“The songs you wrote got me through a lot, just want to tell you that but it’s too late”
– Ben Folds, Late
It was ten years ago tomorrow that Elliott Smith died.
I’m not one to generally get upset about the deaths of celebrities. I think it’s probably because I don’t tend to buy into the cult of celebrity. However, with the few that I really feel a connection to, their deaths hit me hard. None has hit me harder than when Elliott died.
I first got into his music from a recommendation from someone on an internet message board. At the time, he was pretty much unknown in Britain and I had to ask Our Price to specifically order the Either/Or CD in for me. Two weeks later, it turned up and I went to collect it. I was hooked from the moment I put it into my CD player.
The music is stunning, the vocal style is unique and enticing, and there is no sense of self-importance. I think that is why I felt more of a connection than most other musicians.
I was lucky enough to see him live twice. The first time he walked up to the front of the stage and waved to the crowd and then went to the back of the stage all shy. You can tell from watching interviews with him that he is just a regular guy who accidentally got famous from doing something that he loves doing and felt awkward with some of the situations he found himself in.
Elliott got perform at the Oscars due to Miss Misery being on the Good Will Hunting soundtrack. I think the fact that he thought he needed to dress up in a suit is brilliant. It just shows how real he was. He had no sense of image and thought that if you are going to a big important ceremony that you have to dress up for it.
When seeing him live, I was shocked by much he rocked. While his records are largely acoustic, he would often use an electric guitar in live shows which could give the songs a much different feel. Compare the live version of Needle In The Hay at the start of this video to the album version for an example.
There are some brilliantly cute lyrics (Say Yes) and some amazingly vindictive (Roman Candle) yet all sung in the same tones and with the same amount of emotion. One of the things that randomly really got to me was the way that he could make swearing beautiful. There are numerous swears in his songs but all in a whispered beautiful tone.
I was very jealous of his guitar playing. I was playing in a band when I got into his music and I struggled to get anywhere close to being able to play what he played. He is technically great (even though he doesn’t always seem to know what chords are called) and in my opinion vastly underrated as a guitarist.
I remember I was in bed when I found out that Elliott had died. This is in the days before laptops and internet on phones so I am assuming that I found out through a text from my friend Richard who I shared similar music tastes to.
I remember feeling gutted and lost but to be honest I can’t remember much else. My memories of that era are starting to fade.
Thinking back now and watching videos I am feeling a deep sense of loss. It might be partly as a result of my hangover but I’m in a very emotional state and I just wish I could have gone to give him a big hug.
“I’m never gonna know you know but I’m gonna love you anyhow.” – Waltz #2 (XO)