The Misunderstood Genius of John Mayer

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Hey everybody! Thanks for watching this video on "The Misunderstood Genius of John Mayer". The main point of this is not to ~change your mind~ about John if you've already given his stuff thorough listens. I just think that the media and the community of music nerds online don't really give him a try. They just automatically dismiss him because he's John Mayer. So, hopefully this video might get you to reconsider! He's got a great discography with Continuum and Room for Squares being the standouts, in my opinion. If you're into something more old-school/authentic, maybe Born and Raised? Search for Everything would be good for more of an updated sound and Battle Studies / Heavier Things / Paradise Valley are good comfort albums. Check him out! Let me know what you think.
John Mayer / Room for Squares / Heavier Things / Continuum / Battle Studies / Born and Raised / Paradise Valley / The Search for Everything / Music Video / Live / Reaction / Video Essay / Film / Where the Light Is / Interview / Genius / Compilation / Best / Favorite / Media / Gravity / Guitar / Solo / Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

[@sirlancelot8364]

If Clapton says you’re a master guitarist you have far exceed “making it”

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

Again... it depends on what he meant by a “master” guitarist. A master of technique? A master of musicality? There’re a lot of things to talk about here. Frankly, I don’t know if Eric Clapton was impressed by John’s ability to play the guitar well or by his ability to play meaningful music.

[@luise8701]

@@leaveitorsinkit242 do you ask a black belt on martial arts if they’re a black belt in kicks or punches? They’re a black belt, that’s it. John Mayer is one of the black belts of guitar.

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

@@luise8701 You make a good point here but, I don’t think you quite understand where I’m coming from. What makes John Mayer a master guitarist through Eric Clapton’s eyes? What parameters are being used in his judgement?

[@discobones]

@@leaveitorsinkit242 What does that matter? He's being called a "master of guitar" by one of the greatest masters of guitar in history. It literally does not matter in which way he meant it. But you'll have to let us know if you ever talk to him and get the answer. :)

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

@@discobones Once again... it’s the parameters by which ERIC CLAPTON used to judge John Mayer’s playing. We don’t know what those parameters are. I mean... he sorta went into it in the interview, but much of it is still pretty vague.

[@John-yq1em]

People don’t realize how fucking hard it is to play Neon and SING at the same. Dude is a fucking beast

[@dbo4506]

Forget singing. Just playing Neon properly is hard enough.

[@WilliamEdwardJacob]

This is how I feel about Dave Matthews. Try singing and playing his shit. People hate on lots of artists/bands that have ‘sold out’ or have a stigma around the demographic that likes the music, but the musicians in lots of these groups are INSANELY good. Trey from Phish, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, etc.

[@chrislangdell117]

Neon is an insane composition. Very complex

[@bigbeluga4204]

I can play neon. Id say singing along with a lot of Dave Matthew's song harder as they are always slightly off beat changes. No regular timing.

[@fucuszullanti7877]

Will Jacob Dave Matthews stuff is easy, just bang pots and pans and yell random words

[@bobbyw711]

If you don’t like John Mayer.... go see him live. I’m a death metal fan, and after I saw him play 9 minute solos and let his whole entire band shred just as much as him. I love his stuff

[@thegorn]

I love both Iron Maiden and John Mayer. Go figure. Good music comes in many forms

[@randyvanvliet226]

Bobby W, you "get it". The albums are just a taste, a sampler. Go see and listen to a live show, where you see how much he limited the song to getting hopefully some radio play time, to where he just takes the song with a jam to a whole another level.... something you'll never hear on his records with his improvs. That's why I go to hear him play live. He only plays to half of his potential on the studio albums, what he feeds from off of the audience is a whole another level up.

[@bangermccrusher]

Metalhead here! And I love John's music

[@Jayson8888]

I watched him in Kansas City a couple years ago it was awesome

[@markntexas8265]

Good musicians playing music they love is like that right? I don’t even like death metal but almost to a person the guitarist are some of the most knowledgeable most invested in their craft usually with a deep understanding of Bach or at least classical music. JM comes across as much the same.

[@edhobson7150]

When a music "nerd" talks shit about John Mayor i can almost instantly tell that they aren't musicians

[@jamesryan5436]

Anyone who plays guitar knows who he is

[@tjblackmore7863]

If you plotted out the IQ's of music listeners on a bell curve, the John Mayer fans would be at both extremes. The geniuses and the nitwits. It's only the average IQ's that don't get it.

[@mikebyj2310]

@@tjblackmore7863 I am a genius and I think JM is a gross douchebag

[@lauramessy]

@@mikebyj2310 omg imagine calling yourself a genius lol

[@mikebyj2310]

@@lauramessy yes, that was the joke :)

[@joshbaino3087]

If you claim to be an "all-knowing music fan" and completely dismiss pop, you are just as close-minded as the people who only listen to pop imo

[@PLAGUE-KARM]

Yes 👏

[@eb1634]

It's the same thing with people who claim to hate pop and other genres of music. Or they hate all new music because it "sucks".

[@whohappened]

as a musician who dismisses pop (not all-knowing though), i dont like it because i myself know how to make a hit song (and i dont know a whole lot of music theory, throw in I IV V, a bit of falsetto and even vibrato if you want people thinking you are emotional, lyrics that appeal to teenagers who think their 3 month relationships mean marriage and remove anything that comes remotely close to being original/experimental). the thing that sets hits apart from a normal song are the sound engineers, the producers and all the other people behind the scenes. anyone can make a pop-country hit, but only a few have connections like taylor swift and ed sheeran. and that is why i hate pop:)

[@whohappened]

@UCukk0JqDKMWem60jz2NjdTQ oh so it went from "pop is good" to "you need to listen to the right type of pop"

[@joshbaino3087]

@@whohappened I didn't say all pop was good, just not to dismiss it. I also depise the type of music you're describing: overproduced, same four chords, designed to appeal to lowest common denominator, etc. But that doesn't cover the entire genre. Many artists have experimented and innovated. John Mayer, for example, has some of the most interesting guitar riffs I've ever heard that top many rock musicians.

[@jasonmoore7223]

People talk about Your Body Is A Wonderland like it wasn’t a kid in his early 20’s recording his first album and seeing what works.

