Opinion: St. Vincent called out John Mayer’s ‘Daughters’ for hidden misogyny

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As a seasoned gamer of life, I’ve heard my fair share of tunes that range from the sublime to the ridiculous. When it comes to the latter category, John Mayer’s “Daughters” has always been a contender for me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to start a battle royale over song rankings, but if we’re talking about tracks that make my eyes roll and ears bleed, then “Daughters” is definitely on the list.

In an interview with Kerrang!, St. Vincent openly criticized John Mayer’s 2003 hit song “Daughters.” She categorized the track as outdated and filled with misogyny. When prompted to identify the most problematic song ever written, she singled out “Daughters,” explaining that it presents itself as a love ballad but, in her opinion, is saturated with sexist notions.

She stated, “It’s incredibly sexist, and I wouldn’t mind if it openly admitted it, but it tries to present itself as charming.” In John Mayer’s song “Daughters,” the melody is soft and thoughtful, offering guidance to fathers about nurturing their daughters. However, the lyrics imply that negligent or abusive behavior towards daughters could lead to issues in their future romantic relationships.

Mayer seems to be inspired by his personal romantic encounters, starting with the verse, “Much like a labyrinth, where all the walls keep shifting constantly.

In the bridge, he underlines, “For every man standing in, each girl gazing out/ You are her deity and the burden of her world/ So let fathers guide their daughters well…” This phrasing, though, appears to oversimplify the intricate aspects of a woman’s emotional experiences, implying that the influence of male figures in shaping a daughter’s future is primarily within the context of male relationships, and suggesting that female emotional struggles are predominantly linked to male connections.

Does St. Vincent’s critique of John Mayer hold up?

Mayer’s ‘Daughters‘ received widespread praise, even winning Song of the Year at the 2005 Grammy Awards. Yet, the song’s meaning has faced criticism over time due to its simplistic representation of women and gender dynamics, which is a point of contention for St. Vincent. Her discontent with the song arises from its presentation of harmful concepts as loving messages, instead of openly admitting its outdated views that women often have relationship issues because of their fathers (or similar sentiments).

Personally, I find the tune rather dull. It might not be the most atrocious composition ever, but I would argue that “The Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran ranks high on the list, with Kid Rock coming close as a second choice. For the record, I’d even go so far as to say Ted Nugent’s worst song is preferable to Kid Rock’s best. Just to clarify, my opinion isn’t solely influenced by politics; in fact, I believe that Sheeran took the intentionally generic pop song concept from “Daughters” a step further with his work!

More context on her comments

In an interview for Kerrang!’s “10 Songs That Made a Lasting Impact” segment, St. Vincent openly shared her thoughts on the song “Daughters”, mentioning influential tracks from Sonic Youth, Steely Dan, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Her forthright views on music extend beyond Mayer’s song; earlier this year, she vocalized her displeasure towards excessive cover versions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, labeling them as the most irritating thing she knows.

Absolutely, everyone seems to have an opinion, and Leonard Cohen himself found some thought-provoking points about critics, remarking: “The majority of music critiques are stuck in the 19th century. They’re so far behind contemporary art criticism – like evaluating paintings based on cows by a stream or trees, with the simple phrase ‘I know what I like.’ There’s no recognition that Dylan might be a more nuanced singer than Whitney Houston, perhaps the most sophisticated vocalist of our time…Yet, we don’t see anyone recognizing our popular singers as masterpieces in the way Matisse or Picasso are.

Who is St. Vincent (for those who don’t know)?

Annie Clark, commonly known as St. Vincent, was born with the name Annie. She’s earned a reputation as an inventive and multifaceted artist by seamlessly incorporating aspects of rock, pop, and avant-garde music into her work. In addition to her solo career, she collaborated on Taylor Swift’s hit song “Cruel Summer.” Her art has been praised for its audacity, and she is recognized for her astute, occasionally sharp, observations about the music industry and societal expectations.

In a fresh take on the original: St. Vincent’s 2024 album titled “All Born Screaming” further expands the realms of music, showcasing her continually transforming style and perspective.

In the early 2000s, John Mayer gained prominence with his heartfelt lyrics and melodies centered around the guitar. His first album, “Room for Squares” (released in 2001), included popular tracks like “No Such Thing” and “Your Body Is a Wonderland”, helping him secure a spot within the contemporary pop-rock music scene. At that time, his sound was fresh and unique, as all new music once was when it first emerged.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve always admired John Mayer’s ability to weave narratives around personal connections and inner turmoil through his songs. However, tunes like “Daughters” have been under constant debate due to their perceived outdated views on gender roles, even as they continue to achieve commercial success.

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2024-09-19 15:01