Bigger Than My Body
Encyclopedia
"Bigger Than My Body" is the first single released by John Mayer
from his second album Heavier Things
. As a B-side
, the single contained a cover of Radiohead
's "Kid A" and a new original song that was not included on Heavier Things
, "Tracing". The intro to the song was generated using an Adrenalinn effects processor developed by Roger Linn
.
concert. He wrote it to explain his desire to write both moving and great music, like what he found in artists like Coldplay, Stevie Ray Vaughan
and Pearl Jam
. At the same time, he commented on the frustration of not being able to get the music outside of his own body.
as "As/Is". "Bigger Than My Body" appeared on two of these releases, the California
performance at Mountain View
and the Texas
performance at The Woodlands
(and runs for 6:17, almost two minutes longer than the album and single version). The concerts were then compiled into a "best of as/is" CD, but "Bigger Than My Body" didn't make the cut. On Mayer's former website, an acoustic version of "Bigger Than My Body" was available to listen to using its music player, but this version has never been made available otherwise.
When played on the radio, the bridge was shortened for radio friendliness, like the bridge in "Your Body Is a Wonderland
". Also, some radio stations cut out the end of the song as well.
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
from his second album Heavier Things
Heavier Things
Heavier Things is the second studio album by American musician John Mayer, released September 9, 2003 on Columbia Records in the United States. The title of the album itself is a subtle response to certain criticism of Mayer's music. The album debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart,...
. As a B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, the single contained a cover of Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
's "Kid A" and a new original song that was not included on Heavier Things
Heavier Things
Heavier Things is the second studio album by American musician John Mayer, released September 9, 2003 on Columbia Records in the United States. The title of the album itself is a subtle response to certain criticism of Mayer's music. The album debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart,...
, "Tracing". The intro to the song was generated using an Adrenalinn effects processor developed by Roger Linn
Roger Linn
Roger Linn is an industrial designer, mainly of electronic drum machines, and has recently branched out into guitar effects pedals. His products have become underground hits, being used on many famous recordings...
.
Lyrics
Mayer composed the song after going to a ColdplayColdplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
concert. He wrote it to explain his desire to write both moving and great music, like what he found in artists like Coldplay, Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
and Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
. At the same time, he commented on the frustration of not being able to get the music outside of his own body.
Track listing
- "Bigger Than My Body" (John MayerJohn MayerJohn Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
) - 4:26 - "Kid A" - 2:52 - RadioheadRadioheadRadiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
cover - "Tracing" (Mayer) - 3:18
Other versions
"Bigger Than My Body" was performed live on tour following the release of Heavier Things. In that tour, Mayer had several concerts recorded, four of which were then sold online on iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
as "As/Is". "Bigger Than My Body" appeared on two of these releases, the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
performance at Mountain View
Mountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
and the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
performance at The Woodlands
The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands is a master-planned community and a Census-designated place in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The population of the CDP was 55,649 at the 2000 census—a 90 percent increase over its 1990 population. According to the 2010 census, The Woodlands' population rose...
(and runs for 6:17, almost two minutes longer than the album and single version). The concerts were then compiled into a "best of as/is" CD, but "Bigger Than My Body" didn't make the cut. On Mayer's former website, an acoustic version of "Bigger Than My Body" was available to listen to using its music player, but this version has never been made available otherwise.
When played on the radio, the bridge was shortened for radio friendliness, like the bridge in "Your Body Is a Wonderland
Your Body Is a Wonderland
"Your Body Is a Wonderland" is the title of a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Mayer. It was released in October 2002 as the second single from his first album, 2001's Room for Squares...
". Also, some radio stations cut out the end of the song as well.
Critical reception
Chuck Taylor with Billboard called the tune "a pulsating midtempo pop/rocker ready to take center stage at mainstream and adult top 40." USA remarked that on the track, Mayer "delivers a contagious melody, an exhilarating arrangement and lyrics that are thoughtful and touching without stooping to sentimentality or bombast."External links
- John Mayer plays "Bigger Than My Body" live in New York for MSN.com.
- "Bigger Than My Body" lyrics, at Yahoo! Music
- "Bigger Than My Body" music video on YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....