[@guitarbygus]

It’s still a tune

[@RSpracticalshooting]

They jealous of his swag

[@KasperViggoJensen]

Why all the hate? It’s a great song.

[@jjshelt]

Also that he put it out 20 years ago! The body of work he's put out since then can surely reconcile one song, right?

[@fucuszullanti7877]

Who talks about it ? It’s one of my favorite John Mayer songs, a true banger

[@MrWobbles]

one of the greatest musician of our time, and most people dislike him cause of a tmz article... Dude has chops, looks, marketing knowledge, and is one of the most brilliant songwriters in the world

[@marcalvarez4890]

Everyone i know likes him, its just some hipster bullshit to dislike someone for who they were as they were growing up in public. John Mayer is and always has been a fairly decent guy with absurd musical skills. Ive got nothing but admiration for being that while living inside the entertainment machine that eats people's souls. My favorite song on the subject has always been this one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/faOmkKyrr7RgidU

[@romeod7549]

@@marcalvarez4890 He’s a douchebag but an extremely talented musician who I forgot about after Continuum. He hasn’t made anything worth listening to since he started focusing on banging celebs rather than making great music. For the amount of talent he posses he should roll out a classic every four years

[@selanryn5849]

It was the 2010 Playboy article where he compared his penis to the Grand Wizard of the KKK and used the n-word that turned me off.

[@wunderplayz9054]

He’s just not your standard celebrity, he’s just a normal guy that’s famous and he doesn’t like crazy attention

[@orinblank2056]

My only issue with him is how he fits into Dead & Company, but that's mainly a stylistic thing. I don't expect him to be able to fill in For Jerry Garcia, not even close, but sometimes I feel like his style really clashes. Granted, he has been getting a lot better over the years, so if he keeps it up I feel like he could at least do Jerry some justice. At least I hope so

[@DrakeMurphyOfficial]

John Mayer is one of the greatest artists of our generation. Period.

[@r1shim]

Indeed.

[@grimly105]

%100

[@sicboi]

No doubt.

[@masontiger]

100%

[@blackempress1049]

He messed it up for me when he said that racist sh* I use to love his music.

[@ACMusic7]

All this and his song “In the Blood” is one of the deepest songs I’ve ever heard.

[@leocapuzzi]

YESSSS.

[@sachamalkin2220]

Yes one of my all time JM faves 😍

[@RobGR]

My favourite John Mayer song ever. Singing along to that when I saw him live was incredible.

[@Milesjohnsonn]

Austin, please do a cover of that song. I've been subscribed to you since 2013 and I love your covers. Your voice is so unique and powerful. I especially love your cover of She Is Love by Parachute. Please make the world a better place and cover In The Blood.

[@gavinchambers2428]

A young fan kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3rchJakas97eNk cover

[@brautigan81]

"I'm in repair. I'm not together but I'm getting there."

[@TheDellaniOakes]

I love this song. It so beautifully expresses that feeling of not being quite together after a breakup, but recognizing that you're putting it back together -- slowly, but surely.

[@TheDellaniOakes]

@@Whispererinthenoise Yes, that amazes me!

[@chrisscanlan8819]

So good!

[@merlomusic7856]

In repair is one of my favorite songs of all time by John Mayer.

[@KateMooreLoves]

This song was made in one day

[@jameschiticki9420]

I gotta say that yes he is hated by non-musicians, but damn every guitarist knows that he is one of the best to ever do it.

[@miguel77077]

And that’s all that matters homie ,if musicians know how good you are then that’s all it matters 🎸

[@AnkitSingh-vx4dy]

You said it all

[@caleblim6890]

It’s a crime that John never officially released In Your Atmosphere, I think that’s one of his best

[@Dany_C.]

THANK YOU I AGREE

[@sundogsun]

i had forgotten about this song and now i need to cry

[@defecito]

also Man On The Side, that one's amazing too

[@blainethurlow5483]

That song from 'Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live In Los Angeles' was the first thing of his I ever intentionally listened to, and it blew my fucking mind. Tears flowing down my face.

[@aashisheapen8230]

He released the live version right?

[@yy-pt2lh]

In my humble opinion John Mayer is the type of artists our kids are going to look back at and wish they where born in our generation.

[@lydiahu6861]

YES.

[@SomeJustice19k]

For real. Especially guitar players. His blues playing is unmatched.

[@joshoptical]

Well put

[@uchennasunday7037]

Dude is just an okay guitar player but fine songwriter.

[@willygarciadrums3521]

@@uchennasunday7037 Ok guitar player? He's played with Eric Clapton, and EC calls him a master. Have you listened to his songs? He has a great ear for melody and his solos are impeccable in their musicality. He's not a shredder but that doesn't mean he's not a great guitar player.

[@succulentstir9907]

In an IG live, he talked about how Marie was the only person he's ever felt like was a truly pure love, and that he still cries about her sometimes. Amazing background to that song.

[@clarkengelbert4575]

Damn, would love to see that IG live, you remember the general date on it?

[@RileyChrisman]

Agreed. I made this comment so I'd get a notification if this is answered. I love current mood, mood but I haven't seen all of them

[@robs2924]

@@clarkengelbert4575 you can look up John Mayer on how he met ‘Dear Marie’ on Current Mood. the clip is on JohnMayer USA x

[@succulentstir9907]

@@clarkengelbert4575 I guess my comment got deleted cuz I tried to link it lol. But yes robs is right -- just look that up and it should be the first thing that pops up!

[@FikriIzzaldin]

Yeah this "marie" (Definitely not her real name) was actually John's first love ever, like, his ONLY relationship he had before he got famous and one day he found her Facebook profile after looking for her for a long time (she changed her name because she took his husband's last name) and its kinda deep for him seeing her now being happy and married with kids while he's still lonely (explains the line "well I've got my dream but you've got yourself a family" On dear marie)

[@sumanilyas293]

I love how he never denied who he was but acknowledged it and changed. He's a great singer songwriter and I genuinely enjoy him as a person, too.

[@nobodyknew]

underrated sentiment. I appreciate

[@EngineMusic]

St. Patrick's day still baffles me harmonically, as how the hell could someone discover such an emotionally beautiful chord progression. it's one of his most underrated songs, relative to what did become popular.

