5 SECONDS OF SUMMER IS “NOT OK” AMIDST NEW SINGLE AND ALBUM ANNOUNCEMENT
If there’s one band that can keep reinventing the meaning of a word, it’s 5 Seconds of Summer. “Soon” is their word to change and warp as they please — and trust me, they do — but nothing was sooner than what occurred this past week.
Fans of the band have been patiently waiting for more music following the 2022 album 5SOS5, and were treated to a hint on Sept. 20, when a new website appeared and posters were spotted in cities around the world. The website, cheekily named yourfavoriteboyband.com referencing the long-running joke of the band’s hatred for that label, had all signs pointing to 5SOS. No one, however, expected the quick turn around that followed.
Almost immediately, a countdown appeared that would end Sept. 23 at 12 p.m. EST. As the countdown struck zero, another one appeared for Sept. 24 at the same time, along with a presave link to a single and a fun quiz to see who your favorite boyband would be. Of course, all the answers to the quiz were 5 Seconds of Summer. The website was particularly visually pleasing, popping with vibrant pinks and yellows, with confetti animation exploding on screen once fans finished the quiz. Along with the exciting news of a brand new song, the band’s Instagram account archived all of their posts besides the ones for the new era. Then, each member changed their profile pictures to floating heads dressed to fit their new aesthetic.
5 Seconds of Summer has had a long and memorable career. Starting way back in 2011, the band has continuously experimented with new sounds and changes to their appearances and performances. The band really came to light with their opening slot on One Direction’s Take Me Home and Where We Are tours in the early-to-mid 2010s. With five albums already under their belt, 5SOS shows no signs of slowing down.
The new album EVERYONE’S A STAR! is slated to drop on Nov. 14, with the first single “NOT OK” surprise dropping on Sept. 24 at 12 p.m. EST. The short break they took between 5SOS5, its subsequent tour and this new album, announced by Rolling Stone, was no hiatus. 5SOS has made it clear they have no plans of breaking up, with time off from the band allowing members to explore their own solo music. Guitarist Michael Clifford and bassist Calum Hood released their first solo projects this past year, joining vocalist Luke Hemmings’ and drummer Ashton Irwin.
Now, 5 Seconds of Summer is back and better than ever with “NOT OK.”
Graphic by Haley Petrone (Crave Music Magazine)
“NOT OK” is a breath of fresh air. 5 Seconds of Summer continuously transforms themselves and their sound, so it was exciting to hit play on this new single and be completely rejuvenated. The mix of music made for jumping and fun vocal filters work together to hype everyone up.
The sound of “NOT OK” is the most enticing part of this track. Added into the background are a collection of squeals and tire sounds that create intense auditory interest. The layers of vocals and talking are woven to create something no one’s ever heard before. If the album keeps up the excitement, it is sure to be a hit.
Everything about this new song is fun. Especially the lyrics. Every single line invokes a new feeling. The main content of the track spells out a new, dark and insane side of someone that gets brought out in a relationship. The chorus is a strong example:
“Hey, I'm not okay / I like the darker side of me, that part of me / Comes out to play when I'm with you, you / Bite the apple, baby”
“Bite the apple baby” was used in the teaser posts on 5 Seconds of Summer’s social media, and the way it was incorporated to “NOT OK” makes the promo worth it.
Straight off the bat, Hemmings’ first verse sets the scene for the mood of the song:
“Inside every one of us, a shadow side / I call it my better side / I call it the call-me-up-if-you-wanna-feel-better side / I'll put on my suit and tie to emphasize / You and I together, double homicide / Let's ride”
The word choice in this song gestures to it being more of a darker tone, more along the lines of what we saw in 2018’s Youngblood, with “double homicide,” “all my insane” and "darker side of me,” but the instrumental creates a juxtaposition that hurdles this song into the “greats” territory.
Overall, the entire track, along with the promotion and album announcement, create an invigorating era for this band.
