Professional Documents
Culture Documents
John Mayer
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Artist Biography
He was raised by highly educated parents and although the same was expected of him, he soon ventured into the world of music. He bought his first guitar with money he raised working at a gas station 1996 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster
Throughout this occupational transformation, his musical style grew from bluesy jazz to mainstream pop
Media Exposure
Mayer releases his first album called Inside Wants Out in 1999 Performs at the South by Southwest music festival where he signs a record deal with Aware Record Label Released a second album called Room For Squares which received a great deal of media attention.
John wins Grammy in 2003 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Although many viewed Daughters as one of his biggest hits, Mayer was not convinced John Mayer Trio formed in 2005, joining pals Pino Palladino and Steve Jordan
Continuum
After the Trio was disbanded, John followed his solo career to produce Continuum, including songs such as Waiting on the World to Change Scaled Billboard charts and won two additional Grammy Awards Gained mainstream fame and became a pop idol
Dating Life
John drops off the musical radar to pursue romantic relationships Publicly dates many celebrities Jessica Simpson Cameron Diaz Minka Kelly Jennifer Anniston By 2009 he was working on his music again and won two more Grammys for Say and Gravity
Contains hits Heartbreak Warfare and Half of My Heart, recorded with singer Taylor Swift Receives mixed reviews
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Composition History
Daughters
Half of My Heart
Released as part of Battle Studies in 2009 Recorded with country artist Taylor Swift Song debuted at #29 on the US Billboard charts
Also appeared on multiple international music charts Depicts Mayer as a runaway groom
Released in 2006 as part of Continuum Composed with friend and former Trio member Pino Palladino Written during a time of solitary refinement Makes it a very personal song while Mayer was in a period of selfrealization
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Listening Guides
Daughters
This song is very soft and sentimental. It evokes a care for Daughters everywhere and a general respect for women. The tone is warm and inviting throughout the entire song. It is familiar, which I believe creates a home-like feel to this piece.
Half of My Heart
This song is steady and upbeat, although the overall meaning of the song can be interpreted differently. It begins cautious and mellow and builds up with use of crescendos and decrescendos. As it is also a duet, the dual voices accounts for much of the melodic feel to this piece. As it is depicting that he is unable to give his whole heart to her, it is significant where Mayer sings alone, as that represents the pieces of himself that are his own.
Mayer succeeds in making it clear to the listener that the song is as a train steady, constant, and unchangeable. Although the timbre changes momentarily, it always returns to its constancy This represents lifes challenges, but also shows that the train of life does not stop after a bit of darkness The composer uses the tempo to express urgency, as exhibited at 2:31
I hope that what it comes down to at the end of the day is that people believe that I believe what Im singing. [Music] comes down to being believable. - John Mayer