|first=Philip|url=https://philiplouie.com/2021/06/23/ajr-3-oclock-things-music-video-first-reactions/|title=AJR: "3 O'Clock Things" Music Video (First Reactions)|website=Philip's Music Corner|date=June 23, 2021|accessdate=October 29, 2023}} The music video's audio was mixed with 360 Reality Audio, which was released onto streaming services the next day.{{cite web |url=https://music.com/story/3703/ajr-ajr-3-o-clock-things|title=The Story of AJR - 3 O'Clock Things|website=Music.com|date=June 24, 2021|accessdate=October 29, 2023}}

Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web |title=Credits / OK ORCHESTRA / AJR |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/174275317/credits |date=March 26, 2021 |publisher=Tidal |accessdate=October 29, 2023}}

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• Adam Met – vocals, instruments, composer
• Jack Met – lead vocals, instruments, composer
• Ryan Met – vocals, instruments, composer, producer
• The Beu Sisters – vocals
• Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer
• Joe Zook – mixing engineer
• Chris Berry - drums
• Arnetta Johnson - trumpet
• Josh Plotner - flute
• Danny Ferenbach - violin
• Emelia Suljic - violin
• Ruth Kornblatt-Stier - cello
• Alba Avoricani - backing vocals

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Category:AJR songs

Category:2021 songs