It's a laid-back sound that really resonates with a lot of people (the same people who like Hawaii and that sort of "Hakuna Mattata" [SP??] philosophy of life), but it certainly doesn't resonate with me. I prefer a nice mary jane, or a romantic peep-toe shoe
You can really tell a lot about a person by the shoes they wear and whether or not they listen to Jack Johnson. Some might think this means I am uptight. But I prefer to think of it as simply a more subtle refinement.
Speaking of Jack, let's talk about Jack White. Now he's an interesting person to juxtapose with Jack Johnson.
Let's start with looks:
Ok, so Jack Johnson is appealing if you like white teeth, bronze skin, and "dudes" wielding surf boards and acoustic guitars.
But if you like pasty skin, black hair, top hats, and old fashioned looking, skinny moustaches, Jack White is your man.
Jack White is a misfit, the type of guy you'd see lurking around in the hall at school, but never making it into a classroom. There is something about this image that appeals to me. Jack White certainly isn't what the world would call "handsome" but neither was Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre. And who doesn't love him!?
Moving on to less material aspects of the two Jacks' characters: talent.
Jack White: awesome, intelligent, eclectic musician who writes the coolest songs on earth, whose voice sounds a little like Robert Plant.
Jack Johnson: mediocre guitar player, who sings in babytalk. I have to give him some props for the kids music CD. I can get behind that. Unfortunately, my own kid already prefers Jack White, especially "Seven Nation Army," so I probably won't be purchasing the Curious George soundtrack.
Incidentally, the song "We're Going to Be Friends" is a White Stripes original. (Go to this link to view the video, and other White Stripes vids. May I recommend a little "Hardest Button to Button" and "My Doorbell"?) In my opinion, the Jack Johnson version is quite inferior and the tenderness of it is lost on Jack Johnson's baby-talking voice.
Personal Life:
Jack White: mysterious, intriguing past (is Meg White his sister, or ex-wife???) married to red-headed supermodel and expecting a baby (cute!)
Jack Johnson: uh-oh! VEGETARIAN!!!! And humanitarian, which is real nice and admirable, I have to admit (again, I don't HATE him, just can't LIKE him). I don't know how much of a humanitarian Jack White is, but I DO know that in one of his songs, he says "Well I'm sorry but I'm not interested in gold mines, oil wells, shipping or real estate" and that seems pretty humanitarian and earth-friendly to ME. I am not interested in those things, either. Nor am I interested in surfing.
I'm sure this blog is going to stir up a little controversy--hopefully 10-15 comments worth--and I sincerely hope I haven't offended any Jack Johnson-ophiles out there. You are my comrades in most aspects of taste and decency. Just not in the case of Jack vs. Jack.
As per usual, I couldn't agree with you more. Jack Johnson is boring. Jack White is awesome. I'll go a little futher: Neil Young sings ugly and John Mayer (who is another one of those Jack-Johnson types that everyone I respect loves) is a full-on sissy.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat, Kacy, DOUBLE true.
ReplyDeleteJack White is awesome. Neil Young sings ugly, but is awesome. Tracy Chapman is awesome beyond words. John Mayer is an egomaniac. Joni Mitchell is kind of annoying. Birkenstocks used to be awesome. Hakuna Matata is the only phrase I still remember after two semesters of Swahili, which makes me pretty darn awesome. Jack Johnson is irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteI love your take on all these people.
Yes! He's irrelevant. That is such an insult to someone like him.
ReplyDeleteI hope to win you over to Neil Young someday, but maybe it's a lost cause.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing in Jack White's favor: that Loretta Lynn album he produced, which is really good. You should give it a listen sometime.
Neil,
ReplyDeleteI had a dream about Neil Young, so maybe that's a start. It was guilt-inducing. I will listen to the CD you so graciously gave me.
Re: John Mayer.
ReplyDeleteI do like some of his songs. That being said, he makes ugly faces when he sings so when I listen to him I just pretend it is not John Mayer but the drummer in That Thing You Do who is still sort of a sissy but more of a likeable one. John Mayer also dated Jennifer Love Hewitt which is even worse than making ugly faces when you sing or being a sissy.
You better not say that the John Mayer song you like is "Your Body is a Wonderland," Marcy! I would have to disown you!!
ReplyDeleteI don't give a jake about jack johnson or jack white. I just wanted to tell you that you have it all wrong regarding Neil Young. Give Cortez the Killer a try.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree about Jack White being an awesomely talented genius and Jack Johnson being boring. I don't care much for Neil Young either.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when you say that "Jack White certainly isn't what the world would call handsome" -- that's only because he's far too *beautiful* to be called merely "handsome." Yes, it's a strange, exotic, intoxicating beauty - the sort of weird beauty that fits his freaky eccentricity perfectly. But beware: if you look at Jack White too long, every other man in the world will start to look like a cardboard cutout by comparison.
Who would want another bland Macy's model when the big stripe is Zorro, Willy Wonka, and the Phantom of the Opera, all rolled into one?
Anonymous: you have just verbalized everything I have been too afraid to say out loud. You are SO right!
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! My best friend loves Jack White and likes Jack Johnson a bit and she wears that type of shoes as in the picture. I love Jack Johnson and like Jack White a bit and I will go surfing in New Zealend next year. Now I've got the explanation why some people don't like Jack Johnson.
ReplyDelete