Elliott Smith - These Days (Jackson Browne cover - Nico version)

[in4finity]

how do i get the original of this!

[Chihauhau333]

Music isn't about whose song is whose, it's about the community of people who feel something worthwhile when they hear it.

[jeffreydebra1]

This is extremely interesting.....WOW.

[fossilfuelmusic]

Now its Elliot's song. Lol.

[maciesnipples]

My favorite cover by him c:

[stevieboy4]

i haven't stopped listening to elliott for many months now

[BuddyWillis]

This is great

You guys should check out St Vincent's version, it's beautiful as well

[BusbyBerkeley8]

This is probably my favorite cover he's done next to thirteen(which I must admit, I like the original more, but his is still great).

[LedGratefulAllmanBro]

I listen to this every day and it makes me realize how good life is

[seaofshe]

I love this version as much as I love Nico's (yes, I know Jackson Browne wrote it); Smith really had a simple directness that suits this song beautifully.

Poor guy. I can't help but hear these lyrics and think about how terribly sad he must have been near the end of his life.

[mrpicky510]

Wish there was a "love" button on youtube, but for the time being I'll just like this song like the other 306 people

[tbazil10]

nice job, man! sounds good. Could you check out my cover of this song too?

[SlideRules66]

A beautiful song covered by Elliott Smith, awesome. Thank you for posting.

[kuruantigenic]

beautiful

[666RAINER666]

habs grade nochmal angehört, ist immer noch Banane. Natürlich immer noch weitaus angenehmer, als wenn ich zu meiner 11 jährigen Tochter ins Zimmer komme, und da Lady GaGa läuft.

[666RAINER666]

hört sich an wie von einem Anfänger. Komplett Banane.

[kalelskywalker]

i cant believe this, im a huge elliot smith fan, and an even bigger jackson fan, and i cant believe i never heard this before, this was amazing,

[TheHazyGungan]

elliott smith is sad music for happy times.

[Threedeehoo]

@TheHazyGungan no its sad music for sad times to be better.

[yellowpowerranger94]

this song is just beautiful. every version i've heard has been great too.

[DjGunsmoke]

Does anyone know where this recording took place? I need to know, because I need to know which direction to pray to each morning, afternoon, and night.

[whocares780]

@DjGunsmoke lol. Ah, Elliot, but. Late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith cited her as a major inspiration and was said to have listened to The Marble Index for months.

Smith performed covers of some of her songs - most notably "Chelsea Girls" and "These Days", both of which he performed live at Satyricon in Portland, Oregon in October 1999. That's all I could dig up. So pray Northwest, depending on where you are in the world.

[chiggz]

Wow 19 morons missed the Like button yet again...Such a beautiful song, how you can Not like this is beyond me...Meh

[2fastdsm]

I would have thought this cover sucked... BUT that would have been before I discovered how much I like Elliott Smith! Totally dig it. 100%

BTW do you think he got this from the Royal Tenenbaums??? He did a song and Nico did a few songs on that film... Maybe!

[starwarsdude1234]

Ouch, man.

[hawesro]

@mymayapapaya, you should listen to rattlecake. Jackson Browne wrote this song when he was 16... 10 years before he dated NICO and gave her the rights to record the song.

[mymayapapaya]

@hawesro I never said it wasn't his song

[evilvon]

@mymayapapaya yeah but you tagged elliott smith and nico

[mymayapapaya]

@evilvon if it's in the title you don't need it in the tags

[Pravindaswani74]

@evilvon it's Nico's song from a Browne gift.

[Ziggystarlullaby]

@hawesro

Stop bugging...Shit.Just enjoy the music..

[JohnDoenstein]

@hawesro BUMP!!!!!!!

[mytummyhurts]

@hawesro This song was written in 1957 by a teenager?

[ninageneson]

jackson browne wrote it for nico to record & she's the original artist to record (not him).

[nobeefbaby]

why would 17 people dislike this?!?!

