Why Georgia

Last updated

"Why Georgia"
Whygeorgia.jpg
Single by John Mayer
from the album Room for Squares
B-side
ReleasedJanuary 21, 2003 (2003-1-21)
Length4:28
Label
Songwriter(s) John Mayer
Producer(s) John Alagia
John Mayer singles chronology
"Your Body Is a Wonderland"
(2002)		"Why Georgia"
(2003)		"Bigger Than My Body"
(2003)

"Why Georgia" is a song by American singer-songwriter John Mayer from his first album, Room for Squares (2001). As a B-side, the Australian CD single features 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. "Why Georgia" was released as the third single from Room for Squares in January 2003.

Contents

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 with Clay Cook after dropping out of Berklee College of Music, 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.' [1]

Response

Rolling Stone magazine said that the song "lifts into a melodic chorus you won't soon forget". [2] Stylus magazine praised "Why Georgia," saying of the single, "pure pop guitar lines resonate." [3] PopMatters bemoaned that on songs like "Why Georgia", Mayer sounds just like Dave Matthews. [4]

Track listings

All songs by John Mayer unless otherwise indicated.

US version

  1. "Why Georgia" – 4:28
  2. "3x5" (Live at the X Lounge) – 5:18
  3. "No Such Thing" (demo version) (John Mayer, Clay Cook) – 3:51

International version

  1. "Why Georgia" – 4:28
  2. "3x5" (live at the X Lounge)(feat. Brad Paisley) – 5:18
  3. "No Such Thing" (demo version) (Mayer, Cook) – 3:51
  4. "Why Georgia" ( Any Given Thursday version) – 6:51

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [12] Gold35,000‡
United States (RIAA) [13] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesJanuary 21, 2003 [14]
February 17, 2003 Adult contemporary radio [15]
March 31, 2003 Contemporary hit radio [16]
AustraliaJune 23, 2003CD [17]

Cover versions

In 2004, saxophonist Gerald Albright covered the song from the album "Kickin' It Up". [18] [19]

References

  1. ↑ Small, Mark (2005). "John Mayer '98: Running with the Big Dogs" Berklee.edu. Retrieved on April 23, 2007.
  2. ↑ Decurtis, Anthony (December 6, 2001), "John Mayer". Rolling Stone. (883/884):152
  3. ↑ Blanford, Roxanne (September 1, 2003). "Room For Squares" Stylus Magazine Retrieved November 19, 2007
  4. ↑ Thompson, Jason "Same As the Old Boss" PopMatters.com Retrieved November 19, 2007
  5. ↑ "Issue 697" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  6. ↑ "John Mayer – Why Georgia". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  7. ↑ "John Mayer Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  8. ↑ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  10. ↑ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor . Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 22.
  11. ↑ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 47.
  12. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  13. ↑ "American single certifications – John Mayer – Why Georgia". Recording Industry Association of America.
  14. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records . No. 1487. January 17, 2003. p. 24.
  15. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1491. February 14, 2003. p. 28.
  16. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1497. March 28, 2003. p. 22.
  17. ↑ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 23rd June 2003" (PDF). ARIA. June 23, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2003. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Kickin' It Up overview". Smooth-jazz.de.
  19. ↑ "Gerald Albright Biography". VerveMusicGroup.com . Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
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