[@gooodels]

woah what engine wtf

[@EngineMusic]

@@gooodels ayyy! fancy seeing you here! john mayer goes hard!

[@isaiahrobinson3762]

If you did a whole "Misunderstood" series, I would be here for that.

[@jamesbuckley6875]

Seconded!

[@zimdo]

Thirded!

[@davidcoons89]

Absolutely agreed.

[@MjakWasl]

Imagine "The Misunderstood Genius of Nickelback"

[@MrJohanGuzman]

Two hundred and sixtied!

[@jaysonjrivera]

he's so remarkably talented, his fanbase really needs to expand beyond guitar/music geeks and fangirls. he has so many songs that deserve so much praise. he puts his all into everything he does and he deserves so much more.

[@wengjai]

Plenty of fans that are not guitar geeks and fan girls.

[@harrisonjames2832]

John Mayer is massive he’s got heaps of fans that love him for his voice and his image

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

You’re specifically talking about Born and Raised.

[@jakeallison9444]

The duality of his fanbase is honestly impressive.

[@rwinter13rw]

the problem is that every normal guy will become a guitar geek after listening to him

[@jgavpercussion]

Strange to think John Mayer would be underrated by some. He is one of the greatest contemporary songwriters. Other great deep cuts you left out: Back to You, Bigger Than My Body, Edge of Desire, Age of Worry, On the Way Home, In Your Atmosphere

[@mrdinhdinh]

In your atmosphere one of my favorites from him and i like most of album

[@redheadedstepchild9814]

Covered in Rain

[@christarowland1592]

I just can’t get over him not even mentioning Belief in the Continuum overview.

[@giulioberruti3861]

Emoji of a Wave, In Repair, In the Blood, A Face to Call Home, Split Screen Sadness

[@guybensman300]

John Mayer is just great! I don't care about his messed up relationships, I don't care about the Swifties who hate him just for dumping Taylor and I don't care about the people saying he's a douchebag and stuff like that. He's a true artist and a true personality and that's why I started liking and following him. He inspires me a lot to create my own music and influences my style a lot. When I grow up, I wanna be John Mayer!

[@helenabrandaofernandes4886]

Being a good musician doesn't excuse you from your obligation to uphold common decency

[@leinardesteves3987]

@@helenabrandaofernandes4886 no one said you need to like his personality. His music's good and he's a musician, that's his job. Caravaggio was an asshole and yet still well celebrated as a master painter 400 years after his death

[@scarletc.7055]

@@helenabrandaofernandes4886 You are talking about things he did like 12-15 years ago. People change. To hate someone now for what they did even 10 years ago is crazy. You should listen to John NOW. He is obvioulsy a changed human. I don't get talking about and hating someone for something they did when they were 30 when they are now around 45. I don't know about you but I am a completely different person.

[@pn9510]

​@@helenabrandaofernandes4886 y'all nobody's is yelling about Taylor Swift doing incredible BS with a 17 old schoolboy....I do not care bc I'm not interested in her being a person or being an average singer We all make mistakes over the years and it's simply stupid to judge people over a long time......stop it. It's ridiculous and immensely stupid....to hold a grunge isn't good for you .

[@Jukul12]

People don’t realize how difficult songs like neon or stop this train are to play.

[@alejandrocubillas8093]

I liked John Mayer before, but it wasn't until I started learning his songs that I really started to appreciate him. Extremely good guitar playing, with so many subtleties. Also, his writing is borderline poetic.

[@Jukul12]

@@alejandrocubillas8093 exactly

[@tagaretiro]

I personally rank St. Patricks Day harder to play than neon or stop this train

[@keithremedy]

It’s a rhythm practice the rhythm with your right hand. Once you get that it will come and I’m speaking as someone that started off learning both of those songs with Heart of Life and Stop train coming before neon. Once you get the hang of it it will come easily and be instinctual. Mind you having the big thumbs will help but the majority of guitar players that like play Mayer stuff don’t have the thumbs that I have or that John has but are still able to play a lot of his stuff. It will take time but once you get it will all make sense. I call it the pluck and chuck your hitting a note on the slap with your index on some tunes stop this train being the key one that comes to mind

[@joshscus]

@@tagaretiro something like 36 different chords in St. Patrick’s Day! Crazy!!

[@snlks2670]

It's insane how good he is live, saw him in 2019 and man, his live playing cannot be compared to his studio albums it's on another level.

[@marshalljohnson3776]

Yeah, I saw him in Sacramento on the last day of the American tour that year. Totally a musician’s musician.

[@weskerckhofs8617]

That's so True. I Saw him in Sweden 2018. I was expecting something in the range of "Where the light is", maybe. But I was blown away by how much more there was going on. He's really evolved and it keeps on going. Brilliant stuff.

[@thiagoriquette8281]

I saw him in London in 2019. (Brazil to UK) Its awesome to see how musically mature he is today, giving place to a sideman (guitarman) to do solos sometimes. The last tour was great. The band its a major feature live and im pretty sure he enjoy the whole thing. He was a jerk, but i like to think he’s evolving too.

[@its_aidan964]

Saw him on that tour too. It was the San Antonio show and it was amazing

[@snlks2670]

@@thiagoriquette8281 Ay nice, I saw him london 2019 night 2. Seeing everyone in the o2 waving their flashlights during Gravity was amazing.

[@jonfletcher3644]

“Edge of Desire” is one of the MOST difficult tabs in the history of man kind lol

[@whyaskmenoely25]

It's not the tabs. It's the singing on top of the tabs.

[@sebastianseveso]

@@whyaskmenoely25 yesss

[@HofTheStage]

I agree with most of this, John is definitely a brutal guitar player/songwriter - very versatile, and anybody who knows anything about music can at least respect the music that he makes, even if they might not like it personally for some reason. I would like to say that Your Body is a Wonderland gets a bit too much negativity imo, although it's one of his more laid back/easy going pop songs, even that song has some interesting guitar parts that most pop songs lack, just listen to the guitar after the bridge section ("damn, baby you frustrate me, I know you're mine..." - After that part). John is a "A level" musician, no doubt about it. Great video man, thanks for this!

[@miked7295]

S Tier, no less.

[@sharding14]

That bridge to My Stupid Mouth. His music is far too leveled for the common music “nerd” to understand.

