Sep 14 2006 09:37 PM ET

John Mayer is confusing

Categories: Music

15279__mayer_lLet’s get something straight: This post is currently listed on the schedule as "PopWatch Confessions: Whitney Wants to Have 10,000 of John Mayer’s Babies." (The blogfather thinks he’s a comedian.) But that is not what it is about. No, what I want to talk about is the inherent dichotomy of John Mayer: the riddle, wrapped in an enigma, as it were.

Here’s what I don’t get: The 28-year-old guitar prodigy just released his third album, Continuum, and it is, as most predicted, a pleasant, somewhat generic collection of blues-injected lite rock that you either like a great deal or want to chuck off a bridge somewhere. Yet everyone who wants to chuck Mayer’s music off a bridge simultaneously seems to agree that, as a personality, he’s both brilliantly self-deprecating and genuinely hilarious; in fact, John Mayer Has a TV Show was, in my opinion, the best thing VH1’s produced in five years. And, half the humor of John Mayer Has a TV Show came from John Mayer mocking himself and his fans — standing in a giant bear costume in the parking lot of his own concert screaming "ARE YOU HERE TO SEE JOHN MYERS??" through a megaphone; holding a meet-and-greet with a group of drooling, enamored teenaged girls and then telling them Richard Marx writes most of his songs; hanging out, for no real good reason, with Trick Daddy.

THEN MEANWHILE, this smart, super-self-aware dude is dating… Jennifer Love Hewitt!  Or, egads, Jessica Simpson!  WHAT IS THE DEAL?? New title for album: Conundruum!! John Mayer! Explain yourself!!  And then maybe I will want to have like 2.5 of your babies! Right now I am too confused!!

Comments (1-30) of 37 Add your comment

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  • Angela

    I think he’s a very talented guy, but doesn’t seem to have a strong sense of direction — he seems all over the place. And what’s with the hair! He’s better than average looking, but man, that shaggy girly hair he’s been sporting lately…ewww.

  • Dara

    I have to completely agree about the “John Mayer has a TV Show” comment…I stumbled on it and laughed my ass off! His wit is charming, and good thing too because has anyone else noticed how bloated and not-so-cute he’s looking lately? Yeah…maybe it is the hair or something. As for the Jessica Simpson debacle, it was smelling a little Vaughnistan-like to me. Sorry, I just don’t believe it.

  • cj

    keep the hair lose jessica

  • Rita

    John Mayer may be talented, funny and witty but he’s still just a guy… And most straight guys I know like BOOBS and a PRETTY FACE… Enter Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jessica Simpson. Period.

  • Robert

    Let’s not forget his fantastic straight-man performance on Chappelle’s show, playing music for white people to dance to.
    Mayer’s a talented musician who happens to be a great guitarist, but I’m still waiting for that first outstanding album. His first two were hit & miss with me, and I’m not all that fond of the 3rd thus far.

  • Jess B.

    I’m a big fan of John’s music, so the fact that he’s funny just makes me love him even more! The focus group segment from his TV show is literally one of the funniest things I’ve seen in AGES. He should do another special like that.
    As for Jessica Simpson, that rumor was proven false. They were friends or something, but the Simpson camp amped up the relationship to get her some much-needed publicity. John was reported pretty pissed about it, too.
    And who cares that he could use a haircut? As long as he keeps making great music and being ridiculously charming, I’ll still be a fan.

  • Liz

    John has a blog on myspace.com that is pretty funny. I suggest you check it out (yes, myspace is creepy and a little too young for me too, but it’s worth a looksee).

  • aa

    whitney please stay out of my head! sucker for all the “celeb” reality crapola that vh1 puts on, john mayer has a show was way funnier than any of those train wrecks. also, can someone please talk to him about his hair.

  • Phil

    I LOVE John Mayer. I think the new album “Continuum” is pretty good, & I’m picking that up this week, as well as Justin Timberlake’s latest release. I thought VH1 was trying to steal some MTV thunder by running the John Mayer Has A TV Show, because seriously, it was HYSTERICAL enough to run on MTV. it was AWESOME!! Did VH1 viewers even KNOW who Trick Daddy was/is?
    Anyways, John’s a genius, and a comical cat but has anyone ever really watched his bloated face when he’s singing??? I love the voice, but his face looks like its gonna just explode off and wind up all over you and the rest of the audience!!
    And stop canoodling with Jessica! She’s moved to EPIC now. You’re on COLUMBIA. Go date someone on your own label, Like Vivian Green!

