Mraz Does Wimbledon and Yoga

Where to begin? Let’s start in Sydney. Over the weekend I got this email from a friend of mine there:

Hi Lisa,

Swear to God, Jason Mraz was practicing one mat away from me at the yoga studio last night.

He has an excellent bum, by the way.

Ta,
Heather

There’s no way to completely verify this information, it’s not like I have access to Jason’s daily schedule, but I think Heather would know Mraz if she saw him. Plus, she’s been at the same yoga place for ages now, so when a new face shows up to class, and an American face at that, she probably gets all the details.

Next. While Mraz was getting himself centered Down Under, his music turned up a few places in the wide world of sports. If you were watching Wimbledon you may have caught a little vignette using “Make It Mine”, and during a story about U.S. Olympic swimmer Dara Torres they used the opening bit of “I’m Yours”. They tend to recycle these things, so don’t be surprised if you see/hear them again.

Finally, I was just looking at Mraz’s site for tour updates and I noticed that the taping policy has been updated. It doesn’t say what exactly has changed, but I did notice that there is specific language that says video taping is not allowed. In an interview a few months ago, Jason said he’s not really loving all the YouTube videos that pop up after shows and would prefer that people stick to audio only.

In the latest official Mraz newsletter that was sent out though, there’s a link to a YouTube video taken by a fan at the Shepherd’s Bush show where James Morrison joined Mraz on stage for “Details in the Fabric”.

So. Yeah. No video taping. Unless it’s something unique. Or unless it involves James Morrison. Or unless it’s in England. I dunno. I hate mixed signals.

Up, up, up and away,
Lisa

Dear Mraz: Thank You for James Morrison

In the last week, my postings have followed Mraz’s Practice Gratitude theme. I was thankful for Joss Whedon. I was thankful for friends.

Last weekend I was thankful to be flipping through channels and spot Mraz on VH-1 doing an uncomfortable interview where the chick was asking these amature, softball questions and he looked like he would rather be just about anywhere else, although he was polite and kind throughout. Also, there were avocados.

James Morrison

Now I would like to take a minute and express my attitude of gratitude for James Morrison. I can’t believe I actually wrote “attitude of gratitude”. If you come back tomorrow, that part may be erased. I’m not sure about it yet.

James Morrison is the guy singing on Details in the Fabric. His voice is gritty and real, the opposite of the buffed and polished and synthesized stuff you normally get on the radio, but then nothing on We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. is what you normally hear on the radio. That’s why we like it.

After listening to “Details in the Fabric” a few dozen times I went to YouTube and looked up Mr. Morrison. What I found was ok, but it didn’t blow me away and I pretty much forgot about him.

A few weeks later I got to meet up with my friend, Jorge, who I haven’t seen in yonks. (That’s Australian for ‘a super long time’.) We had brunch, did some shopping, and walked around Berkeley. We popped into one of the massive record stores on Telegraph and I was thumbing through the used CDs. When I got to the Ms, to see if maybe there was a Mraz import I didn’t have, I found James Morrison’s Undiscovered. It was $3.99, so I decided to take a shot.

After leaving Jorge back at his hotel, I rolled down my windows, slid the CD into my player, started cruising toward the freeway, and suddenly felt like someone had waved their magic wand over my little blue Neon. Maybe it was just the rare, perfect California weather, or maybe it was my mood, but after just a few minutes I decided that this James Morrison CD was going to be my new best friend.

I’ll let you discover more about him yourself, but I do want to share these lyrics from the song Wonderful World:

Sometimes I feel so full of love
It just comes spilling out
It’s uncomfortable to see
I give it away so easily

That’s so me. And that’s so Mraz, don’t you think? Heart on his sleeve, completely willing to look like a fool.

It’s a fun album. Go get it. Even if you have to pay more than $3.99.

I’m not lost, just undiscovered,
Lisa

Lyrics to Jason Mraz’ “Details in the Fabric”

Can anyone decipher the phone message that bookends “Details in the Fabric”? Other than, “Hey, what’s up” and then, “you’re an island of reality in an ocean of diarhea”. The diarrhea bit is crystal clear.

It’s a bit strange to have such a beautiful, calming, peaceful song end with that sort of chunky imagery. I mean, I’ve had some days recently where I felt like I was about to boil over and scream or cry or at least make a very grouchy face, but then I put this song on and follow the instructions.