[lynrowe]

yeah but its ok for people to do the different versions of the song, for sure we all know it is jackson's song but she did record it before he did, he played electric guitar on her """"version""

[SuperUkuleleGirl]

he looks like Snape in this picture:L for some reason i don't like his voice in this song..sounds kinda whiney. talest man on earths version,opinion is better. :)

[talkrite]

@mymayapapaya Why would you think Nico was the first to record it? She doesn't have "her" version of the song. It is Jackson Browne's song and he recorded it many years ago..and, then, many, many others have "covered" it, just like her and Elliot Smith and the Eagles and Tom Waits, etc., etc. etc.

[mymayapapaya]

@talkrite from wikipedia

Jackson Browne recorded it in 1973 on the album 'For Everyman'

"German underground legend Nico was the first to record "These Days" for release, on her October 1967 album Chelsea Girl. "

[rattlecake]

@mymayapapaya read the credits of chelsea girl! says jackson brown. c'mon, wikipedia?? digital muthafugga! haa. stop correcting everyone on here. buy the tangible record. i own it. its great! BUT ITS NOT HER SONG!! chelsea girl is chocked full of covers (reed/lightfoot/dylan etc). now fix it, dummy!

[mymayapapaya]

@rattlecake I never said it was HER song dummy!

[rattlecake]

@mymayapapaya

your title reads, "These Days (Nico Cover)".....

[handsaway94]

@talkrite does being so bloody pedantic over the tiniest of details improve the quality of your life in any way, sit back and enjoy the music for god's sake.

[muffinlady18]

i think i just peed myself. 

[WakeUpStudios930]

I think it's so awesome that the Nico version was in the The Royal Tenenbaums and Elliott's Needle in the Hay was in it too...

If Nico was still alive we would have NEEDED a cover of Needle in the Hay =)

[StupidLyss]

ahhhh. so beautiful :)

[therealrandcamp]

@mymayapapaya

I guessing Smith being an informed and studious folky, that he's covering Nico's version -- descending bass line in first line of verses is strikingly similar to Jackson Browne's version.

Nico's instrumentation is orchestral and not much like Browne's (or Gregg Allman's for that matter).

Is there any explanation by Smith of his arrangement?

[81Boschi]

@mcfartson

what????? Jackson Brown???? it isn't correct... LOU REED... is the Fhather of this song... sorry!!!!

[WHOBYFIRE333]

Nico was so amazing I love her and Elliott don't care if Jackson whoever wrote the song hes nothing on NICO OR ELLIOTT

[Afanmatt]

@mymayapapaya

No she wasn't.

[MLLEportativ]

@mcfartson

FROM WIKIPEDIA:

... Before the EPI came to an end in 1967, Nico took up residence in a New York City coffeehouse as solo folk chanteuse, accompanied in turn by acquainted guitarists, such as Tim Hardin, JACKSON BROWNE and Leonard Cohen, but also her Velvet Underground colleagues Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison and John Cale.

Some of her accompanists WROTE SONGS FOR HER TO SING, and these form the backbone of Chelsea Girl. Browne and Hardin contributed some songs,....

[TheAbstractedmind]

elliott smith was the shit still is wow nice web jem

[jimmystaffenburger]

All three, Nico, Jackson, and Elliott are great musicians. People have forgotten that what makes a voice isn't just the natural ability, it's the emotional value and the feeling it leaves you with. Look at Bob Dylan. Look at the Smashing Pumpkins. Look at Kurt Cobain. Enough said

[mondty]

@mcfartson nico dated Jackson when she recorded Chelsea girls and he played it on the album. But you're right Jackson Browne wrote the song

[bluerosegypsy]

jackson browne wrote this when he was 16...i was very angry when i heard the nico version...because there is no comparison

[northkato]

the songs been covered by bon jovi, and you're complaining about nico?

[ZebraJones01]

Yeah but fuck Jackson Browne and fuck Elliott Smith, Nico kicks the shit out of both of them

[coolbirdf]

The cover is just as great as the original song! That's a pretty rare occasion I think...

[pennstaterocks101]

his doesn't have that subtle sweetness like browne's or nico's . Keep trying. It will manifest itself someday.

[3690313]

@pennstaterocks101 you make me ashamed to be a student at Penn State

[ao33]

@rhythm61 no Jackson Browne did... The guy who wrote it

[ao33]

@rhythm61 not to mention Nico recorded "These days" in 1967 and Smith was born in 1969. Somewhat of a child prodigy?

