How John Mayer saved his career 

I changed my whole life immediately after Born & Raised released. Checked myself into rehab for crippling opioid addiction. We weren’t allowed phones or any tech, but there was a CD player in the basement where they held their AA meetings. I had my parents burn me a CD of Born & Raised and nothing else - that record got me thru the most rough 2 months of my life 🙏

One of the most misunderstood artists ever. Forever cursed by his early "pretty boy" persona. If you don't "like" him, then you will never know what makes him so special. So many people missing out.

I had the privilege of working with John on this album. I made the cover art for him back in 2012 and it was a fun couple of months creating something special. We have stayed in touch over the years with other projects and to this day he continues to touch peoples lives with his beautiful music and incredible guitar playing. Great to see the glass signs I made for him as a gift at that time.

Born and Raised has always been my favorite Mayer album.

I have punk friends, hardcore friends, hippie and jam-band friends. Everyone agrees on one thing, John is the best guitarist in pop music. He has so much respect and reverence for the instrument and music as a whole. Wish nothing but ongoing success for this dude

David I'm a lifelong fan of John and a bit of a historian myself. I am blown away by this video. Great narrative and use of all the archive videos of his life. Loved your storytelling.

Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 to me is a life changing song. A lyrical masterpiece. I really liked Mayer in his BC, but fell in love with his music since Born & Raised. This video resonates my thoughts exactly. Thank you for it.

Big fan of Mayer. "In the blood" is a UNBELIEVABLY deep and emotional song.

Playboy and Rolling Stone era is what hurt him. What stings is how he really worked on himself and I believe he has sincerely grown up. The wisest thing I’ve heard him say (professionally) is that he stopped trying to be famous and focused on being a musician (loosely). I’m proud of John Mayer. I’m a proud fan. His music is the soundtrack to my life. And I suspect it will always be. ✌🏼💜

I started listening to John when Where The Light Is came out. Then I bought Continuum and Battle Studies and loved those albums. However, Born And Raised and Paradise Valley ended up being some of my most listened to albums of my entire life and that says a lot (I'm 55 now). Then The Search For Everything came out and I got hooked on that as well. John has become my favorite artist and IMO is one of the all-time greats. His work with Dead & Company just shows how amazingly talented and diverse he is. I'm glad to be along on his journey through life and thankful for all the amazing music he's shared with us along the way.

He’s a huge inspiration. Him only becoming even bigger and more respected as he gets older is a testament to his love for his craft

The self awareness and vulnerability in his song writing that he showed during this album will always make it my favourite. People make mistakes. He's learned from his. (Walt Grace is the standout)

I had a crush on a girl since elementary school and we went to school together all the way up to the end of high school. Her name was Olivia and she is one of the most adorable human beings I have ever met. So even if this album doesn't contain any "hits", Something like Olivia has been a very special song for me. Thanks for writing it, John!

Never paid him no mind until he started playing with the dead, seen him three times now and he's a hell of a guitar player

John Mayer songs have actually helped me cope up with a lot of low times in life

I'm sorry but by the time John goes into any given thursday and plays covered in rain you can clearly see he had it. John is a cool person nowadays, I really like to see his trajectory, and no matter how we see it, he's a really cool part of everyone that listen to his music.

He’s my favorite musician of all time. I know all of his songs word for word, and I think his development as a person has been amazing. Everyone should listen to John Mayer.

I always loved John Mayer but Born and Raised changed my life. God, that album is such an underrated masterpiece

I’m going to Dead and Co in Vegas in June. All because of John and frankly the Sphere. I saw U2 and life is too short not to catch this loving group of people.

I was at the Nashville show in 2010 where John broke down and apologized for all the out of pocket interviews and stuff. It was a fascinating moment but it made total sense that he went from there and disappeared. And ultimately, I’m glad he had that breakdown because he’s made some truly incredible art since then as a result.

If B&R was the triggering album for his change, IMO it is his touring with the Dead which turned him into legendary status and made him whole. It brought him so many more layers and also enabled him to find *his* path on the way.

Honestly, the first time I’ve listened to Queen of California I just couldn’t stop playing it over and over. That’s a hit to me!

Heavier Things hits me way different in my mid 30's than my early 20's, you should definitely go back and give it a listen

I affectionately call this the Johnaissance. So glad he grew up and he didn’t give up in recreating himself!

