Bright Eyes - The Biggest Lie [ Elliott Smith ]

[sparrowblackbird]

thank god someone recorded this!

[anyghost]

Is that Nick Zinner in the back?

[TheSwiftsMusic]

music is all we've got to get through this shitty world

thank you Conor and Elliott

[WondergirlPD]

I found this video years ago and it's still my favorite.

[DecodeIndie15]

it tears me up when fans of both Elliott's and Conor's argue as to who's better because SHHHIIITT i can't fucking decide. and you know why? Because BOTH of them are fucking great in their own way, in their own style, and in their own lyrical content and both saved my life so never will I ever choose sides. fuck....still great cover....it makes me wanna cry...in a good way

[Katharine777]

omg this is so cool love his costume

[jonnyryanmusic]

A brilliant musician covering my favorite musician's song. Great video to find. Thanks for uploading.

[xchristyisbombx]

Conor makes the cutest skeleton, I must say

[FunsPeople]

Great cover!

[siebenny]

elliott ♥

[soveryprecious48]

i don't like this guys band that much, some pretty good songs. but this...i have acquired such a great amount of respect for this man.

[vintagefaire]

this is a great cover. nothing can compare to the original, obviously, but i still like this version.

[MrPimkiegodess]

Freaking amazing.

But wow, I would have been mad-sad had I attended this party...

[DavidOnri]

@MrPimkiegodess it's more just all sadness, cuz Conor loved Elliott just as much as me and you and i think he knew exactly what he was doing and you can just feel and hear the lament in his voice and song choice.

RIP Elliott Smith. His love continues though.

[unclefeezus]

Most depressing Halloween party ever.

[dirtymustardcake]

Conor Oberst always sounds like he's crying and he's really cold.

[tonyhaamen]

@dirtymustardcake dude i completely agree

[lysergicdeez]

this is really good,a nd i love elliott smith, he made it his own, it sounds good, thats really what i care about. it's not elliott smith, it's conor oberst, two different human beings. no two artists do a song the same.

[F50Italia]

This guy sounds like a goat

[tonyhaamen]

elliott smith wouldnt have cried, and its his song..

lol

[bobbyrawson]

But seriously I don't know how you can't love this version of the song. It's incomparable to the Smith version, obviously, but not because of it's quality. I think Oberst does a amazing job of capturing the spirit of the song, and performing it in a skeleton costume on halloween was a stroke of brilliance.

[rmed30]

@bobbyrawson : I can understand why people don't love this cover. Because it fucking sucks. Plain and simple. This guy is a doucheball. And what is he doing with his voice? He sounds like he's gargling shit. And wearing the same costume that the bully wore in the karate kid isn't doing him any favors. If Elliot came back to life and saw what this jackass did to his song, he'd never stop throwing up.

[bobbyrawson]

@rmed30 You should talk to a therapist.

[bubsadoozy]

@rmed30 Bright Eyes and Elliott Smith compete as my two favourite artists. You have fucking ZERO idea what you're talking about. Have you taken the time to look at Conor Oberst's lyrics? It's arguable but they are far better than Elliott's in my opinion. Don't speak for a dead man. Plain and simple, you need to shut the fuck up.

[rmed30]

@bubsadoozy : yea suck one

[Trackingimage]

@rmed30 if i ever met you, i'd never stop throwing up.

[rmed30]

@Trackingimage : nice comeback fag. way to say the exact thing i just said...

[Trackingimage]

@rmed30 You reacted to it and filled me with enjoyment of seeing your annoyance.:) Just like a retarded, insignificant blot of matter you are to go around trolling on this video.

[maximus50238]

i know someone who loves conner but hates elliott. makes no sense to me. without elliott, conner probably wouldnt be who he is now. i love them both, but elliott is the best in my opinion. amazing cover

[theSOUNDinterpreter]

nick zinner?

[Sprtschk]

not bad at all, just not that good either. but then I'm not really a BE fan.

[osidep62]

my question is how do u get conor oberst to come to your halloween party?

