Added: 4 years ago
From: MeowPurple
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  • Elliott Smith. Cat Stevens. Eddie Vedder. 'Nuff said

  • I remember this was the song that was played in the pilot of Alias. Glad that I discovered it because I listen it all the time now.

  • The one cover that I find to be better than the original.

  • favorited after 7 seconds

  • I like Elliott all right, and he has more then a few killer covers, but this is a pretty underwhelming version of "Trouble".

  • Damn, Elliott...why'd you have to leave us so early?

  • Harold & Maude.

  • very good song ! Thank my mum for show me this !

  • asdfqwerasdfqwer this rocks

  • this is some next wasteman shit im gonna listen to g unit

  • Death worshippers

  • @swankprimemover that is extremely offensive and you should me more open minded to other people's music just because it's a depressing song does not make us death worshipers what the hell do you listen to justin bieber?

  • why did you even comment this guy?

    doubletrack,ok,if someone likes to complain,ok,

    listen to song,

    " i dont like more figthing,and i havent got a lot of time"

    some people just look for things about to complain,there whole point of view is so poor that it isnt even worth to think or talk about them,they want to upset people

    dont give them a stage to perform ;)

  • A 17:1 like to dislike ratio on this? You ppl make me sick.

  • How did he get that eerie warbled sound? Are they overlapped tracks of his own voice?

  • @piper4seeformerly Yup, he double tracked everything. Recorded, then re recorded, did same for backing often also

  • @pathammond That guy was brilliantly inventive. I wonder what drove him to give up?

  • @piper4seeformerly Life probably.

  • @piper4seeformerly read the wikipedia article on his death if you get a chance, they suspect it could have been homicide

  • @chiliconholly hurrr wikipedia isn't a valid source. it was suicide, stupid.

  • @keerhasaids aww, 14 year old kids or people that act like them are not cute....

  • @piper4seeformerly "Are they overlapped..." that makes no sense... it's just a stereo pan of two elliott smith vocal tracks and his warbly voice you're hearing.

  • beautiful song

  • i love this song!!!... i have a karaoke of it on my channel

  • @AllyWheels

    wow....dude....so angry

  • We lost Elliot to stab wounds

    We lost Cat to fundamentalist religion

    life's a bitch :(

  • @TheGreaterGood80 We lost Elliott Smith and that is sad. Cat Stevens found a religion that makes sense to him and continues to make beautiful music. "It's a sad and beautiful world".

  • @TheGreaterGood80

    Pardon, but Cat isnt dead.

  • @vvzero007vv Elliott Smith is dead, Cat is still very much alive

  • @TheGreaterGood80 does it matter if he is a Muslim?

    It doesn't change the fact that hes a very talented man..

  • if I had Elliott's voice I would sing everything I say.

  • @victrolahead You don't end up with a voice like that by accident. Anyone can sing, and usually its the people who just sing every day anyway that get it together :)

  • @AllyWheels You're an idiot

  • @AllyWheels

    Dumbfuck

  • @AllyWheels elliott did a fucking great job.

    and categorizing him as a karaoke kid is kind of amusing. you are obviously not familiar with his work.

    you know what? i hate people, who just randomly comment videos or songs and in this case artists, they don't know a shit about.

    do us all a favour and fuck off.

  • @WretchedArt I'll agree that I'm not familiar with him or his work at all so i should not have called him a karaoke kid. Whether one likes his music is subjective and irrelevant to my point anyway. My objection is to people who cover songs which have a personal connection to the original artist and should not be covered. Perhaps the original artist gave permission, or perhaps it was his record publisher/rights owner. If the former, then that's OK with me.

  • @AllyWheels I can see your point and I think you are right on that.

    I shouldn't have been so rude, i apologize for that. so lets just enjoy the music, mate. but nevertheless I think it''s always interesting to see how other artists interprete other artists songs and in my opinion elliott did a great job.

  • @AllyWheels I don't think an artist can write/produce a song and have it sold without it becoming part of a larger collaboration between listeners and other artists. In other words, I don't think Cat Stevens has exclusive ownership of this song anymore really, and I'm not talking in terms of copyright.

