"Gravity" is a song by American musician John Mayer. It is written by Mayer and produced by Mayer and Steve Jordan. "Gravity" is featured on three of Mayer's releases: the 2005 live album Try! by the John Mayer Trio, his 2006 studio album Continuum, and his 2008 live album Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles. In 2007, the song was released as the third single from Continuum.
Background and production Mayer suggested in an interview with the magazine Performing Songwriter that "Gravity" was the song he was always trying to write, using the example of "Come Back to Bed" (from Heavier Things) as being an early attempt at "writing Gravity". Along with "Vultures", the song is one of only two songs featured on the John Mayer Trio's debut album, Try!, that carried over into the release of Continuum. Alicia Keys provides background vocals at the end of the song.
Personnel John Mayer - vocals, guitar Pino Palladino - bass Steve Jordan - drums Larry Goldings - keys, organ
Song meaning In a concert performed in December 2005, Mayer explained the significance and meaning of the song:
Reception Billboard called the single "an easygoing, bluesy number, convincingly conjuring the spirit of his idol Buddy Guy."Taylor, Chuck (January 27, 2007), "Gravity". Billboard. 119 (4):55
On February 22, 2007, "Gravity" entered Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart at #71; at that time, Mayer had two singles charting on the Hot 100 (the other song was "Waiting on the World to Change"). It also entered Billboard's Hot 100 Digital Songs Chart at #63
Grammy Awards performance
At the 49th Annual Grammy Awards on February 11, 2007, Mayer performed "Gravity" with Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend as the end of a medley. The set began with Rae's "Like a Star", and continued with Legend's "Coming Home", before concluding with "Gravity".
Stevie Wonder introduced the trio's performance, and each artist performed some aspect of every song through the entire medley. For Rae's "Like a Star", Mayer performed various backing guitar licks, while during Legend's "Coming Home" he performed little. For "Gravity", both Rae and Legend performed backing vocals and Legend played piano.
At the ceremony, Mayer won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the first single from Continuum, "Waiting on the World to Change".
At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, the live version of "Gravity" that appears on Mayer's Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live In Los Angeles won the award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance.
Cultural influence The tune was #84 on Rolling Stone'''s list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs Of All Time.No byline (May 28, 2008), "100 Greatest Guitar Songs Of All Time". RollingStone.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-24. "The two sides of Mayer — blues virtuoso and pop star — never met in the same song until this impeccable soul ballad. The rhythm guitar is an understated take on Curtis Mayfield, and the Claptonesque leads are as gorgeous as anything Slowhand himself has recently recorded." The family of astronaut Pilot Charles O. Hobaugh chose "Gravity" as the wake-up call for the astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour'' on August 11, 2007.AP associate. "Shuttle Endeavor met by 'Gravity'" (2007). [Online video]. AP. (The wake-up call is a tradition for NASA spaceflights since the days of Project Gemini.)
Cover versions Overboard (Stranded, 2008) Main Squeeze (available by searching the internet for Fsqq495jiYw, 2021) Maya Delilah (2021) Amber Riley (Masked Singer, 2022)
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2007)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (2007)PositionUS Adult Top 40 (Billboard)31
Certifications
See also 2007 in music
References