The genius that is John Mayer

John Mayer, Where the Light Is

Before I can tell you about this film I have to help you understand the vast genius of John Mayer's music and his gift of producing music of such incredible qualities. John Mayer's music has over the course of his career witnessed such an amazing evolution, and ventured into beautiful genres to himself find and create songs of immense and incomparable beauty. It's something about the way he sings and create his voice as an instrument on it's own and merges it ever so beautifully with the rest of the music. It's something you have to hear and let grow on you, and once it grabs a hold of you, it will never let go. From easy listening almost pop-style tunes from his initial albums to an explosion of blues and jazz in "Continuum" to the more country style, harmonica helped new albums "Born and raised" and "Paradise Valley". John Mayer is one of those artists whose you cannot let go once they grab on. Alright, let's talk about the concert.

His first one, in 2003

His latest, 2013

Now I don't have a lot of experience watching live albums and reviewing them, but I first saw "Where the Light Is" in 2010, and have been watching it almost religiously ever since. As a musician, I find it to be like a "musical Bible". Almost every variety of genre from his career has been touched upon in this album and (I think) there are songs from every album. If you're a blues fan, this is especially for you.

The show starts with the most spectacular version of "neon", played acoustic with a brilliant intro towards the song, I don't think there is any young guitar player who isn't aware of John Mayer's Neon from "Where the Light Is". I think it's safe to say this one is more popular than the original recording from the "Room for Squares" album.

He goes on to play two more songs by himself, "In Your Atmosphere" and "Stop This Train". The first one , also known as LA Song is an old classic of John Mayer's which strangely has never actually been recorded and hasn't appeared on any albums except the live ones. It's a beautiful beautiful song played on a strangely tuned guitar. Listen to it closely. "Stop This Train" from his hit album "Continuum" really needs no explanation, it's another one of songs with a differently tuned guitar and it's melodies rise and fall to catch you in awe. He is then joined by guitarists Robbie Mcintosh and David Ryan Harris to play one of the most beautiful performances of "Daughters" and Tom Petty's "Free Fallin".

You can not miss either of these songs.

With Robbie Mcintosh

Alright, Trio Time! The John Mayer Trio was formed in 2005 with drummer Steve Jordan and bassist Pino Paladino. They have released a blues-rock album "Try" and have been touring ever since. They form the middle section of "Where the Light Is". Dressed in classy black suits, the three of them look like the classic sexy blues band us blues people miss in the 21st century. BB King's classic "Everyday I Have the Blues" is the first item on the agenda only played this time with John's smooth voice and sexy guitar licks. That's the thing about this particular performance of the Trio, It's the old blues, only they're done in John's own unique style of singing, and his guitar playing? One word : Magnificent. John Mayer is one of the greatest blues guitar players alive today. Period.

He really Is

He goes on to play a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Who Did You Think I Was", again, spectacularly done and some more songs from the Trio's album "Try!". One song I must talk about in particular is the Blues spectacle "Out of my mind". For a listener of blues music and a blues guitar player, this song is an absolute state of eutopia. You wish it never ends, but sadly it does, after about ten minutes of deep raw blues indulgence. Along the middle of the song, he goes :

"Go tell your friends, your stupid friends"
"Go tell your friends, what Johnny did,"

Then goes on to play another mind raising blues solo towards the end of the song, Now that's what I call Blues Swagger. He's got what what the old masters had, BB King, John Lee Hooker, the great SRV, the ability to sing and play in the blues guitar style, and John brings to this his own way of smooth singing and voicing over the licks. 

The set ends with Axis : Bold as Love, by Jimi Hendrix, released by John Mayer in his album "Continuum". I guess this song sums up the blues side of John Mayer. The man doesn't really need anyone else to accompany him while he plays, much like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn, he sings and lays out riffs that you can't tell are lead or rhythm parts. But does anybody call him the next SRV? or the next Hendrix? Nah, they don't need to, 'Cos he's freaking John Mayer! Rolling Stone magazine's got a nice review.

That brings us to the last set of the show, with the entire band, including trio members Steve and Pino. The "Big Act" as John puts it in the dressing room prior to going onstage again puts up his most famous hits like "Waiting on the World to Change", "Belief" and "Gravity". And he lives upto his old reputation, performing these songs to perfection.

Gravity, Where the Light Is









Get high, turn off the lights, and hear this song. Gravity has to be the definitive song of John Mayer and his career so far. I really haven't much idea how to put a song like this to words. It's just, mind numbingly beautiful.
The stage lights are shut and a lone blue spotlight falls on John as he sings "I got dreams, dreams to remember..." . Pure awe, is what you feel, watching this song take shape. The lights go up, along with the entering organ and steady drumming. He asks the choir to keep going, and moves up to play, he plays a note and uses the head strings of his guitar to bend those notes. It'll make your body swoon to the floor. I really can't explain why this song is so good, maybe it's because of it's soft beginning, maybe it's the slightly bluesy chord progression, or it could be the gentle humming in the chorus, as John sings "Keep me where the Light is". But I can tell you that's how they named the album, "Where the Light Is". Because it's only when you're in the light that you can truly become who you are. To know who you really are, you must find that light, and find a way to stay there to sustain that perfection of yourself. And that's why the song goes "Just keep me where the light is".

