Jason Mraz Suicide Confession: Singer Explains 'I Won't Give Up' on VH1 'Storytellers'

Posted on May 30th 2012 1:00PM by Kenneth Partridge

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Jason Mraz is known as a strummer of upbeat pop tunes, but while filming his upcoming episode of VH1 "Storytellers," he let things get pretty heavy. As he explains in the preview clip below, the song "I Won't Give Up" was born at a time when he was struggling through a complicated relationship and contemplating suicide.

"I'm sure I'm not the only one in this room that feels that way, you sometimes contempt ending your life," Mraz tells the audience. "It's a ridiculous thought, but we're human, and it's one of the powers we have."

As Mraz explains, he'd also thought about walking away from music. Despite all of his chart success, he was unfulfilled, and this made him feel "ungrateful." Luckily, this particular song "was coming out" whether the singer liked it or not, and it helped him through the ordeal.

"If I was about to give up on my career or even my life, before I do that, why don't I go out there and do some really radical stuff?" Mraz remembers asking himself. "That was what occurred to me during the writing of the song."

"Now I get to sing the song every day, and it's my mantra," he says. "And I get to be here, and I get to still be here and celebrate how awesome my life is. And I get to share that with others."

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13 Comments

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eastsidelady

true,true talent, especially comedians, have a dark dark side to them. it is just.

June 01 2012 at 3:18 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

DanTF

White-people problems...

June 01 2012 at 1:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to DanTF's comment

Satire

Yes, because only white people contemplate suicide. Awkward post of the year. :S

June 01 2012 at 10:43 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dave

Still a wuss

May 31 2012 at 11:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Dave's comment

Satire

Your opinion is still irrelevant. So do me a favor and **** off, you don't know him.

June 01 2012 at 10:42 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tom

I wonder if he is of Czech origin. In Czech the word mráz means frost.

May 31 2012 at 11:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

christi

Wow I didn't know having an AOL account was such a bad thing....yes I am a grandmother but no where near 75 years old, I have had the same email address for 16 years and all my friends and family know how to contact me. I enjoy Marz's music and his honesty. I know there have been times in my life where I have contemplated all kinds of things. I guess the AOL comment is just another one of those things. I love every moment of being a Grand Mother.

May 31 2012 at 10:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

STEVE

wuss

May 31 2012 at 12:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to STEVE's comment

Satire

"Wuss"? Yes, you're right. Being pushed to the point of suicide means your a wuss, because tough e-thugs like you would never do stuff like that, amirite? You're going to reply that no matter how tough things get you'd never think of that, and you'd be lying. You don't know Mraz, so please stop talking crap. Also, LOL @ you having a AOL account in 2012, what are you, a 75 year old grandma who just discovered the internet? And don't say you use it for email, anyone with a brain uses Yahoo or Gmail. Now do me a favor and log off, you e-thug with your "gangsta" skull avatar (f**), and go get an education, and no, your GED does not count. Thank you.

May 31 2012 at 9:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

bigredva

so glad that jason did not go thru with suicide--he is a good kid with so much to offer

May 31 2012 at 12:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

sylvabugg2

Lol most people have thought about suicide at one time or another, but doing it is another thing.

May 31 2012 at 11:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

drjothen

Rich and good looking, poor guy! I can see why he contemplated ending it all.

May 31 2012 at 9:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mikk60

Song was most timely however I had no idea suicidal thoughts were involved. I loved it and sent it along to where it needed to go.Found it quite by accident ( HHMM now wonder about that Is there any such thing?
Or was I meant to find it ?

KImberly

May 31 2012 at 9:12 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to mikk60's comment

saijjy

He cannot compare to Josh Tatum..

May 31 2012 at 9:27 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply