Independence Day - Elliott Smith - Inside the Mind

[connormercury1]

How is Elliott Smith living proof of anything?

[jackslasho1]

I think, the reason his videos and albums have relatively small amounts of views/purchases is because his music is intricate, emotional and true creative expressions of his self. The general public cant appreciate this kind of depth and artistic talent because they are idiots. They are overwhelmed by their egotistical struggle for 'power', 'respect' and 'success', thus leaving them blind to true music/art such as this.

[Majora99]

1:41 - I get really happy when I see a picture of Elliott smiling :)

[HyBr1dRaNg3r]

Im a guitarist, and i must say that elliott's music is incredibly complex...Just the way he strums and finger picks is hard to pick up...Such a unique style, i spent about two years completely caught up in his music learning only his songs...Ive heard everything that is out there(i hope there may be a few songs that havent been released, but would be happy if not as well) Elliott's style has greatly influenced the way that i play, i wish i had had the honor to see him just once.

[DjangosBurntFingers]

(continued comment from DjangosBurntFingers) Look, I completely understand about the emotion Elliott Smith stirred in people and still does. It's remarkable for me personally when I hear a song and learn something that I'd been trying to figure out for decades. That's the Teacher in Elliott. Elliott was a Teacher.

[DjangosBurntFingers]

Again, as I have oft repeated, I love these videos with the photo montages. This one was nicely done as it is appreciated by me (Boyce Livingston Webb). On a side note, I think people should stop gushing about his genius and all of this stuff. As Elliott said and would probably still say, "They're only songs". John Lennon tried telling people that just before he was murdered in the Playboy magazine interview. (To be cont.)

[cordfluidnevoie]

if elliott went to hell now we have two paradises! = D

[tagteamutube]

I listen to this song every day, and it cheers me up. RIP Elliot Smith.

[MattyMattThing]

i thought this was gonna be a talk about the track. BIG LETDOWN

[mr9861]

Trendsetter in fashion? Little confused about that one. Musical genius, no doubt, but fashion?

[pr0dd2k9]

@mr9861 Well, I'm sure alot of people dress like Elliott.

[mr9861]

@pr0dd2k9 Yeah, probably. I guess I'd never really thought about it.

[LoveNeverCeases]

Lyrically, this song stands so tall above everything else ever created. It captures the view of a problem and envelopes it with it's past, present, and future. Poetically, this song gives me chills. To call a vision of yourself a butterfly and not be able to grasp it due to the said problem (surely drugs) and so tormented by it...it's beautiful. To me, it represents what life is all about. It's kind of nonsensical because it's so mortal, but we do it anyway. What else are we to do, I suppose.

[shogun996]

@LoveNeverCeases You're like an English teacher that looks too much into an authors work. The song was about his best friend who wasn't where he wanted to be in life, he wasn't on drugs. He was telling him through the song basically to just be patient and his time will come. One of the only few songs he wrote directed at a person he new personally. It was also his favorite of the album.

[jerryartwurld]

happy independence day ;D

[eartant]

@jerryartwurld Yup, I have to hear this once a year ( by choice of course )

[jerryartwurld]

@eartant only once a year? ;) great song though;One of the select few well loved but forgotten songs i'm always reminded of come 4th of july

[TheCorduroyCommunist]

Ridiculously good song :)

[1Redwallfan]

Three people have no idea what Elliot's personal life was like, and also, they didn't know that he recorded all those instruments and voices to make that, one of THE best songs ever. We'll miss you!

[boz6969123]

all i can say is, WOWWWWWW!!!!

[danyjr]

great song

[A4moondoggy]

the 3 dislikes were clearly looking for clips from the groundbreaking 90's movie with will smith...

[A4moondoggy]

i got an "i /♥ metal" shirt but i don't think anyone i've ever met knows it's inspired by elliott. one of the first songs i heard of his, still one of my favs. thx for the upload.

[mimiandfaust]

To the dislikes 3, which part don't you like it?

[mimiandfaust]

To the dislike 3, who are you and why don't you like it? Just give me one reason....

[poposallayanpanda]

Thank you for what you've done to us Elliott, you will be missed.

[MsLimelighter]

i so agree with you xxho, it is a balm for the soul.

