John MayerA Grammy-winning musician, he is widely known for his powerful voice and stage presence. He is also remembered for some of his most iconic songs, including the controversial song Waiting on the World to Change. Nearly 20 years after its release, Mayer addressed the controversy surrounding the song and what was once labeled as “passive.”
John Mayer reflects on ‘Waiting on the World to Change’
The musician performed some of his biggest hits at HISTORYTalks in Philadelphia earlier this month. According to People , while interacting with fans, one attendee asked to perform Waiting on the World to Change.Although Mayer obliged and sang part of the song, he reflected on how it was received when it first came out in 2006. He shared that the song drew criticism at the time, with many saying it was “too passive”.He said: “It’s a good idea, sane and responsible. A lot of people thought it was passive. It was too passive.” The song, he explains, captures the feeling of helplessness and the feeling that his generation often had nowhere to turn for help.Expanding on this idea, Mayer noted that people deal with challenges and trauma in different ways. He illustrated this with an analogy: “If your car broke down, or if you were locked out of your car, and someone came up to you and said, ‘Why can’t you get in your car? What are you doing now?’ And [you reply]’I’m waiting for AAA.’”He added with a touch of humor that even after nearly two decades, “AAA hasn’t shown up,” suggesting that the help people seek is still not always available.
