John Mayer Courts Country Radio with “In The Blood”
And now for something entirely unexpected, but in a strange and sad way somewhat plausible and curiously intuitive, John Mayer and his label Sony have made a full on play to court country radio with his song “In The Blood” from his recently-released record, The Search For Everything.
And no, this isn’t just a deal where you dip your toes in the water to see what the reception might be, like when Justin Timberlake released “Drink You Away” to radio after his big 2015 CMA moment with Chris Stapleton. Sony is taking out full page ads in country radio industry periodicals and bugging program directors across the country for all the adds and spins they can get. Don’t mistake it, John Mayer and “In The Blood” are coming to country radio. The only question is how far they will get.
Oh the think piece threads and potential ramifications are nearly endless with this thing, so let’s see if we can unpack some of it and make a little bit of sense out of this development.
First off, best of luck predicting what John Mayer is going to do. A year ago he was touring with The Grateful Dead. Now he’s courting what is arguably the most stuffy, creatively-vacant, and unhip format on the entire radio dial. The reason? Because where else is a man like John Mayer going to go in 2017? The name might be slightly new to Millennials, and synonymous with the Adult Contemporary station your mother has tinkling lightly at her cubicle at work, but Mayer is a massive superstar who just like many of the aging artists who flee to country (Darius Rucker, Sheryl Crow, et al) is finding no love from radio for his current “Hot AC” single, and believes country is actually a format he may find some friendly faces and fertile ground in.
Why? Because country radio is the ultimate subservient little lap dog. You give it enough money and attention, especially if you’re already a pre-established superstar, and country radio will clean your toilets. The country industry has such a broad interpretation of its boundaries and such a low self-esteem, when John Mayer comes calling, it’s like the cool kid finally paying attention to the dork in high school.
But don’t mistake this for John Mayer “going country.” One of the curious parts of this move is Mayer’s intentions were not broadcast whatsoever. This is completely out of left field. Usually when an artist decides the time is nigh to make the country move in the twilight of their careers, there are months of murmurs in the media rumor mill released privately by publicists, and hints dropped in interviews preceding the actual deed. Usually this stuff swirls around how the artist is from the South, so clearly that gives them the cred to release country songs, and how they’ve always been a country fan (though this is curiously absent from the public record previously), and they remember their grandparents listening to Patsy Cline yada yada yada.
John Mayer isn’t doing any of that. John Mayer isn’t saying shit, probably because he knows he has no country cred, and his hometown of Bridgeport, Connecticut isn’t really going to afford him many brownie points with the country community. The only country cred John Mayer has is sleeping with a 19-year-old Taylor Swift, which basically means he has no country cred at all. So instead Sony’s just funneling tons of backend cash to country radio periodicals and “publicity” companies to launch what they believe can be a hit country single.
Now I know what you’re going to say: How is John Mayer receiving country radio play, and Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, and Cody Jinks aren’t? How does Chris Stapleton barely get played on radio despite selling millions of records and sweeping awards, not to mention Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price, and dozens of other artists who get ignored systematically as a matter of course?
Country radio doesn’t care who you are, or what you sound like. Case in point, right now the #1 song in all of country radio is Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Backroad,” and brace yourself for this potentially being the case for months into the future. Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson will never have a hit on country radio because you have to spend a million dollars simply on radio promotion just to buy in, even if you’re winning Grammy Awards. You have to kiss the ring. And that’s exactly what John Mayer is doing by taking out full page ads in Country Aircheck and throwing around promotional cash. You pay, they play.
But what of the song itself, “In The Blood”? It has that stupid, post-Lumineers hand clapping pseduo “roots” rhythm that was played out years ago and is pretty annoying at first. But except for that, this is a 3-chord, very well-written, fetching, classic country themed, simple and well-sung song that is a breath of fresh air on the country radio format. I like “In The Blood.” I think it’s a good song. It’s a shame Mayer’s ultra-country and steel-guitar driven song “You’re No One ‘Til Someone Lets You Down” from his 2013 record Paradise Valley wasn’t the one chosen to impact country radio. That album was supposed to be John Mayer’s “country” (or at least, Americana) moment, where he covered J.J. Cale’s “Call Me The Breeze” made famous by Skynyrd and the whole bit.
But I’m not even sure if John Mayer knows any of this country radio business is going on. I feel like I’m supposed to hate John Mayer in this moment, but I don’t, and I can’t. The song is good, and if it makes it into the Top 20, it would be the best song in the Top 20 of country radio at the moment. Aside from William Michael Morgan’s “Missing,” or Midland’s “Drinking Problem” (talk about authenticity issues), “In The Blood” is one of the best things being pushed to radio right now.
