"My Own Shit"

Jason Mraz released a much-awaited studio album in 2018 called "Know" and it was his sixth. However, only 10 songs made it in the album’s tracklist. Other gems from the singer/songwriter’s roster had to be still unreleased. One of those unreleased gems was a song called “My Own Shit”.

Jason Mraz from redandblack.com

LINK FROM YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ8mWOb3Pro

Judging from the title, it was not very radio-friendly with regards to the profanity of the word “shit”. In line with this, a song from that album called “Unlonely” used the word “fruck” to disguise some other word that rhymes with it. Going beyond the title, one would really feel the emotion running through the course of the whole song. I would say that “My Own Shit” could humanize whoever is singing along with it.

With only audience recordings of the song’s rare performance available, it could be said that non-concertgoers like me would be able to grasp the meaning of the song.

The song starts off with these lines.

“Everybody’s got a little bit of their own

I got voices inside

And I got fears I still hide

I’m gonna break down sometimes

‘Cause I got tears I must cry

I’ve got wrongs I get to right

Truth be told I’ve told some lies

I’ve got friends I’ve got to find

And I still need to apologize…”

Soon after, Jason leads us to this wonderful chorus.

“Everybody's got, everybody's got

Everybody's got their demons

Everybody got their reasons

Everybody goes to seasons

Trying to hold on

Everybody’s got their own shit

Everybody's got to own it

Everybody's got those hardships they're trying to let go of

I've got my own”

The song tells us about the struggle present in one’s life. There are conflicts involving friends, parents and families, and even lovers. But as for me, the most difficult one to handle would be the conflicts that one could have with their own self. Those inner demons can damage you more than anything else, and eventually be the roots of the conflicts one is bound to have with some, if not all, of the relationships and interactions needed for harmonious living.

It can be very challenging to admit that you have issues and roots of conflicts within you. What can make it work is knowing that “everybody’s got a little bit of their own”. Knowing that we all experience problems though they may not be entirely similar. It is not about the joy knowing that there is somebody else feeling the same agony that you feel, but it is instead about the thought that you are not alone. “I am not the only one who is still a work in progress.”

The worst thing that one can feel after acknowledging the existence of his/her demons and conflicts is the feeling of being alone. One shall not be a lone fighter in this world. One cannot overcome his battles alone. Being there for someone can be really instrumental in accomplishing that work in progress.

Why Filipino Fans are Unlonely

While in Singapore, Jason Mraz held a press conference on October 29 and live-streamed it via Facebook Live. In the said press conference, Mraz announced that he would be bringing the good vibes through his Good Vibes 2019 Tour in Asia next year.

Mraz said that there would be six shows in Asia for the whole month of May, starting on May 8, 2019, in Manila. The series of shows ends in Shanghai.

Official Tour Poster from Manila Concerts Scene

Aside from the tour announcement, Mraz also answered a few questions from the press. One question was about the reason why the tour was named "Good Vibes Tour" and not "Know Tour" instead. Mraz responded in a very Jason Mraz--way, saying that he only meant for the album to be named "Know." for it to be the follow up to the 2014 released album "Yes!". He said that to transform the negative vibe that the word "No" could bring, he changed it into "Know" as some sort of wordplay. With the "Good Vibes Tour", he wanted to spread the positive mindset that he has shared through this new album even more, on a much wider aspect.

He also shared that "Know." was in the works since January 1, 20,16 and that the working title that he had was "Master Peace". This phrase actually made it into the album in the ballad "Love is Still the Answer" (To learn how to master peace, or master war...). I thought that this song was crafted during the early days of this album, hence, the working title of "Master Peace".

He also shared that during the creation of the album, he had been far from home, far from his wife. This was the reason why the album was filled with love notes and letters for his wife. He also went back to songs from his past like the single "Have It All" which was written when he was in Myanmar in 212, the song for his wife "Might As Well Dance", and the 1999 track "Sleeping to Dream".

The creation of the album was a trial and error and a mix of ups and downs for him. With his superband, the Raining Jane, and Toca Rivera, the music scene was finally ready for more good vibes from Jason Mraz.