  • Beautiful

  • he died w/ 2 stabs in the chest r.i.p.

  • r.i.p.

  • You can look up the interviews if you search hard enough.

    I'm not going to take the time right now, but look it up if you're curious. I think it was with Sam Coomes, from Quazi. Good luck, it's obscure.

  • Do you have a clue what this song is about cuz u certainly don't appear to.

    Fuck off with your double vocals and come back when you have some real life experience Hypocrite!

  • elliott smith is not widely recognized as a good musician because of my generation and the horrible crap pop called "music" but he was a brilliant man and the fact that he can inspire a mere 13 year old such as i means he is a terrific artist and anyone who cant see that lacks much passion in there day to day lives

  • @MyndiRandomSocks you're pretentious, go suck a lemon kid.

    he's a good musician but you rep him in the worst way possible.

    PLZ stop living, you're wasting precious air.

  • @wilr123 wow.

    cant you just allow someone to benefit from the elliott smith experience.

    what mighty horse have you climbed up on that makes you able to dictate who and how a person "rep"s an artist.

    we all came to this site for the same reason.

    sit back and enjoy this cover, life is too short to go around trying to make asses of everyone else.

    what is that saying from childhood,

    "everytime you point a figure theres 4 more pointing back at you".

    some food for thought.

  • does anyone believe in the healing power of music?

  • thank you elliott for making it okay, to be just that, "okay", my life has flashed before my eyes so many times n always your music somehow gets me through the hardest most darkest times of my life. You were way before you time n I can understand y so many people don't understand your lyrics n raw emotion n voice. even though this is a cover, it suits you well. TY Elliott RIP

  • i heard this version of trouble for the first time the other day and i love it.

  • good cover :) <3 elliott... r.i.p man

  • He is underappreciated. The man was brilliant. I went to highschool with him in Portland, OR.

  • Cant like enough.

  • Elliot Smith is GREAT!

    Fuck the haters, his voice is one of the best, the people that say other wise you are out of youre damn mind.

  • The lyrics of this song expressed just what Elliott Smith wanted to say, and he did a fantastic reproduction.

  • man... no one does covers like Elliott

  • I miss you.

  • I love this cover ( as do the rest of us ) , let's get smashed and pretend today is the last day we have to celebrate life. Trouble made us what we are today, and if we can't be proud of that... then for our own sanity lets just at least admit that we tried our best.

  • @northkato -- you make overdubbing sound like a bad thing. Singers frequently overdub or double-track their vocals in pursuit of the richest or most textured recording. Kurt Cobain did it. And he did it because John Lennon did it!

    Though, I do agree with others that Elliott's beautiful voice is not best suited for this particular song.

  • whatever, he just loved this song. sorry you can't hear the 4 or 5 perfect vocal tracks. he loved this song just like 'Thirteen' RIP Alex Chilton

  • Absolutely dreadful!! Cat Stevens wrote this song when he had tuberculosis and was staring death in the face. 'Trouble' is a euphemism for TB. This type of song is too personal and should be left well alone.

  • @treaclebuns but it means different things to different people and can be interpreted as such.

  • This version is nice, but it's nothing compared to the original. Cat Steven's voice had more raw emotion in it & you could really feel his pain. Althought Elliot Smith's voice is good, I don't really think it's suited for this song.

    That's just my opinion though, it's still a great song.

  • That's only because he is NOT Cat Stevens ! That's  a hell of a good reason! Kiss from Brazil

  • I've always loved The Cat and just by accident, stumbled on this version. If this Elliot cats voice is completely natural and not enhanced in anyway, it's flippin' beautiful, powerful and very moving!!! I've read he's passed on. Figures! Those who live short lives live it large for the spirit :)

  • @MOJOMANSON1964

    elliott smith is a great musician and singer. you should really check out his music.

  • He does have a very nice voice. but just so's ya know, though I don't believe it was "enhanced" per se, he is known for dubbing his vocals repeatedly. so this is like 2 or 3 elliotts all singin at once.

