'Bluesman' John Mayer - racism?

Subject: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: michaelr
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 08:53 PM

...and then some. In a recent Playboy he was asked: "Do black women throw themselves at you?" JM: "My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I've got a Benetton heart and a fucking David Duke cock. I'm going to start dating separately from my dick."

And then this: "I come on very strong... That's why black people love me... Someone asked me the other day, "What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?" And by the way, it's sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a nigger pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass?"

While discussing kissing Perez Hilton one night at a club, Mayer says, "I grabbed him and gave him the dirtiest, tongue-iest kiss I have ever put on anybody—almost as if I hated fags."

Mayer also went on at length about dating Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Aniston, revealing very private details.

Mayer calls himself a bluesman, but made his fame with breathy-voiced pop hits. I think he should take Frank Zappa's advice:

"Shut up `n play yer guitar!"

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: michaelr
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 08:58 PM

The douchiest things John Mayer has said

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 09:16 PM

...and a misogynist. I'd never heard of him, but from those quotes, he is certainly full of himself and looks wet behind the ears, NONE of which excuses his ugly comments. I listened partway to a couple of videos of him on youtube...how did he come to considered a "bluesman?" It seemed more pop/soft rock to me. Regardless, it's too bad so may people listen to him. I certainly won't.

kat

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: GUEST,999
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 09:19 PM

I figure he spends at least five minutes per song on his lyrics.

Bluesman? Asshole, maybe, but bluesman? Keriste!

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 10:29 PM

Ah ~ now that clarifies what you said on that other thread. Thank you.

No ~ no relation; no way, I hasten to say. From Connecticut, I perceive; while all my that-way-spelt relations are right over the other side, in LA.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Don Firth
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 11:26 PM

Jeez!!

When I run into stuff like him, I flush it down the toilet!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: GUEST,999
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 11:38 PM

Stop holding back, Don. Say what you really mean!

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 11:46 PM

John Mayer is to Blues as Bud Light is to beer.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: GUEST,999
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 11:47 PM

Indeed.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: michaelr
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 01:56 AM

Bluesman is what he calls himself. Truth be told, Eric Clapton thought well enough of Mayer to invite him to both of his Crossroads Guitar Festivals (available on highly recommended DVDs), and he'll be back in the roster for this year's edition.

...and he does play the electric guitar quite compellingly at times. But jeez, dude, you're 32; you should have that mouth under better control by now.

In a way, it's quite welcome that a public figure shouild reveal themselves like that -- usually you just kinda sense they're an asshole. With Mayer, at least you can be sure.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: GUEST,999
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 01:58 AM

His guitar playing is good. His lyrics are bloody awful.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 02:58 AM

fer fuck sake... the more outrageous he is the more he will be in the public eye, eh?

it is probably all spin.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 04:19 AM

John Mayer - Waiting on the World to Change


Okkkkkkkk.....

John Mayer is a superb guitarist and some of his songs are pretty darn good too.

He is also highly intelligent, and I mean *highly* intelligent. He is totally *despised* by the media because he tells them exactly what he thinks of them. They, in turn, go out of their way to print the most awful things about him. It has upset him greatly in the past, but he's now learnt to try to ignore it as best he can.

They have written outright lies about his relationship with Jennifer Aniston, entire articles.

Sometimes, he'll hold an interview in Japanese (he's fluent) if he gets pissed off or bored with idiotic 'celebrity' questions.

he has a mind that never turns off, a mouth that talks too much and fingers that are welded to his guitar.

On Twitter he's already apologising for using the 'n' word, saying that he started out trying to cope with all the criticism that was thrown his way, but he now seems to have created a monster.

Is he racist? I would doubt it very much...but what the hell he thought he was coming out with there, I've no idea.

Is he a fool? No, that's half the problem, he's the exact opposite, and this dumbed down world has him half beside himself with anger at times.


But yes, if John said exactly what he's been quoted as saying, then he has been very foolish, and he needs to slow right down, and get a grip...I take many things the media says about him with a huge pinch of salt, because in the past they have stopped at nothing. They ask him dumbass questions and he often responds with an outpouring of high intelligence, which they don't understand. It frustrates him terribly to be surrounded by people who are supposedly writing 'for the masses' but who can barely string together words of more than 2 syllables.

They literally hound him...hound him to the point where he has nearly crashed his car in an effort to get away from them. They dominate his life and some of them have been complete bastards to him.

Is that his own fault? I've no idea. He's just a guy who wants to play his guitar, who feels at peace when he's playing.....I don't think he wanted to sign up for all the other stuff, but...he did and he ain't coping with that part very well.

