Why Georgia

Infobox Single
Name = Why Georgia


Artist = John Mayer
from Album = Room for Squares
Released = April 29, 2003
Format = CD single
Recorded = 2001
Genre = Blues rock
Acoustic rock
Length = 4:28
Label = Aware Records
Columbia Records
Sony Music
Writer = John Mayer
Producer = John Alagia
B-side =
Certification =
Chart position = * #102 (US Billboard Hot 100)
* #8 (US Billboard Adult Contemporary)
Last single = "Your Body Is a Wonderland"
(2002)
This single = "Why Georgia"
(2003)
Next single = "Bigger Than My Body"
(2003)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Room for Squares
Type = studio
prev_track = "No Such Thing"
prev_no = 1
this_track = "Why Georgia"
track_no = 2
next_track = "My Stupid Mouth"
next_no = 3 Extra tracklisting
Album = Any Given Thursday
Disc Two

Type = live
this_track = "Why Georgia"
track_no = 1
next_track = "Your Body Is a Wonderland"
next_no = 2 Extra tracklisting
Album = Where the Light Is
Type = live
prev_track = "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room"
prev_no = 15
this_track = "Why Georgia"
track_no = 16
next_track = "The Heart of Life"
next_no = 17

"Why Georgia" is the third single released by John Mayer from his first album, "Room for Squares". As a B-side, the international version single featured the live version of "Why Georgia" as it appeared on Mayer's first live album, "Any Given Thursday," as the single followed the live album's release. The international single was released only two months prior to Mayer's second album, "Heavier Things".

Lyrics

The song is autobiographic, and touches on Mayer's experience of having a "quarterlife crisis", a phenomenon of 20-somethings. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia with a fellow artist in his late teens, and, though pursuing his dreams, had doubts if he would be successful or not. In one interview he said "I remember getting into some pretty dismal places money-wise and opportunity-wise. I kind of looked at my guitar and said, 'It's just you and me. I'll go where you take me.'"Small, Mark (2005). [http://www.berklee.edu/bt/172/coverstory.html "John Mayer '98: Running with the Big Dogs"] Berklee.edu. Retrieved on April 23, 2007.] He expresses this feeling in the song's refrain:

'Cause I wonder sometimes About the outcome Of a still verdictless life Am I living it right?

Response

Rolling Stone magazine said that the song "lifts into a melodic chorus you won't soon forget". [DeCurtis, Anthony (November 13, 2001). [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/johnmayer/albums/album/130467/review/5945575/room_for_squares "Room For Squares"] RollingStone.com Retrieved November 19, 2007] Stylus magazine praised "Why Georgia," saying of the single, "pure pop guitar lines resonate." [Blanford, Roxanne (2003-09-01). [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/john-mayer/room-for-squares.htm "Room For Squares"] Stylus Magazine Retrieved November 19, 2007] PopMatters bemoaned that on songs like "Why Georgia", Mayer sounds just like Dave Matthews. [Thompson, Jason [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/m/mayerjohn-room.shtml "Same As the Old Boss"] PopMatters.com Retrieved November 19, 2007]

Track listing

All songs by John Mayer unless otherwise indicated.

US version

# "Why Georgia" - 4:28
# "3x5" (Live at the X Lounge) - 5:18
# "No Such Thing" (Demo Version) (John Mayer & Clay Cook) – 3:51

International version

# "Why Georgia" - 4:28
# "3x5" (Live at the X Lounge) - 5:18
# "Why Georgia" ("Any Given Thursday" version) - 6:51
# "No Such Thing" (Demo Version) (Mayer & Cook) – 3:51

References

External links

* [http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=72610DC5-06C9-4AE3-B73F-789193813E2A&f=34/64&fg=copy John Mayer plays "Why Georgia" live in New York for MSN.com.]
* [http://music.yahoo.com/John-Mayer/Why-Georgia/lyrics/2045454 "Why Georgia"] lyrics, at Yahoo! Music