the RED BANANA: FEATURED ARTIST 6/8/08: JASON MRAZ

A Look into the Mind of Mraz.

Lindsay Van Osten

Live High.
Live Mighty.
Live Righteously.

These are simple words, and yet the concepts behind them are filled with such complexities. The one passion in my life which has led me to empowerment in all of these areas is music.

I am very close to receiving my Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College, but I have been a musician all my life. I began taking piano lessons when I was 6, and have sung ever since I could phonate. I live and breathe through music, as I'm sure many of you do, and I am commonly drawn to others who do the same. Because of this, Jason Mraz has turned out to be my perfect match. I have gained far more from his ideas than those of almost any other musician. I had heard some of his music back in high school, when his song "The Remedy" was viciously battling John Mayer's "Your Body is a Wonderland," but other than that I hadn't really paid much attention to the phenomenon that was Mraz. I was re-introduced to his music last Spring (2007) by Jenna, who came into my dorm room insisting that I watch the "Geek in the Pink" video, so I did. Repeatedly.

Here it is, in all of its funktastic glory. My favorite part is when he is swinging the cotton candy. If you aren't dancing by that point, then you're a square. :

Needless to say, after living with that loop of greatness for hours, I was addicted to Mraz, and by some act of God it was announced that he was scheduled to play at my school just a few weeks after my miraculous re-discovery. The original act that was rumoured to be playing was Ben Folds. That obviously never worked out, and even though I am quite a fan of Folds, I can't say I was terribly disappointed by the replacement. The show was wisely scheduled during finals week, but I held together and went. I'm sure my grades suffered because of my decision, but you'd never hear me say I regret it.

When I first embarked on this feature, I almost felt stupid. "Who doesn't know Jason Mraz?" I asked myself. I am shocked to find out that the answer is: a lot of people. Jason Mraz is not just a talented musician, but an amazing man. He uses musical ideas to entertain, but also to illustrate an entire state of mind. Mraz has helped me completely transform my life, and I'm sure his ideas will help change yours as well...as long as you learn to live by his motto: Live high. Live mighty. Live Righteously. Let's break this down, shall we?

Live High.

While it is very possible/probable that Mraz meant this line quite literally, I would go out on a limb and say that it can also be interpreted as a musical high. A Jason Mraz concert is a very freeing experience; one that most certainly taught me to "live high." I had not listened to very much of his music before I was engulfed in my first live show, so that night I was blasted with a large dose of both passion and witticism. All of his music is deeply rooted in emotion and his songs showcase his lyrical brilliance. These intensely personal connections with the audience are dressed up with feel good melodies that somehow leave the listener feeling uplifted.

This April (2008), I was able to see him live again, during his "Music, Magic, & Makepeace Tour." The shows sold out within seconds (I am not exaggerating) of the presales, and somehow I was quick enough to get tickets. Jenna and I stood in line for hours the day of the concert to ensure we were close to the stage. (not that I don't wedge myself up to the front regardless...but still...)

Here is the only picture I was able to snap of him before he went into the building. I was on the phone at the time, and was too flustered to take more! :

Kristen arrived, and shortly after, we were let in. I've been to a fair amount of shows recently, but none like this. What you need to understand is that the "Music, Magic, & Makepeace Tour" did not supply the audience with a concert, but instead with an EVENT. The show lasted for almost 5 hours. It was amazing. Once Jenna finishes battling with YouTube I will link some footage.

Mraz has taken his fine self overseas for the time being, so most of you will not be able to catch a show anytime soon. For now you will just have to get high off of his recordings.

Begin by watching this video. "Cannabis College" is a cult classic:

Live Mighty.

All I can tell you is to read his blog. He started posting in September, but it took me until sometime over Winter break to find it. I was lying in my bed surfing the internet mindlessly, hungry for meaning in anything I could find; and there it was. If you do mosey on over to the good ole freshness factor five thousand, I recommend that you start at the beginning and work your way to the present. You get a really good sense of who Jason may be.

What does this have to do with "living mighty," you ask? Everything. While Mraz's writing is incredibly quirky, and a joy to read, the depth in his thoughts is undeniable. Reading it is like a crash course in empowerment. Almost every entry details a piece of the puzzle that has helped him improve his lifestyle and state of mind. The vibe of the style of writing itself is refreshing, and every time I leave I am left with this aftertaste of "YES, I CAN!" It's a good feeling.

Here is a link to all the ridiculous goodness I've been spouting about: http://freshnessfactorfivethousand.blogspot.com

What could possibly be more empowering than a freestyle? Watch Mraz and Bushwalla work their magic:

Live Righteously.

Something I have touched on briefly elsewhere on this webzine is Jason Mraz's eco-savvy ways. He teaches us to live righteously by caring about ourselves and our Mother Earth. He talked about this a lot while he was on tour, as we watched him quench his thirst via an array of water bottles. (If you scroll up and look at the pic I took when he was arriving at the show, you will see him decked out in his water bottle gear.) His entire tour was focussed on staying green, and those SIGG bottles were only a small part of how he made this happen.

Mraz is also a strong supporter of eco-friendly clothing. Most of the shirts you will ever see him in come from a company called Blend Apparel. A lot of their goods are made from 100% Bamboo Fiber. If you want to jump on this train of ultimate green-ness, please do. Their designs are hip, and their prices aren't too shabby either.

Here is a link to their MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/blendapparel

(I'm just a big fan of that picture.)

There is so much left to be said about Jason Mraz, but like all good things, this feature must come to an end. Make sure you check him out if you haven't already.

Here is the video for his latest single, "I'm Yours," from his newest record, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., in stores now!!!