I don’t blame John Mayer or his people for pushing a song to country radio, I blame country radio for being so weak, so pliable and subservient, it allows someone like John Mayer to walk right through the barn doors thrown wide and do his worst. Of course John Mayer doesn’t belong on country radio, and for reasons that are not the fault of John Mayer; it’s just the way it’s supposed to be. Like his former squeeze Taylor Swift once said, “Choose a lane.”
But you know, whatever. If a semi-cool John Mayer song can push some 3rd-tier Bro-Country selection off the back end of the charts, so be it. Yes there’s limited slots on radio, and yes they should be reserved for artists who have spent their entire lives or careers trying to make it in the genre, including some of the more pop-oriented artists. But war makes strange bedfellows, and far be it from us to bemoan this Mayer song when so much worse can be found in the format. Does it set a bad precedent that someone can just walk into country from another genre and capture spins? Of course it does. But that ship sailed years ago.
So welcome aboard John Mayer. Just don’t get comfy, and don’t start demanding Grammy Awards like Beyoncé, and we’ll play nice. For now.
May 3, 2017 @ 9:28 am
You know Bobby Bones is going to claim credit for this one, if he hasn’t already ….
May 3, 2017 @ 12:11 pm
Well considering the fact that he’s been playing it and talking about it on the radio for a few weeks now. Yeah he will.
May 4, 2017 @ 9:06 am
I hate Bobby Bones, but why wouldn’t he get credit? He was the first one to play it – and his volume of audience is why this made the Billboard Airplay chart this week.
May 4, 2017 @ 8:09 pm
Credit = he got his check from the record label before anyone else.
May 3, 2017 @ 9:31 am
I love the song Badge and Gun. Otherwise not really a fan. Like Trigger says I wish Sturgill and Stapleton were being pushed. Hell would Freeze over if radio played Whitey Morgan…☹️
May 3, 2017 @ 9:37 am
As someone who has seen John Mayer live twice and enjoyed it both times, I can only say… yawn. He tried to go blues rock a few years back too, and while this song isn’t nearly the affront-to-God-himself that that was, I still just don’t like the arrogance it conveys that he (or his publicist) thinks any genre he touches turns to gold.
Trigger, I know you said he hasn’t spoken about this “country song” in interviews yet, but considering how many interviews he gave where he shit all over pop music and tried to remake himself as Albert King in disguise, I wouldn’t be surprised if his “pop music is garbage, I’ve always been all about George Strait” comments are on their way.
May 3, 2017 @ 12:31 pm
I don’t think John Mayer had any intention to “go country” when he wrote this song. I think he just wrote a song. I think Sony is frustrated that the first single from this album is getting no traction at Hot AC (see Six String Richie’s comment), and so this is a move to get Mayer radio play.
May 3, 2017 @ 9:40 am
” Because where else is a man like John Mayer going to go in 2017?”
”But I’m not even sure if John Mayer knows any of this country radio business is going on. I feel like I’m supposed to hate John Mayer in this moment, but I don’t, and I can’t. The song is good, and if it makes it into the Top 20, it would be the best song in the Top 20 of country radio at the moment. ”
yeah ….Mayer is a bit of a ”conundrum wrapped in an enigma”, Trigger . Connecticut born or not , Mayer has had ‘ rootsy ‘ , if not country influences in his sound for quite some time . And YES …the guy is a good writer and ‘ distiller’ of lyrical and musical ideas in order to strengthen his points . I don’t find to much in the way of trend-chasing in his output . In fact , at the risk of being ostracized by the ‘ commitee ‘ I’d almost put Mayer i the Eric Clapton , Willie Nelson camp artistically -” If it feels good ….sing it ” whether that may be Cream classics or …..well just about ANYTHING Willie releases by any writer whose work he respects . BUT , of course , Mayer writes his own stuff which gives it a cred most of Music Row’s minions can’t totally claim . I can understand Mayer releasing to country radio …RADIO …where anything this good is an improvement over the crap they are pumping at us . Go for it John ….nothing to lose …..and you’ll never be accused of not TRYING to educate mainstream country listeners to better options.
May 3, 2017 @ 9:52 am
I wouldn’t say Mayer has no country cred whatsoever as his past three albums have (at least in my opinion) been americana records which, by definition, does include country among several other genres that Mayer is known for, specifically rock and blues. I agree that I’d rather he was on country radio than Bryan, Shelton or Hunt but I also agree that it would be better if he was an outsider amongst Stapleton, Isbell and Price rather than a breath of fresh air which is more country than anything currently in the charts.
