John Mayer

haffajappa

DOSW wrote:

Thank you....

...I really don't mind the music of the song, and I respect John Mayer as an artist and I think he's downright awesome as a blues guitarist.... but that song's lyrics just kill me. Any message which is trying to justify the idea of sitting around and doing nothing is just so completely counterproductive to society. It's a shame too, because there are tons of bands that are out there trying honestly to motivate the youth of the nation to spark CHANGE via ACTION... but meanwhile 'Waiting on the World to Change' is played on the radio for all to hear and enjoy. I mean, if the song were somber and depressing, then it would be different- in fact, it could probably make for a very interesting cover by someone. But the fact that it's so poppy and upbeat means it's just like it's celebrating inaction... which is the exact opposite of what this world needs right now....

Sorry for the rant. Like I said, I have a lot of respect for Mayer, but I can't forgive him for that song. I also can't forgive him for that Daughters song, but that's for an entirely different reason.

omg i always say that! when i hear it a billiongazllion times at work especially... 'why does he wait for the world to change? eddie changes it...wit his OWN two hands!!'

rival.

itsevobaby wrote:

the guy's a stoner who idolises eddie vedder. that makes him A.O.K in my books

and yes, he makes guitars his bitches

i read an article about him, and he pretty much said him and his friends used to just drive around back in the day smoking and listening to pearl jam.

i think he lists vitalogy as one of his favorite pearl jam albums.

likepilateihaveadog

JaneNY wrote:

Naaah - the song's okay, and I like *some* of the lyrics, but does Pearl Jam WAIT for the world to change? No - they effect change themselves - just check out their activist section. Mayer's song, while I like some of the lyrics, is a little too passive for me, and IMO for Pearl Jam. They go more for the Bleed for Me, Gimme Some Truth, let's DO something type of covers, not sit here and wait.

Exactly.

But Mayer adroitly captured our culture with one line of a song.

elstongunn

has no one seen his half hour comedy special that ran on VH1 a couple years ago? it's hilarious. i'll give him the guitar props but the dude is funny, like sketch comedy funny. he gathered a 'case study' group of fans, told them that richard marx writes all of his songs, played daughter and asked each girl to raise their hand when the song started to to make them cry. it was priceless. not to mention the open mic in memphis with trickdaddy.

chimpat

over_bends wrote:

He could play a mean Yellow Ledbetter. Don't know how bad he'd butcher the vocals though. Could be interesting.

He actually did cover Yellow Ledbetter, it was awhile back, it was 6/8/01 at the State Theater in Falls Church, VA. He didn't sing, just played guitar.

Love Soon Jam > Yellow Bedletter
Man On The Side > Wind Cries Mary > Man On The Side
Lover Lay Down >
No Woman No Cry

chimpat

singularity wrote:

i read an article about him, and he pretty much said him and his friends used to just drive around back in the day smoking and listening to pearl jam.

i think he lists vitalogy as one of his favorite pearl jam albums.

That's true, I'm one of those friends. John and I grew up together and have been friends since we were about 12 or so. We used to drive him around ( I say that because it took him forever to get his license), but we're all huge PJ fans and basically burned out the VS and Vitalogy albums.

I was visting him in Cali last summer and the idea of covering a PJ song came up in one of our discussions, we were both saying that "No Code" is probably our favorite album and the idea of him covering "Off He Goes" came up. He's never done it but I think it would be really cool.

IamMine

Aw, give John Mayer some respect! :mad:

Ha, it's your opinion. Oh well.

I like him!

I was so happy that he gave his permission to D-PAN organization to use his "Waiting on the World to Change" song to be translated and interpreted in ASL.

I really enjoyed listening and watching in MY language - this was a form of visual music I had been dreaming for a long time!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

I certainly hope they would ask PJ for permission to use some of their songs in the future so *I* can enjoy watching my favorite songs in MY language!

Enjoy this video even though you don't know ASL! I know some of those people in the video - they live here in Detroit!

http://www.d-pan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=45

Woot!

As for PJ covering this song - I don't know. Hmm. Maybe only because I would "see" this in ASL when Eddie sings this! And the fact that John Mayer is a big PJ fan would make it even more okay!

Wouldn't YOU want PJ to cover YOUR song?! What an HONOR!!!

woundedorgan

This thread should die and burn in hell

augustwest

DOSW wrote:

Thank you....

...I really don't mind the music of the song, and I respect John Mayer as an artist and I think he's downright awesome as a blues guitarist.... but that song's lyrics just kill me. Any message which is trying to justify the idea of sitting around and doing nothing is just so completely counterproductive to society. It's a shame too, because there are tons of bands that are out there trying honestly to motivate the youth of the nation to spark CHANGE via ACTION... but meanwhile 'Waiting on the World to Change' is played on the radio for all to hear and enjoy. I mean, if the song were somber and depressing, then it would be different- in fact, it could probably make for a very interesting cover by someone. But the fact that it's so poppy and upbeat means it's just like it's celebrating inaction... which is the exact opposite of what this world needs right now....

Sorry for the rant. Like I said, I have a lot of respect for Mayer, but I can't forgive him for that song. I also can't forgive him for that Daughters song, but that's for an entirely different reason.

