Jason Mraz makes history with 71-week chart run

NEW YORK – Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” may be the longest running song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but the hippie-friendly jam has been around even longer.

Mraz has played the song on tour for five years, and he said fans at live shows always responded differently to it, inspiring him to release the song as a single.

“The song was really born into the crowd. ... I noticed almost an immediate response to it and people really celebrated in a different way during that song,” he said in a phone interview. “And then by having those three years to jam to the song, it gave us the opportunity to do something simple, yet spirited” in the studio.

“And now of course, that we’ve been playing with people really owning it on the record, it’s taken it to a whole new level,” he said.

“I’m Yours” first charted in May 2008, hit No. 6 in September 2008 and has spent 71 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. (The previous record-holder, LeAnn Rimes’ late-1990s hit, “How Do I Live,” lasted 69 weeks.) Mraz’s tune also nominated for “Song of the Year” at this year’s Grammy Awards.

Though the accomplishment is one the 32-year-old is proud of, he says it doesn’t mean he’s necessarily reached a milestone in his career.

“I don’t feel like I crossed a finish line. I don’t feel like I’ve sweated for 70 weeks. I feel like the song is just doing its thing and it was a real gift,” he said.

Mraz has spent the last two years on the road promoting his latest CD, the platinum-selling “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.” That time on tour has been documented to “Jason Mraz’ Beautiful Mess - Live from Earth,” a live CD/DVD out Nov. 10.

“Before we hang up our hats for the year, I thought it would be great to capture the concert in an adventurous style so that my grandmom can see what I’ve been up to for two years,” he said with a laugh. “She doesn’t like YouTube. She says the quality ain’t that good.” (AP)