Details in the Fabric
Jason Mraz

Calm down
Deep breaths
Get yourself dressed
Instead of running around
And pulling on your threads
And breaking yourself up

If it’s a broken part, replace it
If it’s a broken arm, then brace it
If it’s a broken heart, then face it

And hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
And everything will be fine

Hang on
Help is on the way
Stay strong
I’m doing everything

Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
And everything will be fine
Everything

Are the details in the fabric?
Are there things that make you panic?
Are your thoughts results of static cling?
Are there things that make you blow
Oh, no reason, go on and scream
If you’re shocked it’s just the fault of faulty manufacturing

And everything will be fine
Everything, in no time at all
Everything

And on and on…

And it works. I get calm. I feel like things really are going to be ok. My little problems aren’t so bad after all.

But then that ending. It’s clowny. It’s goofy. And maybe that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be. Maybe our Prophet Mraz is so comfortable being sexysilly and geekychic that when he creates something truly powerful he has to take the edge off with a little Bushwalla. (I assume the call is coming from Bushwalla. Any other possibilities?) Update: Yes, the liner notes do identify the caller as Bushwalla.

Maybe this is one of those situations when you cry just a little, but you laugh in the middle. Except here the laugh comes at the end.

Don’t it feel so nice?
Lisa

Lyrics to Jason Mraz’ “Coyotes”

This new album is such a strange musical quilt. Bits of “Coyotes” and “Details in the Fabric” have been part of “Song for a Friend” when performed live (have a listen to Selections for Friends, Live from Montalvo), and “Dynamo of Volition” is a nice mashup of a few different live versions. I guess Mraz sings, he dances, and he can even steal things from himself. Reuse, recycle, reinvent.

I’m terrible at album reviews. I can tell you what I like and what I like less, but that’s about it. I will say that I think “Coyotes” is probably my favorite off of We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, and for once I prefer the big studio version over the simple acoustic version. So here it is for anyone who wants to do a sing along.

Coyotes
Jason Mraz

(Found these online. They were way off base, but then this isn’t the easiest song to decipher either, so I’m editing as I go. Suggestions are welcome.)

I’m sipping coffee at a quarter to two
Awake and I’m dialing and my mind’s running to you
No wonder I’m a one-woman man
She keeps my heart in a jar on the nightstand
I should tell her that she couldn’t be more
Opposite than a foot in a door
There’s no one else I would rather go out with
That’s hell when I see them standing there

Me and my mouth we don’t mean to be rushing
We talk about thee freely cuz we crushing
I’m gonna shake both sides of the butt, yeah
Theoretically, I say we lucky

And when the coyotes they sing in the park
When the city lights start falling for the sea
Winding roads are winding down and the flying men’ll hit the ground
Every notion is closer to touching the coyotes sing when they call on your lovin

Hello?
We’re coming back for more
You know why we’re coming for you
You know we should be, we should be together
Cuz once we rock we won’t wanna stop
Not today or tomorrow
Not today or tomorrow
You better lock your doors
You know why, cuz we want you
Cuz we like you a lot

I wish the wild was alive like you
I wish the wind would blow me through
Another opportunity to approach you
Another telepathic rendezvous
I wish you well with your weapon of jargon
You got a double-sided lexicon
I gotta try to keep your attention
Gotta write using less emoticons
Gotta figure out the snooze alarm
I wanna lay in your place till dawn
I wanna play in the park come on
Now let me see your other upper echelon (?)

And when the coyotes escape to New York
Then the city life has crumbled to the sea
And the girls’ll fall to the lost and found
The flying men’ll hit the ground
Every notion is closer to touching the coyotes sing when they feast on your lovin
I’m a coyote and I got a taste for your loving

Coming back for more
You know why we’re coming for you
You know we should be, we should be together
Because once we rock we won’t want to stop
Not today or tomorrow

Because once we rock we won’t want to stop
Not today or tomorrow

Coming back for more
You know why we’re coming for you
You know we should be, we should be together
Because once we rock we won’t want to stop
Not today or tomorrow

Two New Mraz Friends, Lots of New Music

I just got this comment from Kat:

Have you tried these guys they play with Jason always when he is in the UK and they are releasing a single where Jason is a hidden b side:
http://www.myspace.com/twospotgobi

I hadn’t heard of Two Spot Gobi before, but now I have, so thank you

I’m also checking out James Morrison. He’s that sexy extra voice you hear on “Details in the Fabric” and while he’s very big in the U.K., he’s not very well known here. Is he the next James Blunt? Maybe. Probably taller though.

Are your thoughts results of static cling?
Lisa