[@thejackdempsie]

Yep! Also, YBIAW is not formulaic at all. Unless most pop songs have different first and second verses. I think the chord progression is the only formulaic thing.

[@leejuicy]

YBIAWL "helped" more men than any other song ever had and I can't hate it myself...

[@spiderguy01]

I wish more people gave John a try , they have no idea what they’re missing out , and it’s sad

[@Podcastage]

Thank you for saying that Pop music takes skill to make. If writing catchy songs was easy, every musician would.

[@exavierdelacruz4269]

Not that I utterly disagree with you on that; you do have a point in that making music that the majority of people will enjoy is not that easy. Even still, I dunno If I'd go so far as to argue that EVERY musician composes just or solely for the sake of making a catchy tune. If that were the case, I'd find it hard to imagine several niche music genres or compositions existing as they do today.

[@heart3356]

This comment is ass

[@jayraabbb3166]

What are you talking about? Almost any musician that knows a basic 4/4 rhythm and can speak can write a catchy pop song. We don't vecause it is not challenging. Not everyone wants fame from pop fans, they want fame and money through the genre that they really perspnally enjoy. Just cause we can does mean we would.

[@jeromelawrence6746]

The less people know about things, the easier they think it is to do. I just wish people attempted to produce a record first themselves to see that.

[@Podcastage]

@@exavierdelacruz4269 Okay. Fair point. Perhaps I should not have said EVERY musician would.

[@KyleByquist]

If someone tells me they don't like JM because they don't like Your Body is A Wonderland I know I'm talking to a fundamentally unserious person

[@willritter4076]

I'd be honored if some John Mayer fans would take a listen to my acoustic piano & vocal performances of his early masterpieces CLARITY and LOVE SOON on my YT channel in tribute to one of the greatest artists of the '00s. Live acoustic with no autotune. Peace and stay safe in the '020s.

[@cebrinpitts]

I loathed that song. Then I heard him play neon acoustically on TV. Instantly went to grab the record. He's an extremely talented dude.

[@GrowMasterGeneral]

He's a talented guy no doubt. But he's more of a Lady Gaga than a Mozart. He makes music for teenage chicks and every once in a while throws in a couple of good songs for the rest of us to listen to. Doesn't make him a misunderstood genius.

[@KyleByquist]

@@GrowMasterGeneral you should really listen to more of his music

[@GrowMasterGeneral]

@@KyleByquist I do listen to him. I would even consider myself a fan. But he's not a misunderstood genius. He got famous making pop songs for teenage girls. He changed his style to be more blues influenced and suddenly guys go nuts and call him a genius. John will always be a great guitar player. But never one of the greats. B.B. King didn't just play the blues. He felt the blues. He experienced the blues as a black man growing up in pre-civil rights era South. John grew up in Conneticut to a middle class family. Even went to college for a few semesters. He thinks he can slap on a fedora and a scarf and call himself a bluesman, pfft, git outta here.

[@DopamineOverload]

Have loved this guy since day one. What a lot of people don't know is that when he had severe vocal damage, sometime in the late 00s, he basically moved to Montana and didn't talk or sing for like 2 years. Barely talked to anyone. It humbled him a ton and really grounded him from then on. Especially when he then became a member of Dead and Co... you don't get to be part of that group unless you're down-to-earth, chill, and know how to play. John's songs have been top-notch since day one. He is one of the best living guitarists, period. He's explained that his cockiness early on came about from the instant fame... within one year (2001-2002) he was one of the most famous musicians, ever. And he was only in his early 20s. That's got to mess with your head a bit. But again, he's redeemed himself with a lot of his actions since then. He's the real deal. Sometimes you have to go through a lot of bullshit to get to what really matters in life. Music flows through that guy in ways that few musicians could ever understand. And side note-- watch his 2008 Berklee lecture "Inspiration / Information"... one of the best things I've ever seen. And Continuum is truly his best record (and probably always will be), but he's got a lot of great material after that, too. Thanks for this great video.

[@ericamcdaniel4318]

Everything you said ❤️

[@ajb6771]

I just found this video right after finding out the "controversy" of him being at the grammys. It sucks how people still just look at mayer by what happened over 10 years ago and do not even look at how he has changed in that time span. I mean look at born and raised, the whole reason that album exists is because he walked away from the media and figure out where he went wrong and how to become a better person. I just wish more people could give mayer a second chance and that also goes for his music like the video says.

[@zucchinigreen]

I like his music, but he definitely played the game game wrong and is a toxic person. Read Jessica Simpson's biography. Read the Playboy interview. Read about that time he thought cause he collaborated with rappers he could say the n- word. I think as a musician his scope is bigger than the Ed Sheeran but cuter singer-songwriter lane that was cut out for him, but let's not pretend that his attitude didn't also cause the trajectory of his career and how people perceive him.

[@TheKtwStudios]

@@zucchinigreen The stuff your criticizing him for happened 10 years ago. In that time, he has realized how shitty he was being...

[@skatman339]

I love "stop this train", it chokes me up all the time

[@ghostsinthesnow_makes_music]

I WANNA GET OFF

[@nathandrake13ful]

Same and the heart of life

[@arpitadutta4073]

Amazing lyrics but that guitar riff is extremely difficult...

[@nathandrake13ful]

@@arpitadutta4073 agreed but damn it’s beautiful

[@arpitadutta4073]

@@nathandrake13ful Definitely! It’s one of the most soothing intros I've ever heard. Working really hard to master that though.

[@scottosikowicz4093]

Edge of Desire is a perfectly written and produced masterpiece. If you listen to one John Mayer song make it this one!

[@TheJotaman]

Absolutely! I was waiting for it to be mentioned. Best song on that album!

[@judetteeloi9497]

I honestly think musically/melodically EOD is the best song he's ever written. Its #1 for me in his entire catalog.

[@cpalmieri99]

couldn't agree more. Battle studies is underrated as far as his best albums go imo

[@nathanfotualii2676]

Sickening song love it

[@clarityrains]

my absolute favourite song he ever did. I had to see him live 6 times before he did it properly live and OMFG it did not disappoint. One of the hi-lights of my life for sure!

[@benjaminleclerc6577]

There’s a reason why guitarist name a certain tone the “John Mayer tone”

[@YohAquino2]

John Mayer's Michael Jackson tribute Human Nature. nuff said.

