Here at the Honey POP, our job is to over-analyze everything music-related. So, we couldn’t pass up a chance to look at the backdrops in AJR’s latest music video. The video for ‘Inertia’ follows the November release of their fifth studio album, The Maybe Man, which you can see live during their 2024 arena tour. The shrunken versions of the three band members find themselves in some pretty interesting situations. Some of the settings that mini Adam, Jack, and Ryan appeared in passed by so quickly, so we needed to give the best ones the time they deserved.
Crumpled Jeans
True, this is one of the simplest of sets. But we can’t help but appreciate the idea that these are the skinny jeans that he’s worn since he was fifteen. Then, of course, we have to point out that a miniature Jack Met would not fit into these jeans. So whose jeans are you playing guitar on top of, Jack?
Freezer
The mini band members are certainly not the only ones enjoying this ski resort/freezer filled with Gatorade and leftovers. But everyone else engaging in setting-appropriate activities (ice-skating, snowman building, etc.) has frozen with the drinks. Don’t think the band’s instruments make them invincible, though. By 2:25, bassist Adam appears to have succumbed to the cold.
Lyrics
They’re singing on top of their own lyrics! How silly! The wide shot of this set shows a calendar with dates crossed off, piles of books, and staplers. When it zooms in on our three guys, the paper below them reads, “I guess this…” and later pulls out to reveal the rest of the song. Did they write the lyrics and then shrink? Did they write the letters as big as themselves? Or did they just have an over-active imagination after writing, “Why am I so tiny?” We may never know.
Trashed Desk
The end of the music video (spoilers) will reveal this desk to be the same one that holds the song lyrics, but here they are surrounded by a lit cigarette, a camera, a bottle, and a few broken pencils. Even though the last setting was a literal version of the lyrics, we think this one fits the theme of the song best. Tortured artist? Wondering where your life is going? Messy desk? These all go together.
@ajrbrothers Our new album The Maybe Man is now yours. Welcome to this strange, sad, confusing, beautiful world.
♬ original sound – AJR
Bonus: Plot Twist
So, who is really behind these piles of clothes, cluttered desks, plants with miniature graveyards, and bathroom counters strewn with pills (check out the full video for the last two)? The man behind it all appears right at the end, but just his hands. He flicks our heroes off piano keys, flips over their mini cars, and turns the page they’re standing on to reveal our final title: ‘Inertia.’
These little guys go all over the place during the three-minute video. It creates such a fun story, and we’ve left more settings for you to find yourself while you watch AJR’s latest masterpiece. If you have a favorite we didn’t mention, let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop!
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