John Mayer Reveals His Non-Celebrity Side in 'Who Says' Video

By Dan Reilly Posted Oct 19th 2009 03:30PM

When it came time to film video for 'Who Says,' John Mayer's first single off his forthcoming album 'Battle Studies,' the singer/guitarist decided to give fans a realistic glimpse into his life out of the spotlight. "It's sort of a country-ish song and I had the idea juxtapose it over something really metropolitan," Mayer tells PopEater of the NYC-filmed clip. "I want people to watch the video and feel like they hung out with me for a night, which is to say tired and exhausted," he adds, laughing.

The video, directed by Anthony Mandler, features scenes inspired by Mayer's exploits with his friends. Watch 'Who Says' after the jump!

"I wanted it to be a smattering of places that my friends and I actually go to," he says. "I didn't want it to be threatening in the sense that people would see images of places I hang out and say to themselves 'Oh, I could never get in there.' I made it very clear that I didn't want to be having this sort of celebrity lifestyle in the video. Anybody can go to dinner, find a place to go dance and raise a little bit of hell in the city."

Mayer has certainly experienced his share of phony environments when it comes to photo shoots and videos. "I didn't want to be on the side of a road with a pair of boots that a stylist gave," he says. "Sometimes [a director] will say, 'We thought you could be driving down the PCH in this real funky Cadillac.' I'm like, 'Unless I killed a man and stole his car, I would never be driving a Cadillac down the PCH.'"

As for the meaning behind the tune, which includes the lines "Who says I can't be free? / From all of the things that I used to be/Re-write my history," Mayer says it isn't about the pressures of being famous.

"There's a lot of finger pointing, a lot of whispering, whether you're a guitar player or whether you work in an office building," he says. "There's just a lot of crosstalk and 'Who Says' is sort of pushing back against all that. It's a little ditty and it's somewhere between cute and really, really earnest. I think, over time, the sweetness of it comes out."

'Battle Studies' will be released Nov. 17.

John Mayer on Sessions

Tags: john mayer, JohnMayer

Comments

(21)

Monday 19 October

By Robert

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Nice video, I love NY.

Myspace

Another Black Season

Tuesday 03 November

By Amala

The day of Michael Jackson's funeral, I was leaving a restaurant in Washington, DC and this beatiful version of one of MJ's song was coming from a tv behind the bartender. It was so magnetic that I stopped to look and listen to the artist. I think it was "Human Nature". I stayed in place until the artist was done and noticed that I was surrounded by people who had done the same thing. The voice over said the artist was John Mayer. We all looked at each other and smiled; then went our separate ways. For a brief moment, I -- a 53 yr old African American woman and room full of other people of various ages, races, and orientations connected, through Mayer's music in the L'Enfant Hotel's bar. I'm a jazz buff but I really enjoyed his heart-felt playing that day and this song as well. Thank U, John Mayer!

Thursday 22 October

By Sum

Jennifer dump this fugly clown and get someone as
attractive and smart as yourself.. stop picking
these kind of ego guys..!!
Get a nice greek guy..!!

Tuesday 20 October

By Vienna

Cool song and video.
John...bring out your happiness from the inside and show more on your face....LAUGH AND SMILE MORE! You look so withdrawn and introverted most of the time!

By barbara marley

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John Mayer.......is one REAL dude.....tell it like you feel it John and don't EVER change. You've let us see thru a crack into what it can be sometimes...and I love it!! Makes me appreciate your music even more. A look at life is the best for creativity.....any artist knows this.
LOVE THE "smack in the face" song "Who Says" !!!
I'll always be a fan of John Mayer.

By Cindy

Hey John, you keep it real. This is my new theme song! I love it. I can't wait to hear the whole CD.

By dadashark

As a young woman she had great promise, but just like our president, she broke her promise.

By debrockman

John Mayer is a self-indulgent, sniveling, insignificant, worthless misogynist. Was that classy? I tried my best.

By Liz

I agree. I still like the way he sings but not who he is as person. No maral values what so ever.

By philip ryan

Bit like a Paul Simon/Art Garfunkel song. Say what you will about Mayer -- and there's been plenty said -- the boy can sing. And his antics aren't probably that much different from the average single str8 30-something..... just aint caught on film.

By Jan Polubinski

I Love New York.
Great video ,and song.
Keep going John ,you are the best.

By Carrie Rosen

I hate John Mayer and his music! This song is horrible, just like his other ones. Nice song, bragging about getting stoned! I expected as much from a douchebag like him!

By ray

i really like his music and he seem really cool when he started out now though with his tattoos and rocker attitudeand such he seems to have changed into something he isnt he not a rocker he was a guy that played guitar and was thankfull we liked his music now he just seems hollywood fake i like his music but not him anymore

By Lon G

John was recently at a gay bar in Palm Springs, CA - Toucans. He came in with a group after 1AM and stayed until close. The group was sectioned off onto a stage (used for a drag show) and John pretty much kept his back to the rest of the bar. He did pose for some pics originally...

By Sue

awwww, "who can tell you you cant get stoned" I hate to tell you this John, but the LAW tells you cant. Its against the law, sweetheart. Damn, your ego
is as big as a house.

By summer

My grandson spent 5 weeks at BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC in Boston during this past summer where John Meyer attended when younger. He had John's room as well. Quite a thrill for a 15 year old. He hopes to go to BERKLEE when he graduates from High School.

By Carol

I love John's music!! He's a very talented artist and I love the new song! I have liked all the songs he has done so far, especially Gravity!! That is my fav song!! It centers me!! His video for Gravity shows what a talented guitar player he is....WTG John!!! Keep the hits coming!! I hope I get a chance to see him in concert someday!! Luv ya John!

By Melyssa

John Mayer has a celebrity side?

By nvraine

I didn't even know who John Mayer was until he started dating Jennifer Aniston. I heard one of his cd's and he sounds like he's got something stuck in his throat.
I wouldn't consider him a "celebrity" of any sort just because he dates starlets.

By You sexy thang!!

Last I checked none of the people, myself included, knows this man personally. You all have a lot to say about someone you've never met and have the nerve to talk about the size of "his ego". Odd, lame, long...and you can't knock stoners until you are one, and in that case, you wouldn't.

Have a nice day. ;)

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