A better, high res VCR capture of the video's I uploaded back in 2006. Features full interview and the following songs, played live: - Waltz #2 - I Didn't Understand - Miss Misery
I admire Elliott’s honesty, he is so real, it’s almost strange seeing an interview that doesn’t have an ego that takes up the who room. It’s really refreshing to watch this dude. I wish he was still here.
@@usernameonutube sorta happens when you are raped, or truamtized as a kid and constantly thru out your whole life to an adult and know its probably possible to occur later again as that being someone who had experienced similar situations and upbringing and lives literally where he was at in high school in Lincoln and lake Oswego while in heatmiser and the years living in downtown Portland is very important to experience to understand some things possibly also outside him of course, but areas shaped him and I, hell anyone that is just in general.
Ashton Bro don't know you but if by similar you mean 'sadistic' get out of there. i have been there its not at all a good place to be... the world,the present is beautiful and only you have the power to make ur lyf different. make it alive :). i know it doesn't make sense but just felt saying
On the either/or tour I tried, and he laughingly declined, but bummed me a cigarette and talked to me while we waited for quasi to finish playing. I was 16, he was a very humble, kind person. He was funny as fuck too-nobody talks about what a consummate goofball he was. Sure do miss him.
it’s so sad hearing him talk you can tell he didn’t think very highly of himself and it sucks because he is so amazing and truly a genius. if only he realized how special he was and how many people his music reached
Waltz #2 is honestly one of those songs I find so much comfort in. Its so beautiful and melodic. The world is lucky to have such a great song writer. I love how he gets sick of it lol
I may be projecting but as someone who went through child abuse It's like looking in a mirror when I see Elliott's interviews (talking about his beaviour/nature, not his talent, i fucking wish ahaha). Child abuse really destroys your brain and sometimes those worthlessness beliefs are so deeply rooted that no amount of therapy or compliments from others can take them away. Even those extremely polite and shy manners probably come from that sadly. It's really tough. It strips away from you the capabilty of thinking highly of yourself, it's a constant fight to try to convince yourself otherwise. I hope he found some peace in his life, he was such a sweet man.
Dutch intro: We continue this episode with Elliott Smith. 2 years ago he was one out of tenthousands of musicians unknown to the greater public. Only around his hometown Portland Oregon he had a dedicated group of fans. One of whom was filmmaker Gus van Sant, who was at the time looking for music to his film Good Will Hunting. He asked Elliott if he could use songs off his latest record Either/Or and write one song specifically for the film. That song became Miss Misery. The film was a worldwide success, and was nominated for 3 Oscars. One of those nominations went out to Miss Misery by Elliott smith. He didn’t win the award in the end, but got to play at the evening of the award ceremony. Shortly after came the beautiful album XO that has been in stores for about two months. Elliott Smith has gone from unknown, to known, to world famous.
Listening this man, not only through his music but when he's just talking, it's a precious gift. He was so smart, and his music proved it right. He was sadly too smart, too sensitive ad too aware of reality that he couldn't spent a minute more in the earth. Hope you're at peace, Elliott.
I wouldn't assume that he committed suicide. 18 years after his death and 5 after your comment the case is still open for good reason. Too many details don't fit.
@@DazeyChaineMusic would humans exist as we do today if dinosaurs hadn't become extinct? probably not. we'd probably be sexual slaves of a superior humanoid T-rex species that would've evolved through millions of years of sexual relationships with dinosaurs. sorry, i thought it was a competition of ad conditionallis fallacies.
He was precious. That talent shouldn't had died, Elliott was one of the most talented musicians I've ever seen, the world lost a beautiful and outstanding artist, the passion the songs show it's something that can't be done by anyone but Elliott. I love you Elliott smith
+Arlo Hovelfield So true. I can see from your avy you're also a JB fan. I as well. However, even JB can't take me away from elliott for too long. I've found partial solace lately in Gravenhurst and Kevin Devine ('all of everything, erased' is every elliott-esque). But alas, elliott trumps all.
@@enriqueh1004 He means his personality. He doesn’t have a big rockstar personality. Think Bono, Steven Tyler, Mick Jagger, etc. But his music is also relatively niche. What percent of people in America know Elliott Smith? 0.5%? Maybe 1%? Can’t be any higher than that. His biggest exposure in the last 10 years was probably being featured on Rick and Morty.
You know, most people aren't the right person, and they don't know until they ARE well known. Being known really isn't as fulfilling as people think it is, it is quite an empty world.
It’s the sensitivity and lack of ego that made it so great, and it’s the sensitivity and lack of ego that made him so fragile. It’s sad, but a lot of what we love about him is ultimately why he isn’t here. I mean, listen to him. He sounds ready to break. It makes for great art, but can you imagine trying to live with that level of sensitivity? Every day? Frankly, we’re very lucky to have had him for the time we did.
He was a peer to me. Met him briefly once in NYC. I’d admire and deconstruct his music to a point I knew exactly what he was saying. I miss you terribly Elliot.
