Yes I'm a Mess
{{Short description|2023 single by AJR}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Yes I'm a Mess
| cover = Yes I'm a Mess-The Dumb Song.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Album track list insert
| type = single
| artist = AJR
| album = The Maybe Man
| B-side = Inertia
| released = {{start date|2023|09|29}}
| recorded = 2020–2023
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 2:44
| label = Mercury
| writer = *Jack Met
- Adam Met
- Ryan Met
| producer = Ryan Met
| prev_title = God Is Really Real
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title = Inertia
| next_year = 2024
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|22Iot0IbkjQ|"Yes I'm A Mess"}}}}
}}
"Yes I'm a Mess" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on September 29, 2023, via Mercury Records as the fifth single from the band's fifth studio album The Maybe Man.
Background
AJR began writing a concept for an "old western/hip hop" song, titling it "So What" and creating a demo on March 27, 2020. It was intended to be released on OK Orchestra, but was met with negative reactions from friends and family. The band wrote five more iterations before settling on "Yes I'm a Mess", with the lyrical idea of "throwing out your life, moving to another city, [and] just tak[ing] it from scratch".{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M93sOEtrWlw|title=AJR Breaks Down "The Maybe Man"|medium=YouTube video|publisher=Zach Sang Show|language=English|time=42:11|date=November 14, 2023|access-date=December 8, 2023}}
The song first teased on YouTube on August 9, 2023, featuring an instrumental clip of the song with the band in Pula.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xBXSCAZCl-M|title=It begins.|website=YouTube|date=August 9, 2023|accessdate=September 29, 2023}} More teasers were published on August 13, August 22, September 12, September 16, and September 22 before its release date was announced on September 25, 2023. "Yes I'm a Mess" was teased again on September 26 before releasing on September 29, 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.movin925.com/new-music-friday-ed-sheeran-ajr-and-more/|title=New Music Friday: Ed Sheeran, AJR and more|website=MOViN 92.5|date=September 29, 2023|accessdate=October 1, 2023}} In relation to the song being the last single of The Maybe Man before release,{{cite web |last=Maeoka|first=Toshio|url=https://www.pmstudio.com/music/20230930-20997|title=AJR Releases New Song "Yes I'm A Mess"|website=pm studio|date=September 30, 2023|accessdate=October 2, 2023}} the band stated "we put absolutely everything we had into this album, visuals, and tour. Down to every little detail. Get ready to immerse yourself in this world".{{cite web |url=https://www.1057thepoint.com/music-news/ajr-releases-new-song-yes-im-a-mess-off-upcoming-the-maybe-man-album/|title=AJR releases new song "Yes I'm a Mess" off upcoming 'The Maybe Man' album|website=105.7 The Point|date=September 29, 2023|accessdate=October 1, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Elbl|first1=Allison|last2=Price|first2=Alexa|url=https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/ajr-new-single-yes-im-a-mess-out-now|title=Multi-Platinum Chart-Topping Band AJR Are Back With Anthemic New Single "Yes I'm A Mess" Out Now |website=Shore Fire Media|date=September 29, 2023|accessdate=October 1, 2023}}
Composition
"Yes I'm a Mess" is composed in Time signature in the key of D minor and primarily follows a tempo of 92 beats per minute (BPM).{{cite web |last=Faulkner|first=Brent|url=https://themusicalhype.com/ajr-yes-im-a-mess-track-review/|title=AJR, Yes I'm A Mess {{!}} Track Review|website=The Musical Hype|date=October 3, 2023|access-date=October 7, 2023}}
Music video
A music video for "Yes I'm a Mess" was released on October 25, 2023, and was directed by Adam Met, Jack Met, Ryan Met, Austin Roa, Libby Sears, Pranav Arora, Cat Capps, Alba Avoricani, and Rob Piccione. The band claimed they spent three weeks attempting to produce a high-budget video that they found unsatisfactory, so they quickly filmed a low-budget video that they liked more. The video features Jack in Times Square dressed up as Elmo; later in the video, he ends up being chased by the NYPD due to a lack of permit.{{cite web |url=https://www.1057thepoint.com/music-news/ajrs-jack-met-is-an-elmo-on-the-run-in-new-video-for-yes-im-a-mess/|title=AJR's Jack Met is an Elmo on the run in new video for "Yes I'm a Mess"|website=105.7 The Point|date=October 26, 2023|accessdate=October 27, 2023}}
Personnel
AJR
- Adam Met – instruments, composer
- Jack Met – lead vocals, instruments, composer
- Ryan Met – instruments, composer, producer, programming
Additional personnel
{{div col}}
- Dale Becker – mastering engineer
- Noah McCorkle – assistant mastering engineer
- Katie Harvey – assistant mastering engineer
- Rob Piccione – backing vocals, engineer
- The Beu Sisters – backing vocals
- Kent Lucas – backing vocals
- Ryan Chernin – backing vocals
- Ezra Donellan – backing vocals
- Joe Zook – mixing engineer
{{div col end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Yes I'm a Mess" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023–2024) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2023-10-06|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=October 9, 2023|access-date=October 7, 2023}}
| 16 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|26|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=February 13, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|24|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=November 21, 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|24|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=January 14, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrockairplay|17|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=January 25, 2024}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Yes I'm a Mess" ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/hot-rock-songs/|title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 24, 2025}}
| 83 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{AJR songs}}
{{authority control}}