[MatHrtxC]

@osidep62 when it's a saddle creek or subpop! party it's tre-easy

[freakinoneillster]

this is beautiful.

[osidep62]

@freakinoneillster

you're beautiful

[willystylee]

How extraordinarily awesome!!!!!!!

[Fakingmydeath]

wierdest video ever. but good song

[ashadylane]

Is that Nick Zinner in the background?

[avacadosolive]

@ashadylane He very much resembles Nick Zinner, you're right.

[buickcityfilms2010]

@avacadosolive that IS nick

[mewmewgoesthekitty]

Guys, just shush. Elliott was a beautiful artist and a beautiful person, and a lot of artists were affected by his death whether they knew him or not, and a lot of artists have done covers of him in memoriam. So how about you respect every artist and stop bashing this cover.

[Groundbase]

greaaaat cover. terrible for a party though lol

[MrJonathanClark]

wow! what a nice surprise.

[EdEatsBrains]

43 people told the Biggest Lie.

[chrisneeify]

Can't get this out of my head, this song basically makes an impact on my whole day.

[1crookshanks]

so beautiful

[johnmorisi8]

Conor kept alive what Elliott started.

[JAYKAYAY91]

wow, love elliott smith and his music, but it seems like this song could kill any party. big downer :)

[BlackOhioSky]

Wow. I just came very close to crying.

[mrsheddweller]

This is a very good version, in fact excellent. Oddly enough, if I didn't know it was Conor singing I would assume that it is Elliot, not to say it's a copy at all, Conor catches the strong emotion of the song, just as Elliot did, and the voice is quite similar to Elliot's.. Also, Elliot's songs are deceptively difficult to cover because they are extemely personal, yet obviously universal, like Conor's.

[psycosilopsybin7]

elliott smith would think conor oberst is all emo no beauty

[donkeywithsumpizzazz]

@psycosilopsybin7 oh, well they were friends, soooo.....

[psycosilopsybin7]

@donkeywithsumpizzazz im sure thats complete bull... where do you get your facts?

[screwmetallica]

Usually an artist will cover an other artist as a tribute/sign of respect: not to sound alike or steal credit. Just sayin'.

[cuntflappers]

One of my favourite songs ever.

And elliott would be proud of connor :)

[link182ava44]

This was 11 days after elliott passed, sad stuff.

[BretBaber]

Great cover. Such a fragile beautiful voice.

[Loverdizzle]

Makes me miss Elliott's masterful guitar solo.

[Roflwaffle91]

Conor Oberst is the only person on this planet who can truly cover this song.

[tita4ewa]

@Roflwaffle91 Why is that?

[Roflwaffle91]

@tita4ewa His voice has that odd sense of melancholy that I've only felt from him and Elliott Smith.

[altercatiion]

is that Jesse Harris in the king costume?

[zwfwrestling]

@altercatiion yeah, thats jesse harris, and his friend norah jones was also here too; she also played a few songs with conor at this show. i also could have sworn that jenny lewis was in the audience at this show. and yes this was just a week after elliott died, so his loss was fresh on everyone's mind.

[shhmellshlikeasshhhh]

HOW ?!

Where the fuck was I?! It was in NY! D: I live here!

[lagstronaut]

i love elliott smith and i really like bright eyes but i sort of do not like this at all

[DropkickZac]

@thatsincentive i don't agree but i lolled

[myeyesarelines]

other es worshippers(i myself am one) might put this down, but this is a really good cover.

[veloa]

it makes me cry, i think conor oberst could be the elliott smith's son, and in this video he's a skeleton who sings elliott's words, so these words will be forever, even if elliott there's not. such a touching thing...

[heyjude97]

@veloa i see what your saying, but your reading too much into it. it was a halloween party.

[hotmetaldobermans]

wow...this is awesome.

