But after perusal of the full article this morning, I sighed in relief that he hadn't dug himself a career crypt...this time. Despite the annoying requisite mentions of JM's relationships with Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Anniston, I think the article's author actually got to the heart of the artist, or at least the version of him that I've come to admire. In addition to offering partial explanations for why John is a mental case, he also reminded everyone to "realize that, above all else, he means well and is simply, in the end, trying to find his way, as best he can."I'm not entirely sure why I've got such a soft spot for JM. By all standards he's not my cup of tea with his cheese ball "your body is a wonderland" sensitive teeny girl fluff, but the majority of his music and funny personal quirks have a solid little place in my heart. And despite his proclivity for running his mouth to his own detriment, I love the fact that he puts himself out there in honest real ways like occasional stints of stand-up comedy (something I'm still working up enough courage to try) and writing frequently about farts and poop on his Twitter account!
Maybe I identify with him because we're the same age, have been through some ugly relationships, and are both still searching for that ever elusive "life partner". Maybe I’m just a more of a girlie girl than I believe because I admittedly identify with his sappy overly emotional lyrics. Or possibly he sticks with me because his first album was a small point of joy during the sad months after the death of my grandparents.
But perhaps I love JM because my first exposure came during the pre-tabloid Inside Wants Out beginnings of his career. (For certain, tracks like Back To You and his stark eerie acoustic cover of Radiohead's Kid A speak to me more than yawn worthy tunes like War of My Life from his new album.) And meeting him when he was a virtual unknown, I suffered my first bit of stunned star struck silence while he signed a photo during a very small in-store event. (I think I was also experiencing a total fit of jealousy towards the woman in front of me who received a big hug and photo with him as he tried to increase/alleviate her beet red uncomfortable presence in front of him.) In any case, I find it hilarious that I suffered (and continue to feel) my first NKOTB like obsession at 26 for an unknown singer song writer!
Or hell, maybe I crush on the dude because he's just really fucking cute!
Either way, I know on my list of top five people I'd most like to hang out (and smoke a joint) with, John certainly makes the cut. Seeing as he lives in Soho just down the street from The Drawing Center, maybe someday he'll pop into work and check it off my bucket list!