  • this is definitely his natural voice, that's one of the things that always made elliott such a beautiful artist, having a voice of an angel!! not to mention his unbelievable musical skills!! and yeah it was a very sad day when elliott passed on, but he will never be forgotten or replaced!! u should definitely check out all of his albums!! RIP ELLIOTT, XO <3

  • Yeah, that's his voice, man.

    He always reminded me of Harrison.

  • @MOJOMANSON

    Ya man, elliott is the best.. He does double track his voice, but his voice is so pure and beautiful still..

  • he dubs his own voice over

  • i don't this track was a finished one... but then it was used in 'thumbsucker'... i think it works lo-fi and raw like this. beautiful and emotional cover.

  • so f-ing gorge!

  • balaraphon you are wrong...

  • wow people actually compare elliott smith to american idol singers, what has this world come too!!!

  • There's something particularly poignant about hearing Elliott Smith sing this song. It has nothing to do with the quality of the singing but it's almost as though you can really hear the pain this song is really all about. I've found myself humming this song during tough times.

    I love both the original and this clearly respectful cover of it.

  • RIP Elliott...

  • Comment removed

  • no one cares about your "trained" ear - Elliott's music is therapy for countless individuals... and it's a sad fact that he's gone - unable to share his brilliance. It's not a competition - you just have to be able to see that Elliott loved the music he made, and respected the artists he covered.

  • Wow... you just included Elliott Smith in the same category as those fucking twats on American Idol. You're a sad sad person. And he did make things out of tune for a specific purpose. He used it to make his music affect people more... people who've worked with him talked about how he wanted to make your stomach churn when you listen to his music. The odd little sounds, and uniqueness is what make Elliott Smith one of the most prolific artists of my generation - Take your opinion and fuck off

  • Comment removed

  • @shadrussell The odd little sounds and "uniqueness" are not what make Elliott Smith one of the most prolific artists of your generation, the odd sounds and his unique nature solidify him as an original and an outcast. The huge amount of music he produced makes him prolific.

  • @shadrussell YES

  • @shadrussell

    I'm in no way trying to start drama, or be condescending.... but Elliott wasn't 'out-of-tune', he just tuned down quite a bit, and used many alternate tunings. This song, for example, I believe was tuned down a half-step.

    That's it, peace please.

  • @shadrussell What do the odd little sounds and uniqueness have to do with his being "prolific"? To be prolific is to be productive or to produce as many songs in a short amount of time as possible. I think you mean that his uniqueness is what made him one of the most profound artists of our generation. Please utilize a dictionary.

  • @JesMarie0087 take your dictionary and fuck off

  • @JesMarie0087 No reason to belittle other people. And no one is impressed by the word "utilize" instead of use.

  • lol I laughed so hard when I saw your comment, but yeah I agree with everything you said. My bro talks a lot of shit about Elliott Smith when I play his music. I just don't understand how someone can't like Elliott's stuff. His music has gotten me through a lot of shit, and there's something in his music that I've never been able to find in any other types of music. Certain emotions that are brought out, a feeling of well being. His music is like therapy for me.

  • @balaraphon

    Just so you know my friend who has perfect pitch got me into elliott smith.. it's not about being a perfect singer or player.. the emotion in this song is great and I love what he does with it.. cat stevens makes it seem a little more hopeful in terms of tone, but elliott makes it seem hopeless, and sometimes it's great to feel hopelessness..

  • good stuff...if you haven't seen Cat Steven's Majikat videos...check them out...awesome!...awesome! Funny when he messes up during Lady D'arbanville or however you spell it

  • god'am i love you elliott. every cover he did was so perfect for him and his story. i wish he was still here making music.

  • i keep seeing u on the elliott smith songs commenting how much u love him like me!!! he really is great!!! and i love how he brings the same emotion out of u as me, God'am I love you elliott!!!

  • i love this version, but cat stevens' is better. but when elliott smith was at his finest, he wrote songs that were at least as good as, if not better, than cat stevens best stuff.

  • I actually like the few songs I know from "Good Will Hunting" by Elliott Smith quite a lot but this cover doesn't reach the original's quality by far. Cat is legend.