[01stupidstuff]

who the hell gave Glenn Danzig a chill pill?!?! O_O

[SmellaMuerte]

@01stupidstuff mwahahahahaha

[roastbeefdj]

In many ways are both conor and elliott alike.They are both obviously poetic genious's but also they really play off that deeply depressed persona.But as a huge fan of both ive found them both to be pretty funny and quirky(hense dressing up as a skeleton,and elliott was a huge jokester(read autumn de wilde's book about him it has so hilarious stories in it))So in now way does it shock me that conor can cover him so well,they are damn near carbon copies.Wish ES was still around so they could tour

[lifetisbutadream]

Woot. Awesome.

[brownsbrothers]

he's a good player but damn...elliott smith is just so awesome

[vourlok]

conors voice has that deppresed tone

so for him to cover this was perfect

[WondergirlPD]

I found this video on here years ago, and even though I'm no longer a Conor Oberst obsessed emo this song still has a deep place in my heart. Both Elliot Smiths original & his. It never ceases to stop me in my tracks.

[PuppyKillerEcho]

I love this guys voice, i love elliott smith. Win, win.

[seamxxless]

amazing

[MegaSlitch]

this is an awesome example of the talent that it takes to express true emotion

[2012itbeggins]

i cant take this beautiful music serious when you have conor oberst the most serious person in a holloween costume

[heyjude97]

i ALWAYS CRY whenever i ever hear it from elliott smith's voice, 'cause he was my idol, now he's dead, so, yeah, but it makes me really joyful to hear conor oberst sing it.

[oak1236]

@heyjude97 Thats so sweet:D

[WordsYouForget]

you can tell he is sad about the death of the late great elliott smith

[lastcallsickofitall]

oh smith.....goddamn your depressive ways and being dead.

[eaasyluckyfreee]

the irony of dressing as a skeleton

[dmoap]

great emotion in the song, his voice fits it perfectly.

[coldandblank]

this is amazing. what a treasure.

[link182ava44]

covers aren't supposed to be exactly the same.

but I don't know how conor made it through the song, this was like ten days after elliott had passed. i couldn't listen to this without tearing up. RIP Elliott Smith. We love you forever and ever and ever.

[112233tina332211]

it's such a beautiful song... waaaww!!

[isolationeitheror]

conor oberst is an arogant fuck _ _ _ i dont care

[MrJisforjay]

I think that's Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs in the background. On the right.

[evanisovich]

@MrJisforjay Sure looks like him, doesn't it? You may be right.

[wheelinjah]

i love seeing conor cover this. obviously it's not the same as elliott... but he's dead. the songs stay alive when artists continue to cover them live and i think elliott would love that

[johndoby]

Honestly... I don't see the reason for scrutiny either. I personally love this cover. Of course it's completely different vocals than Smith, but with the same passion. He conveys the spirit of the song beautifully if you ask me.

[elmariachino]

best cover of the song on youtube

[SoSaysI9]

Can anyone tell me what kind of guitar Conor has here?

Also, excellent cover.

[ngholden]

@SoSaysI9

70's martin 000-18, natural finish, black pickgaurd.

[teenagedirtbag9]

@ngholden

Man for the longest time I thought he was playing a Collings D2H with a western finish. The only point that has made me believe its a martin is the logo on the headstock. Both are similar, but the martin one is more elongated, while the Collings is thinner. Other than that there's not really any difference other than the fact the Collings cost $1,000+

[GSarovich]

doesn't even touch elliott

[Jarederaj]

@GSarovich well no one can touch the untouchable.

[Bio69]

@GSarovich Indeed. This cover is fucking awful.

[withoutcausex]

@GSarovich Youre goddamn right!

[Moghadidliam]

@GSarovich That's how good this version is, lol.

[pioneerheart71]

@GSarovich I agree

[cuntflappers]

@GSarovich It's not mean't to, he's not trying to be better. Him and Elliott were friends, he's doing it in memory of him.

[EndMyOdds]

Simply beautiful. I love the costume. Like wearing the inside on the outside - so to speak.. In keeping with the song... Truly amazing ^_^

[roastbeefdj]

Its more than obvious that conor draws a great deal of inspiration from elliot and his work. Elliot too was born in Omaha NE, its gotta be something in the water that makes people wanna pick up a acoustic guitar and spit similies and metaphors instead of commerical bullshit, either way I enjoy.