[@jamesryan5436]

Fact .

[@alexs9168]

Facts

[@maran363]

**me who already is obsessed with John Mayer for years now** clicks on a video trying to convince me that I should like John Mayer

[@shreddievanhalen1]

Relatable

[@lisacorbitt1304]

Ha. Same!

[@McCorkle4]

Same! If you go to his shows you know, people like him, all kinds of people. 🥰

[@adamgoldman9500]

Did it work?

[@TheKourtneeLayne]

Lolol same. Still a fan💜

[@WalkerOwsley]

Level 1: I like his songs on the radio Level 2: he’s a sellout, corny, etc. Level 3: oh wait he’s actually pretty good Level 4: I know every word Level 5: Camila Camendes, Camendes Cabello, Cabello Cabelas. Mendes.

[@alejandra.santos]

🙋🏻‍♀️ Level 5

[@lealashley7249]

Level 5 FTW

[@punkybruster1991]

Don’t forget CVS bag and drone shot on my yacht

[@tjblackmore7863]

Damn, can I get a quick rundown on level 5?

[@melissarodas6850]

@@tjblackmore7863 he had Shawn Mendes on his show Current Mood on Instagram Live and was joking about how if he and his girlfriend, Camila Cabello, got married, she would be Camila Mendes, which is an actress's name. So of course, he made a silly song to make it "easier" to understand the differences between Camila Cabello, Camila Mendes, and the store Cabela's

[@innoc3ntbystndr]

The fact that he’s still relevant is a testimony to his greatness. IMHO he’s underrated as a musician/songwriter.

[@robbiduncan9823]

Also, St Patrick’s day is very underrated

[@TaylorHoward]

Yes! 100% agree. Also he invented cuffing season with that song 😆

[@tacocat2287]

Ngl, I always thought his “In The Blood” was written for me. He’s one of the most illustrative and thought provoking artists alive imo

[@cliffordlaport4322]

That song is so deep and so true. That poor man struggles with so much. All the money and fame and still can’t find true happiness 😢

[@sachamalkin2220]

Couldn’t agree more 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@ChristopherBletzinger]

I'm amazed nobody ever talks about that song!!

[@willr5782]

Me , already being a huge John Mayer fan, after this video: Hmm yeah maybe I should give this guy a chance

[@Nisced]

Continuum is such a masterpiece. One of the few albums I come back to over and over again. Especially Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (the live version from LA is amazing too) is an instant classic.

[@cameronjones6245]

I started dating my now fiancé 7 years ago. During that time, we were both still on high school. I was OBSESSED with Room for Squares around this time. Whenever I hear one song from Room for Squares, it brings back those emotions of first falling in love with my fiancé. I will always love John Mayer. He is one of the best songwriters of our generation.

[@gusdapperton5077]

so well done and informative - love your videos

[@Vhryce]

love your music

[@raymondlieberwerth7126]

Hey, have you by any chance seen ScriptWork's reaction video on YT of Supalonely? At 6:52 they have a funny reaction to your dancing

[@raphaelclark4227]

You're the fuckin dude Gus!! You and JM are my all-time favs.

[@stvivianne8820]

hey man!

[@oisinhanlon6938]

sorry what....... GUS?

[@Grimmcatz]

The dude's worked from everyone from Grateful Dead to the late Mac Miller, I understand why people may dislike him, but he is truly one of the most masterful musicians of our generation and will be celebrated for a long time.

[@laceyhart795]

Ive seen him love with Dead & Co probably 20 times. He is a fantastic guitarist and vocalist Listen to sugaree from Dallas 7/2/19. I was at that show - mind blowing.

[@vladimirbogosavljevic8039]

Hes a last guitar hero

[@scottvance7520]

I went on a 5 year trip where all I would listen to is JM.. and this is coming from a hard rock/metal guy. No joke..

[@volcano83]

What grabbed me about John Mayer was his ability to write lyrics that conveyed how I was feeling about things as a young adult. He didn’t write in cliches, he was able to get subconscious thoughts and feelings into singable catchy tunes. Add on his great voice, amazing guitar work and handsome good looks, you’ve got a winner.

[@WillyG38]

John at the Mac Miller tribute concert is fucking incredible. I recommend everyone seek that video out.

[@julianpena411]

It wasn't his kind of crowd at all, and still he owned that room for every second he was on stage.

[@patch858]

That is my favorite musical performance of all time

[@cavemanlovesmoke4394]

Seriously I'm a huge mac miller fan and seeing him do come back to earth was heartbreaking yet beautiful. 😭 (R i.p mac🙏)

[@nobodyknew]

as well as the MJ tribute playing Human nature...

[@tambuko8075]

I think at least 50% of his success comes from his gigantic thumbs.

[@18JR78]

Big person big hands

[@18JR78]

Smaller scaled guitars should be a thing just like there are sizes for clothes. S M L. Any guitar John picks up is a short scale to him 😂

[@alper6928]

@@18JR78 get a mustang, a pro tip

[@ultimateuygur4419]

@@18JR78 True. When it was time for me to buy an electric, I just bought parts and built my own so I could have a short-scale strat My hands can’t handle that thick C shaped strat neck sadly

[@alexglenn775]

Low key that is litterally all of room for squares where he uses his gigantic thumbs

[@vangelisgkontouras3679]

I wouldn't say "Decent voice". 6 of his 7 grammies were awarded for his Vocal Performance (and one "Song of the Year")

[@speedtriprr537]

His song Walt grace is a masterpiece

[@stevenjuszczak7062]

You failed to mention “Drone shot of my yacht” and “CVS bag” as some of his most recent smash hits.

[@1230403]

I’m all aloneeee on the wah-tur!

[@jimhill7157]

Yesssssss! ....Well played, Sir.

[@simplyangling5645]

Class 😂 glad someone said it

[@ef5052]

Ha! “Drone shot of my yacht” will be on repeat in my head for the next week!

[@dylanwojo]

Don’t forget “big shirt”

[@ScruffyMoltisanti]

I didn't see you mention it, but another thing that proves he's a musician's musician, he was invited to play at Michael Jackson's memorial concert in 2009. He did an amazing guitar cover of Human Nature.