Gifted, trouble at school, left early, yaddayadda....a true musician..and I can see why Eric Clapton often plays with him.

My kids went up to see John in London, when he *was* playing with Eric Clapton, in Hyde Park. They said they were both absolutley sensational.

And here they are, at that very same gig:

John Mayer, Eric Clapton and Sheryl Crow - 'Hard Rock Calling' in Hyde Park 2008

A little more on the Playboy article...

John Mayer - Myspace


I have a theory that John is in the Asperger area....and that is why he sometimes comes out with highly inappropriate things, but that's just a thought, on my part. It still does not excuse what he's said...and I think that above everyone else, he realises what a blunder he's made..and what a monster he's created, in his effort to deal with media, interviews, fame etc...

Yes, he can walk away from it all, but...like so many wonderful musicians, the music is there, right inside him and has been from Day 1, so walking away is a hard option..


Burce, some of his lyrics are spot on, and he's trying to get young people to open their eyes, although I appreciate that his interview there sucks.

But listen to the lyrics on that video above 'Waiting on the World to Change'....


Anyway, bottom line, I like John Mayer...and his music so often blares out around my house, as my kids think he's fantastic, but nope, they'd not like to read what he's said there, because they've always admired him for being the exact opposite to the person he comes across as there.

Bad day? Bad head? Bad drugs? Who knows? But he'll look inside himself over that one...and punish himself far worse than anyone else will do, I'd imagine.


And no, John has no reason to create a scene to get noticed. He's HUGE in America, absolute megastar.


Here you can listen to him talking about how he loves the fact that some of his audience relate so strongly to his music, especially when he sings about his insomnia, his head being filled with 'unrelated thoughts'...

John - an interview on Youtube


John Mayer may not think like you do, he may not behave in the way you may want him to, he may not be able to explain himself, verbally, in the way you may want him to, but he's a good person, and a very talented musician, so don't just write him off because of one crazy interview. There is so much more to him.

OK..and HERE is John Mayer making one of the most honest and heartfelt apologies for being such an asshole and for hurting those he loved and who love him....and it's really worth watching!

John's Apology - Youtube


JOHN MAYER IS A **GOOD** MAN!

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 04:26 AM

And to make sure his honest and highly moving apology doesn't get lost in my diatribe above, I'm going to put here, separately, because it's important:

John's Apology For What He Said - Youtube

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:16 AM

Hope no-one gets his name confused with a real bluesman - John Mayall

DeG

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:26 AM

Both are excellent, David.   

However, when John Mayer plays the blues, he sure does play them good.

By the way, he doesn't describe himself as a blues player on his myspace page, so I'm not sure why he's getting bad press for that in here..


Oh, and if anyone notices, 4 out of the 6 people in his band are African American.

Some 'racist' huh?

Again, watch his apology, see the black women in his band crying, and here him telling people that his band are in no way on that stage because they supported what he said, no way...but that they said they're there to support him as a human being, because they see something in him which he does not...and that's the part he's going to try and unlock and concentrate on from now on.

One of the most humble apologies I've ever seen...and I only found that after I'd written all of that above. So you see, he did go on to punish himself, as I knew he would. I just hope that he doesn't give up talking out loud, because John Mayer so often has some deeply interesting things to say...but I think he finds interviews terribly stressful.

Change is on the horizon, that's for sure.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: matt milton
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:27 AM

"Is he racist? I would doubt it very much...but what the hell he thought he was coming out with there, I've no idea."

The absurd thing about the word "racist" these days is that people discuss it as if it were something somehow entirely separate from things you say, things you do and how you behave. He could be wearing a Klan hood while burning down a Baptist church and STILL there will be people saying 'oh, he's not a racist', as if there was some official Racistometer someone could use that revealed that, no matter how many RACIST things you say, you are not 'officially' a racist.

HE IS A RACIST BECAUSE HE SAID RACIST THINGS. That's, d'uh, what makes you a racist. The only get-out clause he could possibly have would be if he was totally out of his mind - blind drunk or high on coke or something. And even then it would suggest he is

"Is he a fool? No, that's half the problem, he's the exact opposite, and this dumbed down world has him half beside himself with anger at times."

Again, how many stupid things does someone have to say before you conclude they're a fool? HE IS A FOOL BECAUSE HE SAID FOOLISH THINGS.

Open and shut case.