[weRindierokkers]

my favorite elliot smith song + bright eyes is freaking awesome!!

[thegothmog]

i like turtles

[SoSaysI9]

@thegothmog Toitles

[mixtiplix]

I don't like this!

[witchgod]

jesus that's freaky make up. like a minstrel of death lulling the listener

[baldnaaa]

the other guy is actually todd wienbaker of whispertown 2000...

[thecranewife88]

wish i could've been at that halloween party =). i think it would be impossible for conor to out-do elliott's original, but this is still beautiful.

[sonicsuns1]

Notice Nick Zinner from the yeah yeah yeah's standing in the background. Cool video...

[MarsVoltaKA]

heheh I thought that was him! Nick has that awesome ass hair i was like hrmmm. I know there friends but still wasn't sure

[crazybeauty86]

OMG! Amazing footage. <3

[muahahaha101]

Im suprised Connor dressed up, but love it!

[veganmochi]

The kid in the king costume rocked that guitar solo. Really nice cover

[muahahaha101]

I think that kid is Mike mogus....might be wrong though Im just guessing

[leezamarie07]

I love Elliott Smith, this cover song is good too.. but there so much different. I still love Elliott Smiths better. :)

[mleland02]

This sounds like you dubbed the track from Motion Sickness: Live Recordings over the actual video

[SpasticIBS]

@mleland02 this is the live performance where the motion sickness recording was recorded

[softstrum]

why did u

[RoronoaZor0]

I wouldn't blame anyone if they naively thought that this was a Bright Eyes original.

[bada55bill]

They were good friends. You make it sound like Conor worships es. I love both artists and have all of both of their music. Tired of the es elitist bullshit comments on this vid. He was an amazing artist but he wouldnt want you people scrutinizing a fellow musician, let alone a friend. Instead of bashing conor for his cover, get out and cover it yourself...or better yet make your own music.

[ancook58]

@bada55bill

those arent real elliott fans then.

a real fan would simply be a fan of music, and would simply love this video as well. :)

[isolationeitheror]

@bada55bill i didnt know that conor actually knew elliott....it makes perfect sense though..

[link182ava44]

@bada55bill Elliott and Conor weren't "good friends" they knew each other, sure but they weren't really friends

[Fishilisation]

@bada55bill perfectly said

[CATastrophiclovers]

I wasn't looking when this song started playing, then I looked up expecting to see Conor Oberst but instead saw a skeleton. Props to the person that managed to get Bright Eyes to play at their Halloween party!

[herroitsuba]

my question is how do u get conor oberst to come to your halloween party?

[Stkieran]

@herroitsuba

I was thinking the exact same thing =/

[osidep62]

@herroitsuba you're korean, but i like you regardless

[elcumino]

Not Matt Bellemy, but I'm pretty sure it is Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He's played on a few Bright eyes records

[ganuenen]

i wouldnt be able to preform this song with out completely breaking down inside thinking of the one and only es

RIP elliott u will never be replaced or forgotten XO

[paperboats25]

hey thats matthew bellamy in the background from muse

[Staticgeek]

anyone who thinks a comment is less valid because they disagree is pathetic.

[leoleo1227]

your pathetic. for arguing with ppl.

[sunhoney1]

He sings everything his way. Why compare him the two? He covered the Artist because he likes his work. I'd disable these comments too.

[Amulius]

I personally didn't like this Cover - i'm not judging or anything though - to me, it just wasn't executed well at all. Just my opinion

[ofbestfit]

I agree disable comments.People compare Ben Gibbard and Elliott as well it doesn't mean they are right. It's just comparing to influential songwriters to come from the indie rock scene not saying they sound the same.

[Amulius]

Ya i know, seriously... Elliott smith, to me, was the most influential Independent songwriters in history - Ben Gibbard was influenced by him, you can't compare them. If you start comparing musicians to other ones, what's the point of listening for the differences? Each Musical artist has specific traits and backgrounds. Elliott Smith wrote from his heart. He was the most honest i have ever heard.