May 3, 2017 @ 9:53 am
Not a fan, but I like most of “Room for Squares” and “Wildfire” is fun. There are far worse acts (21 Pilots and Chainsmokers, for openers).
May 3, 2017 @ 10:13 am
One of the more interesting changes in the music industry in the past 10 years has been the death of the “Hot AC” or “Adult Pop” radio format. This format came about in the mid-90’s positioned as “Top 40 for people over age 30.” It played similar music to what was on Pop at the time, but removed hip hop, techno/dance, and some of the more challenging metal and grunge of the time.
As the new millennium progressed, Hot AC played Michelle Branch, Kelly Clarkson, Nickelback, Matchbox 20 and Rob Thomas, Sheryl Crowe, John Mayer and other artists that were poppy and mainstream, but weren’t exactly “what the kids are listening to.”
The nice thing about Hot AC was that it was a place on the dial for radio-friendly rock. It allowed bands like Matchbox 20, Goo Goo Dolls, Bon Jovi and Counting Crows to stay relevant past their commercial peak. But starting around 2009, Hot AC started becoming more and more similar to Pop radio.
I attribute this partly to the fact that artists like Katy Perry, Lady GaGa, Pink, Maroon 5 and Bruno Mars becoming pop superstars and having great appeal to listeners over 30.
For the past 7 or so years, it seems that a song can’t reach the Top 10 of Hot AC without also reaching the Top 10 of Pop radio. This has created two redundant radio formats.
It also has destroyed the only space on the dial for radio-friendly rock. Which is why all of these former Hot AC artists are going to country radio.
Country radio is filling the void that has been created by the loss of radio-friendly rock.
May 3, 2017 @ 12:32 pm
Good stuff.
May 3, 2017 @ 7:12 pm
Thank you. You’re not too bad yourself.
May 5, 2017 @ 8:09 am
“Top 40 for people over 30” is a good description of the Hot AC format, which is a sub format of AC radio. I think AC radio is largely a medium for advertisers to reach suburban mothers who do most of the shopping for their families. Back in the late 1990s I recall that AC stations catered to 30 something women who craved romance but were not creative in their musical tastes. In those days they played tons of romantic ballads from Celine, Whitney, Mariah, etc. They also played Shania Twain (“You’re Still the One” got played a LOT) and in fact they seem to be the only major radio format that still regularly plays her songs. Back in the 1990s some AC stations also played some good classic pop/rock songs from the 1960s and 1970s, though the majority of what most AC stations played was safe, inoffensive background music.
May 4, 2017 @ 9:19 am
— This whole Mayer project has been really weird. When he first teased the album, he noted he was getting back together with the Continuum crew.
Then he said that this album was going to mark his return to pop music.
But it’s neither. This is nothing like Continuum, but it’s his least poppy album ever. Not one song sounds like something that would be played on Z100.
Now he has a country single.
— Also, just one thing to note regarding Sam Hunt.
Body Like A Back Road is actually a terrible example of “pay to play.”
A) Two weeks ago, MCA Nashville was pushing hard for Josh Turner’s Hometown Girl – not Body Like A Back Road – to reach #1. They issued multiple press releases saying it was poised to top the country charts, and at one point outright had a press note (one they later had to change) saying it was #1 on the Mediabase and Billboard charts.
They barely got there on Mediabase – and didn’t get there at Billboard, because radio was too eager to make Body Like A Back Road the #1 song (which is also an MCA Nashville song, so you’d think the label would be able to manipulate).
Based on its strong sales and absolutely incredible streams (country songs NEVER stream this well), it actually deserves to be a 6-7 week number one at country radio (especially since it’s only 3 months old) — but it may lose its #1 spot this week (and will by next week at the latest) — because songs like Hurricane, Yeah Boy and/or In Case You Didn’t Know have to get to number one. That’s another case of the radio system actually working against Body Like A Back Road.
There’s a lot to hate about the song, but consumers clearly love it and audience callouts are above average. It’s earned its airplay.
May 4, 2017 @ 9:20 am
Not sure why this went here – should’ve been a new thread at the bottom 🙁
May 4, 2017 @ 2:26 pm
Actually, the first “Hot AC” stations started popping up in the very late ’80s. The format came to my home market of Detroit in 1989 when former CHR Z95.5 (WCZY) morphed into Q95 (WKQI), with a tagline of “the best hits without the hard rock and rap.” You’re correct that it wasn’t until 1994 or so (when Radio & Records debuted its first Hot AC/Adult CHR airplay chart) that this approach really became recognized as its own format. Prior to that Hot AC stations reported to the trade papers as CHR/Top 40’s or Adult Contemporaries.
