Weak (AJR song)

"Weak" is a song by American indie pop band AJR. It was first released on their EP What Everyone's Thinking on September 16, 2016, by their own label AJR Productions, and was later featured on their second studio album The Click (2017).

"Weak"
Single by AJR
from the album What Everyone's Thinking and The Click
B-side	"I'm Not Famous"
Released	September 16, 2016
Recorded	2016
Genre	Indie pop electropop
Length	3:22
Songwriter(s)	Adam Met Jack Met Ryan Met
Producer(s)	AJR
AJR singles chronology
"Let the Games Begin" (2015) "Weak" (2016) "Drama" (2017)

Background

In an interview, the band explained that the song is about balancing the need to give in to temptation with the importance of staying strong and resisting an urge.[1] This song is about a guy who tells himself that he will stop his bad habits such as drinking and smoking because it increases the likelihood of his bad behavior. However, things are harder than they seem and he can't refuse the bad offer when it hits him at the moment, he caves in and ultimately gives in.

Promotion

"Weak" was accompanied by a lyric video afterwards as a single release on October 20, 2016. A music video for the song was released on March 9, 2017 and has 58 million views as of April 24, 2020. The video depicts the group unconscious on a train with Jack Met waking up and struggling to traverse and leave. As he does so, Ryan and Adam appear in and out behind him performing their instruments. Jack finally walks towards the light at the end of the train and suddenly finds himself standing directly on the train track. He turns around just as a train barrels down the track and hits him.[2]

Chart performance

After the release of its lyric video, the song debuted on the Swedish chart at number 88, and at number 81 in Switzerland. It also entered the top 100 in Austria, Italy, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the Benelux, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, the song was used multiple times in the television show: "Temptation Island".

Track listing

Digital download

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Weak"	Adam Met Jack Met Ryan Met	AJR	3:22

Digital download – EP

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Weak" (Cheat Codes Remix)	2:57
2.	"Weak" (Party Pupils Remix)	3:34
3.	"Weak" (Gazzo Remix)	3:36
4.	"Weak" (Mike D Remix)	3:20
5.	"Weak" (Jaded Remix)	3:25
6.	"Weak" (Acoustic Version)	3:14

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2016–17) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] 37 Belarus (Unistar Radio Top 20)[4] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6] 33 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7] 78 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[8] 11 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[9] 36 Denmark (Tracklisten)[10] 2 Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 39 Ireland (IRMA)[12] 29 Italy (FIMI)[13] 62 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 8 Norway (VG-lista)[16] 8 Portugal (AFP)[17] 38 Scotland (OCC)[18] 86 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[19] 52 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[20] 26 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 23 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 62 UK Singles (OCC)[23] 58 US Billboard Hot 100[24] 73 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[25] 8 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 27

Year-end charts Chart (2017) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[27] 11 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[28] 93 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 20 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] 25

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31]	Platinum	70,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[32]	Gold	15,000
Belgium (BEA)[33]	Platinum	30,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)[34]	2× Platinum	160,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[35]	Gold	45,000
Germany (BVMI)[36]	Gold	200,000
Italy (FIMI)[37]	Gold	25,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[38]	Gold	15,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[39]	Silver	200,000
United States (RIAA)[40]	2× Platinum	2,000,000
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Weak (Stay Strong Mix)

"Weak (Stay Strong Mix)"
Stay Strong Mix artwork
Single by AJR featuring Louisa Johnson
Released	April 28, 2017
Recorded	2016–2017
Genre	Indie pop electropop dubstep
Length	3:19
Label	AJR Productions Black Butter
Songwriter(s)	Adam Met Jack Met Ryan Met
Producer(s)	Ryan Met
Louisa Johnson singles chronology
"Best Behaviour" (2017) "Weak (Stay Strong Mix)" (2017) "Unpredictable" (2017)

An official remix of the song, titled "Weak (Stay Strong Mix)", was released on April 28, 2017. This version of the song features vocals from English singer-songwriter Louisa Johnson. The remix charted on Tophit's Russia Airplay chart, peaking at number 6.[41]

Track listing

Digital download[42]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Weak (Stay Strong Mix)" (featuring Louisa Johnson)	3:19

Charts

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Russia Airplay (Tophit)[41]	6

References

1. "The Indie Pop Trio AJR Discuss Their Latest Tour With Ingrid Michaelson, Their Breakout Singles, Finishing Up At Columbia". November 28, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
2. "AJR - Weak (Official Video)". YouTube. AJR. March 9, 2017.
3. "Austriancharts.at – AJR – Weak" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
4. "Top 20 General" (in Russian). Unistar Radio Top 20. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017.
5. "Ultratop.be – AJR – Weak" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
6. "Ultratop.be – AJR – Weak" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
7. "AJR Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
8. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201731 into search. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
9. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201712 into search. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
10. "Track Top-40 Uge 11, 2017". Hitlisten. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – AJR – Weak". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
12. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Weak". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
13. "Classifica settimanale WK 9" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 18, 2017" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved May 5, 2017.
15. "Dutchcharts.nl – AJR – Weak" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
16. "VG-lista - AJR / Weak". VG-lista. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
17. "Portuguesecharts.com – AJR – Weak". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
19. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201737 into search. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
20. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201709 into search. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
21. "Sverigetopplistan - Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
22. "Swisscharts.com – AJR – Weak". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
23. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
24. "AJR Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
25. "AJR Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
26. "AJR Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
27. "Jaaroverzichten 2017". Ultratop. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
28. "Rapports Annuels 2017". Ultratop. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
29. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2017". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
30. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2017". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
31. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2020. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
32. "Austrian single certifications – AJR – Weak" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
33. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2017". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
34. "Canadian single certifications – AJR – Weak". Music Canada. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
35. "Danish single certifications – Ajr – Weak". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved January 9, 2018. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2018 to obtain certification.
36. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (AJR; 'Weak')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
37. "Italian single certifications – AJR – Weak" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 26, 2018. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Weak" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
38. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (AJR; 'Weak')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
39. "British single certifications – AJR – Weak". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 26, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Weak in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
40. "American single certifications – AJR – Weak". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 7, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
41. "Official Russia Top 100 Airplay Chart (week 26)" (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
42. "Weak (Stay Strong Mix) - Single by AJR [feat. Louisa Johnson]". Apple Music (US).