Yeah. You should see the interview he did with Chris Cornell,backstage at pinkpop festival. He kept saying why Soundgarden played so loud. he was slagged for it in the comments. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PPIal41JNKc.html
I’m impressed by his chin dimple. I wonder what the most interesting thing he has placed in there is. He probably places blueberries in there and tosses them into his mouth.
Jan Douwe Kroeske (the interviewer) is legit. He always championed alternative music on Dutch television. This series, the 2 Meter Sessies, was his brainchild. This recording was made for that show and it was my first introduction to Elliott's work.
My youngest (of 4) has the middle name Elliott. I meant to do a birthing playlist. I put 9 Elliott smith songs onto the mp3 player and didn't get around to putting anything else on. We spent 9 hours listening to 9 songs on repeat. We called him Arthur Elliott in tribute
I discovered Elliott when a DJ was explaining the line from Ben Folds song Late "Elliott man you played a fine guitar...etc." My first exploration was figure 8 and it hooked me completely. I relate so much to his music and his sentiments. He is the greatest singer/composer since Lennon/MaCartney.
I got to see him at 16 on the either/or tour in Seattle. And again the next year in Oly at Yo Yo a Go Go. He really did play a mean guitar. And I sure do miss him. I’d agree-he was Lennon and McCartney kinda wrapped up in one.
Listening to him speak almost makes you sad because you can almost tell in his tone that he personally didn't feel comfortable with himself and anyone, It's heartbreaking to see he went the way he did.
Alex Block - What way? Manner of Death: Undetermined. It wasn’t definitively ruled a homicide or a suicide but the circumstances were highly suspicious. Dead guy and his girlfriend was arguing with him and may have taken a shower?
@@ipsurvivor why is it hard to understand that somebody who was abused, had drug addicition and drink addiction for many years plus a bunch of mental health issues commited suicide? I really dont understand you people. Goes the same with Kurt Cobain. I guess its just people that dont understand suicide making comments about something they dont understand.
@@noverrr4508 people know that he struggled at times but it's the specifics of his passing that are murky. hell, even his autopsy report didn't rule his death a suicide.
Without him or his music my life would be so much more miserable. ...thank you for everything!!!! Thank you for being such a big part of my life although I never had the chance to meet him or even see him playing live.
Watching this and seeing other interviews with Elliot made me realize what really made him special was how authentic he was. And I hate to use a cliche like that, but it was the only descriptive word I could think of. The more I thought about it the more special and rare a gift I thought it was. I tried to think of other musicians or entertainers who had such a totally honest and un-contrived public persona. I thought of Amy Winehouse, Freddy Mercury, Liam Gallagher, John Lennon and Ringo and early Elvis. All those people had the ability to somehow be nothing but themselves onstage and onscreen. Anyone who has ever performed knows how much of a high it is when an audience really shows you there appreciation. And how easy it is to make the mistake of trying to be what you think the audience wants you to be. To put on a facade and play the character that got a big applause the last time. But Elliot was one of the best at never falling for that trap. You just got the sense that all his music was made for himself, as therapy, and as his way of coping with life. He wasn't preaching or trying to spread his philosophies or opinions with an audience. The songs were just emotions he had twisted up inside him and the only way he could vanquish the pain and emotions from his soul was to write them in a song. I guess it's the only way you can really ever feel a connection to anyone in this world, when they bare there soul to you with total honesty. It's only when someone can't deal with it anymore and they spill there guts to you that you realize "I've felt that same exact way or dealt with the same kinda hurt and pain" that you can ever bond with anyone. People don't become friends or lovers because they have the same taste in movies or the same political views. The people u connect with and want to spend more time around are the people who spilled there guts out to you once when they didn't know what else to do, or vice versa. Just some thoughts Elliot made me think just now.
12:24 he replied to a thank u with a thank you, like.. ugh, he was so fuckin pure for this world, doesn't that fuck you up??? it fucked me up all right
i'm pretty sure comments like this would drive him crazy.. he just wanted to be seen as a normal dude.. not some super precious, too good for this world "heaven adores you" angel people seem to view him as post death
What amazes me is that this is a recorded interview, and he just transitions from "I Didn't Understand" to Miss Misery with NO cut. Like he just did it on the spot, no separate takes. And he brought all that emotion to both of those songs- it's absolutely stunning.
Natalie Smith what amazes me is he would abruptly stop a song in a professional setting with cameras rolling bc he couldn't perform it with total honest emotion. Damn, talk about being pure.
He didn't have too, it's his song.As someone who also writes and performs original songs in front of an audience I can tell you... no matter how good or liked by others or yourself any song you're playing is sometimes you just aren't feeling it.If you aren't feeling it then playing that song can seem quite pointless.The kind interviewer probably requested the song so Elliott being who he was attempted to oblige but in the end couldn't because he just wasn't into it at that moment.That's the curse of being a good songwriter and your fans wanting you to play your songs over and over. Usually by the end of making your record you have had enough of every song on it.Then you go on tour and that's fine... even if you despise the songs by then it's your job, that's the work part of your art.At a show he sometimes stopped if a song wasn't working for him.That's his honesty saying "nope, just ruining it cause I'm not feelin' it right now".Ya it was ok to you and I but not what it should have been as far as Elliott was concerned and so he thought... "Well.. fuck this".Of course being a talented and very great songwriter & musician is a blessing or a wonderful gift but there are days when it may be working for all those people listening but not for the musician himself.