You can still find “radio-friendly rock” on the radio if you’re lucky enough to be within range of a Triple A (Adult Album Alternative) radio station. Unfortunately, that format is often diluted with Hot AC or Classic Rock tracks to make it more salable (look at, for example, Cities 97 in Minneapolis, which was a Triple A standard-bearer for years but now plays Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Shawn Mendes and the Chainsmokers). You can’t escape by going to a “mainstream” AC station either, as the format that was once known for “soft” and “lite” rock has become a retirement home for CHR recurrents and is distinguishable from Hot AC and CHR now only in that it includes ’80s and sometimes ’70s music (whereas Hot AC has generally moved beyond the ’80s and even the ’90s).
Also you might recall when Modern Adult Contemporary was a thing for a hot minute in the late ’90s as a format that bridged the gap between Hot AC and Alternative. That format has more or less gone the way of Smooth Jazz, Jammin’ Oldies and other trendy formats from that decade.
Fortunately I live within range of 107.1 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is still a pretty “pure” Triple A format. And some of the music they play is more country than 99% of what’s played on its NASH-affiliated pop-country sister station (they have played Kacey Musgraves and Jason Isbell on some of their weekend specialty shows).
May 6, 2017 @ 5:42 pm
Wouldn’t VH1 be considered Hot AC? I know it’s not radio, but still. I remember being a kid and thinking that VH1 was for “old” people. It never really appealed to me, outside of “Pop Up Video”. VH1 started in 1985. To be fair, I haven’t watched either MTV or VH1 in probably 20 years. I have no idea what is on either anymore. 120 minutes was probably the last show I watched on MTV.
May 7, 2017 @ 11:56 pm
I miss the days of hot ac better known as “soft rock”. There was some great music put out between 1990 and 2010. Unfortunately non of the radio stations that played that stuff exist any more, they have all morphed into “mix” stations that play mostly hardcore pop garbage. Its all been part of the collective downhill slide music in general has been experiencing over the past several years.
May 3, 2017 @ 10:16 am
I’ve never been a huge Mayer person, but this song is fine. I don’t find it particularly country. I don’t really care about where he comes from, but country comes from a place…so it bugs me when people want to just starting taking it without appreciating where it comes from (same thing I’ve said about rap). That’s actually my biggest problem with this song.
(This is more country though then isbell’s latest two “singles”…and I like them. Just being from the south doesn’t mean you’re releasing country)
May 3, 2017 @ 10:28 am
Gotta disagree strongly here. Doesn’t sound remotely country to me. I smell a desperation move.. His ” big label” is looking for any vehicle it can find to generate movement in terms of big numbers. That’s all this is, period. Attempted money grab. He is a has been pop star and they know it. He’s not pure enough blues for the blues crowd, although he can play guitar very convincingly. Yes he is loaded with talent, I agree. But cmon people, we are smarter than this and country he aint.I got no interest in pop stars making half hearted money grab attempts on country music. How would I market him, given the chance? Since blues style guitar is a strength for him, I’d say to go at it and drop the adult contemporary sound. Gary Clark Jr is doing the blues / rock thing succesfully.
May 3, 2017 @ 11:38 am
There’s strong rumors he’s coming out with another Trio album later this year so he’ll have some more blues songs most likely coming. He’s not country but I don’t think he’s trying to be. His Born and Raised and Paradise Valley albums were much more folk/country infused than In The Blood but the song itself is a pretty personal song he wrote that he even said was the one he was most proud of writing on this album. If writing honest music is part of country than I’m sure this will find an audience.
May 3, 2017 @ 12:39 pm
I don’t feel like what you’re saying is in strong disagreement with what I’m saying. I don’t think the song sounds particularly country, but I would say it sounds more country than 90% of the other songs in country’s Top 40. I also think the lyrics are totally country. I think this is a well-written song. That doesn’t make me a John Mayer fans. I’ve been cracking jokes at his expense for years. But a good song is a good song.
May 3, 2017 @ 1:47 pm
Yeah. That comment was more in response to the folks here who are baking the welcoming pies for Mayer in hopes of having him ” go country.” Obviously some Pop stars have been good at it. Aaron from Staind surprised me pleasantly although of course radio ignores him.
I get the point.He’s way better than Sam Hunt. True, True, and True. But I would rather hear Stapleton, Jinks, Simpson , Watson and other real deal country folks on the radio than Mayer.