  • i agree fully.

  • No listen to HIS songs there great dont judge an artist by his covers.

  • Good job with the lyrics on the side.........It's great to sing along with this song.

  • yusuf us still wih us

  • what about cat stevens? he wrote the damn song and look at him now.

  • look at bob dylan, or cat.

    sure they're still alive

    but i meant the "majority"

  • john lennon didn't kill himself, and paul mccartney is still alive.

    What about paul simon, lou reed, or roger waters, or jimmy page?

    I think your face is a majority.

  • and bradley knowells

  • That is a terrible message, how about Jimmi Page, Roger Daltrey, Eric Clapton, Cat stevens like Kamalmanzukie said, no offense to elliot smith but this song is great because of cat and he didn't kill himself, there is nothing beautiful about depression. oh and Hendrix didn't od, he died from choking on his vomit cus he took his sleep meds after a lil too much wine which made him not wake up when he threw up from being drunk.

  • LOL

  • hahah right on

  • dude, i was going to rip in to you about this comment - but it's your opinion - and at least you aren't spitting on his memory.

    But come on - mediocre? You just haven't put in enough time listening - either that or your taste in music doesn't allow you to see the brilliance he possessed.

    The man felt emotions more than anyone will ever know, be it joy, or pain - bliss or sorrow - he was one of the most empathetic people this earth has known.

  • Man, I used to engage with these people. You just can't win or even make them partially see your point; it's like arguing with a door mat. p.s. I share all your sympathies towards Elliott...any true fan loves Elliott's style---of which this cover is no exception :)

  • I feel nothing when I listen to him. My opinion. I can't even listen to his songs.....

  • @EatShiteAholes

    When you listen to Elliott? Then you cannot feel.

  • @EatShiteAholes yeah, why are you listening to them then? that does not make sense. and elliot smith is the most heart wreching music i personally have ever heard. i think thats sad.

  • this song really can tear you apart

  • It breaks my heart he's gone. I'm going through the worst time of my life w/my mother having leukemia, listen to this song alot (dammit trouble set my family free). As far as Elliott being gone--only the good die young.

  • Comment removed

  • like this better than the original.

  • i love elliott...

  • This cover prooves Elliot being a really good artist with both innate sensibility and intellect but unfortunately this world was just too much for him. RIP

  • i love the cat and elliott both alot, but i have to say elliotts version in my opinion is much more emotional. i almost cried just listening to it. i don't know, but its a gerat song

    -peace

  • this was one of the last songs he recorded. i love the layering, but it's hard to hear the pain in his voice

  • I am here to put this argument to rest, this song is like 90% identicle to cat stevens version and most of what you probably love about it are the notes he is hitting and the cord progression which are all copies of cat stevens, inn fact he cant hit some of cat's high notes, so the answere is it is a nice song, but its not even close to the genious of the man who actualy wrote the song Cat Stevens plus cat sings it with more emotion i mean cmon he is cat stevens!

  • baccardi88, I respect your opinion and I agree it is hard to top cat stevens, but you should really check out some of elliott's original material if you are not familiar with it. He is probably the best songwriter of the past 25 years. His stuff is a bit dark, but there is real beauty in it. Some songs I would recommend are ....

    1)Can't make a sound

    2)Twilight

    3)Between the Bars

    4)Last Hour

    Elliott was an amazing artist and it would benefit you and everyone else to check out his music!

  • you know the double vocals is almost a trademark in elliott's music and he got it from one of his biggest influences that is John Lennon. And I have to admitt elliott's cover is nothing compare to Cat's version but if anyone in the world should be covering cat stevens that has be elliott smith. He was such a great musician and songwriter, and I know anyone talking bad about him never really listned to his music. really, listen to either or and then you can say whatever you want...

  • this was one of the best covers ever... which is saying a lot since it's a cat song. I miss elliot even though I didn't know him...

