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Jason Mraz recently revealed that two of his biggest hits hold surprising inspirations behind each.
The musician's debut single, "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)," peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2003. The upbeat tune was inspired by Mraz's close childhood friend, Charlie Mingroni, who was diagnosed with cancer in his early 20s.
"My best friend from childhood had been diagnosed when he was 21, I was 22," he told Parade on April 16. "And while I'm making my first album, he's getting ready to endure months and months of chemo. And I couldn't figure out why I had my life and he had his life. And Charlie said, 'I'm not going to worry my life away. I'm going to do what they tell me to do. The remedy is the experience to go through with it.' And so, I was really singing his messages in that song."
A few years later, the singer-songwriter released his smash hit, "I'm Yours," in 2008. And though it may seem like a love song, the "Lucky" singer never intended for it to be one.
"I'm basically singing to the great unknown, to God or the higher power or universal love, whatever it is that gives us our dreams and our lyrics," he explained. "And I said, you know, make me an instrument. I'm yours."
The "I Won't Give Up" singer is next slated to release a gospel album, Grandma's Gospel Favorites, on May 8.