And I get the economics behind Mayer, he sells out arenas; and country radio fans like arena shows. If Mayer were to go truly hardcore blues or blues rock he likely may alienate the lite Fm adult contemporary fan base which is his bread and butter. Then he may drop to mid level outdoor amphitheaters and suffer a notice able income drop. So first and foremost his record label and people who leech off him have a vested stake in whatever he does and they might see country as a ” safe” bet.
But at his core, Mayer is a blues guy at heart and I don’t hear country when I listen to him.
May 4, 2017 @ 4:43 am
Perhaps Sony is hoping that country radio picks up on this song which enables the album to climb the Billboard charts, and also for the song to crossover into the Pop/AC charts for more airplay (read: revenue).
May 3, 2017 @ 8:23 pm
I’m pretty sure the song will actually be greater live. John Mayer is one of those artists that is better live than in the studio. Lol I wonder if him doing “Come Pick Me Up” with Ryan Adams a few weeks made him want to release some more country stuff
May 3, 2017 @ 10:31 am
While I do wish more country artists who dedicated their careers to their craft were played more, I honestly think this move makes perfect sense. I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed John Mayers music, and when listening to Born & Raised and Paradise Valley i always thought john Mayer was more “county” then 95% of what was on the radio. While I do wish he would have released a song off of one of those albums, as I feel they were more folksy and just some darn good songs, I do appreciate this song. I feel like John Mayor has always had an appreciation for “American Music” so I don’t think you’ll hear him running his mouth about how much he idolized Geroge Jones or Patsy Cline, I think he’s just being honest to what he likes- real music made with real instruments, and that doesn’t really fit on pop radio anymore. It makes sense he wants his music heard by people who want to hear it
May 3, 2017 @ 10:46 am
John Mayer was modern country when modern country wasn’t cool. Keith Urban wishes he was John Mayer. The modern country adult contemporary light rock format is perfect for Mayer, who is an incredibly talented guy and a pleasant songwriter and better than 99 percent of what passes for country so I say play him and maybe i’ll listen to country radio once in a while.
May 3, 2017 @ 10:56 am
I’m paying attention to the bromance happening between he and Ryan Adams, Dawes touring with him and his Isbell comments. All good!
May 3, 2017 @ 11:01 am
I think country radio would be lucky to have him. As far as street cred goes, his influences like Clapton, The Dead, The Band, The Rolling Stones and Neil Young all dabbled in country music. He sings better than most of your top tier country male vocalists. Compare his singing to McGraw, Aldean, or Chesney. There’s no comparison. His guitar playing is tastier, has better tone, and he knows restraint and how to play for the song. He’s a far superior musician to Keith Urban or Brad Paisley. His songwriting is world class. His songs are better than most anything on country radio. Also, it sounds like he didn’t just come to Nashville and throw himself in the music mill machine the way Sheryl Crow and Darius Rucker did. I gotta say, this could make a lot of sense and be a win for country music. He has integrity, authenticity, and commerciality.
May 3, 2017 @ 11:12 am
This is a good song. I have nothing against John Mayer’s voice, but I’d like to hear either Joe Nichols or Jake Owen take on it – something about their baritones I think would suit the song well.
In terms of Mayer playing the game in order to get some airplay, well, he is playing the studios at their own game and I agree that hopefully he can knock some of the current bro-country out of the way. That being said, if his flavor-of-the-month Katy Perry starts getting any ideas to use his foot in the country door to invite herself in, he will officially become persona non grata to me.
May 3, 2017 @ 12:05 pm
This is a good song lyrically and I agree a more country sounding voice along with some country instrumentation could make it great. I’ve always kind of liked John Mayers music so I don’t mind this – and like Trigger said better than most of what’s on country radio now anyway. Bring it on.
May 3, 2017 @ 12:17 pm
Trigger, you mentioned that one reason Mayer will get played is because he is putting money into promoting his song. This makes me wonder how do radio stations make their money? I always assumed it was from advertisers only. Would a station that played Sturgill, Isbell, etc simply not get the listening numbers they need to drive advertising sales? Or do the record labels literally pay radio to play their songs and how do you know this?
May 3, 2017 @ 12:31 pm
People need to get over Mayer’s suburban origins. He’s like Sam Outlaw but with better chops. I think he’s talented and thoughtful. Listen to the Charlie Rose interview for a recent look. The lyrics of this tune alone are several cuts above the industrial McLyric nashpop slop shoveled into the radio trough every morning.
