2008 Woodie Awards
Win or lose, John Mayer says that his work keeps him happy
Jon Bream / McClatchy Newspapers
Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: Entertainment
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John Mayer went out on a limb. No surprise there, because the Grammy-winning rock star not only speaks his mind but lacks a self-censor button. Read Rolling Stone to find out about his sexual fantasies and marijuana habits. Read his blog to learn of his solution to the spat among the Grey's Anatomy cast. Read right here to see who he believes will win the album-of-the-year Grammy on Sunday.
"I think the Dixie Chicks deserve it," Mayer said without hesitation, even though his album Continuum is also a finalist. "Not only is it one of the best records, but it is one of the best records that was produced under some of the most stressful artistic conditions that I could ever think of."
Although the Chicks have been spurned by country radio for criticizing President Bush, nearly 2 million people bought the trio's Taking the Long Way, which featured Mayer's guitar on two tracks. By contrast, his soul-tinged Continuum received considerable radio exposure, thanks to the hit "Waiting on the World to Change," and has sold 1.3 million copies. He is contending for five Grammys on Sunday.
"Win or lose, I have kind of a nice cure-all," he said last week on tour from Memphis. "If my head gets too big because I won something, I'm right back onstage at work. If I didn't win anything, I go right back onstage and get all that gratification from fans."
Mayer did appear uncomfortable when he won his first Grammy in 2003 for best male pop vocal (for "Your Body Is a Wonderland") over James Taylor and Sting, among others. In accepting his prize, he said, "This is very, very fast, and I promise to catch up." Well, now that he has released three studio CDs and one live disc, has he caught up?
"Maybe I've caught up to the first one," said Mayer, who won the pop vocal Grammy again in 2005 as well as song of the year (both for "Daughters").
But when his name was called that first time, he sensed it was too much too soon with too much scrutiny, he said. "Rather than let anybody debate whether or not I should have had it, I'd be the first person to say, 'I've got to work harder for this one.'"
"I think the Dixie Chicks deserve it," Mayer said without hesitation, even though his album Continuum is also a finalist. "Not only is it one of the best records, but it is one of the best records that was produced under some of the most stressful artistic conditions that I could ever think of."
Although the Chicks have been spurned by country radio for criticizing President Bush, nearly 2 million people bought the trio's Taking the Long Way, which featured Mayer's guitar on two tracks. By contrast, his soul-tinged Continuum received considerable radio exposure, thanks to the hit "Waiting on the World to Change," and has sold 1.3 million copies. He is contending for five Grammys on Sunday.
"Win or lose, I have kind of a nice cure-all," he said last week on tour from Memphis. "If my head gets too big because I won something, I'm right back onstage at work. If I didn't win anything, I go right back onstage and get all that gratification from fans."
Mayer did appear uncomfortable when he won his first Grammy in 2003 for best male pop vocal (for "Your Body Is a Wonderland") over James Taylor and Sting, among others. In accepting his prize, he said, "This is very, very fast, and I promise to catch up." Well, now that he has released three studio CDs and one live disc, has he caught up?
"Maybe I've caught up to the first one," said Mayer, who won the pop vocal Grammy again in 2005 as well as song of the year (both for "Daughters").
But when his name was called that first time, he sensed it was too much too soon with too much scrutiny, he said. "Rather than let anybody debate whether or not I should have had it, I'd be the first person to say, 'I've got to work harder for this one.'"
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