You know when you’ve heard a song to many times or eaten the same food too many times and it just feels stale now? That’s how it feels to play a song that many times. But it’s worse, because you have to keep playing it even when you’re sick of it, because that’s what fans want. And to sing songs requires emotion, and it’s draining putting on emotion you don’t feel. Some might say he was being unprofessional, but I respect him being real. He just couldn’t do it anymore.
@@seanmatthewking I can see some people saying that but in a way he is being more professional instead. I prefer to watch/hear a musician that is enjoying playing something they want to play rather than playing something with less passion that I want to hear
@@seanmatthewking I can’t help but notice he bails abruptly the very moment before the lyrics of the song give away that it is about his mother…sure he has played this song so many times- but I wonder how many during these hyper-intimate video recorded sessions, and if doing so suddenly felt “too real.” It makes what he says about playing something with real intention hit with crushing impact. Complete head canon, I know- but it’s the first thing I thought…
I don't even really like that particular song and I was so mesmerized by how subtle and brilliant the guitar and his voice was in this version. When he said what's the point of playing it badly I was like WHAT?!. Man Elliott was so hard on himself, that's why I believe From A Basement On A Hill wasn't published in his lifetime, because he was so hard on himself. Gives you a lot of insight on his mind. He can do something so well and 1000 times better than anyone on the planet and he doesn't think it's any good. He said about From A Basement... that it was trash and shouldn't be played for anyone. It is my top 5 favorite albums of all time. It's so amazing, RIP ELLIOTT YOU WERE THE MASTER OF THIS!
Damn. All these years later, and this is still utterly epic. If I didn't understand back then, I sure do now- days wrap up... time winds down. "I know you'd rather see me gone..." It takes years to get this, to get it right. To learn.
He had played it since he was 9 years old, a year before picking up guitar, even winning an award at an art festival for an original composition he wrote called "Fantasy."
I wish there could have been a magic therapist that could have helped him deal. Such irony in someone that touched so many people not being able to be helped enough to at least enjoy a life.
You once talked to me about love and you painted pictures of a never never land and i could've gone to that place but I didn't understand, I didn't understand
There is much more footage of this day, recorder for 2 Meter Sessies (NL) - unfortunately moat songs were aborted and mostly played with the full band,. Sorry My Mistake was absolutely a highlight, only his Gibson ES his voice bright...Hope they will publish it one day.
You were alive and inside of a pill. no room to move freely. The world wanted duplicates of your pain daily. painting a suit onto your body. fake it through the day. any day past giving up on a hopeful world is a test of brute strength.
Oh God he is so so thinking less of himself, its just not being humble, he is totally like people will say " Who's that guy", but again I can connect to him, I feel like that often even you know you are doing alright you feel you are nothing.
@@9Hansi3 Going on stage in front of hundreds of people and performing has nothing to do with being humble. As in, it doesn’t make you not humble. Of course you can be a humble performer.
But Elliott was saying it would be funny because he wasn’t well known, and usually those shows are just for super famous people. So he’s right, people would have not known who he was. That was his only foray into the mainstream.
They say brilliant people are usually only aware of what they don't know. Elliot exemplified this. He was so engrossed in his music he didn't have the bandwidth to have an ego, or care about his haircut, or have an iota of pretentiousness in him. We didn't deserve him.
I am a new fan of Elliot Smith. I mean I'd heard his music in the past but unfortunately I never took the time to listen. I suppose I was too busy being too busy. Anyway, this man was very talented and I myself are a singer/songwriter and I'm pretty good but I can't ever seem to find what I'm looking for, so my songs are never good enough. I need to take his advice and relax and not worry about what I think others would like cause I need to love it first. What I love about this dude is his chord progressions and transitions from verse to chorus and back. Like miss misery he effortlessly transitions from the end of the first chorus back into the verse with no stops in playing or singing. Most songs will have a pause either musically or vocally when coming back into a chorus to make it a clear transition, he doesn't do that. Simply amazing and I have so much to learn. If anyone is interested in hearing my stuff you can find it under Avery & Munson addiction journals. I'd love to hear your opinion. Thank you.
"mwell... i said it because i think thats true... but i am not trying to avoid anything ... i just ... i'd just have to be more ... i am not ... i am the wrong kind of person to be really big and famous." - stammered the smiling yet still said looking guy on a spiderweb thin voice in a very modest way who has his songs included in a multiple award winning world wide famous movie, played at one of the oscar ceremonies, is one of the most influental famous indie artists ever. Tragedic story yours is. Thank you Elliott your music gives me a warm shelter to hang on while the storm of cold thoughts and emotions come and go by in life.
