John Mayer

Before I start this post, I should just lay it out there: I'm not much into music. Not that I don't like it, I just don't pay much attention. If its on and it sounds good, then okay. I don't listen to lyrics much, don't know what an MP3 is, have never even heard of many bands that others listen to daily. I am not a complete idiot: I know about Britney Spears, Matchbox 20, Coldplay. But I don't know that I could name a song by each of them. And those are mainstream bands, that get lots of radio play. I have to admit that the non-mainstream stuff, the really really "cool" stuff, like Radiohead or um, I can't think of another--that stuff I generally don't like listening to. If I had to pick a genre that I appreciate most, its R&B. But really, I don't know what I'm talking about here. So proceed at you own risk.

Have you heard the new John Mayer song--"Daughters"? Well, of course you have, it's all over the radio and I think he won a Grammy for it. Either that or he was nominated. (The Grammy's did happen, right? Or did just the nominations come out?)

Anyway. This song, "Daughters", is on the radio a lot. And I hear it as I'm driving to the playground or grocery store or Target or wherever. It's a nice song, with a pretty melody, and I can sing a long to it fairly easily. I don't hate it. It's nice, whatever.

But when I listen to the lyrics, it starts to bug me. "Mothers, be good to your daughters, too". Specifically, that line bugs me. It's so damn patronizing. Who is John Mayer to tell me to be good to my own daughter? Isn't he like 21 years old or something? I'm sure he doesn't have kids of his own, so what the hell does he know about it? It just sounds like he's sitting up there in his nice shiny "Aren't I perfect in every way" box, teaching all us mere mortals how to raise our kids. And, GOD! He's a kid himself.

Blech. I shouldn't let this bother me. It's not as if he's talking to me personally. But I'm taking it that way. And I hope to hell he didn't win the Grammy for it. I hope those Grammy voters sent him a nice little note instead, something along the lines of "Dear John, while we appreciate the sentiment of your song, "Daughters", we suggest the next time you write a song, you write about something you actually have experience with, such as high school. Or junior high. Perhaps the bad haircut you got a few months ago. Or your experience with mood altering drugs. Leave the parenting advice to the NY Times. Thank you."

(Aside: I once had a roommate who actually said, in a room full of people, "Who's Ringo Starr?" I mean, I may be a music idiot, but that's ridiculous. )


Also: While writing this post, I ate almost an entire bag of Ghiradelli semi-sweet chocolates plus 1.5 Amstel Lights. Yuk.