I Don't trust Myself takes the show into a space age , synth guitar universe and Belief retains itself as a fantastic song. Why Georgia is something that you get by mixing a fresh glass of country music with John Mayer's clear voice and guitars. You literally feel like you've woken up to a fresh new dewy morning and you're driving down the road with the fresh morning chill against your face. When you mix funk and the blues you get songs like I Don't Need No Doctor. Almost every song in this concert is finished by a long guitarred jam . There's an especially fine one in this song. The Heart of Life is one of his most beautiful songs yet. Have you ever wanted to hear a really great Jazz song? Try John Mayer's I'm Gonna Find Another You. This song is a great example of Mayer's ability to take a genre and make it his own in his songs. With a solo intro using some sweet jazz scales, he smoothly takes you into the song with "It's really over...". What I love so much about this song is how his voice rises and flutters over the melodies. It's like a sweet jazz poem. All three guitarists take turns on their own sweet solos and rip out! It is one brilliant piece of music and probably was the best way to end the show.It's an album you cannot miss. Watch it!

Robin Thicke from the old days

ROBIN THICKE : Beyond the Blurred Lines

With  five of his most "soulful" songs

Earlier this year the world was witness to the rise to fame of this hip-hop/R&B singer for his billboard topper "Blurred Lines" with co-stars T.I. and Pharrell. The video and song have been in the scene from selling five million copies to being the recipient of harsh criticism for it's sexist and racy theme. Nevertheless the song remains to be at the top of the billboard list after four months of it's release, bringing global acclaim to the canadian born singer. 

But what a lot of people don't know is that he's been in the pop scene for more than ten years. Since the year 2000, Thicke has been writing, producing and making his contribution to the professional scene. Through a course of 13 years, he has experienced  a gradual rise to fame through some beautiful songs and fine productions, stepping on to the pop scene collaborating with some of the top players in the game like 50 cent, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell and Lil' Wayne. 

Although Blurred Lines may have placed him in the eyes of many as a sexist male popstar but such a view is rather blurred. Anyways, this article is being written to focus on some of Robin Thicke's finest works from the past, songs full of soul and so much vocal vibrato that they just sound incredible. Though none of the songs in this list achieved "Blurred Lines style" fame because, well they just didn't break out into the pop world in a similar fashion, but that's a completely different story.

Let's talk about soul.

The Sweetest Love (Something Else, 2008)

"Why do, people, smile when no one's smiling?"

"It's 'cos, they're thinking, of someone they're loving"

"Keep on, believing, we are meant to be and"

"Nothings, stopping, you and me from going to heaven"

This song has to be one of Thicke's finest works. Soft steady keys accompany Robin's voice as he sings the starting lines and then goes on to say, "Sweetest Love" with the most vibrato and fluidity you could ever sing two words in. It's an intro you can NOT stop listening to, and his voice is just so soft and gentle, it does perfect justice to the songs lyrics. One of my all time favourites from Robin Thicke. A must listen for every fan of soul.

Follow my lead (Curtis, 2007)

This has to be one of the finest hip-hop songs ever made. 

50 cent and Robin Thicke bring so much class into this song, this kind of thing doesn't happen very often. The pianos take you to a jazz bar lounge, everybody in black suits, pretty ladies glittering. 50 cent goes right into the feel of the  song with his steady rap. Sure this is not a Robin Thicke production,  but his voice and soulful way of singing make you want to hear  this song again and again. 

Pretty Lil' Heart (Love After War, 2011)

This is another great hiphop song featuring Lil' Wayne and what I love about this song is the marching band type horns that back up the verses around the chorus. The production has some very fine elements in it. Lil' Wayne does what he does best with his bassy, almost chameleon like voice and he does a spectacular job of it, his running verses towards the beginning of the chorus especially sound fantastic. Both singers' voices are completely in theme with the soft guitars in the intro and the progression of the guitars into the chorus accompanied by the horns is the genius of this song.

Tie My Hands (Something Else, 2008)

In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina in 2005, black communities in the south were widely neglected by the government and not provided adequate assistance as hundreds lost lives and property. Lil' Wayne, whose home town is in New Orleans, talks about the suffering of the people and lashes out against the government for it's neglection. Together with Robin, he has created a beautiful and meaningful song with some great parts in it by both Thicke and Wayne. 

Complicated (The evolution of Robin Thicke, 2006)

Now this is a slow bluesy pop tune with the sweetest of choruses but Robin's voice and style of singing makes this song much more than a pretty pop tune. There aren't many artists in the scene with the same kind of voice and style of singing producing song after song of such beauty and flow. So make no presumptions, ignore the public image the pop industry tends to brand artists with, because artists like this don't come around very often. Robin Thicke is truly, a rare find.

With wife Paula Patton

Kanye West cannot be stopped!