But Trig’s point is not so much about Mayer than about the completely supine country music genre, on its back, legs in the air, will apparently welcome anything and everything as a “contribution” to its “evolution.” This is edging pretty close to saying that country music is basically a sad-eyed gold-digging slut, or, as you prefer, a rich and brainless gigolo. And well, what of it. Pretty hard to argue with that.
To put it country: somebody opened the barn door and let out all the horses, and now you have a big old infestation of rats. In walks Mayer, a clever raccoon.
May 3, 2017 @ 4:05 pm
Love everything you just said! Especially “…..industrial McLyric Nashpop slop, shovelled into the radio trough……”. Could not have put it better myself!
May 3, 2017 @ 12:35 pm
by the way, folk song structure is really good for Mayer’s writing
keeps it taut
May 3, 2017 @ 1:19 pm
Hmm. I thought John Mayer died of Syphilis 5 years ago.
May 3, 2017 @ 1:20 pm
John isn’t concerned with radio or album sales anymore. He has said it in concerts and in interviews that all he’s concerned with nowadays is making music he loves and his fans love. Does he have country cred? No, not in the typical definition of “country cred”. He is a massive fan of Isbell and Sturgill and has given those two more name drops and tweets and likes than any of their contemporaries have ever done. His last two albums were very good pop folk albums and were well done. John’s newest album is a genre/musical scattershot with some piano pop, blues, funk, and yes, some country influences. So I highly doubt the man is trying to gain a country hit or push album sales..so yeah, I believe your assumptions of this being his label’s doing are correct, Trig.
May 3, 2017 @ 1:21 pm
As a HUGE John Mayer fan I have to say that I find this an odd choice to push towards country radio. Even on his current album he has more country influenced tunes than this one. “Roll it on Home”, for example starts out with a great country lick and follows some pretty solid country lyrical themes without getting too kitschy. There are many songs from his previous two albums that would have been more obvious lyrical choices for country radio, but I feel like the initial push for “In The Blood” crossing formats came organically when Bobby Bones(and I hate to give him ANY credit) started pushing it immediately after the albums release and then the label seems to have followed that with a financial push to help it gain traction. It’s by far one of my favorite tracks on the new album but it does seem like a strange decision to use this as his first major push to country radio.
May 3, 2017 @ 1:22 pm
https://youtu.be/xdJNFO6SuLk
May 5, 2017 @ 12:09 pm
Thanks!! Great song! Still not a fan of his voice but I could listen to the instruments all day.
May 5, 2017 @ 12:21 pm
Musically it’s one of many incredible tracks on the album. While his voice will never be “country”, I tend to enjoy it. It’s better to me than having someone fake a drawl to sound a certain way, which had been done many times by people trying to step foot in the genre. I think Mayer just takes the music he enjoys and plays/sings it his own way. Glad you dig it!
May 3, 2017 @ 2:29 pm
No thanks.
This Yankee is tired of carpetbaggers.
May 3, 2017 @ 2:53 pm
This guy is the absolute worst. An arrogant womanising nobody trying to buy credibility and success. Please stay the hell out of country music, thank you.
May 3, 2017 @ 3:33 pm
♪♫ “Here he comes…” ♫♪
May 5, 2017 @ 12:02 pm
I’d rather listen to that.
May 3, 2017 @ 3:47 pm
Taylor Swift be like: “Dear John, I’m gonna pay country radio 10 more times NOT to play your song. You should’ve known”.
May 3, 2017 @ 5:34 pm
”Taylor Swift be like……”: …….???????
May 4, 2017 @ 9:47 am
he’s refrencing dear john, the song taylor wrote about him
May 5, 2017 @ 8:12 am
John Mayer would be a big improvement over Swift.
On a different note, are we sure if the relationship between John and Taylor was real? Or might it have been a contrived relationship for public consumption to give her an excuse to write a song about him, as part of her business model of playing the victim?
May 3, 2017 @ 3:58 pm
Trigger,
Sorry to get off topic, but you mentioned Midland, so I have to ask.
What do you see as being Midland’s “authenticity issues”? I mean, other than the exaggerated drawl, which is basically par for the course these days, how are they inauthentic?
Based on what I’ve read, 2 of them are farm boys, and have listened to Country all their lives.
May 4, 2017 @ 8:04 am
Trigger,
I was really hoping you’d answer this. I’m genuinely curious what you think.
May 4, 2017 @ 8:15 am
Honky,
I’m hoping to have a whole article on this soon with a more in-depth discussion.
