AJR, The Big Goodbye | Wacky Wednesday

In the 10^th edition of Wacky Wednesday (2026), we break down the unique “The Big Goodbye,” performed by AJR.

Do you know what day it is? It is Wednesday, folks! Do you know what that means? Why, it is Wacky Wednesday! In the spirited column Wacky Wednesday, we analyze, break down, and explore songs from various musicians of various genres that can be considered unique, unusual, or ‘wacky.’  These songs can be new or old; the only requirement is that they ‘catch the ears’ because of their distinctiveness.  With the background established, in the 10^th edition of Wacky Wednesday (2026), we break down the unique “The Big Goodbye”, performed by AJR. Wacky Wednesday vibes commence!

Indeed, AJR, indeed! The alt-pop trio, comprised of the Met brothers, Adam, Jack, and Ryan, dropped a B-I-G banger with “The Big Goodbye”.  “The Big Goodbye” is the fifth and final track from their 2025 EP, What No One’s Thinking. Ryan Met, Jack Met, Leroy Van Dyke, and Buddy Black penned “The Big Goodbye.” Ryan produced it. How he did so is fascinating, demonstrated in a YouTube short 🔻.

Notably, “The Big Goodbye” samples “The Auctioneer” by The Fortunairs Barbershop Quartet.  This vintage, a cappella, old-school sound sets the tone.  Initially, the sample’s pace is quick, matching the speed of an auctioneer – duh!  Ryan re-pitched and slowed down the sample, making the pace of the auctioneer slacken (“5 hundred 25, will you give me 30, make it 30, will you give me 40, will you give me 45”).

Eventually, “The Big Goodbye” settles into the expected, eccentric AJR alt-pop sound.  That sound is lush thanks to keys and strings, rhythmic, brassy, and ornate. Jack Met delivers bright, exuberant lead vocals in all their millennial glory (He’s technically elder Gen-Z, given his 1997 birth date). Like many an AJR song, there are incredibly tuneful melodies and distinct lyrics.  Kicking things off, Jack sings in the first verse, “I wrote a song ‘bout bein’ weak / Now I hear congratulations.” Facts, “Weak” is a big deal in the AJR musical catalog.  As the verse continues, he recalls other songs from their catalog, including a personal favorite, “100 Bad Days” (“The shows that no one came to”).  Beyond the verses, the melodies are tuneful during the pre-chorus and chorus, while the lyrics are unforgettable.  “And I should be so happy I could cry,” Jack asserts in the pre-chorus, and adds, “If this is what a happy end looks like.” Uh-oh, Jack, where are we going with this, buddy?  Why, the centerpiece, the chorus, which is intact with s- and f-bombs for the win!

“Someone tell me why

Why I’m all in my head

Why you’re all on my mind

Why it feels like my friends are leaving me behind

Why I miss all the shit I’ve seen a million times

… Why the town feels like home for the first time in years

Why’d  I need to be known? They fuckin’ know me here…”

During the post-chorus, the auctioneer loop returns, prefacing a brief second verse. “Oh, I wish I could take you all where I’m headin’,” Jack sings, and adds, “Guess I could FaceTime into all of your weddings.” That’s such an AJR thing to say! After another chorus, there is a bridge, which references a ten-year reunion.  After another auctioneer interlude, Jack concludes with the outro: “Then someday I’ll sing about the shit I did / And not the shit I’ll miss / Then my whole life can sound like this.” Word. All told, “The Big Goodbye” is a jam-packed alt-pop gem.

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AJR » What No One’s Thinking (EP) » AJR Productions » 2025

AJR, The Big Goodbye: Wacky Wednesday No. 10 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; AJR Productions; Vitaly Gorbachev from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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