No Such Thing (John Mayer song)
| "No Such Thing" | ||||
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| Single by John Mayer | ||||
| from the album Room for Squares | ||||
| Released | February 18, 2002 | |||
| Format | CD single, digital download | |||
| Genre | Pop Acoustic |
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| Length | 3:51 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Writer(s) | John Mayer, Clay Cook | |||
| Producer | John Alagia | |||
| John Mayer singles chronology | ||||
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"No Such Thing" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Mayer. It was released in February 2002 as the lead single from his first album, 1999's Inside Wants Out. Like many of the songs from Mayer's early musical career, the song was co-written with Clay Cook. The song has been used in episode 15 of the first season of Alias.
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[edit] Content
This song was written in about a week's time in 1998 in Duluth, Georgia. It was Cook's and Mayer's response to the standard high school practice of guidance counselors telling students to "stay inside the lines" when instead it's better to follow the path you want and not do something you might like to do just because the odds aren't in favor of it. This song is perhaps the most autobiographical and personal song Mayer has played a part in, mainly due to the fact unlike his classmates he didn't go to college right away, instead working at a gas station to save up money to buy a guitar. He eventually went to school for about 6 months at the Berklee College of Music before dropping out to move to Atlanta to begin his career with Clay Cook. The song is sung from the perspective of a soon to be high school graduate. He is frustrated with the "typical" path of high school, college and career that the adults in his life endorse. He plans to follow his path to reach his dreams. The song's refrain echoes this:
They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side
He feels his classmates don't understand. At the end of the song, he proclaims, "I just can't wait 'til my ten-year reunion / I'm gonna bust down the double doors / And when I stand on these tables before you / You will know what all this time was for".
[edit] Response
Billboard said of the song's vocals, lyrics and melody, "What's not to love?"[1] Jason Thompson with PopMatters said of the song, "it doesn't move me in any way."[2] Stylus magazine praised "No Such Thing," calling it "lively."[3] In the U.S. pop charts, "No Such Thing" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
[edit] Track listing
All songs are by John Mayer unless otherwise noted.
- "No Such Thing" - 3:51
- "My Stupid Mouth" - 3:45
- "Lenny" (Live at the X Lounge) (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
- "The Wind Cries Mary" (Live at the X Lounge) (Jimi Hendrix)
[edit] Personnel
- John Mayer – vocals, guitar, omnichord, Korg Triton synthesizer
- David LaBruyere – bass
- Nir Zidkyahu – drums
- Brandon Bush – Hammond organ, Wurlitzer electric piano
- John Alagia – percussion, production
- Jack Joseph Puig – mixing
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia ARIA Top 40 Digital Tracks | 28 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 97 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Top 40 Singles Chart | 14 |
| UK Singles Chart | 42 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 11 |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ C.T.; Taylor, Chuck (2002-05-18), "No Such Thing". Billboard. 114 (20):22
- ^ Thompson, Jason (2001). "Room for Squares" PopMatters.com Retrieved 2007-11-19
- ^ Blanford, Roxanne (2003-09-01). "Room For Squares" Stylus Magazine Retrieved November 19, 2007
[edit] External links
- "No Such Thing" music video on Youtube
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