What's strange is I always took that song as being about NOT waiting for the world to change...about not accepting things as they are. I think it would be foolish for anyone to wait for the world to change. It's a struggle we deal with every day. It's about being upset about today, and saying we could just wait for the world to change, but we won't. I certainly don't sit back and wait and I'm sure there are many others that won't wait as well, John included. But that's just my slant on the song.

I didn't know JM was a PJ freak. JM is an absolutely incredible guitar player and his last 2 cds have been simply amazing...there are a handful of bands that I really anticipate the next cd release and I gotta say after JM's last cd I simply can't wait till his next. The guy's on a roll.

Smarter_Than_U

I too strongly dislike the message of this song for reasons articulated quite well above--though I admit it is somewhat catchy.

rival.

chimpat wrote:

That's true, I'm one of those friends. John and I grew up together and have been friends since we were about 12 or so. We used to drive him around ( I say that because it took him forever to get his license), but we're all huge PJ fans and basically burned out the VS and Vitalogy albums.

I was visting him in Cali last summer and the idea of covering a PJ song came up in one of our discussions, we were both saying that "No Code" is probably our favorite album and the idea of him covering "Off He Goes" came up. He's never done it but I think it would be really cool.

good stuff! my girlfriend works with his brother carl and she tell me his is a blast.

off he goes is a great call for a cover. he would nail it!

Smarter_Than_U

augustwest wrote:

What's strange is I always took that song as being about NOT waiting for the world to change...about not accepting things as they are. I think it would be foolish for anyone to wait for the world to change. It's a struggle we deal with every day. It's about being upset about today, and saying we could just wait for the world to change, but we won't. I certainly don't sit back and wait and I'm sure there are many others that won't wait as well, John included. But that's just my slant on the song.

I really don't see any evidence in that song lyrically or musically to support this position. If anything what I am hearing is that Gen Y is planning on just waiting around to inherit power from their parents but until then they are just chillin brah. I am not saying this is true for this age group across the board, but this song hasn't a note of sarcasm or irony to lead a listener to believe otherwise.

chimpat

singularity wrote:

good stuff! my girlfriend works with his brother carl and she tell me his is a blast.

off he goes is a great call for a cover. he would nail it!

That's cool, Carl is a good guy. Ben is too (John's younger brother), good family, solid people.

augustwest

Smarter_Than_U wrote:

I really don't see any evidence in that song lyrically or musically to support this position. If anything what I am hearing is that Gen Y is planning on just waiting around to inherit power from their parents but until then they are just chillin brah. I am not saying this is true for this age group across the board, but this song hasn't a note of sarcasm or irony to lead a listener to believe otherwise.

I suppose I could also say that things, that appear to be what they are on the surface, are not always what they really are about in the end. I don't think you give enough credit to the younger generation that is growing up now. Just think about recycling alone...the young kids have got a headstart on this issue and ARE very concerned for the environment...way more than me(old dude) or my parents(living fossils) were/are. The young kids are not waiting for the world to change by itself.

Tek Money

I think Pearl Jam should stay the hell away from this song and work on making a good album of their own for a change.

Smarter_Than_U

augustwest wrote:

The young kids are not waiting for the world to change by itself.

I don't disagree with this statement, which is why I don't like this song's message. For the record, I am 32 and work for one of the nation's largest environmental organizations--so I am not waiting on jack and am surrounded by many younger people who aren't either.

augustwest

Smarter_Than_U wrote:

I don't disagree with this statement, which is why I don't like this song's message. For the record, I am 32 and work for one of the nation's largest environmental organizations--so I am not waiting on jack and am surrounded by many younger people who aren't either.

Indeed! If anyone was waiting for the world to change you could prolly pin that on my generation(baby boomer-X)

I've since smartened up though

moster78

chimpat wrote:

That's cool, Carl is a good guy. Ben is too (John's younger brother), good family, solid people.

Pat, you gonna be at the Coliseum show tonight on Long Island? I'll be there! On the floor 20 rows back!

chimpat

moster78 wrote:

Pat, you gonna be at the Coliseum show tonight on Long Island? I'll be there! On the floor 20 rows back!

Unfortunately, I won't be making it out from the city. One of my best friends is flying in from Jackson Hole and will only be here for the night so a bunch of us are getting together for dinner and drinks.

It's okay though, I just flew out to see John in Chicago a couple weeks ago, got to hang with the band and we had a great time at the show, I even asked him to play "Covered In Rain" and he brought it out for the encore. Cool stuff.

Have fun tonight, I'm sure it'll be great!

moster78

chimpat wrote:

Unfortunately, I won't be making it out from the city. One of my best friends is flying in from Jackson Hole and will only be here for the night so a bunch of us are getting together for dinner and drinks.

It's okay though, I just flew out to see John in Chicago a couple weeks ago, got to hang with the band and we had a great time at the show, I even asked him to play "Covered In Rain" and he brought it out for the encore. Cool stuff.

Have fun tonight, I'm sure it'll be great!

Cool deal man, enjoy! I saw he played Crossroads at last nights show, which would be cool to see!