[webbyness]

Stop fucking comparing Elliott and Conor.

[ElNaztyBlanco87]

They're nothing alike. At all. Love'em both.

[learghxo]

what i like about conor as an artist is the fact that he doesn't try to hide the fact that he is profoundly influenced by elliott...... for me, no one comes close to elliott but bravo conor, bravo!

[rafaelmadferit]

I love Elliott Smith and Bright Eyes so much, and I found that thids is a pretty good cover. The sound quality of the video is quite bad, but Conor sung it his way, and i liked it

[shakemeshakeme]

whoever posted this video,

disable comments, please

[jayarownd]

I think the way he sings is proof to the fact that he can't sing. And not in some Bob Dylan nasaly-like way. When he sings the part at the end 'everything you do makes me want to die' I'm thinking 'judging by your custome you already are dead.' Elliott Smith will be the only one who could ever sing this song, and he did. The album version on the self titled Kill Rock *'s is fine. Live versions by Elliott have been spotty to very good.

[SecretLily]

No I disagree, connor is not a close second to elliott he's his own artist and this cover is really bad, not musically but the way he sings it just 2 much trilling oor worballyness to his voice he sounds....not good

[whitestripebuzz]

i love watching this video and reading the comments. the inevitable clash of two brilliant, similar and adored artists is fun to see. i am an elliott fan 1st, and a conor fan 2nd. its strange that alot of elliott fans have a mjor dislike towards conor. considering he is as close to being the new elliott as there can possibly be. maby thats why? he comes close but no cigar. is that was pissed people off?

[Doritognawler]

great cover, great artists,

memories of you elliot smith i will always keep, rest in peace

[SallyLovesAngie]

One of my favorite artists covering my favorite artist, why is it i cant stand it, i don't understand.

[biffhaus]

it's hard for me to hear anyone else cover this song since hearing dolorean do it.  it's been in heavy rotation on my ipod since it came out. i like it better than elliott's really. but this is nice. i especially enjoy the guitar solo. very nice.

[rea11256]

Err yuck. That is terrible. Bright eyes are great but they fail in covering this. Sorry.

[DSotWall]

Not a good cover. Almost terrible, even.

[shakemeshakeme]

you all know nothing, yet you think you do

shut it, idiots. you're not allowed to judge

[Somethingpower]

you should switch your favorites.

no one will beat Elliott

[Klemons12]

I think that sometimes as well...but conor's music holds a special place in my heart :)

[Klemons12]

My favorite artist doing a cover of my 2nd favorite artist.

[radiofreeek]

i don't like his voice in this one. don't get me wrong im a HUGE fan of bright eyes. (third fav artist) but doesn't it sound like he exagerrated his voice a little too much. i kno his voice is the main attraction of HIS music but "oh we're so very precious you and I-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-­i-i-ii" you don't have to shake to show emotion, smith didn't, and his shows 1000 times more emotion that this one... it's safe to say this is probably one of the very few bright eyes songs i don't like.

[xxrachelyolandexx]

wow! one (corny) word, BEAUTIFUL!!!!! kinda erie too though!!! only band in the whole world i would not spit on for covering Elliott Smith!!! RIP Elliott Smith.

[greenapplebubbletea]

this is so erie because of elliott's recent passing at the time. its beautiful and passionate

[andrew1903]

He sounds really sad - and I know Elliot Smith only died a few days before this was made. The Halloween costumes kind of take away from the atmosphere though.

[littlehobbitses]

I think that if anyone can even get remotely close to beating elliott it's conor.

[mediabrds05]

everyone that knows bright eyes knows how sketchy connor's voice is so you cant expect this to beat elliott, you cant beat elliott smith and damn sure not at his own game. i love it!!!!!!

[littleboyleaf]

this video is simply amazing. the way the show is costumed is great thats true expression into character. and yeah dude i think that is nick haha thats so crazy ive never noticed that before

[MicaelaDesrosiers]

oh wow! why haven't i seen this video before? :O i love love love it!

[Bluesparkleschic]

Hey Nick from YYYs is in the background!