Dear Winter
| "Dear Winter" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by AJR | ||||
| from the album Neotheater | ||||
| Released | April 5, 2019 | |||
| Recorded | 2018 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:48 | |||
| Label | S-Curve | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Ryan Met | |||
| AJR singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Dear Winter" on YouTube | ||||
"Dear Winter" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on April 5, 2019 via S-Curve Records as the second single from the band's third studio album Neotheater.[2]
Background[edit]
Jack and Ryan Met attended Columbia University while writing and producing Neotheater. After the release of "Dear Winter", AJR put out a statement that "the song was a letter to [Ryan's] future child about the awkwardness of dating".[3] Ryan Met explains in an interview with iHeartRadio he wrote "Dear Winter" "after I asked a girl to hang out and she said no. And it wasn't quite a song about her, it was more of a song to my future kid about how strange and difficult it was to find their mom, and how weird it is to date in 2019".[4]
Ryan Met wrote the song in the living room of his and Jack's apartment in New York. When interviewed by Zach Sang on Zach Sang Show on the topic of him writing "Turning Out Pt. II" and "Dear Winter", Ryan says "I think my emotion, if it's used for something, to help someone else, or just to be out there, is a lot more valid than if it just disappears forever". Ryan also states that the song is his favorite on the album from a songwriting standpoint, while Jack states it's his favorite song Ryan wrote.[5]
Composition[edit]
"Dear Winter" is composed in 4
4 common time and in the key of F major, with a tempo of 94 beats per minute (bpm).
Music video[edit]
The official music video was released on April 5, 2019. Jack Met appears alone on a boat in a lake and performs the song on acoustic guitar. As of August 2023, the music video on YouTube has received over 13 million views.
Personnel[edit]
Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]
- Adam Met – backing vocals, composer
- Jack Met – main vocals, composer
- Ryan Met – backing vocals, instruments, composer, producer
- Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer
- Joe Zook – audio mixing
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[7] | 30 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[8] | 21 |
| US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[9] | 39 |
2.0 version[edit]
| "Dear Winter 2.0" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by AJR | ||||
| from the album Neotheater | ||||
| Released | October 25, 2019 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:50 | |||
| Label | S-Curve | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| AJR singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
On October 24, 2019, AJR announced on Twitter that a version of "Dear Winter" with different production would be released the next day.[10] The version received additional production from Michael Mangini with vocal effects and added instruments such as drums, strings, and synths.[11][12] The single released October 25, 2019.[13] "Dear Winter 2.0" along with "Bang!" were intended for a deluxe edition of Neotheater, but was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]
Composition[edit]
"Dear Winter 2.0" is composed in 4
4 common time and in the key of F major, with a tempo of 94 beats per minute (bpm).
Personnel[edit]
Credits adapted from Tidal.[15]
- Adam Met – backing vocals, instruments, composer
- Jack Met – main vocals, instruments, composer
- Ryan Met – backing vocals, instruments, composer, producer
- Michael Mangini – drums, producer, mastering engineer, programming
- Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer
- Joe Zook – audio mixing
- Dillon Kondor – electric guitar
- Emily Brausa – strings
- Yasmin De Soiza – strings
References[edit]
- ^ Met, Jack (June 10, 2019). "AJR [LIVE Acoustic Performance]". YouTube. Event occurs at 18:28. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Snyder, Brett (April 15, 2019). "AJR's Dear Winter Hits All The Feels". Better Spins. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Coes, Keith (October 19, 2019). "AJR - Dear Winter". Lightning 100. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Fields, Taylor (November 8, 2019). "AJR Opens Up About the Meaning Behind Their Candid Single 'Dear Winter'". iHeartRadio. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Met, Ryan (April 29, 2019). AJR Breaks Down Their New Album Neotheater (YouTube video). Zach Sang Show. Event occurs at 58:40. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ "Credits / Dear Winter / AJR". Tidal. April 5, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ "AJR Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ "AJR Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ "AJR Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ "We reimagined Dear Winter, changing the production and upping the emotion. Dear Winter 2.0 comes out tomorrow". Twitter. October 24, 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Vagabond, Rick (April 27, 2020). "AJR's "Neotheather" [Review]". Rick Vagabond. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Snyder, Brett (October 28, 2019). "AJR Releases Dear Winter 2.0". Better Spins. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Bosch, Eva (October 25, 2019). "AJR Release New Version Of "Dear Winter"". Strife Mag. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Met, Ryan (April 20, 2020). "Breaking down the production of Three-Thirty, Next Up Forever and Bang!". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ "Credits / Dear Winter 2.0 / AJR". Tidal. October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2023.