Also, he sums it up perfectly in Born and Raised: "I still have dreams, they're not the same, they don't fly as high as they used to"

John is an INCREDIBLE musician!! His mastery of lyrics and phrasing and that guitar are absolute perfection. I have seen him live 4 times !! Brilliance!! His music has carried me through the toughest times in my life. I am eternally grateful for his music!!❤❤❤

Born & Raised helped me to overcome a deep depression at mi 20’s. I will always grateful with John Mayer for opening that can of so personal, intimate and deep shit. We all have some of that, just don’t realize how it can affect us; and also use those feelings as a trampoline to be better persons. Not for the world, but for ourselves. Musically, Continuum is a masterpiece. Lyrically B&R is an outstanding piece of pure art. Thank you for this video.

Continuum is a masterpiece and my favorite album of his. It was the album that united my friends and I's varying music tastes, we were all listening to it non-stop. It was the music zeitgesit centerpiece for several months following release. And it stood the test of time, and remains amazing.

My mom always listened to John Mayer growing up. I have seen him concert 3 times and counting. John’s music always hits the nail on the head. He encapsulates so many coming of age thoughts and feelings. Thanks for the video. Loved it

As a huge John Mayer fan, thank you for this analysis. Probably one of the most misunderstood singer songwriters of our time. Born and Raised is also my favorite album even though Room for Squares is what drew my attention.

Love this guy.. loved all the different versions of him. . Has always had a place in my heart, super grateful

John is my biggest musical inspiration. Sure he's messed up in the past, but we all do, we make mistakes and grow from them, and grow John sure has! Born and Raised is up there with my most favorite albums of all time! I love many styles of music, but no album anyone made or can make will ever match the feeling that Born and Raised gives me. As John as said in one interview "I'm a recovered ego addict". Now I'm inspired by John yet again, so it's time for me to continue to work on my first album that will get me nowhere!

His born and raised era is just something else.

Born and Raised and Paradise Valley are my favorite albums of his. I know a lot of his older fans don’t like these albums much, but I think they are open and very sincere.

I have grown up with his music (raised on John Mayer) and his albums seem to map my a lot of the milestones in my life. Every time I start feeling that I’ve grown away from his music, he puts out a new album that ropes me back in. Born and Raised came out just after my band broke up and I decided to quit playing music as a result and continue my studies abroad. It was time when I had to re-evaluate me as a person and this album really helped me take a peek into my self and come out the other side better than before. Thank you for the great video ❤

This is an amazing soul wrenching video for anyone who worships Mayer. Dude is now the humblest person ever. He respects his art more and has more gratitude now. And hence the newly earned reputation ❤️

i just love how he is now touring playing alone, just his guitar and harmonica, and how warm hearted he is when he talks about walt grace's submarine test. I really think this is one of his closest songs to a dylan style and shows his storyteller side as an amazing writer

in terms of best guitar playing, i think it actually showcases A LOT. Especially in the acoustic lines. His solo on something like olivia on the acoustic version, is one of his best ever. Similarly on the dtudio version, the solo fits right in the pocket. He knows how to beautifully elevate a song with a solo instead of it being the main act

Born and Raised is the best John Mayer album.

He did not graduate from Berklee. He left after a year.

John will forever be a guitar legend regardless of his wild personal life. He's just a human ❤

Oh John. He's so misunderstood. He's definitely a comedian under his music and his anxiety throws an awkward veil over certain public appearances taken so wrongly by a lot of people. He's just a sweetheart who's too honest sometimes.

In my opinion this is one of the best albums ever made and introduced my love for country/folk music. Also inspired me to finally pick up guitar. I’ve listened to this album for years and whenever I wanna hear good music i put it on. Definitely John Mayers best album and paradise valley is number 2.

Born and Raised 100% changed my outlook of life. So many stories and lessons put into this album.

After the heights Continuum had reached, Born & Raised was just the album the world needed. More relaxed, calm and poised John Mayer simply redefined his music style. And now looking at his Sob Rock we can all agree how much he has evolved since last decade. He truly is a genius

Spending 9 years with collaborative musicians in Dead and Company is one of the biggest reasons for his change from a frat boy to an adult.

I wanna say, this is an incredibly well made video. I knew all this about john mayer but it still hit me different in the way it's presented.

Amazing video sir. Most heartfelt John Mayer album. So mature and tasteful. This is John Mayer’s greatest work.

This is a well put together account of how it all seemed to happen. He’s super talented and it’s cool that he course corrected himself. It’s a hard thing to do.