[krodosk8r]

does anyone know when he played this? like what show?

[RReneeElizabeth]

it seems that Elliot Smith covered many of my favorite songs. what a suprise! I've been a fan for a while, but keep discovering more of his old covers. Just beautiful.

[RReneeElizabeth]

I mean "Elliott" I can't believe I spelled his name wrong!!!

[BerylBite]

I could pull off a better cover than this,

[bridgeconstruction]

Correction. Joie Calio!  He will not disppoint any Elliott Smith fans.

[rhythm61]

I am sorry that Elliott is gone. I plan to listen to his works. I feel that he could have used many of Browne's songs, BUT HE DID COPY NICO'S VERSION. I am a long time JB fan and this was one of my favorites, though the entire album is great.

I am not that fond of Nico. I will not denigrate her though. I prefer Elliot's version to hers, it sounds more honestly depressed.

Overall, I don't want to fight with anyone, but JB had a better voice and phrasing than both.

[LOL4LYFE]

@rhythm61 You should listen to The Tallest Man on Earth's cover. I get shivers every time i listen to it

[rhythm61]

Yes, this is a Jackson Browne song, he was a bit of a prodigy.

He had a very "old" view of the world as a young man, something I felt that I had in common with him.

If you like this song try listening to Browne's entire "For Everyman" album.

[bridgeconstruction]

Love this song. I really like this version even tho we do one more like Jackson Browne's. Anybody who likes Elliot Smith would probably like Joie Cailo.  Check him out!

[KnqsX]

No, no, no... Ted Nugent wrote it in '76 and the Beastie Boys later sampled it. ;-)

I actually have a hard time picking my favorite version. I've yet to hear a bad cover of this great song.

[randhearts]

Nico was not the first to record it, but, thanks to Richie and Margot Tennenbaum...

[alharper420]

actually, nico was the first to record it in 1967 on chelsea girls. nitty gritty dirt band recorded it in 1968.

[Artformskateboards]

damn i love this man

[2base]

Long live Elliot Smith -- in his music. Forever.

[IronicThings]

<3 beautiful

[mobenarr]

This is a Jackson Browne song, he wrote it when he was 16. But Nico was the first to record it, a few years before Browne did.

[emichelle]

This song makes me miss my guitar, life feels better when you can sing it out.

[ChubbyBones]

just to be clear, this is not a cover of nico. this is a jackson browne song.

[jakehalford]

it doesn't get much better then a cover of Nico by Elliot Smith. mmmmh heaven in song form.

[andycalvert5]

mymayapapya your a big elliott fan huh, i need to find a girl like you, (assuming your a girl)

[ourladyoftheflowers1]

@andycalvert5

what a sweetheart you are,Andy. you'll find her cos she's looking for you, as well.

[nevesciueps]

In 1967 Brown was romantically linked to Nico of the Velvet Underground. He added to her album, Chelsea Girl, playing guitar on her version of one of Browne's earliest songs, which he wrote in high school; "These Days".

source: WIKIPEDIA!

[pressureofdays]

♥

[tumtumr]

nope, it's a nico cover.

read nico's lyrics and then read jackson brownes. theres a difference

[Plinblox]

it is indeed a Jackson Browne cover regardless of the poetic license Nico took. Same tune, I'm sure you've come to this besides being yammered at by all of us out here/wherever

[thewintersessions]

its actually a jackson browne cover

[corwinofamber8]

Nothing beats Nico's version of this song, however, props to Elliott for doing a good job covering it.

[xoxduffyxox]

WOAH!

elliott is my fave and i like nico too. never knew this existed <3

[jsaic]

yea. u do know it's jackson browne

[whitestripebuzz]

this is crazy! i first heard elliott after seeing the royal tenenbaums and buying the soundtrack. resulting in elliotts music taking over my life for the last 4 years. i also heard nico for the first time from it. so to hear this is simply beautiful.

[akumanoken]

That is exactly what happened with me! I first heard "Needle in the Hay" and immediately fell in love so hard with his music. It is funny though, because I spent the next 6 years finding ALL of his music (b-sides, rarities, demos and live performances). I just found out about this particular cover in the past 5 minutes. God, I can cry right now this is so awesome.

