Yours.

You know, Saturday Night Live actually does spotlight some unheralded talent. Yes, they have had some hits and misses throughout the years for thier comedy, but the music spotlights have been somewhat consistent over time. The formula is pretty simple... two popular weeks of popular artists, then one week of an artist that may be up-and-coming or even a bit more alternative than the norm. Case in point: Popular this year -- Kanye West, Jonas Brothers, Coldplay, the Killers. Less than mainstream -- Fleet Foxes, Jason Mraz.

Jason Mraz was on this past Saturday, playing "I'm Yours" from his album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. Great title. Having been a fan of his for a bit, I must admit that I passed over the album for a few weeks, and never saw that he started to reach commercial appeal, which is awesome.

The song is a really nice, mellow tune, conicides with Mraz's style. I like to think of him as a "not annoying Jack Johnson." The song is a typical love song. Acoustic guitar, combined with an electric introduction brings us slowly into the melody. The lyrics come in with a background harmony, no other instruments are introduced until a quarter of the way in. Mraz brings in the vocal stylings at tiems with scat, with something of a jazz swing, which flows with the intruments, while being somewhat out of place with the melodic backdrop. Yeah, I didn't understand that either, until I listened to it again.

I'll stop talking now, take a listen.

They may have been hit and miss... but I would really be sad if SNL stopped what they were doing. Not the best show on TV, but they may have the best music.
-om