Why you can't take it away from 
Kanye West.

Before going up on stage at a TV show recently in Kent, England, West demanded that his dressing room carpet be ironed, and that the entire room be ripped down and redecorated entirely in white! The show's lineup for the evening consisted of 'Sting' and 'The Kings of Leon' besides himself but the rapper adamantly insisted that more than half of the studio's 15 dressing rooms be allotted to him and his crew. He got his way, but his performance that night was rather incredible.

At the show, with Charlie Wilson

Behavior like this from Kanye over the years has led to people branding him "pompous", "diva-ish" and even "prickly", what with him interrupting little miss Taylor Swift's speech at the VMAs and all that. BUT SHOULD HE CARE? NO. Absolutely not. And let me tell you why.

Music is about output, and work and a musician must only be judged for his work. And Kanye West has proved, album after album, song after song, that put aside what he may do backstage, put aside what "The World" thinks of him, the man is A GENIUS. In the face of sporadic bouts of criticism every now and then over some issue or the other , Kanye  has been releasing production after spectacular production at a level of ingenuity and freshness no other artists share. 

His technique of taking a 'vocal piece' from a song and using this as a sample which he edits and loops to create the main base for his record is something he has achieved a lot of success with. Some songs employing this method with great success : 

Otis 

What was originally an Otis Redding song
"Try a little tenderness" 

is turned into this masterpiece with Jay-Z...

Jay-z, Kanye west feat. Otis Redding

Stronger
This was originally created by french electronic duo Daft Punk in 2001 under the title "Harder Better Faster Stronger"

turned into one of his most successful songs to date.  

Kanye West-Stronger

Other great songs like these include "Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx that uses a chorus line from Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman".

Kanye has performed with musicians from every genre and style, from Jamie Foxx to Rihanna to  John Mayer. When it comes to the best music productions in the industry, this man is in a class of his own.
Haters Gonna Hate.

Black Skinhead (Yeezus, 2013)
Although i am not a fan of how he merges his name with Jesus!, i don't know why VH1 decides to keep it at the bottom of it's top ten list. This record is an absolute spectacle of a production employing elements and sounds you've never heard before.

Scary, almost Roman type horns begin the song with faint screams interspersed with weird humming, the whole thing mounted on a very rhythmic, tribal beat.

Still from the music video

"Middle America packed in, came to see me in my black skin"

"At the top floor they gone come to kill King Kong"

The lyrics touch on sensitive racial issues still prevalent in modern America with Kanye lashing out at the white dominated American public. "Gone come to kill King Kong (Kanye)"

"Claiming I'm overreacting"

"Like them black kids in Chiraq bitch"

Meaning the media in America cares more about deaths in Iraq than black kids killed in street violence in America's towns.

Drums clutter together in the hook into the chorus where the lines begin with "screams" that sound more like an animal's disturbed screeching, again, never before seen productional elements. Famed rocker Lou Reed states "No one's near doing what he's doing, it's not even on the same planet"

Jay-Z maybe the greatest rapper in hiphop, but when it comes to the most creative, ingenious, mind popping musical productions there is, no one does it better than Kanye West.

Pop culture website Buzzfeed about puts it right:

   

Gaga, genius or diva?

Lady Gaga: Musical genius or just plain old "diva"?

With her latest video "applause" hitting the scene, Lady Gaga is once again in the limelight for her work...wacky tasteless pop work or genuinely talented artist work?

Tasteless? Really?

Well that's up to you, but before we get into that kind of criticism lets take a look at Gaga from different light, a more musically creative-less wacko artist and consider a song from a slightly more popular time in her life...

Now what's the difference between a musical genius and a "diva"? Well, the music! Right? The pop world has most always seen the stronghold of these "divas" which today comprises the likes of the dazzling Katy Perry, booty queen Beyonce, cute(but slightly overzealous Miley Cyrus) and of course the wacky-artisty-meat-laden Lady Gaga . Yes she has a reputation for creating the wackiest videos, drawing attention to her crazy clothing and is the kind of pop artist most rock enthusiasts would call "pop rubbish", there's a lot more to Lady Gaga than that...

You and I (From Born This Way, 2011)

                                

Yeap, That's Brian May with her.
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9WPVwABEKo

Now let's really listen to this song before making any assumptions. 'You and I' wasn't just another pop video-flesh exposing-diva type song. It was "musically" a very good song... With backing rock guitar riffs, a beautiful melody you don't usually hear in Gaga songs and a chorus that puts her in the same league as some of the more "musically" acclaimed female singers of her time, this was a song a lot of people would never really include among her best work, but then that is merely because pop divas like Gaga and Perry are judged rather for their elaborate videos and pop-style tunes instead of "musical beauty". This is a song people must really consider before labeling her as just a "pop-diva". Honestly, how many female divas has the great Brian May performed with?

Although her latest her latest "applause" is at most pop-tunish and video based( sorry gaga), Lady Gaga, one cannot deny is a cut above her peers...

Miss Gaga, forget the stereotypical pop tunes  what we really need from you are more songs like 'You and I'.