[whitestripebuzz]

when needle in the hay was the only smith song i had, i would listen to it dozens of times none stop. wondering if his other stuff was up to the same standard. of course i discovered that it was just the tip of an enormous iceberg! i had to have all the albums. but live stuff, covers, b-sides and unreleased material is what youtube if for =) for instance with out it, i would never have heard songs like true love. so cheers youtube!

[PandaFacelovesyou]

Awesome cover, I just find it funny how his voice is higher than hers. XD Both great artists, though.

[MattMacedo85]

Whats weak about this cover ?

[DifferentSimba]

I'm so happy that I stumbled upon this beautiful cover. Thank you for posting this.

Do you know where I could find a recording of this?

Thanks again, and thank you Elliott.

[nietzsche123456]

Beautiful

[CoquiColor]

Mymayapaya, you are just the best! thanks to you I met and learn to love Elliott

[ModestMousekateer]

One of my favourite songs by one of my favourite artists.

Thanks Mymayapapaya. You always deliver the best of Elliott (which is pretty much everything he's ever done).

[Lovegood44]

i also like jacksons original more than nico's. but i like nico's fingerpicking on her version. i also like Elliotts, but i'm being biased 'cause i love eVERYTHING by him :P

[zionismisevil]

I like Smith, but this cover is pretty weak, let's face it.

Ziggy hasn't said anything outrageous and doesn't deserve the venom thrown his way.

[ZiggyZipgun1]

Nah, let them vent. They're still mourning the loss of a great artist.

This guy was barely popular at all before he died. By all means, I feel bad for anyone's family when they hear that their son or brother stabbed himself in the chest, but that doesn't make him a great artist. Charles Rocket slit his own throat a few years ago and it didn't even make the news. He'd done everything from Saturday Night Live (f-bombs!) to Dumb And Dumber to Dances With Wolves (he was nice lieutenant).

[potentialcarnie]

Fuck off. You come hear with your negative bullshit. What do you expect? I already told you to go finish swallowing Jackson B's cum. Just about everyone that looks up Elliott songs on YouTube likes him; you are one of the few who goes just to talk shit.

For the record, you are the one venting; which automatically puts any self-respecting Elliott fan on the defense. So, go piss on somebody else with your emptiness.

Lastly, his death has nothing to do with the quality of his music. The end.

[noisez13000]

elliot smith has one of the most beautiful voices of any male singer, this is a live recording r u challenged mentally?

[kelllydeee]

He really does. His voice sounds exactly the same live as on albums, it's amazing.

[potentialcarnie]

Good for you, ZiggyZipgun1

Elliott openly talked about how he disliked his own voice; but he used it as best as it would allow.

Elliott is an acquired taste, so go on your unkindly way and continue choking on Jackson Browne's cock.

They are both great musicians in their own right, so learn some respect and quit acting like some punk music snob.

Lastly, for all his faults Elliott would rather destroy himself than lay a hand on any woman (Daryl Hannah). That's far more you can say about JB

[plusplusplus04]

SUCK

MY

DllllllllllllllllCK!!!!!!!!!

-100 for you, Zipgun >:) hehe

[SalisburyAE]

What the hell is going on? Why is there so much Jackson Browne hatred? I love JB. I love Elliott. Can't we all just get along?

[MrWootbird]

@potentialcarnie They are both great musicians. I take issue with your final point though.. Jackson got completely fucked over by Daryl Hannah. She was throwing a fit, taking things from the house, beating on Jackson a bit, and then called the police, and when they got there, there was no evidence of any foul play on JB's part. AT ALL. Ms. Hannah on the other hand was yelling about how she got hit, which she later admitted many times was absolutely untrue. She is the "bad guy" in that scenario.

[mymayapapaya]

@juliekstroup what? where did you hear/read that?

[jackaland4zeros]

@potentialcarnie

Mad respect. very well said!

if you play guitar you know hes a good guitar player. i like niko version better because the guitar isnt strumming like it is in this video

[twostepsuzy]

Exactly talent is creating not performing

[WillTavlin]

your a fucking douchebag (towards ziggy)

[ZiggyZipgun1]

167 thumbs down? Geez. To reiterate, that was 19-year-old Jackson Browne fingerpicking on Nico's recording; he still plays it that way live.