[@fuaddanial2029]

When Prince stood up and applauded Mayer's performance of Gravity at the Grammy's

[@g0tst1ngs]

Yess! That's actually the only part of that whole memorial that I still vividly remember. It left such an impact on me. He's the reason I picked up the guitar and am still playing 14 years later.

[@JRod13..]

Also played with Leon Russell at the rock and roll HOF inductions

[@wowsaikey]

i was 9 when i saw that live on tv and it was actually what got me into john mayer's stuff. it's still one of my favorite performances of his.

[@jennifermay134]

I'm a huge MJ and JM fan, that performance made me cry so much!

[@EroticWhale]

He currently does that Instagram live stuff on tiktok now. He just casually explains how to play his songs, because normal people can just play his songs. Lmao

[@ThatEflatGuy]

@@jasonbenham9338 I do a cheap imitation of it where I drop the A string down to G. Even with the open G that fingerstyle/palm muting makes it really difficult to get right

[@avisian8063]

"like anything on guitar it's not actually that hard" plays Neon. Talented bastard

[@davidj.kleinsasser8673]

I'm enjoying his new track, Last Train Home...

[@ClivesEnglishCorner]

It open a whole pandora's box for me. My guitar is being repaired as we speak.

[@kimb.5149]

That song has been on repeat since it came out🖤🤘

[@BryceRogers_]

Can't mention every song, but here are two more astounding examples of Mayer's songwriting: "In Repair" and "Perfectly Lonely"

[@draskocis]

In repair is absolutely legendary

[@BryceRogers_]

@@draskocis seriously, that mini documentary really shows how brilliant the process was

[@supersupeng]

I highly recommend people watch his Hot Ones interview. I felt I had missed out in befriending someone so cool and wise after I watched it.

[@romankok]

Can we just give a special shoutout to literally ANY live rendition of "Queen of California"? What an ABSOLUTE PARTY that song is during every show. THE VIBES

[@randyvanvliet226]

Ain't that the truth!!!! That and his live renditions of "Belief"

[@seano.2693]

John Mayer is one of the best lyricists, guitarists, and overall artists of this generation (and ever) ..but most people won’t ever come to that realization cause they only know his early radio hits ..so they categorize him as “corny” and don’t bother listening to any of his other music. It seriously disappoints me that people don’t appreciate this man more.. he’s a musical genius.

[@SillyLilDawg]

This channel needs to blow up I swear

[@farhannr28]

Thank you kanye, very cool

[@edusoares20]

Kayne sorry for the divorce.

[@darksu6947]

That would make a very big mess.

[@cruxmusic245]

A "musicians musician". Yes. Yes he is. "If I ever get around to living" is a song that floors me every time,

[@rozezita]

Those vocals are absolutely DELIGHTFUL

[@tedhazard4503]

The lyrics are simply perfect. The whole album resonates with me. Lyrically it’s so raw and deep. An honest glimpse into where he saw himself - evolving as an artist and a man - pushing past his comfort zone and exploring musically and emotionally. Brilliant album.

[@oiminsane]

vultures is one of the best songs ever made. nothing less then amazing, plus he's an incredible guitarist. A true GOAT

[@giovannaribeiro6736]

I was 12 years old when I first listened to John Mayer’s music. I haven’t stop ever since. I’m insanely grateful to him - I got to discover and re-discover myself in his lyrics as I was growing up. It was the happiest day in my life when I saw him live on stage - I was 18. Thank you for your music, John! You’ll live forever in me :)

[@aljosanpedro4189]

watch the “someday i’ll fly” documentary if you wanna learn more abt john! ive listened to john for countless hours at this point thru the years. continuum got me into music in general. it’s only lately tho that i’ve learned to appreciate the “lower end” of his work, especially his folk/country phase. the songs on born and raised and paradise valley are amazing at wringing emotions out of you. anyway, i rly do think all the work he does has some level of honesty you can’t rly find too often, and i love it. just got an electric guitar lately and hell yeah im gonna learn continuum stuff first

[@elainemackie1431]

100% - genius John 😊

[@dirgewordsmithe]

Oh wow, see I liked those two albums the absolute LEAST, equally, but after this comment, I think I'ma actually go back and give em another listen...

[@John-gq7um]

I saw John talk about how “Marie” was the one and only girl who liked him for only who he was. Kinda sucks because it sounds like he thinks that he’ll never get that again and coming from a happily married man; he is missing out on the joys of married life. Kiddos and family outings, etc. That is what life is all about and to hear John talk about how he virtually stalked her online (even running public record searches on “Marie,”) and finding out that she married and has a family is sad because on some level, his “success” is also his “failure” because he feels like he’s missed the boat in terms of true love. It only comes around a few times in one’s life (maybe even once) and you gotta take it when it does. He lost it and it appears he never got it back. He got fame and money but at the end of the night, he’s laying down in an empty bed. Feel bad for John. Fame is more harmful than helpful it seems.

[@LazerzZ]

Banger of a video 👌🏻

[@sasmitroy5480]

Ezio

[@craigcavaliere6744]

I took my wife when we first started dating to see him on the Continuum tour. I knew she liked his music. I didn't know anything about him. That concert hooked me in. We've seen him on each of his next three tours. Born and Raised is one of the best albums I've ever heard.

[@drumdad54sdl47]

I personally find John's "Born & Raised" a masterpiece. I love the direction his music took & the country-ish/folk feel to many of the songs.

[@lisacunningham6433]

Yes!! Have you seen the 15 min video of the artist who designed the album cover art. Absolutely fascinating video and the amount of work and time the guy put into is unreal.

[@jessicaluke-taylor7498]

In my top 5 albums of all time

[@KRISTIANSMILJANIC]

Personaly really love the search for everything

[@thegorn]

There's such a brutal honesty to that era of his music

[@taylorvoelker9427]

Born and Raised is unmatched

[@Randuski]

I've always been frustrated with people's opinion of him. Dude is so god damn good

[@samuelchoate5349]

It's such a shame how people sleep on heavier things. It is a masterpiece of fusion. Pop, jazz, and blues. Such an interesting album.

[@hihi909]

Heavier things is my favorite album !

[@rachelgumbel2624]

I have felt this way for years. Thank you for summarizing it all so well!