Seeing his growth as a fan has been mesmerizing. He really has shown how to mature well with age. I love him.

I saw him perform in Boston in March 2023 during his solo tour. He came across as humble, more mature and reflective and kept the chit chat to a minimum. When he performed his new song Driftin’ the positive audience reaction caused him to tear up.

Been a huge fan since 99. One of my all-time faves. A guitar and songwriting master.

9:44 It is greatly because John's work comes so natural and without forcing why I love his music so much. He is portraying himself into his music without masks, without trying to keep up with trends or please others. It's purely him.

Born and Raised ranks up with Continuum as one of my favourite albums! A very underrated piece of country-pop writing.

Born and Raised recently became one of my favorite albuns. The honesty in the lyrics really work with the simplicity of the actual musical stuff. Knowing about his work, you can really feel he's just being open to us and to himself about his heart and his thoughts troughtout the album

John Mayer always reminds me of my Canada and USA travels, there is such a nostalgia about his songs. Thanks for telling his unseen story from a musician perspective David!

Great video, and I love the fact that you made the length of it exactly 10:38 :D

Born and Raised saved my life. I still listen to it regularly when I need some advice.

Mayer was a kid. He grew up into a tremendous human being. I remember hearing one of his early records in a Barnes and Noble. Blew me away. Bought it, never listened to it. And I saw Hendrix and SRV. I really discovered him during the pandemic when I decided that playing guitar was the thing I wanted to focus on in my old age. Much of this nonsense reminds me of Idiot Wind. If you're making music from the heart and for the ages, who cares what the the mob or content "creators" think. They got knives and forks, they gotta get clicks.

Fantastic video ❤❤

Born and Raised is my favorite album of his. It’s so open and honest. So simple, and yet there’s so many layers. If I Ever Get Around to Living is a masterpiece in music and storytelling.

I take point with a couple things here. “But the songwriting still felt very safe, like we were only scratching the surface of who he was and we didn’t really see deep into the heart of the songwriter.” 2:00 I appreciate the video and totally agree with how Born and Raised changed him..but Heavier Things is probably one of the few lyrical masterpiece albums in existence and without a doubt tells you where his head and heart were at that time. Continuum being his magnum opus. To discount those 2 albums because it wasn’t simplistic enough tells me you do not know the gravity (pun intended) of how profound his music was at a time (early 2000s) where this style of music was very much about to cease to exist. Blues rock or blues pop as he called it wasn’t seen on a scale like this in over a decade and I think without his music, we don’t get the likes of an Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, etc to the level that they have been popularity wise. I suggest revisiting a few videos 10 more songs and Someday I’ll Fly. Tells you everything you need to know

This album saved me in my late teens and early twenties. I say that with all of my conviction.

What a fantastic video and great explanation about Mayer! Well done!

I've always acknowledged his talent, but I haven't been avidly listening to his music until Born and Raised. It is an amazingly crafted and delivered album-one of my favorites.

He went to guitar graduate school when Bobby gave him all those recordings of Dead shows and he delved into the many aspects of Jerry’s style. Jazz, Bluegrass, country, Blues, etc. He took to Hunters lyrics like they were written for him. I love his playing.

The perfect video to watch over my afternoon cup of joe. Love this record so much and love the legacy it holds in Mayer’s career.

I loved Mayers 'Continuum' and Battle Studies. Since he released Born and Raised in 2012, it's hard for me to imagine a pre-B&R Mayer. The first listen, I was absolutely floored and hooked. The simplicity and beauty is astounding

The media constantly haunts his past and his mistakes. Even thought it never happened to them, and they were not directly hurt by what he said, he is still haunted. It's a shame. If you were judged by your past, nobody would ever be forgiven.

John is faithfully "recreating" Jerry's licks and energy with The Dead -- What times we're in

Born and Raised has so many good songs. Amazing video. I loved it.

I feel like there were individual songs in his previously albums that touched on the sound in born and raised…. “In your atmosphere” for example, but I guess having already proved to that he can make hits. ‘Born & Raised’ felt like an album for himself more than anyone else. I also feel like his collaborations with Frank Ocean are so slept on. I still listen to ‘whiskey whiskey whiskey’, ‘something like Olivia’ & ‘Age of Worry’ all the time. Amazing artist

His work with Dead & Co has made me love him. Glad I gave this guy a second chance.