[oyouarehereo]

boo hoo.

[potentialcarnie]

Look Ziggy, I'm not convincing you of anything and I'm sure as hell you are not convincing me of anything.

If you would just take a clue and piss off already everything would be fine. Instead you come back and instigate.

For example, "They're still mourning the loss of a great artist".

I know how you feel about ES, so this comment just comes across as second-rate sarcastic garbage and is gonna just get you more flak sent your way...

[KirstyTheWeeYin]

i love it <3

[BigPapaSmurfy]

@ 1:05 Oops.. lol

we miss you elliott

[radio17]

beautiiful song for a beautiful boy

[Mellemsether]

jup, jackson browne. I can understand how Elliot liked this song.

[andersersand]

not a nico cover

[danny9536]

who wrote the song?

[andersersand]

Jackson Browne

[Quadrophenia789]

yeah its written by jackson browne but hes playing the nico version not the original. both good though

[teenvlogger1337]

yeah man this song has way too many vocal effects

[sonickgq]

Umm, this is a bootleg. Unless he ran the vocals through a processor (highly doubtful), I don't see how there are ANY vocal effects on the track.

[taspea2]

well then that makes more sense. Recorded in the bathroom with all that echo?

[bigblonde26]

This was added on 8-4, isn't that when he passed away? RIP forever, you poor, brilliant tragedy

[mymayapapaya]

Elliott was born on August 6 and died in October

[Katie081990]

10/21/03

[213LOSTANGELS]

@bigblonde26

he doesnt want your pity

[jay1and1are1995]

I fucking love you baby R.I.P .You fucking changed the world i love you!

[samuelshepard]

you mean jackson browne cover....

[gisel52]

That's true.

[pathammond]

Heard in interviews he was listening to lots of Nico at one point. Personally hate her, nice little cover :)

[peenishead]

omg, the orignal trumps all covers in everyway perfect song

[HardRainProductions]

By who? Jackson Browne.

[peenishead]

well ya he wrote it so kinda

[macandrewes]

oh eliot, wtf...

[treefingers68]

cool, its working now, thanks

[giodamon]

what happened to the video maya?? :(

[treefingers68]

why the fuck did this get taken down.

[komigenhanna]

This is so cute! My favourite version is the one by Mates Of State though.

[HardRainProductions]

This is awesome thanks

[Filifjoncan]

awesome

[ashercgriffin]

Jackson Browne wrote this. It is not "Nico's song."

[pierreerichexum]

he did, for Nico

[cassadaga67]

thankyou mymayapapaya!

elliotts covers are so beautiful

[peterschleener]

this song is in the royal tenenbaums but the original version by nico, however elliot smith also contributed music to the wes anderson cult hit's soundtrack.

[BrendanIsCool]

this isn't a nico original! guess who she covered?

[MrPink0088]

She didn't cover it. Jackson wrote it for her. And she recorded the original version. Then later on Jackson recorded his own version. So really, he is right.

[jwil89]

Actually I don't believe Jackson wrote this song for Nico. Jackson wrote this song when he was 16. Nico did record the original version years later tho.

[eggsplosions]

I didn't know this existed either. Thank you mymaya

I love you

[ExaggeratedCool]

holy shit. I didn't know he did a cover for Nico's song.

This rocks. O_O

[AMICHIO]

I heard the St Vincent and thought it was the most beautiful cover, till Elliot Smith came and owned, r.i.p smith

[dannyabboud2]

: )

[memoryburn7]

I disagree. Annie Clark wins. Not in general, just in covering this song.

[mopacwarrior]

thank god. this was wonderful.

[01kaze]

Nico covered Jackson Browne

[mymayapapaya]

Yep! :)

[ugafan0089]

no she did not. Jackson Browne wrote the song for Nico, and she recorded it before he ever did. He eventually sang it himself on a later album, but Nico recorded it before he did.

[mymayapapaya]

Ooops, that's right.

[01kaze]

No he wrote it when he was 16 and gave permission for her to sing it it wasn't written for her.