[@kolokolo9889]

I love John Mayer because he’s been very influential in my guitar playing and he’s one of the best guitar players ever. Also his songwriting is great especially since Continuum. Born and Raised is one of my favourite albums ever.

[@JimboMcGraw]

This is totally me too. He is by far the most influential guitarist on my own playing and he truly is up there with the greats. His songwriting since Continuum has been unbelievable and Born and Raised is my favorite album of his ever. The track "If I ever get around to living" is a masterpiece.

[@coltonnahl4125]

Im on the same boat as you guys but my top 3 on the album are walt grace, something like Olivia (purely because I'm in the same boat as that narrative) and age of worry

[@amguit]

All great albums. But, I’m all about a battlefield studies. 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@Metalcoren]

Funnily enough, I talked to my best friend about this topic yesterday: John Mayer is one of the best musicians out there. You don't need to like every song, but if you can't appreciate him from a musical point of view, you are the problem, not this legend.

[@josephikrakowski3792]

I’m so glad you featured Stop this Train and 3x5, those are definitely my 2 favorite John Mayer songs, both reminding us to take a step back when life gets hectic; gotta enjoy the little things!

[@karenreardon5398]

This was the best documentary I've heard yet. Thanks for posting it.

[@curtwelling6853]

Deadheads like me like to say “John Mayer’s Dead to me”, which is the highest compliment we can give.

[@rileyglass614]

Absolutely. I remember when he got the opportunity to play Jerry's Wolf and my face started melting it was so fucking cool.

[@monke7102]

@@rileyglass614 I know that John played his heart out on that thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jerry’s soul came down and possessed his fingers that day. If there’s anyone around who can stand in for Jerry, it’s John Mayer.

[@chandlerstepina3947]

Weir everywhere

[@farrelltimlake9732]

Great point and agree. I only wish this video had more to say about John's Dead & Co move - because talk about a ballsy move as an artist on so many levels. I am a hardcore Grateful Dead fan (taper, seen shows since late 70s) and to win over the Deadheads the way he has is amazing. He did the work, he kept it real, and his sincerity is undeniable. Butttt.... that I am sure was a huge bummer for all those "Body is a Wonderland" fans that weren't prepared for him to become just as much a Jerry and the boys fan as the rest of us. Hope he still wants to hit the road when live music comes back. Dead & Co satisfies a musical itch you just can't scratch any where else. And kudos to Mayer... this video makes a great point. Forget the "celebrity drama" which is all totally irrelevant next to his work as an artist.

[@jaycarlin8108]

I saw Dead and Co. in New York City in the summer of 2018. I was on the field, about as close to the stage as I could get, enjoying every moment. These older gentlemen started talking about John. One was like “that John Mayer kid can play guitar” and the other was like “Yeah but he’s no Jerry” and the first was like “yeah but who is?” A third rather drunk guy was like “John Mayer ain’t shit, he shouldn’t be on that stage” and everybody around him started giving him shit, standing up for John. It was a funny moment, but it made me happy that these old deadheads stood up for John. He killed it that night, for sure. Everyone in that bad is a legend, him included.

[@huynhngocnamgiang]

The guy is so underrated in pop culture it hurts me

[@randomrants6500]

7 times Grammy isn't a joke. The real ogs knows him very well

[@chrisfps7]

Thank you so much for including a small bit about Walt Grace's Submarine Test!! The whole Born and Raised album is so heavily underrated in my opinion and Walt Grace is in my top 3 favorite JM tunes.. great video overall :)

[@kevinjones15]

Thank you for making this. So well done. John is one of my favorite artists for sure. Such an amazing guitarist.

[@ifixthingsjr]

I discovered John, (like absolutely go deep dive) about 4 years ago, not a single day goes by I'm not grateful for his music and helping me through thick and thin.

[@helloihopeyourefine6329]

Porha huna kor kela rendi

[@jonahtran1]

Goddamn i must be getting old if kids out here thinking they "discovered" John Mayer lmfao

[@ifixthingsjr]

@@jonahtran1 "Discovered" as in go full on deep dive discography. Well of course I've heard of John Mayer before but only the bubblegum pop hits he had, which weren't bad but definitely didn't blow my mind.

[@randomrants6500]

Assamese bhaiya ji 😁 btw kaunsa favourite album hai John Ka?

[@ifixthingsjr]

@@randomrants6500 greetings my Nepali bhai, album toh Continuum sabse favorite hain, par mood ke hisaab se ek bhi album nahi choddta. Born & Raised, Paradise Valley are hidden gems

[@loug5485]

special shout to lowkey collab with frank ocean, wildfire interlude...”back in Paris you told me you were suicidal it’s not a vacation if I lose you to the Eiffel”

[@little_kid_lover_]

and White! I love White (frank ft. john)

[@WhatShallEyeDo4U]

I'm really going to dive into his discography. Thank you, Alfo!

[@TheIJP123]

Thank you thank you thank you for making this!!!! As a John Mayer stan, I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to constantly have to tell people exactly what you said in this video. He’s sooooo incredibly misunderstood as an artist and a person. I wish he got as much respect as other artists today who don’t have 1/4 of his talent. Whenever someone questions why I love John’s music so much, I will send them this lol

[@sozeytozey]

I honestly didn’t know people didn’t like John Mayer. I fell in love as soon as I saw him jam with BB King

[@sozeytozey]

@Ryan Schilling What’s so bad about his songwriting and vocals?

[@sozeytozey]

@Ryan Schilling Then why say it? Edit: I just reread your comment. I see what you’re saying, you’re speaking from the perspective of those who don’t like him yea?

[@BirdmanDeuce26]

I was still in school when Room for Squares, Heavier Things, and Continuum were coming out. Everything in the vid is definitely accurate to how it felt at the time - he was definitely seen as a singer/songwriter first before a lauded guitar player. I'm in the middle of learning some of the songs off of Room for Squares in particular, and one of the things I'm discovering (as you're probably seeing in this comment section, lol) is that even his "simple" pop cuts are deceptively complex and full of colours that reveal themselves more on each listen. _However,_ the strength of his pop songwriting is such that you don't _need_ to know about these "colours" existing for the song to still be fun, catchy, and easy to listen to; which I feel led to a lot of people - me at the time included - writing him off as "just another" singer-songwriter with an acoustic in a genre packed with multiple contenders like Jason Mraz, Gavin DeGraw, etc.