  • meg

    My husband and I were just having this conversation! We can respect the Mayer for playing guitar very well but the music he makes is total trite crap. And yet, every interview I read and show I see him on cracks me up; the Chappelle’s show episode is so classic. Maybe he can take over for Conan in 2009 and maybe he could be the Weinberg and the Conan, that would showcase the best of both worlds! If that really happens, you heard it here first!

  • ryan

    The “TV Show” sketch is classic. Inserting his cry of “Droning!” has helped me through many an episode of television.

  • Alexa

    So, I am John’s friend on Myspace and he randomly posts things on there I can’t even try to disect the meaning of, but when he is on tv or in little skits like JMHATVS, I just can’t but think how utterly fantastic he is. Yeah, I’ve had a crush on him for three years as well and love listening to his music. Go figure. Yeah, Youtubing JM is the best. I love the Bittersweet clip with him and Kanye. Cracks me up.

  • V.M.L.

    What I don’t understand now is the way he dresses. Sure, I love a goth guy who dresses in black and has short black hair, but come on, this is John Mayer! That’s not him. Maybe he’s turning emo.

  • vallabee

    he is funny
    he is talented
    he needs to find himself a better kind of woman
    i like his hair
    don’t judge him on his cds, judge him on his live shows
    his music face i imagine is his sex face
    that makes me laugh
    therefore he is funny
    should i repeat myself?

  • Mandy

    This guy is gorgeous! Jessica Simpson should not hold her breath. US magazine has her on their cover. He supposedly dumped her for telling a fib.

  • austinite

    i think the term you are looking for with “blues-injected lite rock” is what we here in austin like to call “secretary rock”. no offense to secretaries.
    and yes, what is the deal with his hair?

  • brandonk

    Agreed. Hilarious, but I can do without the music. If he and Nora Jones combined forces, the world would sleep for a thousand years.

  • ************

    I was just thinking this the other day. I can get with some of his music and I LOVE his personality from watching him on various shows but WTF is up with these chicks he dates?
    John, I’ve got boobs and a brain. Call me.

  • Delise

    His direction may be off as he is still in the throws of finding himself. Is that so strange and hard to concept? Still, regardless of that it’s hard to take tabloid perceptions and mix them with our perceptions of a artist, especially when the tabloids and the information with in comes off as a blanket spun from one strand of wool. We should have the sense to discern fact from obvious PR fiction before making judgements and assumptions.

  • Minstrel

    The only comment I have on the John / Jessica relationship is this: Please God, don’t ever let them sing a duet. I can only take so many weird facial contortions per day.

  • MIke

    Say What?

  • Minstrel

    Mike – If that was for me…
    Haven’t you ever seen either of them sing? They both make the most god-awful faces you’ve ever seen in your life. I don’t think I could take watching them sing together.

  • jazzy

    Yes John Mayer is brilliant, good looking and hilarious…but like any other “visual” guy he likes HOT women…pretty simple. He has enough personality for both of them…

  • Derek M.

    I don’t get all these people who say John Mayer is hot. He looks like a chunky Edward Scissorhands or the unattractive brother of Julia Louis Dreyfus (note his frying pan of a face).

  • Vance

    JM NEEDS to cute his hair.

  • Vance

    Um. I meant “JM NEEDS to CUT his hair”. (Freudian slip?)

  • dma69

    “JM NEEDS to cute his hair.”
    lol
    Slip or not, it made my Friday.

  • Janean

    If you just passed him on the street and didn’t know who he was…eh, decent looking guy. Put a guitar in his hands and his sexiness increases by about 100x. Anyone who has been to his live shows will agree, I think.

  • Lily-Anne

    I met JM backstage at a show in Houston four or five years ago, and while he was yes, very funny, he was also a total jerk. He was rude to his fans during the show, then he made fun of my friend to her face backstage, and was just very sarcastic about everything. While I thought JMHATVS was funny, I just couldn’t forget about the contempt he seemed to have for his fans and I think it gave the show an edge that wasn’t supposed to be there. I love his music, but I definitely now think he’s just a jerk.

  • The Other Kyle

    John Mayer is no fool. He “dates” people like J-LoHew and Simpson until he has his way and then leaves them. He’s a player.
    Let’s face it, those chicks are gorgeous. That’s why he splits after he gets the goods. He doesn’t want to talk to them for their stimulating conversation.
    I don’t blame him at all. I think he’s a genius.

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