What exactly did Dylan and Neil Young do that was so drastically different to Elliott? He drew influence from them both, and it shines in his music at times.
I'm not speaking about any recorded version. Just hear it live:
watch?v=E1PRlTCVBxQ
The acoustic version is the way it was written. Elliott Smith was not a band. It was Elliott Smith and he played music with his guitar and voice. It sounds natural and beautiful. For some reason artists always feel that they need to make a song more complex to 'pop it up'. Here adding piano and drums that sound midiocre at best.
A lot of artist do this sadly. Most of Anouks sounds a lot better acoustic too.
I dont think "the way the song was written" has any significance really. The electric version was also a way of performing the song, same thing with his different versions of "needle in the hay". I dont think this version is a continuation of the acoustic version, so to speak. I just think it gives a different feel, and I love it.
People complained when Dylan went electric too. But after a while they saw that brilliance too
I understand there is a difference in taste but this is like comparing a Rubens painting to a toddlers drawing.
This version sounds like it could be written by the students of music class in high school. There is no sense of orginallity, cleverness or difficulty to it. The piano and drums are just awfully simplistic and even the guitar part is reduced to simple stroken chords.
It's a gaint difference with what Dylan or Neil Young do to add complexity to their songs.
well, do you really think songs need to have cleverness to them always? I think simplicity can be beautiful, and this is one of those cases. and the lyrics are the same, which also gives the song a certain mood
I do, I´ve been playing guitar for 9 years and got into drums a couple of years ago. do you?
I do think simple songs can be beautiful. Bob Marley's songs are usually very simple. But if they are simple they still need some cleverness and originality I think. Redemption song is a perfect example.
This version of song of sam sounds like the poprock cliche to me while I think the acoustic version is just brilliant. I thought that a guitar player would agree. Matter of opinion I guess.
I started with the piano very early and I am playing the guitar for seven years now.
Dude, you're a complete musical retard. Some of the best music in the world is simple beyond compare.
There is no way anyone but Elliot could have wrote this. Simplicity is the key to good music. Without simplicity it becomes bullshit.
There is very little music out there that sounds anything like this. Even with an electric guitar, Elliott has remained orginal, you fail epically, because you obviously don't have a clue about music...
Do you? Elliott Smith songs are far more complicated than just 'strumming simple chords'
Besides, Neil Young and Bob Dylan both had songs with ridiculously simple chords structures as well, even if it wasn't all of their songs. Yes, I'm a huge Dylan fan, and a huge Neil Young fan as well... But Elliott was no less talented, as far as I'm concerned. It was a different kind of talent, and to compare it just doesn't work.
No, this isn't his best song, but it's still great.
Sorry, didn't realize I was replying to a comment that was written a year ago. My bad
And I also like the acoustic version more
And I took your comment out of the wrong context, and assumed you were referring to all of his songs being simple and cliche which completely contradicts his style of writing.
Also, no offense to you, but just be forewarned... claiming to be playing an instrument for a specific amount of time does not help in Youtube arguments. In fact, it makes you look like an ego.
nice!!
elona61191 2 years ago
timeseyes, I do not understand.
What exactly did Dylan and Neil Young do that was so drastically different to Elliott? He drew influence from them both, and it shines in his music at times.
Son of Sam is far from unoriginal.
HuntdownSamule 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
top five indie bands
1. elliott smith
2. bright eyes
3. mountain goats
4. fleet foxes
5. kevin m. kirker
but elliott smith will always be #1! we miss you and love you elliott! we'll never forget you! rest in peace
astonishing00 2 years ago
Acoustic version is million times better.
TimesEyes 3 years ago
I dont agree at all. I think this song is supposed to be as powerful as it is on figure 8
sucramnormark 2 years ago 2
I'm not speaking about any recorded version. Just hear it live:
watch?v=E1PRlTCVBxQ
The acoustic version is the way it was written. Elliott Smith was not a band. It was Elliott Smith and he played music with his guitar and voice. It sounds natural and beautiful. For some reason artists always feel that they need to make a song more complex to 'pop it up'. Here adding piano and drums that sound midiocre at best.
A lot of artist do this sadly. Most of Anouks sounds a lot better acoustic too.
TimesEyes 2 years ago
I dont think "the way the song was written" has any significance really. The electric version was also a way of performing the song, same thing with his different versions of "needle in the hay". I dont think this version is a continuation of the acoustic version, so to speak. I just think it gives a different feel, and I love it.
People complained when Dylan went electric too. But after a while they saw that brilliance too
sucramnormark 2 years ago
I understand there is a difference in taste but this is like comparing a Rubens painting to a toddlers drawing.
This version sounds like it could be written by the students of music class in high school. There is no sense of orginallity, cleverness or difficulty to it. The piano and drums are just awfully simplistic and even the guitar part is reduced to simple stroken chords.
It's a gaint difference with what Dylan or Neil Young do to add complexity to their songs.
Yu play an instrument?
TimesEyes 2 years ago
well, do you really think songs need to have cleverness to them always? I think simplicity can be beautiful, and this is one of those cases. and the lyrics are the same, which also gives the song a certain mood
I do, I´ve been playing guitar for 9 years and got into drums a couple of years ago. do you?
sucramnormark 2 years ago
I do think simple songs can be beautiful. Bob Marley's songs are usually very simple. But if they are simple they still need some cleverness and originality I think. Redemption song is a perfect example.
This version of song of sam sounds like the poprock cliche to me while I think the acoustic version is just brilliant. I thought that a guitar player would agree. Matter of opinion I guess.
I started with the piano very early and I am playing the guitar for seven years now.
TimesEyes 2 years ago
Dude, you're a complete musical retard. Some of the best music in the world is simple beyond compare.
There is no way anyone but Elliot could have wrote this. Simplicity is the key to good music. Without simplicity it becomes bullshit.
There is very little music out there that sounds anything like this. Even with an electric guitar, Elliott has remained orginal, you fail epically, because you obviously don't have a clue about music...
it's just noise, nothing more, nothing less
Vader12Tater12 2 years ago
@TimesEyes
Do you? Elliott Smith songs are far more complicated than just 'strumming simple chords'
Besides, Neil Young and Bob Dylan both had songs with ridiculously simple chords structures as well, even if it wasn't all of their songs. Yes, I'm a huge Dylan fan, and a huge Neil Young fan as well... But Elliott was no less talented, as far as I'm concerned. It was a different kind of talent, and to compare it just doesn't work.
No, this isn't his best song, but it's still great.
Amulius 2 years ago
Sorry, didn't realize I was replying to a comment that was written a year ago. My bad
And I also like the acoustic version more
And I took your comment out of the wrong context, and assumed you were referring to all of his songs being simple and cliche which completely contradicts his style of writing.
Also, no offense to you, but just be forewarned... claiming to be playing an instrument for a specific amount of time does not help in Youtube arguments. In fact, it makes you look like an ego.
Amulius 2 years ago
For Figure 8 he wanted to go electric.
Disappearer88 2 years ago
I'm glad he changed his mind...
TimesEyes 2 years ago
I wish i'd seen him live - this is great!
JamesGrady2 3 years ago 2
still one of the best from ellliioootttt
schaefersmann 4 years ago 4
its still one of the best songs from elliiottt
schaefersmann 4 years ago 2
between september/october/november 2000
jeanpaul1232 4 years ago
probably the figure 8 tour
logwind 4 years ago
Is this from the Vic? Do you have the rest of it?
popnrock2 4 years ago