[@winnyreds]

Mayer on Clapton’s tribute album to JJ Cale is exceptional, check out “Lies” and “Magnolia”

[@anshuman4678]

I love that Magnolia cover

[@clipdump]

Also "Don't Wait"

[@squelar844]

yo pierre you wanna come out here??

[@anton1519]

@Tim Ye the solo is one of the best solos I've ever heard

[@anton1519]

@Tim Ye I just looked it up and I agree, it is also incredible

[@tasiaamilk]

Thank you for putting this out there. 💜

[@inbarshoshan610]

John Mayer is a genius. In my opinion one of the best musicians of our generation. From his brilliant lyrics to the remarkable music, his art is phenomenal. He’s unbelievably good of a guitarist. Most of the underestimation comes from people who doesn’t play the guitar and don’t know how hard it is to do it so well like John. Absolutely amazing.

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

Ok. A few reasons why JM is a great guitarist: -Improvises all his solos -Plays with/without a pick -Impeccable phrasing/feel -Adept at acoustic/electric -Extensive chord vocabulary

[@pawelzabicki7785]

His solos are always coherent, creative, not repeatable, you will always find something new.

[@Nick-kb2jc]

And his songs are fucking hard to play.

[@user-ip6he6rq8c]

Nick hard ≠ good

[@Feitan0123]

@@user-ip6he6rq8c if you think johns song is not good, go try cover just 1 of his solos and tag me. Oh just cover slow dancing in a burning room live in la

[@foreseengust]

I love his sincerity, I think he puts a lot of energy on trying to be true to himself lately. And I love how he gets happy and smiles genuinely while performing, even after playing these songs countless times. I think it shows how much he cares about his audience, our enjoyment of his performance makes him happy.

[@willritter4076]

I'd be honored if some old-school John Mayer fans would take a listen to my acoustic piano & vocal performances of his early masterpieces CLARITY and LOVE SOON on my YT channel in tribute to one of the greatest artists of the '00s. Live acoustic with no autotune. Peace and stay safe in the '020s.

[@ecenuruyank9147]

This video gave me chills, that’s how much I love and appreciate JM. Thanks for making my evening with your great analysis of his genius!

[@wunderplayz9054]

Just watching him live makes you realize how incredible he is. Especially being a guitar player makes you realize the skill. I could talk for hours about how great he is, just watch him play with the Grateful Dead and you’ll get an idea

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

I mean... you also gotta realize, John Mayer literally produces all his music! That’s a very rare trait among pop-artists! It was rare when he first started, and it’s still rare in 2021. Sure, a lot of artists have a knack for singing and writing meaningful pop songs, but most of them aren’t producing their own music.

[@lexi-op5vk]

Usually he produces with Steve, he’s not alone in doing that

[@JasonLucas2]

Yeah, my bro in-law helped produce an album with him. He doesn't just do it by himself. Although, he knows HOW and can speak to it and probably has a huge role in what is ultimately produced (which a lot of artists don't have because they don't know the difference). Regardless, the man's a genius and this video proves that. P.S. Great examples of artists that do pretty much entirely their own production are Charlie Puth and Jacob Collier.

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

@@JasonLucas2 Well... John has produced entire projects for other artists as well. What I was trying to say was that John writes his own music; almost all his songs start on guitar. That’s a very rare trait among pop-artists.

[@JasonLucas2]

Ah, I see what you’re saying. I think the confusion is in the word “produces.” In the music industry, that has a very specific meaning. So yes, JM writes all his own music and most of it starts on the guitar (which is awesome), and he has helped a lot of other musicians throughout the production process. I was just clarifying overall that he doesn’t do all of it himself is all. It just shows how engrained he is that he CAN do it all and understands it all. But that’s to be expected when you have such an incredible musician who has been in the industry for almost 20 years.

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

@@JasonLucas2 Ya I figured the term “produces” would be a little confusing in this context. 😂

[@jasonmoore7223]

Born and Raised is one of my favorite albums ever. “If I Ever Get Around To Living” is such an underrated song.

[@NarutoUzumaki-sh1do]

I think the album is underrated. It’s great from start to finish. I love Walt Grace

[@JackKellyBastardMan]

Great video. I've always been a casual Mayer fan, but this inspired me to listen to some albums in their entirety.

[@Megwilleatyourface]

Thank you for making this…Several of his songs have deeply affected me…some of the most deep and intense lyrics along with the amazing guitar skills and singing talent. Slow dancing in a burning room 😭, stop this train and the heart of life, vultures, neon, my stupid mouth. So relatable! 🥰🤗 I could listen all day

[@misterdelco3978]

John is a fantastic blues guitarist. It’s a shame how he’s not known for that more. Blues isn’t very popular but it definitely shapes so many musician’s sounds despite it not getting much attention.

[@sdemosi]

His live "Ain't No Sunshine" cover is a work of genius.

[@2911sagar]

that is absolute genius, you're right

[@lucasmalachias]

Facts.

[@judetteeloi9497]

BIG FACTS. 🔥🔥🔥

[@larathode5474]

Brilliant video. I have just got into John Mayer and I'm literally obsessed!! My three favourite songs are No such thing Heartbreak Warfare and New light. Also very excited for his new music!

[@dimitermusic]

Great video!!!!!!! Everything I’ve been seeing yo close friends for years but in a concise and interesting way!

[@drewstan]

IMO JM is one of the greatest artists of our time. Incredible guitarist and song writer, a cool dude and he's absolutely slaying it with the dead.

[@AltSpace]

Born and Raised definitely his most underrated album

[@judetteeloi9497]

💯💯💯

[@craigcavaliere6744]

It's my favorite album of his.

[@Mom2BoysBH]

@@craigcavaliere6744 Mine too.

[@jiawei0917]

That one album that grows on you

[@pablonardi3540]

My favourite

[@jessealmaraz3767]

Awesome video and very informative! Love John Mayer, can't wait to see him perform in Dallas this October! ⚡💀🌹

[@theresalamb111]

I adore John Mayer and do think he is a genius. His lyrics are piercing and can make me say through tears “how does he know that?”