Jason Mraz has ‘em enthralled
The singer-songwriter entertained fans, shared stories, turned ‘yoga instructor’ and promoted a ‘girl group’, writes Dennis Chua
IT was Mraz time again last Monday, and the “eternal optimist with a hat” gave Malaysians yet another entertaining two hours of his best songs. Jason Mraz marked his first concert at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, making Malaysia one of his major Asian stops in his on-going Good Vibes Tour.
The multiple Grammy winner is no stranger to the Klang Valley, having performed here in 2009 and 2012. But this time, his non-stop performance was literally at its most colourful.
And that was because Mraz was dressed in a multi-coloured shirt and trousers, which nicely contrasted his jet-black fedora hat.
The 41-year-old singer-songwriter from Virginia delivered 20 songs, backed by seven musicians, comprising three guitarists, a drummer, a percussionist, a keyboardist, and a sitar player, in his 8.30pm concert.
“Apa khabar, Malaysia? It’s really good to be back,” he said, as he presented his first song, You And I Both.
Strumming his guitar as he pranced around the stage, Mraz then sang Let’s See What The Night Can Do, a song which revealed his deep love for nature, courtesy
of its mentioning deserts, canyons and oceans of turquoise.
He then gave the screaming audiences Living In The Moment, which gave a big “no” to wasting time and worrying about one’s problems.
This was followed by Geek In The Pink, an upbeat song, which was a powerful message about respecting others regardless of how they looked. “Raise your hands and sing along,” said Mraz, and his fans in the indoor stadium, numbering about 10,000, faithfully followed.
Mraz’s next song. Make It Mine. was another singalong. With an infectious chorus, it spoke about one’s need to “seize the day” and live life to the fullest. The Remedy, a fan favourite, followed. The song highlightthe ed fact that pleasant and unpleasant moments in life carry useful lessons for all of us. Mraz began his first “yoga movement” for the evening, telldiences i a to take a deep breath a hale. And he led by example, s hing out his arms and closing yes as he breathed.
“Singing is my first love, and connects me with this world,” said Mraz. “I have a confession to make: My first musical instrument was just a vacuum cleaner and I used to sing to it in my bedroom!”
He added: “This beautiful machine went ‘ooooh!’ It could give me different notes, at the turn of a switch, but I eventually discovered that this ‘friend’ was born to clean my floor!”
Mraz then said he wrote a song for the sewing machine in his house, titled Details In The Fabric.
“This machine was another childhood friend, and it helped mend my shirts and pants. I’d liken my music to a sewing machine, for it stitches broken hearts back together again!”
Mraz’s next performance was his Jim Henson moment. Paying tribute to the late American television producer who created the Muppets, he introduced audiences to Meghan, his blonde-haired and pinkskinned muppet friend.
“My good friend Meghan’s got a song with me. And yes, I’m a great fan of her singing,” said Mraz, who turned ventriloquist for a brief while.
He and Meghan, who was modelled after American singer Meghan Trainor, then sang More Than Friends. This song about the true meaning of friendship was released last year, marking his first collaboration with Trainor.
After singing the upbeat Give Me Love,
Mraz asked fans if they were “ready for this mega hit”, generating screams across the arena.
Everybody knew he was talking about his biggest hit ever, I’m Yours, and he gave them lots of sing-along opportunities as he strummed his guitar and danced with the musicians.
“I’m all yours, Kuala Lumpur!” said Mraz at the end of the song.
Next, he introduced Malaysians to four of his musicians, who were a “girl group” in their own right, called Raining Jane.
“Raining Jane are great friends of mine, and we’re working together on some new songs. Please give a big hand to Mai, Becky, Chaska and Mona!” he said.
The eclectic folk-rock band from Los Angeles was formed in 1999, and comprises cellist Mai Bloomfield, percussionist Becky Gebhardt, guitarist Chaska Potter and sitar player Mona Tavakoli. Becky led them in singing the duet Lucky with Mraz, and this song was originally his collabora
tion with Colbie Caillat.
Raining Jane sang one more duet with Mraz, titled Beautiful Mess and it was here that Becky displayed slick dance moves while drumming on her percussion box and bongo drums.
Mraz then said honesty was his “most cherished” commodity, and delivered Be
Honest, a mellow yet strong anthem about the need for truth to prevail.
After this, Becky and Mona performed a drum and sitar solo, which got the crowd roaring with applause.
Love Is Still The Answer was Mraz’s next song, and he told fans that the biggest loves of his life were his parents, who always encouraged him to pursue his dreams.
After singing Have It All, another tribute to his loved ones, he called on guests to close their eyes and imagine.
“Think of the one person in your life who makes you be who you are. Send him or her your love.
Imagine where he or she is now,” he said, as he greeted all mothers of Malaysia with a “Happy Mother’s Day”.
Mraz then sang Love Someone, reminding fans to always fill their hearts with love, before belting out his other major hit I Won’t Give Up.
Audiences sang along, and this time, most of them stood up and started waving their lit-up handphones in unison.
After this, he told fans to do three simple things whenever they were sad — drown their sorrows, count their blessings and take some deep breaths. And these were the subject of his next song, 3 Things.
He then wished Malaysians goodnight and thanked them for their “great love and support”, before serenading them with Might As Well Dance.
Disappearing briefly backstage, Mraz called it a day with another duet with Raining Jane, Unlonely, reminding Malaysians that anyone who thinks positively, never feels lonely.
Mraz first found fame in 2002 when he released his debut album Waiting For My Rocket To Come.
He has recorded six studio albums, the latest being Know which was released in August last year.
I’m Yours and I Won’t Give Up have won Grammy Awards, and Mraz has also received the Songwriter Hall of Fame Hal David Award.
Mraz’s Good Vibes Tour will also visit Manila, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei and Bangkok.
The singer-songwriter’s concert was presented by Great Eastern Life Malaysia, and popular singer-songwriter Aizat Amdan was the opening act.