Next Up Forever
{{Short description|2019 song by AJR}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Next Up Forever
| cover =
| alt =
| type = song
| artist = AJR
| album = Neotheater
| released = {{start date|2019|4|26}}
| recorded = 2018–2019
| studio =
| genre = Electropop{{cite web |last=Weinzapfel|first=Olivia|url=https://www.ballstatedaily.com/byte/article/2019/05/ajrs-neotheater-provides-songs-for-the-subjective-soul|title=AJR's 'Neotheater' provides songs for the subjective soul|website=Ball State Daily|language=en|date=May 1, 2019|accessdate=January 16, 2024}}
| length = 4:16
| label = * AJR Productions
| writer =
- Jack Met
- Ryan Met
| producer = Ryan Met
| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|type=song|{{YouTube|bTXu0deX2Co|"Next Up Forever"}}}}
}}
"Next Up Forever" is a song by American pop band AJR, appearing as the opening track on their third studio album Neotheater.
Background
After the success of the band's second studio album, The Click (2017), AJR began stressing if their career had peaked. The band took inspiration from this fear and put into their writing, preferring the feeling of anticipating something rather than having it.{{cite web |last=Steeves|first=Audrey|url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/ajr-neotheater-interview-2019|title=Interview: AJR Will Be Next Up Forever|website=Atwood Magazine|language=en|date=July 5, 2019|access-date=January 16, 2024}} AJR included "Next Up Forever" as the opening track of Neotheater, contrasting from their albums Living Room, The Click, and OK Orchestra with each containing an overture as the album's first song.{{cite web |last=Davis|first=Talia|url=https://breezejmu.org/culture/ajr-takes-a-risk-with-a-new-but-familiar-sound-on-new-album/article_d52e5c4e-69d9-11e9-8bf3-d3633703a161.html|title=AJR takes a risk with a new but familiar sound on new album|website=The Breeze|language=en|date=May 1, 2019|accessdate=January 16, 2024}}
Composition and production
{{primary sources|date=January 2024}}
File:AJR Neotheater Studio Screenshot.jpg
The song is composed in Time signature in the key of B-flat major and follows a tempo of 90 beats per minute (bpm). After the success The Click, AJR had a higher budget than their first two studio albums, so the band decided to spend more on their production. A live orchestra was in the studio, re-performing a synthesizer demo into saxophone, flute, and string instruments. AJR additionally hired Bruce Healey, a previous arranger for the Mellomen's music, to arrange the choir on "Next Up Forever".{{cite AV media |people=AJR|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcT_PUmYJXE|title=AJR Breaks Down Their New Album Neotheater|medium=YouTube video|publisher=Zach Sang Show|language=English|time=45:34|date=April 29, 2019|access-date=January 16, 2024}} Healey used recording equipment such as a Pacific Bell telephone from the 1940s to create an authentic close harmony choir sound rather than using plug-ins to emulate the sound. The song's drums take inspiration from "Pretty Girl Rock" by Keri Hilson.{{cite web |last=Met|first=Ryan|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BzY3HTyHtFq/?igshid=1vttos1ppem5j|title=How We Made: Next Up Forever|website=Instagram|language=en|date=July 1, 2019|accessdate=January 16, 2024}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web |title=Credits / Neotheater / AJR |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/107105985/credits |date=April 26, 2019 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=January 16, 2023}}
{{div col}}
- Adam Met – bass, backing vocals, composer
- Jack Met – lead vocals, instruments, composer
- Ryan Met – instruments, backing vocals, composer, producer, programming
- Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer
- Drew Allsbrook – audio mixing
- Joe Zook – mixing engineer
- Ruth Kornblatt-Stier – cello
- Emelia Suljic – violin
- Bruce Healey – choir arranger
{{div col end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Next Up Forever" ! scope="col"| Chart (2019) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|38|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=January 16, 2024}} |