He also makes crap music, but that's not really the point.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:28 AM

I guess if he is being championed by Eric Clapton, he's in good company. Clapton is white musician who has made a career from offering the world a bland and anodyne reinterpretation of black American music - whilst at the same time maintaining an ugly sideline in peddling dodgy racist ideas. 30 years after his comments in support of racist politician Enoch Powell lead to the formation of Rock Against Racism, he was still standing by his words. Am I alone in finding it difficult to reconcile this?

As for John Mayer, he's in his 30s, he's allegedly an intelligent man. You'd think he'd have learned to use his brain before he engaged his gob by now. There are plenty of artists as famous and mainstream as he is who aren't "hounded by the media". It seems some people court and crave this sort of attention.

At least he's not someone whose records are worth listening to...

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:39 AM

Geez, you lot sure are dismissive of the music of others..

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:43 AM

Well, you'd better add David Bowie to your 'list'..

Rock Against Racism - Wiki

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:48 AM

"At least he's not someone whose records are worth listening to..."


In *your* opinion.


Mine is the exact opposite.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: matt milton
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:49 AM

Well what kind of response do you consider to be appropriate for bland, middle-of-the-road, Baywatch-soundtrack rock music? I'd say dismissal is about right.

The only reason we're discussing John Mayer here is because of some idiotic things he said.

However, if you wanted to get back on track, It might be interesting, from a Mudcat perspective, to ponder how the mainstream notion of "blues" seems to have degenerated into "anyone who uses the word" or "anyone that has ever bent a string on a Fender strat" or "anyone who's ever jammed with BB King"

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:51 AM

Lizzie - I don't like to jump across threads but look at what I put on another one that you are on. I have recommended you look at "The way you tell 'em".

This is a prime example -

Both are excellent, David.   

However, when John Mayer plays the blues, he sure does play them good.

The implication here is that when John Mayall plays the blues he does NOT play then good. If I see it like that a lot of other people will. They may start to jump up and down on your head about Joyn Mayall being a 75 year old blues god while John Mayer is a 30-something pop artist.

Can you not see how you bring a lot of your so called problems on yourself? Just engage brain before hitting submit.

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:00 AM

"John Mayer is to Blues as Bud Light is to beer."

Not really Leej. The guy is more like the piss from a syphyllitic leper watered down with stagnant water from a cedar swamp.

Spaw

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:01 AM

No, that's not what I implied at ALL. I merely said that when John Mayer DOES play the blues, he sure does play 'em good!

If I didn't like John Mayall I'd have said "He's absolute shite, David, and can't TOUCH John Mayer when it comes to playing the blues!"   

WHAT is your problem, David?

This is NOT an English lesson. I don't write in Japanese, honest, you just read it in Japanese, that's all.

T'aint my fault.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:02 AM

"I guess if he is being championed by Eric Clapton, he's in good company. Clapton is white musician who has made a career from offering the world a bland and anodyne reinterpretation of black American music - whilst at the same time maintaining an ugly sideline in peddling dodgy racist ideas. 30 years after his comments in support of racist politician Enoch Powell lead to the formation of Rock Against Racism, he was still standing by his words. Am I alone in finding it difficult to reconcile this?"

Nope. No time for Clapton at all, for precisely those reasons.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: matt milton
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:03 AM

yeah, Bowie's advocacy of fascism was stupid and dumb too. Sure, Bowie's never exactly been the sharpest tool in the box either.

What's your point? That it's not just rubbish mucisians who are a bit thick?

While Bowie's comments were stupid, talking about how Britain could benefit from strong fascist leadership in the mid-1970s, they at least didn't have that noxious "fucking a black slave girl" ring that Mayer's do. Not that that lets him off the hook. Bowie was being thick, trying to do a Stockhausen/Baudrillard while off his head on coke. John Mayer was being thick, trying to show off to men's magazines the way a racist jock would in the locker room.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:04 AM

And I guess the other issue is that you don't take criticism very well? :-)



DeG

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:04 AM

John Mayer playin' the blues...

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:08 AM

No, David, I take criticism if it makes sense. Yours didn't.

And, may I remind you that I have never criticised what you write or how you write it. Nor would I.


"fucking a black slave girl"

John Mayer did NOT say that, actually, so to put YOUR thoughts into quotes implying he did....stinks.

Listen to his apology on that youtube link and then tell me that he's racist!   

Do you think that the 4 out of 6 Black Americans in his band would even be standing on that stage with him if they didn't believe in him???


Yeesh!


Spaw, don't know what you had for breakfast, but tomorrow, try some Weetabix.   :0)

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:09 AM

However, when John Mayer plays the blues, he sure does play them good.