May 4, 2017 @ 10:41 am
Midland were LA hipsters (look back at photos from their instagram accounts 5 or so years ago) before they met at a wedding in Jackson Hole and decided to do country. You can also tell that their promo photos are overly done with the “look how country we are, in these pearl button shirts, turquoise bolo tie, etc. etc.”. Finally, many of their songs like “Drinking Problem” are very shallow lyrically and come off as sounding like they were made with being able to be sold to country radio in mind. Don’t get me wrong, I think they have good enough voices and are certainly better than other stuff out there on mainstream “country” radio, but that doesn’t change the fact that this whole “look at us, we are old school country” thing comes off as a little inauthentic. I don’t think one’s background should have much bearing on whether or not a person can make good country music, but if you do care about that sort of thing, I wouldn’t say they are your guys.
May 4, 2017 @ 10:46 am
I agree that their image is a little over-cooked, but if 2 of them were raised on Country music, and grew up on farms, how is that not an authentic background to be Country singers.
May 4, 2017 @ 12:51 pm
Their image is basically 100% fabricated. Yes two of them grew up in rural settings (one was in Oregon, which could have been more hippiesh than anything, depending on what part of the state), but I don’s see how that matters much. Again, I don’t care too much about the background of country singers. I don’t care if someone grew up in a manhattan penthouse with butlers…..if they put out a good, honest, heartfelt country album, I would listen to it and give them props. BUT, if they did so in a fake dress up way, I would be put off. Or, if their idea of the best way to kickstart their authentic country career was to put out a song as trite as Drinkin Problem, I would question their true intentions and not be able to get the “who are these jokers?” thought out of my head every time I listen to it, just as I do with a song like Drinkin Problem. Not to mention the music video.
Midland have way overdone the country image thing in a way that feels like it is purely a marketing / Big Machine thing., which is offputting. Makes the whole thing feel like a money making exercise. In my view, it is much more authentic for an artist to be who they are as a person, even if that is an LA hipster music video director ( like Midland’s Cameron Duddy for example), and play the music you love. Assuming they truly love country, it would be much more refreshing to see them doing this “as they were” as adults, before forming Midland, getting all done up in country clothes, etc. Maybe that is just me, though.
May 4, 2017 @ 8:15 pm
They are basically the country music equivalent of an LA hair metal band that forms in 95, sees grunge is taking over, and then quietly buys flannel and tell everyone within earshot that they are Seattle born and bred.
May 7, 2017 @ 8:28 am
They’re playing a free show here in a Chicago suburb Monday night sponsored by US*99. I won’t be able to check it out but you guys have made me curious.
May 4, 2017 @ 7:35 pm
Also, the great point you brought up is the drawl. Growing up in Oregon, AZ and wherever else the other guy is from, and then living in LA for years, doesn’t produce an accent. They wouldn’t be the first singers to sing with a bit more of a drawl than is natural to them, but this case is a bit extreme.
May 3, 2017 @ 4:11 pm
Another thought-provoking critique, Trigger.
Was never a particular fan of JM, but I found the “In the Blood” song somewhat appealing. Just guessing, but I have doubts that this is a boots-&-all leap into the Country milieu. As you and others have suggested, it is probably the record company looking for a new pigeon hole to get a single on radio, now that other pigeon holes are not giving the return on investment. The comments by Six String Ritchie look particularly perceptive and convincing to me.
May 3, 2017 @ 7:21 pm
I appreciate that.
May 3, 2017 @ 5:27 pm
i’m a huge john mayer fan and have been for a long time, this is probably my favorite song on the new album and i would say his best chance at getting another major hit (which he hasn’t really had since battle studies which was around the time he was running around hollywood being a complete egomaniac) but in the blood going to country radio surprised me yet it actually doesn’t sound completely out of place
May 3, 2017 @ 6:08 pm
I was never a fan and I don’t like his voice, this is probably the best song I have heard from him and I’m still not going to buy the album. Sadly I have to admit that this is more country than most of the music played on mainstream country radio
May 3, 2017 @ 6:35 pm
The only good things John Mayer has ever done are that Chapelle’s Show skit and Katy Perry.
May 3, 2017 @ 8:08 pm
Ha! That skit was the best 🙂
May 3, 2017 @ 8:26 pm
When has Katy Perry ever been good?
May 4, 2017 @ 4:55 am
If you turn the sound off and watch her in that SNL skit where she is wearing the Elmo shirt, she’s pretty good.
May 3, 2017 @ 6:41 pm
Country music being cucked by out-of-genre artists is pretty sad. DAC never suffered from low self-esteem.
