I watched a show on Chester Copperpots channel from 1994 at a blockbuster video store and someone in the audience requested Spotlight and he said "the chance of that happening is getting less and less with the direction my life is taking," This was a month or so before UTTAD was released.
I used to go to the $5 TRAX Tuesdays shows. This song was always a treat. I was always surprised it didn't make it into the DMB cannon. I still miss Peter Griesar on keys. He added such depth to the music.
This song doesn't make Dave sound like a jerk - as it's satire. It's song about how great the fame is, when the reality is that it causes many, many problems for people who ever achieve it. This kind of awareness is what has set DMB apart from decades of other artists. Dave has an appreciation for what he's achieved, not an entitlement for it.
its a shame Dave doesn't like this song, I wish I had the talent to dismiss a song like this as not up to my own standards. amazing. The sirens call from every corner.
I'm sure the reason why Dave doesn't like this song is that it has to do with fame taking over oneself. Knowing how fame can change your life, and staying away from it. Know that DMB never chased the fame, they just wanted their music to be heard. Being that their talents surpassed most expectations, they became famous. Thus the mainstream audience picked up on it, and now their who they are. You see how the song is a contradiction? I like how Dave doesn't play this song, shows he really takes his music and the thoughts about it seriously. I dig this song though lol. 😀
I've been trying to find this song again for about 20 years now!! I came across a MIDI file of this song LONG ago. (mp3 format had JUST come about). I instantly fell in love with the song, and for the life of me could NOT understand why he had never released it! The version I heard was even better than this one too! So glad to have found ANY version of it again!
Best Dave Matthews song ever. Loves the lyrics and flow. It has that Ant Marching drum bet. Why have I never hear this song live recently. It is amazing.
Wow, I didn't even know a studio version existed. Good stuff. Not as bad as I thought it was. Haven't heard this in awhile. Might have to start a "Spotlight" chant at Fenway.
@DanielLaNoue...... I agree 100%. After a while of doing the same thing, an artist HAS to mix it up and change sounds. ALL great artists do it. Notably the Beatles. Electric was the obvious switch to go with. I personally love the acoustic way better. However, I agree that Everyday has MANY gyms on it, #1 for me being "What you Are". Awesome, powerful song.
@1223JOEY1223 No. This is a original DMB tune which was last played 10.22.93. Dave has since in several interviews referred to this song as a turd and likely to never be played ever again.. Too bad because I really do love this song and would like to see them play it again someday. Check out People People by DMB another classic long since forgotten.
I can understand why Dave doesn't want to sing these lyrics in front of, say, a sold-out audience in Madison Square Garden, but the melody is so good that I think the song is salvageable. Dave could change up the lyrics a little or just offer a quick apology before he plays it, explaining that he wrote it a long time ago and that it makes him sound like kind of a jerk now, but he doesn't really feel that way. I guarantee you, no one will hate him for it.
Damn that sucks that he hates it. It's got such a jazzy vibe, it's very refreshing to hear this kind of thing coming from the band simply because it's a different sound. It reminds me of the track dave did with Soul Live (Joyful girl).
Except, "Spotlight," apparently!!! WTF?!? Old pal, that tune is excellent. I don't mean to be THAT guy, but sheesh! What gives? "...a turd," you conjecture? Dave, I think not. Bring it back, brother. It's more relevant than ever.
Your criteria for a huge song = frequency on set lists. I contend that there's more that weighs into the significance of a song than how many set lists it appears on.
I think Everyday gets a bad wrap strictly because he went electric... There are some hidden gems on that album - So Right, Fool to Think, When the World Ends and Angel just to name a few.. Check out the Fool to Think @ Benaroya or So Right at Folsom Field - These are classics my friend!
Benaroya is probably the best solo performance David has ever done...that is a timeless masterpiece that everyone who listens to dMb must watch... *normally don't type in the comment section but I had to back up your Benaroya comment and say thank you for having this uploaded for all these years...☝🏼💜
Wow, this is a very cool song. It's so different sounding and the sax is incredible. I'm assuming this is Jeff Coffin and not Le'roi, it doesnt sound like the track Le'roi would lay down.
it's a shame they didn't pursue this song more. this version's good but i find the acoustic version to be where it's at. wish he never sold out with the EVERYDAY album.
Gotta disagree with ya brother. If we're going to throw a title around like, "huge fan," they should have heard this tune. NOT just because it hasn't been played in a while therefor making it a 'litmus test' of how LONG you've been listening. This isn't just some cast aside tune that Dave used to play. This was huge tune and one of pretty great significance especially considering WHY it's no longer played. And no, it's not because Dave or the boys think it's a poor tune. It's the meaning.
This is Dave's "If I Had a Million Dollars". He needs to embrace it and/or tweek it if he thinks it's required. I kinda dig it. Don't think it's the turd he says it is.
The only real complaint that Dave has ever said about the song is that he felt the lyrics made it seem like the band had a big ego, that he had a big head. That they were better than the rest type of feeling. It wasn't from any such experience, just he felt the wording made him feel like he had a big ego. And we all know how lazy Dave can be sometimes, so instead of new lyrics they just trashed it.
It's a shame dave has said before he hates this song. I'd love to see it live! Been to about 22 shows, whenever he plays a rare song while you're there, it's such an amazing experience
@janiegirlnumber41 Everyday wasn't a bad album I has some real gems but it does lack the meatiness that many of us were used to with the lillywhite albums.
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does anyone know why dave doesnt like it for sure? I think its because hes speaks badly of NYC and was probably inspired to write a song about a bad experience he had there, like as if he was booed off stage or something. and now that hes obviously successful he doesnt think of NYC city as a black city that tears his soul away. "damn you big city, black city rising up around me, tear my soul away"
i can see why they hate this song, is not them. they are playing like they always do but it just doesnt fit the bands personality. damn they are so talented
gotta disagree with you actually champ, this song was only played thirty six times and never released on an album. when tunes like jimi thing have been played over eight hundred times, it's kind of a bold statement saying that this was a huge tune? and the reason it's not played is definitely because they dislike the song it's been mentioned in several interviews and he's even mentioned that if the song were matter it would be a turd. try not to make bold statements with no facts.
i have a recording of a dave and tim show where someone shouts, "SPPPOTTTTLIGHTTT!!" and dave goes you wanna know why i won't play it, cuz i hate it. if that song were anything other than a song it would be a big turd yeah yeah like a hot steaming turd like a pizza and beer turd. that is what that song would be. and that is why i won't play it.
I almost replied to the person who made this comment with, "I understood this reference." Then I realized it was I who made this comment - 8 years ago. Weird.
idk i don't really dig this song lol "yeah....yeah.....yeah....yeah...." this is probably the only song of DMB's that I really dislike. That's a good thing right?