By the way, he doesn't describe himself as a blues player on his myspace page

John Mayer playin' the blues...

Is he a blues player or not then?

DeG

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:11 AM

And, may I remind you that I have never criticised what you write or how you write it.

How about my ability to read then?

I don't write in Japanese, honest, you just read it in Japanese, that's all.

:D

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:17 AM

No, David, I take criticism if it makes sense. Yours didn't.

And, may I remind you that I have never criticised what you write or how you write it. Nor would I.

Does anyone else see a bizarre irony in that?

I like this thread. It is moving the heat from folk to blues. Seeing as Mudcat is is a blues and folk forum it is about time the blues came under the kind ministrations of our resident shit stirrer:-)

DeG

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:19 AM

Totally take on board Matt's comments about Bowie's idiot tendencies, which were clearly in full flood in the late 70s. The difference between him and Clapton, though, is that Clapton has never withdrawn or apologised for his remarks, whereas Bowie later retracted and apologised for his.

Mayer, meanwhile, may be doing the full Hollywood-style bells-and-whistles, emotionally-charged, PR-managed apology schtick right now, but seriously, you would hope that things had moved on just a little from the bad old days of 70s-style casual racism and that white artists (especially those who borrow from black culture) might show a little more class.

And posting lots of links to his dreary AOR dross isn't going to change that.

Here's an antidote: Reverend Gary Davis

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Rasener
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:26 AM

Now what makes me think that this thread is going to end up in a total slagging match between a few Mudcatters who will totally drift away from the topic.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:27 AM

So, let me get this straight then...

David Bowie apologises and ALL is forgiven.

John Mayer aplogisies and ALL hell breaks loose because you think it's false?

That's shit. Sorry, but it is total shite, in my opinion.



David, you interpret my words in a very different way to how they are meant. I can't solve that one I'm afraid...unless you want to write all my posts, of course. LOL EEK! ;0)   

All I can do is correct you when you get the wrong end of the stick.

Nobody else interpreted that as me saying that John Mayall can't play the blues like John Mayer.   Er...because I didn't say that.

And....John Mayer plays all kinds of music, blues included, that's all.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: matt milton
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:28 AM

"fucking a black slave girl"

John Mayer did NOT say that, actually, so to put YOUR thoughts into quotes implying he did....stinks."

I didn't imply he said that. I said what he said had a ring of that to it. Which it UNDENIABLY did. I mean, Jesus Christ, he said:

"My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I've got a Benetton heart and a fucking David Duke cock"

DO YOU COMPREHEND THAT, LIZZIE CORNISH?

Just to repeat:

"My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I've got a Benetton heart and a fucking David Duke cock"

You do know who David Duke is, Lizzie? You do know the history of the Klansmen in America? You do know the history of white supremicism in America, Lizzie?

And again:

"My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I've got a Benetton heart and a fucking David Duke cock"

Give this one up Lizzie. He's clearly a hateful moron.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:35 AM

I wonder what causes all the other arguments then? Maybe I am the only one kind enough to put them down to misunderstanding occasionaly? Ah well. I'll just consider myself stupid and give up:-)

DeG

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: matt milton
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:37 AM

Re. Bowie, no all is not forgiven.
Bowie said something stupid in support of fascism. Very stupid. But it didn't provoke the kind of visceral, nauseous urge to vom the way these comments did:

""I come on very strong... That's why black people love me"

"My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I've got a Benetton heart and a fucking David Duke cock"

For what it's worth, I enjoy reading the novels of Wyndham Lewis and the poetry of Ezra Pound, both of whom espoused fascism at one point. I think Bowie's albums "Low" and "Heroes" are fantastic.

From what I've read about the private lives of the Beatles, Miles Davis, the Stones and Led Zeppelin, none of them were very pleasant people; hasn't stopped me loving their music.

Frankly, if John Mayer made really amazing music, rather than big-chart-rawk muzak, I'd probably end up putting it on and guiltily enjoying it, despite thinking he was a total asshole. Fortunately I'll never fact that quandary in the case of Mr Mayer.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:39 AM

"David Bowie apologises and ALL is forgiven"

Putting words in other people's mouth as usual, I see. Cheers!

Apart from that, Matt just said it all, so nothing more for me to add.

Off to listen to some real blues.

Les - noted! ;-)

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:46 AM

"He's clearly a hateful moron."

Not if you've read 'Look Me In The Eye' he isn't....but then some of you guys won't ever give anyone a chance.   