May 4, 2017 @ 1:38 am
all rite boy ive about had it with u now go on n apologize for the things you sed about Townes n well swep it under the rug byt dont thank yull get a way with that wun boy
May 4, 2017 @ 7:13 am
I don’t want to walk on the fighting side of Lil Dale.
May 3, 2017 @ 7:14 pm
It’s not a terrible song, but I hate the beat.
May 3, 2017 @ 8:07 pm
I just can’t. He’s a good guitar player but that’s about it. Also, Chris Stapleton has a new CD coming out in two days and while I’ve seen some press, it’s still not neat where it should be. And Sturgill is about to go on tour again. Get it together, country music.
May 3, 2017 @ 8:13 pm
I think doing that awesome collaboration with Ryan Adams a few weeks ago made John Mayer want to release a Country song
May 3, 2017 @ 8:47 pm
Dude withdrew from LA and has lived on a ranch outside Bozeman for over 5 years. Talk about literally going country. John Mayer is a generational talent who can do anything on a guitar and has only stopped improving as a vocalist due to injury.
May 3, 2017 @ 9:41 pm
Nothing about this song sounds like he sold out to Country Radio, so that is in his favor. Its just a John Mayer song and true to himself and his past. My beef with Mayer is this: he is other-worldly with a guitar, ascendant, masterful — name your praise — but it rarely comes through on his studio records. Vocally and lyrically he rarely takes risks, either. I wish he would just get shitfaced and cut a record over night once in a while.
May 4, 2017 @ 6:09 am
I’ve actually loved this whole album since the first 2 parts were released prior to the entire thing. This particular song isn’t one of the strongest on the album and I agree with Eric Woods above. Roll It On Home would’ve probably worked better for Country Pop radio. The whole album is great. I know SOME of the people on here probably don’t believe it but some people listen to many different types of music.
May 4, 2017 @ 8:09 am
Wow, that song is so country it sounds exactly like John Mayer!
“I feel like I’m supposed to hate John Mayer in this moment, but I don’t, and I can’t.” Totally agree, Trigger! It’s not really a country song, but it is decent music. I’m just sad the bar is this low for country radio.
May 4, 2017 @ 8:29 am
So I heard them talking about this song on the radio this morning on the local pop-crap country station.
The DJs weren’t really embracing it as country and seemed confused by the whole thing..
May 4, 2017 @ 10:06 am
Mayer is a stunningly talented musician…but I can’t stand the way he sings, haha
May 4, 2017 @ 10:36 am
The guy has been doing very 60’s/70’s country rock stuff for a while now. This is more of an indictment on country radio and record labels than on him.
May 4, 2017 @ 11:19 am
Finally got a chance to listen – this is actually a really fucking good song. The vocal’s a little grittier than what I usually hear from him, and I dig it.
It’s not country, but it would be, by far, the best thing on country radio.
May 4, 2017 @ 5:58 pm
One of the finest songwriters around, and an absolutely stellar guitar player as well.
For all of those who missed his last two releases, “Born And Raised” and “Paradise Valley”, they were amazing.
May 4, 2017 @ 6:47 pm
And sadly, John Mayer: more country than Sam Hunt. And FGL. And Luke Bryan. And Kane Brown. And Cole Swindell.
Honestly, the song’s not bad. It’s actually pretty good. 7/10 if you ask me. In the Blood, My Old Man, Drinkin’ Problem, It Ain’t My Fault, Missing, Makin’ Me Look Good Again, I Could Use a Love Song, Tin Man, Heartache On the Dance Floor (sue me, it’s catchy, uptempo, and there is actual audible fiddle and steel), Back to God, Every Little Thing, Last Time for Everything, A Girl Like You (again, sue me, it’s catchy and Easton sounds good) and Round Here Buzz are just about the only good songs in my opinion in the top 60 as of now. There are a few decent songs, a few average, a few boring, and a whole lotta crap. 🙁
I’d gladly trade Thomas Rhett or Sam Hunt for John Mayer. It really is sad when a pop artist can do country better than most country artists. I wish the best of luck to John at country radio.
May 4, 2017 @ 6:54 pm
I don’t have a dog in the John Mayer fight but this song is completely boring. I wouldn’t classify it as country music per se.
May 12, 2017 @ 8:14 am
Trigger’s comment about ‘You’re no one ’til someone lets you down’ was interesting because I thought the same thing: this tune sounds less country than what I’ve heard of his last record.
I’d say this song is OK and I’m not really a fan of Mayer’s music but you can’t deny his talent, which is sorely lacking on country radio at the moment. If he breaks into the top 20, wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.