[XxHoRcRuSxX]

This mans music just has to make you smile it helps you through the times in your life any body can relate to his music just take a look at the likes this make is a genius you are truly missed eliot smith <3

[2standard]

Lost `em. Found `em. Lost `em one mo' `gin. Damn Beatles...

[SchoolGuy2]

In the picture with the umbrella, he looks like Bam Margera.

[nick4man3]

@SchoolGuy2

Aw come on now... have some respect for the dead.

[nobeefbaby]

@SchoolGuy2 more like Bam Margera looks like him. (sadly)

[PharodWormhair]

@SchoolGuy2 Looks are temporary but his music and creativity remain eternal. Who cares what he looks like? RIP Elliott.

[KISIEL1M]

Smooth. Perfect for rainy day.

[jainsworr]

One of a kind.

[theprophet20]

I only heard this for the first time a few days ago - it takes me back to the dreamy harmonies of certain sixties songs, and I can't say fairer than that...

"I'll meet you here tomorrow, Independence Day"

[dabearsfan123]

Elliott smith is living proof that all men are not created equal. He is a genius, in the utmost sense of the definition. Hardly in the same realm as human beings, a master at his craft.

[playsguitarandsings]

@dabearsfan123 That's true aside from the word 'living.'

[TreyRoque]

@playsguitarandsings ROFL.

But Elliot's like Elvis - he Oliltse. Er, Lives.

[mattpowersmusic]

That last line is eerie. Thank you for being apart... (separate) from our lives.. A simple space between a and part would make it much more accurate a sentiment.

[youandyamum]

This album. When in the car, on the stereo. Driving home after a day at the arsehole factory. Life always seems pretty good at that point.

[blueamerican54]

@youandyamum Amen brother.

[mettarefuge]

What a genius. So sad we lost him so soon! Thanks for the great video!

[link182ava44]

Wow where did you get these pictures??

[StarioDar]

One of the greater compositions to grace the 90's :D

[flyinvisible]

Does anybody else think that this guy looks like Alan Rickman? I do, pretty good music.

[ghostofchat77]

One of my favorite Elliott Smith songs. RIP man.

[WithoutTheFezOn]

The 5 greatest musical geniuses I can think of to live in the 20th Century are:

Gustav Mahler

Dmitri Shostakovich

Igor Stravinsky

Claude Debussy

and......

Elliott Smith

[minkaworks]

shouldnt have gone out the way he did

[jaeminpak]

I was going to ask why his videos don't have as many views as they should, and then I realized the people who are watching his videos are the few who still have good taste in music.

[DukeMcManhands]

@jaeminpak I was too, but then I realized that having an exclusive attitude toward people based on something as arbitrary as the kind of music they like is utterly stupid.

[joannas2fred]

Everybody knows.

[azrial4421]

"Beautiful confusion" Def. usa

[piraloumagus]

i've heard this song 1000000000 times...

this is no music, this is magic!

[CPL593H72]

a thoroughly life-affirming song, and one of his very best

[nocrazyyou]

@CPL593H72 for people who NEED it. I think people forget elliott's main inspiration was something very real, heroin, 'drugs' as they say.

[ejbriel]

Sounds like Lennon/McCartney/Harrison with a dash of Cobain morphed in a time warp between Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper.

I guess that's a compliment. Very nice.

[danpaprocki]

@ejbriel No Ringo?

[DanKreiger]

generations of musicians after charlie parker became heroin addicts because they thought they'd play like bird if they shot up. bird practiced 14 hrs/day

still, everyone here has a point. 1 thing is for sure. addiction is real, it will kill u, and harm anyone who cares about u. elliot also had some psychotropic med things happening, it's tough

wait until ur homeless, almost dead, and thousands of $ in debt. then come back here and say "do drugs" - it's no joke

much respect for elliot smith

[Cooleemee43]

Thought I heard the phrase "beautiful confusion" great line if I heard it right.

[nocrazyyou]

@Cooleemee43 beauti-ful, con-fusion

[h0merg0mez]

Happy 4th of July.

[812amack]

A man with a broken heart and an elegant turn of phrase superb at singing about loss and expressing anger.

[samesamething]

probly/possibly drugs aside hes a great role model to be a loving person as a example

[dannigirl0898]

well, to say that he made such beautiful music because of drugs and alcohol is like saying he didn't have any talent to begin with...opiates may enhance but they don't create vision - Elliott had vision and I think he coulda continued making great music without all the "outside influence." It seems all the drugs did was put him on a downward spiral.....

