Say Yes (Elliott Smith song)
| "Say Yes" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Say Yes" is the final track of Elliott Smith's 1997 album Either/Or, and one of three tracks from Either/Or that was used in the soundtrack of Good Will Hunting.
Background and content
"Say Yes" is one of Smith's widely recognized songs.[1] It is considered happy[2] and optimistic[3] in both instrumentation and lyrics in comparison to the dark tone in most of his other songs.[4] In an interview, Smith said that the song was written about "someone particular, and I almost never do that. I was really in love with someone."[5]
Live performances
Smith performed the song often,[6][7] even during full band shows, in which he would play the song solo on an acoustic guitar.[1]
Legacy
"Say Yes" has been used in a wide variety of movies, including Hurricane Streets and American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, as well as being covered by Death Cab for Cutie[8] and live by Ben Folds.[9] It was also covered in an episode of One Tree Hill, when Bryan Greenberg sings to his daughter Jenny.
Cover versions
| Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Dave House | Kingston's Current |
| 2011 | The Xcerts | Stairs to Noise |
According to an interview, actor/musician Jack Black covered the song in a memoriam concert for Elliott Smith years after his death. He reportedly hesitated on the words several times; it was not until the eighth or ninth time that he got it right.
References
- ^ a b Musgrove, Mike (March 15, 1999). "Elliott Smith: Woe Is Him". The Washington Post.
Smith then played solo for 'Say Yes', one of the songs that earned his fame...
(subscription required) - ^ Hogan, Mark (October 28, 2003). "Elliott Smith: A Fond Farewell | PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
- ^ Schmelling, Sarah (October 23, 2003). "Elliott Smith, 1969–2003 – salon.com". Salon. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
- ^ Jamieson, Robert (April 30, 2002). "Elliott Smith: Either/Or | PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
- ^ Dornan, Matt (1999). "Elliott Smith". Comes with a Smile (4). Retrieved June 30, 2013.
- ^ Schumacher, Helen (October 30, 2003). "Elliott Smith's Live Act Worth It | Emerald Media". Daily Emerald. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
- ^ Vandergast, Brendon (May 26, 1998). "Elliott Smith's Indie Style Delights Crowd". Daily Bruin. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
- ^ Berman, Stuart (October 30, 2003). "Eye Weekly – CMJ '03: Rooms on Fire – 10.30.03". Eye Weekly. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
- ^ "Ben Folds Covers Elliott Smith | Video | A.V. Undercover 2010 | The A.V. Club". The A.V. Club. May 11, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
External links
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