COMM 380: Media Criticism
John Mayer: 'Born and Raised' in the Media
by Mackenzie Bailey, '17
Major: Communication, Electronic Journalism
The Artist
An extremely talented native from Fairfield, Connecticut with a relatively bad reputation, John Mayer has become one of the most well known names in the music industry. Known for his thought-provoking lyrics and mind-blowing guitar playing, everybody has grown to know and love at least one song. Beginning with the release of his first album Room for Squares in 2002, and ending with his most recent album Paradise Valley in 2013.
Born in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1977, John Mayer did not show a huge interest in music until he was 13 years old. Once his father rented him a guitar and got involved with lessons, his obsession became something of a concern to his parents. Richard and Margaret Mayer even took John to a psychiatrist to break what they saw as an “addiction” to playing guitar, although he quickly put an end to those visits.
Insistent on dropping out of school, Mayer’s parents refused to let him drop out of school. In an interview with ABC in 2007 Mayer says “’I remember asking my mom, 'Mom, will you please let me drop out?’”, which his mother repeatedly refused to give in to. Once graduated, Mayer worked at a gas station as a full-service attendant for $7 an hour, and used the money he saved to buy a guitar (People). After purchasing his own guitar, Mayer attended the Berkelee College of Music in Boston, and dropped out after two years and moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he says he really feels alive, and refers to the city as his “musical home” (People).
Once Mayer released his album in 2002, his career instantly took off. Singles “Your Body is a Wonderland” and “No Such Thing” aided in the instant popularity of the album, resulting in the album going multi-platinum. Since this release, Mayer has won a Grammy award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009. Additionally, he won a Grammy award for Song of the Year in 2005 for the song “Daughters”, followed by the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2007 for the album “Continuum”, and in 2009 he won the Grammy for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for the song “Gravity” (Rolling Stone).
Despite his success, Mayer’s reputation has labeled him as something of a playboy, as well as many articles and interviews revealing him to be rather ignorant or conceited. In 2010 Mayer had an incredibly open interview with Playboy magazine, in which he used many racist and derogatory terms, and revealed entirely too much information about his sex life with his ex-girlfriend, Jessica Simpson. Referring to her as like “crack cocaine” and that his sex with her was like “sex napalm” because of how “crazy” he claims it was (MTV). The negative backlash from this incident came on full-force, resulting in dramatic apologies from Mayer during a concert that shortly followed, through his Twitter, and in multiple interviews.
The Album
Released in 2012, Born and Raised was neither Mayer’s highest selling record, nor his most acclaimed. However, after it’s release it rapidly climbed the Billboard 200 to the #1 spot. Rolling Stone referred to the album as "Some of the most convincing music of Mayer's career", and Billboard stated that the album is “one of Mayer's most diverse and exploratory albums yet, trying on a variety of different styles to accompany a set of particularly reflective and soul-searching tunes" (PR Newswire). While this album received less attention than albums like Continuum and Room for Squares, there is no doubt that Mayer still has the talent everyone has always seen and expected from him, and he was able to provide the lyrics and the instrumentals that everybody knows he is capable of.
The lyrics of the music in Born and Raised reveals a lot about Mayer’s character, and provides a general sense of optimism and wisdom among it’s listeners, an uncommon trait among music in today’s society. Much of today’s music is cheerful, yet not necessarily thought provoking, while other music tends to be more thought provoking, but somber. The lyrics to most of the music on Born and Raised provide mind-enamoring lyrics while not leaving the listener feeling negative.
The song “Age of Worry” is one of the most well known songs off of this album. Mayer addresses the level of worry in today’s society, saying “smile in the age of worry, rage in the age of worry, go out in the age of worry, and say ‘worry, why should I care?’” This upbeat tune allows the reader to relate to the lyrics in a more abstract manner. The opening stanza of this song says “close your eyes and clone yourself, build your heart an army to defend your innocence, while you do everything wrong”, insinuating that we do all that we can to build ourselves up, while being told that everything that we do is wrong. Following this stanza, the chorus repeatedly mentions confronting worry and saying “worry, why should I care?” The song is telling people to ignore the negativity and worry that is thrust upon them, and simply do what it is that everyone desires.