[LogInAnders]

@dannigirl0898 Well it gave him most of his written material and by removing the direct name of the drug but the vision and despair it created he could make themes which are relatable to any human. But you are right, Elliott began playing music as a teenager and was good at it before he started doing anything. There's always a different side to the opinion you are taking. The world is richer than the arrow we try to impose on it.

[doublethink]

@dannigirl0898

"a distorted reality is now a necessity to be free"

[movaltoken]

what do u mean "don't do drugs" Smith made such beautiful music because of drugs and alcohol, wheather you won't to accept it or not.... Miss you Elliott!!!!!!!!

[fifteencharacters1]

He was a true poet.

[jezeus420]

Such enlightening music it's great to see a video with such positive comments, brings peace of mind to almost everyone.. brilliant.

[vegastr0n]

Just breath-taking..it's so introspective and melacoly(for me, atleast), yet at the same time upbeat..

I just got kicked out of my Methadone clinic today...and am bummed and will be going back to the harder Opiates, despite that...Elliott is soothing my tiredness of being a fuck=up..like his music has done for me, since 2001.

R.I.P Mr. smoth

[itsbeatnick]

@vegastr0n don't do drugs. drugs are bad. Elliott was an anti-hero. I loved and miss all my opiate addicted friends (even the ones still living, I miss them too)

[thismonicker]

@vegastr0n Feeling like a fuck up is the worst part of substance abuse for me.

[heyheyitsmj]

Wow I feel so much happier after listening to this song.

[JoEllen1313]

Elliot you are no longer with us on this earth, yet your celestial being will always be with me with your inspirational awe inspiring poetic music. Thank you ! You are and have seen me through some really tough issues.XOXO

[KnowThyselfBaby]

I miss you Elliott. I love you.......

[tracebird]

ELLIOTT SMITH I FUCKING LOVE YOU!!!

[FortiniIII]

One of the most brilliant songs ever!!!

[ROBLOXiansRejct666]

2:03 brilliant picture of Elliott

[ROBLOXiansRejct666]

he's not ugly he's not perfect he's inspiring

he's a wonderful artist and has a wonderful voice everyone should listen to him

[purpledrohaze777]

I'm thinking of getting an Elliott Smith inspired tatoo. Do you guys think "Future Butterfly" would be a good one? I was also thinking about putting XO beside it.

[jfadness661]

I now know myself better then anyone else or myself ever will because of you. This song always brings tears to my eyes.

[MetalRaph]

Sure you can hear Lennon. Let me say to you that this is a good thing.

Every damn artist out there sounds like someone else.

Just listen.

[7EyeMongoose]

wooah its like his head is full of rail road tracks. With a gentle denim forgetfullness pulling at his ankle for another piece of vincent van gough's last biscuit. Correcto

[cwl2463]

john lennon"ish"

[cmartmozzy]

@cwl2463

Yeah...alot of his stuff seems to be John Lennon-ish. I read somewhere that Elliott was a big fan of The Beatles and their solo work, so he probably listened to quite a bit of Lennon.

Anyways..I think my favorite Elliott song so far is Waltz #2 (XO)

[AWALKINGSTD]

I don't know much about E.S but what a brilliant song. I had these chords pop into my head over and over while at work.

[Archkha47]

I can never listen to this song with out tapping too it. It's just to catchy! :)

Rest in Peace Elliot Smith

[10steviemac]

he si my all time favorite too. Ever since "Coming Up Roses" HE is amazing

[darbyHash]

future butterfly, gonna spend the day higher than high......... thank you elliott, your lyrics are truly relevant to me.

[aaronhedberg]

epicness

[ApoeticVampire]

yes, sends shivers down my spine, such a Layne Staley, such a wounded animal, such a wonderful artist!

[999rapist]

his guitar riffs blow my effin mind, not to menchine the heart melting lyrics, rip you were a beautiful human bein.

[Klemons12]

mention :)

[MaggieIsAwesomer]

aww

[bobz0r]

thank you.

[triangletheorytrey]

Great song. I listen to a lot of Elliot Smith, and this is a great song.

[tobym73]

perfect tune

[NickfDimarco]

wow. i love elliott smith

[jfhartley]

had to hear this song today.

