Your Body Is a Wonderland

"Your Body Is a Wonderland" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter John Mayer. It was released on June 3, 2002, as the second single from his debut studio album, Room for Squares (2001). It reached number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

"Your Body Is a Wonderland"
Single by John Mayer
from the album Room for Squares
B-side
  • "No Such Thing" (acoustic version)
  • "Your Body Is a Wonderland" (acoustic version)
  • "Not Myself" (demo version)
ReleasedJune 3, 2002 (2002-06-03)
Genre
Length
  • 4:09 (album version)
  • 3:46 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)John Mayer
Producer(s)John Alagía
John Mayer singles chronology
"No Such Thing"
(2002)		 "Your Body Is a Wonderland"
(2002)		 "Why Georgia"
(2003)

Background

During his "VH1 Storytellers" performance, Mayer stated that he wrote the song about his first girlfriend at age 14. The song was actually named "Strawberry Wonderland" but was later changed by Mayer.

There has been speculation that Mayer wrote the song about Jennifer Love Hewitt, whom he dated in 2002, but she denied it.[4][5] Hewitt told Entertainment Weekly, "My body is far from a wonderland. My body is more like a pawnshop. There's a lot of interesting things put together, and if you look closely you'd probably be excited, but at first glance, not so much".[6]

According to the liner notes, a toy piano is used as an instrument in the song.

Lyrical content

The line "I'm never speaking up again", sung in the background, is also prominently featured in the chorus to the song "My Stupid Mouth", which appears just before the song on Room for Squares.

Critical reception

Billboard said the song showcases Mayer's "smooth, casual singing style and barroom instrumentation."[7] In 2003, "Your Body Is a Wonderland" won Mayer the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.[8] Conversely, the song ranked at No. 28 on Blender magazine's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever" in 2010.[9]

Music video

The video starred the actress Holly Lynch. The video was directed by Jim Gable, and edited by Scott C. Wilson.

Track listing

All songs are written by John Mayer except where noted otherwise.

  1. "Your Body Is a Wonderland" – 4:09
  2. "No Such Thing" (Acoustic version, live from WXPN) (John Mayer & Clay Cook) – 3:46
  3. "Your Body Is a Wonderland" (acoustic version, live from WXPN) – 5:46
  4. "Not Myself" (demo version) – 4:05

Personnel
  • John Mayer – vocals, guitar, toy piano, vibraphone, Korg Triton synthesizer
  • David LaBruyere – bass
  • Nir Z – drums
  • Brandon Bush – Wurlitzer electric piano
  • John Alagia – percussion, Hammond organ
  • Chris Fischer – congas

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[23] Platinum 90,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[25] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States June 3, 2002 Triple A radio
[26]
August 19, 2002 Hot adult contemporary radio [27]
September 16, 2002 Contemporary hit radio [28]
Australia November 25, 2002 CD [29]
Europe January 17, 2003 [30]
Italy January 24, 2003
Denmark January 27, 2003

Appearances in the media

In 2006, the song was used in an episode of U.S. version of The Office, entitled "A Benihana Christmas". Characters Michael Scott and Andy Bernard sing the song as a karaoke duet. Mayer agreed to let the show use the song, in exchange for a Dundie,[31] which was for "Tallest Music Dude".

References
  1. Wood, Mikael (August 13, 2013). "Musical sniping, a la John Mayer and Taylor Swift". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  2. Raihala, Ross (November 22, 2013). "Review: John Mayer brings '70s vibe and plenty of guitars to Target Center show". Twin Cities. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  3. Leahey, Andrew. "Room for Squares - John Mayer | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  4. "Celebrity Central". John Mayer. People. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  5. L. Loinaz, Alexis (June 6, 2012). "Bitter Ex Alert! John Mayer "Humiliated" by Taylor Swift Song "Dear John"". E!.
  6. "John Mayer's love life: A timeline". CNN. August 27, 2012.
  7. Taylor, Chuck (June 29, 2002), "Your Body Is a Wonderland". Billboard. 114 (26):33
  8. "The Time Keeper: John Mayer Is An Up-To-The-Moment Watch Connoisseur David Colman Clocks I". New York Times. March 8, 2009. ProQuest 1030689297.
  9. "The 50 Worst Songs Ever! Watch, Listen and Cringe!". Blender. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  10. "John Mayer – Your Body Is a Wonderland". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  11. "John Mayer – Your Body Is a Wonderland" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  12. "John Mayer – Your Body Is a Wonderland" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  13. "John Mayer – Your Body Is a Wonderland". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  14. "John Mayer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  15. "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  16. "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  17. "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  18. "John Mayer Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  19. "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2003". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  20. "Billboard Top 100 – 2003". billboardtop100of.com/. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  21. "2003 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. December 27, 2003. p. YE-80. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  22. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  23. "Danish single certifications – John Mayer – Your Body Is a Wonderland". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  24. "British single certifications – John Mayer – Your Body Is a Wonderland". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  25. "American single certifications – John Mayer – Your Body Is a Wonderland". Recording Industry Association of America.
  26. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1455. May 31, 2002. p. 26. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  27. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1466. August 16, 2002. p. 31. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  28. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1470. September 13, 2002. p. 45. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  29. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 25th November 2002" (PDF). ARIA. November 25, 2002. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  30. Doherty, Sean (February 8, 2003). "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 7. p. 14. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  31. John Mayer wins a Dundie in exchange for letting The Office use "Your Body Is a Wonderland".
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