Songs on this album also get a tad more personal, and provide a bit more insight into Mayer’s life. In the first stanza of the song “Speak For Me”, Mayer writes “And the music on my radio, ain't supposed to make me feel alone” and the chorus says “Show me something I can be, play a song that I can sing, make me feel as I am free, someone come speak for me”. This song to me reflects John Mayer’s reputation as a whole. While he continuously makes controversial comments that encourage his tarnished reputation, he also spends an excessive amount of time apologizing for his actions. This song reflects that he is not as bad as he is seen, and he wants someone to speak on his behalf, to defend him.
On that same note, the song “Shadow Days” is also in a sense an act of apology on Mayer’s part. Entertainment Weekly said “Taylor Swift, are you listening? Because this is the closest thing to an apology that you're gonna get. After dumping America's sweetheart, calling Jessica Simpson ''sexual napalm,'' and dropping the N-word in Playboy, John Mayer is asking for forgiveness. Kind of” (Entertainment Weekly). The review says that in response to the song “Shadow Days” because of multiple lines. In the chorus, the song says “I’m a good man, with a good heart, had a rough time, got a rough start” and concludes the chorus saying “but my shadow days are over now”. This song along with “Speak for Me” really create a sympathetic and apologetic vibe, something that the artist clearly felt he needed the world to hear.
This album releases a positive, apologetic energy, and the vocals and flawless guitar playing are what make it something worth acknowledging, the way all his albums are, the difference being the overarching positivity of this album, as opposed to some of his other albums. While John Mayer’s album would not be considered negative overall, as most of it is seen as “feel-good” music, this album contains maybe one negative song, something that is hard to come by. “Tunes like "Queen of California" – with its shades of '70s soft rock – radiate a real warmth, as Mayer reflects on his time in the doghouse for bad behavior. With such earnestness and tasteful, understated musicianship, he wins you over” (People)
Albums Label and Connections
Columbia Records produced Born and Raised, among other Mayer albums. Columbia Records is responsible for an extremely wide variety of some of the best-known musicians in the industry. Putting out music for artists like Adele, One Direction, Daft Punk, and even Beyoncé (Columbia Records), this label is not one to be ignored. From Room for Squares to Paradise Valley, Columbia has been the recording label for all of John Mayer’s albums, providing to be a very reliable and efficient company. Mayer has been featured in multiple commercials and advertisements over the years, such as a Volkswagen commercial in 2006, as well as a Gap advertisement in 2007. Overall, his appearances on television and in other media outlets tend to be centered on himself. Through talk shows on television and interviews in magazines and online sources, Mayer’s success cannot be credit to anyone other than himself and his label. He has not needed to do the number of advertisements that many other celebrities have. He has not felt the need, and has felt comfortable with the success he does on his own.
Conclusion
“Some of the biggest controversies surrounding rock have involved not the music but the words – from 1950s lyrics dealing with “rocking and rolling” to references to drugs in the 1970s to derogatory comments about women in contemporary rap” (Hanson, 164). Born and Raised contains none of these negatively influential lyrics, without sounding like a children’s album. Born and Raised creative a uplifting and laid back attitude for the listener, allowing them to feel like they too can have a second chance. John Mayer uses this album to right his wrongs and to defend himself, and critics and listeners gave him that chance. While Born and Raised is not held in as high of a regard as albums like Continuum or Room for Squares, there is no doubt that it accurately reflects John Mayer’s talents and abilities. This album leaves the listener feeling confident, and encouraged. This album is nothing short of easy on the ears, and a request for forgiveness.
Works Cited
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/john-mayer/biography
John mayer's new album born and raised enters billboard 200 at #1. (2012, May 30). PR Newswire Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1017608865?accountid=14541
Hanson, R. E. (2014) . Mass Communication: Living in a Media World. Canada: CQ Press.
http://www.people.com/people/john_mayer/biography/0,,20162364,00.html