[yewtube1235]

me too haha

[thestudlybudly]

@jfhartley i gotta hear this song (and just about every song of his) EVERYDAY.

[agraveMisfortune]

He does something to me that no other artist can.

[slappydooda]

@agraveMisfortune

That's what she said.

[deatheater459]

@agraveMisfortune I feel that way too...Not even artists that I've been a fan of for years and years and shit can compare to the feelings that his music make me have. I love it :)

[Droyd21]

@agraveMisfortune, that's what being an artist is all about lol

[middleclassgangster]

@agraveMisfortune try john frusciante :)

[MrPitman18]

@agraveMisfortune

100% agree man

[Serge513]

So go to sleep and make the change

Ill meet you here tomorrow

Independence day

-----------------------

Really suits today

[marigoro]

Yep, really. :)

Happy Independence Day.

[babyymaureenyyy]

Future butterfly, gonna spend the day

higher than high.

[Soiyak]

Does anyone have the picture of Elliott in all the different shirts? 1:20 is the one i'm talking about

[onlyeyesabove]

press the print screen button when it comes up and like crop it in paint

[bnash2002]

love the lyrics

[JazzSpirit]

My most favourite song ever!!!

[FapsAkaVollhorst]

...sooo beautiful !!!

[jakegloveslap]

what an amazing musician, his voice just goes so well with his acoustics.

[potentialcarnie]

Great montage buddy, really enjoyed it :)

[cathy168]

Simply amazing. I can't believe it's taken me this long to be introduced to such a masterpiece. Wonderful.

[verdunforest]

thanks for putting this together. i'm thinking about getting ferdinand on my arm in honor of him....what do you guys think?

[selinakyle]

Sounds cool verdunforest :)

[capaldicorporations]

go for it man!

[ChemicalHarvestBand]

ail

[jyutiluti]

omg i love this man! inspired everyday

[tookieq8]

wow this is one of my favorites from elliott, hes almost as great as the beatles

[poitypoit]

i find that the content of his songs and the fact that it is only one person and the short time that he had and what he created in that time....

well, i see him as surpassing the beatles.

[nathanielscott]

I agree. But he was obviously also a fan of the beatles and since he had them as an influence I would hardly say that he surpassed them, but I would not say he was lacking either. Both are great! I am amazed at Elliot Smith's music!

[rhandomskate]

"everybody knows that you only live a day, but it's brilliant anyway."

[thtsritesun1212]

PLEASE ANSWER

who is kali(the name on his arm at 2:38)???

[verdunforest]

i've been wondering that too....i'm not sure who/what it is either?

[everoutlaw]

Kali - goddess of death (hindu)

[AlexStevens42]

one of my favorites of Elliott's.

[ssproutz]

theres a good interview on jjjradio site where he discusses this song

[manwhosoldtheworld44]

What album is this off of?

[tripsounds010rhcp]

the album XO

[manwhosoldtheworld44]

thanx

[assthony]

...why was this marked as spam?

[billypwns]

high`r than high

[MetAlX16]

can't help listening the intro over and over again..:X:X

[moslattara]

one of the best songs ever, so beautiful it can bring a tear to ones eye.

[bubba4562]

I wish that I had been a fan of Elliott Smith before he died...

[infraredmicrowaves]

same, oh well, the fact that people are still finding and listening to him shows how good he really was

[kirrakodak]

He is a very beautiful artist. He is very missed. Nice job with the video.

[tripsounds010rhcp]

thank you

[SpiralBomb136]

This is the song that made me fall in love with elliot smith

[dedecaytion]

i dedicated it to my sister on her 18th bday, with her quest for 'independence'. and just an amazing song..love love love!

[qtpiecybunni]

It's actually about drugs but ok..

[geithuus]

fantastic!

[JackBz]

This song has the best intro ever.

[JackBz]

Replying to my own comment here, but when I made that other comment, it was the first time I ever heard him, and now he's my favourite artist of all time.

[bluebanshee3]

funny how that happens, isn't it? :)

[travenb]

liked a couple heatmiser songs back in early 90's and looked them up and found all these great songs of one of the band members who's now dead..... great, fantastic songs... sad story.

[azrial4421]

So whos your favorite this week

[JiubLink]

Laughed out loud

[helmergudde]

beautiful

[g1a2]

Truly amazing, and a truly tragic loss for all his fans.