I still have this album as a CD still in the wrapping. This album was my life. I was in my mid 20s. Life was hard and this music helped me groove through. In high school Battle Studies did the exact same thing. The songs had elements of my own life. John Mayer is my favorite artist of all time. Greatest guitarist of my generation. John Mayer is just a dude playing his songs and living.

I personally couldn’t care less what an artist does or says, I just close my eyes and enjoy the music. As a professional noodler, I have the upmost respect for John.

Great video! My favourite JM for sure

I still prefer "Try", "Where the light is" and "Continuum". I feel that they are the most interesting musically speaking. And considering I got to John Mayer through my love for Pino... Well, the trio is what I like, rather than John alone. Maybe the songwriting was not deep, but his solos, his guitar playing, Steve killing it on the drum kit and Pino being such a beast. Simply superb.

Great intro so far but John only went to Berklee for one year before leaving

If you stay in the lime light for long enough you will trip up, everyone is waiting for you to. Its loose loose. I had no idea about his background, and didn't realise he had been going for so long. Defo enjoy his albums though. Makes me wish I had focused and released my own music 2001, instead I got distracted with life and released only a year ot two and still need to develop as an artist and writer.... but if I didn't realise then, could have been never. Never a right time, so glad to hear that despite challenges artists like John keep going and creating wonderful music.

As a life long guitarist, I was always intrigued by the juxtaposition between his song writing style and his great guitar playing. I heard a lot of people badmouth his playing, but I just couldn't see why they didn't like his playing. I came to the conclusion, they just didn't like Mayer and panned his playing along with everything they didn't like about him. Let's face it Mayer had his challenges when it came to getting along with folks, but he also realized the problem and started working on himself. I dunno about his naysayers view of his guitar playing these days, but Mayer as a person has become much more like-able in recent years. And yes, he really is a great player.

In case no one else noticed...John is NOT a Berklee Graduate, He's a college drop out like most of us😊

Thank you so much for this video essay on B&R. You know it's simple and a beautiful album when a beginner/intermediate guitar player can play JM guitar parts and songs. B&R is that album which connected me with JM as a music student and as a person. He wasn't a celebrity anymore, he became a very sweet music artist and a very relatable human being 🥰🥰

Berklee graduate??? He left after a year or so....

"Saved his career?" Dude is a HUGE, HUGE star - richer than God, gets to play with anyone he wants to, sells out venues, has stellar reviews, etc. Someone isn't clear on what either "saved" or "wildly successful" mean. Battalions of musicians would KILL to be in his shoes or have a career that needs "saving" like his...

I am a huge John Mayer fan and Born and Raised is still my favorite album of his

What a fantastic video. Like many fans of John I’ve consumed a lot of interviews, shows, lives… this is unique and has great observation. I look forward to watching more of your vids on Mayer or anything else really. Well done.

Beautiful video! Well done ❤

This is great, well explained and I enjoy it too as one of John Mayer fan. Good work!

Just saw his solo acoustic tour...fantastic.

Born and Raised is the album that made me discover him. Queen of California is just impeccable as a beautiful piece of music. I can’t stop it once it starts playing.

Great video, really well done.

born and raised is one of my favorite albums!

I liked John Mayer for a long time, but Born and Raised cemented him as my favorite artist. Great vid!

This album is a timeless masterpiece

this is my #1 album of John! it has some of his greatest writings and artistry!

I don't necessarily agree with his earlier songs not having self awareness. I just know he knew something was going to come crashing down. That's Gravity, My Stupid Mouth. And there's some emotional maturity in songs as early as 3x5, Covered in Rain, etc. But I agree that the Rolling Stone interview spearheaded his emotional and musical development.

I think a lot of times artist’s best work is early on because they have no fear and they’re going for broke which to me as being more real to who you are. That also often comes with bad life choices personally Sometimes, as they get older, they begin to take themselves and the criticisms too seriously and it restrains them from doing something spontaneous and wild. This will make music, predictable and dull A lot of people Will call that music maturity, but sometimes I think it’s not what we truly want as listeners. We want something new interesting wild and creative I think the real person is the one least inhibited by critics, and the fear of not fitting in. So often critics say early on we don’t know who they are, but we knew all along Take the music seriously, not so much yourself.

Born & raised literally got me back to listening to Mayer & went to his concert in 2013

Well done on this Mayer career analysis... He definitely had a challenge with branding and his arrogance lost many guitar fans but undeniably they give him credit years on... He's one of the world greatest guitar players and misunderstood artists imo. Just wish he'd settle down and have kids soon.

As an all time JM fan, this was exquisite!