  • is very amazing smith's music,it was been a shock when i read about his death,hi elliott with your voice you'll benn always on the heart

    sorry for my english i'm italian

  • it's not elliotts song

  • I′m not sure it′s really necessary or even helpful to try to judge whether Elliots version is "better" or "worse" than Cat Stevens'. They are, after all, different artists. I think Cat's version is more conventional and polished, musically more secure; Elliot's version had a lot of edge and pain which is magnified by what we know happened to him in the end. Elliot's version has his haunting polyphonic voicing, and feels much more contemporary. It's harder to listen to, very upsetting and raw

  • this version is haunting. the song fits elliots troubled times so well. im not gonna say which vesion, cats or elliots, is better. they are both good for different reasons. it is kind of like warren zevon singing knockin on heavens door. it just takes on a whole new meaning. rip elliot

  • This is the greatest song on youtube.

    Two of the greatest singers/guitarists/sognwriters Ive heard.

    Thanks for making me happy!

  • I'm conflicted - Elliott Smith and Cat Stevens are up there as two of my favourite musicians, and each version has a lot going for it.

    Personally, this is more evocative than the original because he sounds so 'weighed down'. It really feels like he was living the lyrics when he recorded this (which he pretty much was)

    But at the same time, the Cat Stevens take is technically stronger.

    So i don't know

  • man I didn't even think of that. Goddamnit now this song is depressing for me. Freakin Elliott Smith... :(

  • Cat Stevens version will always be closer to my heart, but this is still really good!

  • thanks for posting. this version is the best

  • psyche!

  • Elliott Smith has the voice of an angel. His live stuff doesn't sound much different from his recorded stuff. Lovely. Cat Stevens, too. Just lovely.

  • Elliott Smith is my favorite musician.. I prefer the Cat Stevens original.. but to the guy who commented about double tracks and said Elliott cannot sing.. a)Cat Stevens has used double vox on a ton of titles. b)wtf?

  • Hey Malquife, great comment. No, no, not really. Can't take it back now. No take backs!

  • Good, but not even close to as good as the original. Lacks all feeling Cat's had.

  • Lacks ALL the feeling?

    You're a fucking idiot. This cover is quite nice and actually fits Elliot like a glove.

  • if you say so... gees.....

  • @TeaserandtheFirecat uh, yeah. a guy who stabbed himself in the heart lacks feeling

  • @TeaserandtheFirecat

    I completely agree!

  • I like this version the best. From Basement II Demos, yes?

  • yes

  • yes

  • I can not fucking believe this!! Thank you!!

  • yupp

  • This is a beautiful cover. I love Elliot Smith. However, I disagree with most of you. Cat Stevens version is just better. Better voice. More emotion. Much better guitar. Lower register in Cat Stevens is tunning. This is just two whispery for me. I am a musician and a music teacher, so this is my informed opinion. But music is in the ear of the listener so I respect that a lot of you like this version more. Elliot Smith was such a telent. What a shame.

  • just because ur a music teacher doesnt mean u have an informed opinion, but i guess u have more authority...reguardless, i think certain people(me being one of them) take more from elliotts version than that of cat's...for one elliotts music,life, and death were much more tradgic, and more depressing,there is a humanisitic element to elliott smith that really you really cannot look past...i just get a more profound impact when i hear elliott sing and perform this

  • As far as YouTube comments go, that was a great way to express your difference of opinion.

    I personally like Elliott's version better.

  • I agree, almost totally. Well, I might have gone too far with a previous comment. You are now probably the only person here who will tell me politely who Elliot Smith was.

  • i def agree with you pseudo. this is nice but Cats is much more soulful, resonant. better vocally and rhythmically. this is a good version though

  • Cat's version is waaaaay better.

  • i agree

  • has anyone heard the other Elliott Smith version of this song?!?! It's from the Thumbsucker movie soundtrack

  • I've only heard it on the actual film.

  • Yes, and I like the other one even better than this one! Elliott is so great

  • love it:)

  • Beautiful.

  • what's truly sad is that man who wrote and sang of peace and love, was later pegged as a terrorist.

  • what's truly sad is that man who wrote and sang of peace and love was later pegged as a terrorist.

  • take a long hard look at the administration that 'pegged him'

  • but cat stevens was awesome too, no doubt about it