Aside from the aformentioned singles, fans would be expecting hits such as "Unlonely", "More Than Friends", "Let's See What the Night Can Do", and probably a debut live version of the song "No Plans". Mraz hinted that there might be newer and unreleased songs in the upcoming tour. 

The all-time favorites like "The Remedy", "Unfold", "Common Pleasure", "Tonight, Not Again", "No Stopping Us", "Mr. Curiosity", and "Zero Percent Interest" would also be a great addition to the set list, as far as long-time Jason Mraz fans would be concerned, especially if done with more Toca Rivera than Raining Jane.

Surely, Asian fans found that it was matchless to #Know this good vibes alert.

Are You Up For Not Giving Up?

The past few months have been filled with lots of hope for most Jason Mraz fans. As of this day, two songs have been available for us to listen to, "Have It All" and "Unlonely", with bits of news about the new album "Know".  

Aside from that, tour dates until December have been announced as well.

Jason Mraz is widely known as the singer/songwriter of the 2008 hit song "I'm Yours" and this song probably has displayed his positive outlook on love and life best among his long roster of songs. Good vibes!

Like most fans, it has been a habit of me to watch videos of his live performances on YouTube and of course, read comments. This one comment has gotten my attention ever since.

It's non-verbatim but it's mostly like this. It talked something about Jason Mraz songwriting. According to the statement, the singer/songwriter's recent songs have all been about being happy, staying happy and living a sadness-free life with love.

So what do I have to say about that?

Gone are the less-happy Jason Mraz songs that fans have both listened and cried to like "Absolutely Zero" and "The Boy Is Gone".

On the last album "Yes!", the only song that could fall on that category is "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" (Boyz II Men cover) since "A World With You" could be the little brother of "A Beautiful Mess" for me and still covered the subject of living life with someone you love through the ups and downs.

In his set at the 2016 Bonnaroo, he sang four new songs - "Work In Progress", "More Than Friends", "Chocolate", and "The Man Who Planted Trees". They were still jolly and easy-to-sing-along-to songs except for the last one.

Do I have an issue with him releasing songs that seek to spread the good vibes and positive outlook that he has? Not at all. In this world of endless catastrophes and inevitable perils, what we need are sources of inspiration and motivation to still move forward even if times are hard. Especially if times are hard.

His continuous supplication of songs that seek to uplift us is a sign that he is a very generous person. He continually gives us the inspiration to still get back up after a beating and to rise up after falling down multiple times.

Sometimes, we don't need to be reminded of the tragedies that we have in life, especially when we already know how tragic our life has become. Being reminded of those things through songs could either backfire or inspire. We wouldn't know. 

Being reminded of the good things in life, being appreciative, and at the same time, being compassionate would only lead to one thing:  a stress-free life.

That would be the event more often than not. So why wouldn't we want to stick with that?

Jason Still Has It All

Four years after the events of "Yes!" Jason Mraz has finally released a new single and guess what, folks, hints regarding the follow-up album and tour have also surfaced! Yes!

"Have It All" is the title of the new Jason Mraz studio single, the first one since "Love Someone" from "Yes!". Since its release days ago, this song has proven that our heat-loving friend still has it all indeed - the musicality, the wordplay, and the positivity. 

It is not a fancy song. It has no tricks nor hidden agendas. Instead, it is a treat for all of us who have been waiting for the next Jason Mraz album and concert tour. It is just a simple, easy-to-listen-to song which is the trademark of a bona fide Jason Mraz song.

It's not easy-to-sing-along though because of Jason's very playful wordplay unless it's on repeat on your music player (just like what I do). 

Based on the music video and if you are an avid Jason Mraz listener, you'd easily know that Raining Jane is a part of this song. That might mean that there would be fewer chances of having the fan-favorite Jason & Toca moment on the stage with just a guitar, a djembe, and their voices.

Nevertheless, any Jason Mraz news is a good news that fans like me would always look forward to. I hope that by 2019, Manila will be a part of their concert tour for that new music.

Here is the song from his YouTube channel, give it a listen and tell me what it does to you. Good vibes, folks!





"Have It All" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFkTu8Y1KLs