I pulled you up for that because you put your words in quotation marks, thus implying they were John's words. They weren't.

I think you'll find he said something along the lines of black women threw themselves at him and he couldn't cope with that....

Here it is, taken from the Playboy Interview link I put in, above:

"..He then discusses how he isn't totally open to dating African American women, "black women throw themselves at you," he replied with, "I don't think I open myself to it. My d— is sort of like a white supremacist. I've got a Benetton heart and a f—–' David Duke c—. I'm going to start dating separately from my d—."......"


I've stated above what I thought about his interview. I've also posted his apology. You can believe it or not.   

I've known about John Mayer for years, known about his mind, the way his mouth fires off....the way he's been hounded. He's made a huge mistake and he knows it. You watch him now withdraw from public life. This will tear him apart, but you guys want that to happen so..what can I say to make you think otherwise. All I hope is that it doesn't tear him apart to the point of suicide.

Strange though that some seem to have forgiven Bowie for backing Hitler and wanting to promote facism. Interesting.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: matt milton
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:46 AM

"Do you think that the 4 out of 6 Black Americans in his band would even be standing on that stage with him if they didn't believe in him??? "

Yes. They're paid to.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:48 AM

Oh, and try reading 'Look Me In The Eye' because it may open your minds in a very different way.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:53 AM

"Oh, and try reading 'Look Me In The Eye' because it may open your minds in a very different way."



Oh, here we go. Lizzie has diagnosed him as Autistic or Aspergers or whatever. In fact, everyone she likes is apparently Autistic or Aspergers. So that makes whatever they say and do okay. Of course, John Mayer can't be obnoxious just because he's a racist twat - there must be something that "makes" him do it, because he's "special". Lizzie's an expert at diagnosing people who have never had any kind of medical diagnosis, dontcha know.


Enjoy the thread, guys.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: matt milton
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:56 AM

Read my post again. Again.

As it happens Bowie didn't back Hitler, he just said something rather stupid about Hitler being the first rock star. Bowie DID, on the other hand, say that he thought Britain could do with strong, fascist leadership. Yes, objectionable and stupid.

I put those words in quotation marks because, Lizzie, double quotes are routinely used in idiomatic written English for purposes other than the signification of direct quotation – as "scare quotes". I'm sure you'll have seen them used in this way once or twice; it's really not unusual.

John Mayer's a successful, rich musician. He has tons of cash, gets to fly around the world and sleep with beautiful women. He'll cope.

Anyway, the media love a prodigal son. The whole thing will ultimately pay dividends for Mayer.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 07:01 AM

FWIW I think you are right, too, Les. But to be honest it is not a very clever prediction and should not the phrase be 'slanging match' rather than 'slagging match'. Now, want to argue about it:-D

Out of interest, and more to the point I suppose, I don't mind his music in much the same way I don't mind lots of MOR stuff - It is quite pleasant but, as MOR stuff is supposed to, it does not rattle my cage. I also think his comments, in context, could be construed as either racist or not. I can see the way it could be spun both ways by a clever PR man but, as per my previous discussions on the same topic, people really do have to be careful what they say. On here it doesn't matter too much but for someone trying to build a career it is pretty dangerous to leave any room for doubt. I am going to hang fire on whether he is racist or not but the 'prick' bit is unequivocal!

Mind you, he may loose some support in the short term but maybe his longer term aim was a higher profile? In which case he has suceeded. In which case I would change 'prick' to 'manipulative bastard'.

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 07:04 AM

Cross posted with Matt there - Aye. Probably press manipulation. Been done before.

Beatles bigger than Jesus
Oasis bigger than the Beatles

Had me fooled for a few minutes though...

DeG

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 07:22 AM

John Mayer doesn't need to manipulate anyone, David. His career is not on the skids, he sells out all over the US, he's mega. He just has a mouth and mind that need strong discipliine and this has been his wake up call, that's all.

He's already agreed that he created a monster, but that monster was created because of the way he's been treated all along in his career.


I don't know, I prefer to always try to see the other side, but if some choose only to see the bad, then that's all they'll ever see.

Joan, start another thread if you want to slag me off, or put it in a PM. I won't read it, but at least it'll get it out of your system and keep it off this board. Thank you.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 07:23 AM

And the title on this thread is horrible, in my opinion and not one that does Mudcat's reputation any good.

Subject: RE: 'Bluesman' Mayer is a racist prick
From: IanC
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 07:24 AM

Hi Could some useful mudelf put this BS thread where it belongs. It might purport to be about music but it clearly isn't

Thanks