"Way Less Sad" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on February 17, 2021 via S-Curve Records as the fourth single from the band's fourth studio album OK Orchestra.[1] It is an uptempo pop song that features a trumpet with lyrics about mental health.

"Way Less Sad"
Cover artwork for the Cash Cash remix of "Way Less Sad"
Single by AJR
from the album OK Orchestra
Released	February 17, 2021 (2021-02-17)
Recorded	2020
Genre	Pop
Length	3:26
Label	S-Curve
Songwriter(s)	Jack Met Adam Met Ryan Met Paul Simon
Producer(s)	Ryan Met
AJR singles chronology
"My Play" (2020) "Way Less Sad" (2021) "World's Smallest Violin" (2021)
Music video
"Way Less Sad" on YouTube

Background

AJR created the song in the living room of their apartment in New York. In an interview with ABC News Radio, they said, "So much of last year felt apocalyptic and this year we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Things aren't back to normal yet but we should be celebrating the small wins, even if they seem trivial."[2][3]

Composition and content

"Way Less Sad" is a happy pop song that features a trumpet with an upbeat tempo, sampled from Simon and Garfunkel’s “My Little Town,” and the lyrics describe the path of discussing mental health.[4][5]

Music video

The official music video was released on February 17, 2021. They performed at a number of New York City well-known locations, including the TWA terminal at the John F. Kennedy International Airport and Jane's Carousel in Brooklyn.[6] The video is AJR's fastest growing YouTube video, grossing over 18 million views as of June 2022.

Other uses

The song, along with Bummerland, was used in American baseball promotions for ESPN as their official anthem for the 2021 Major League Baseball season.[7]

Charts

References