Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait by Jem Cohen
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- Опубліковано 12 жов 2014
- A short film directed by Jem Cohen featuring Elliott Smith performing Baby Britain, Between The Bars, Thirteen (Big Star) and Angeles.
"A cross between a video and a documentary, but actually being neither of the two." - Elliott Smith
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It always sounds to me like there’s more than one guitar when he plays. He plays rhythm and a melody at once. It’s deceptively hard. He’s underrated in his guitar-playing surely
That's the beauty of fingerstyle guitar.
AND he played all of the instruments on his albums. He's like the Prince Rogers Nelson of indie rock.
He underrated himself in too many ways, I'm afraid...
Partly that bluegrass style, partly his multi track layered recording style, his vocal delivery is so thin and wispy alone doing that made the sound more FULL.... I imagine him in from a 8 track just letting it out a section at time... Anyway...
@@jeremywade6986 That's the beauty of multi-track recording 😊
I keep searching the ends of the internet for more elliott. first it was discovering heatmiser, then Heaven Adores you, then it was listening to every unreleased finger picking, scouring youtube for interviews and live performances, then I found strange parallel, and now this. With each new discovery I feel like I get a more holistic picture of Elliott. And every time I learn more about him I realize more about how he is remembered in a way that does not due him justice. He was a wicked guitarist, musical and lyrical genius, down-to-earth, funny, spontaneous guy. I feel like people boil him down to some sad melodies, poor mental health, and drug use. He would've hated that legacy.
I agree, that's the very bottom barrel of him, there's so much more above that.....if they want to talk about the mental health part, set up an organization in his name to teach kids to play.....he was such a perfect guy in my eyes
He said himself in an interview that he did not like being called the sad guitar guy, since his music had as good in it as it did bad. As he put it, "depression isn't a word I would use to describe my music/ But there is some sadness in it - there has to be, so that the happiness in it will matter." Well said, in my opinion.
Have you watched his episode of SNL? If not you’ll have to get peacock
Imagine being old, and searching irl. Bars three
this is making me cry
elliott is out there somewhere, with a different name, and a different set of eyes, but with the same sweet heart and soul.
I'd like to think he ended up at least a little in all of us, no light is meant to shine that bright on its own
Bless you dude 😏
No, I’m pretty sure he committed suicide years ago.
Elstons Gun that made me tear up
Boss Hog Wow dude aren’t you a load of fun 🙄
Almost forgot to watch this as my part of my daily routine
I love how he says "take 1" for angeles. Like, he literally did that all in one try. Such a brilliant and beautiful human being.
Delilah Smith I thought the same thing.
7:52 😘
imagine an elliot smith tiny desk concert :(
oh my god bro :( that would be sick :(
The Jon brion show..check it out
Not very fitting for him tbh
@@henrydoesart158 how lmao
DingusRocky tiny desk is gentrifier-core, tacky, and over-stated.
Completely singular in everything he did, there literally is no one that sounds like him...plays like him...writes like him. He is missed, his music means a great deal to me.
I totally agree!
Often imitated but never duplicated!
Phoebe bridgera is close one tho
@@avnishdhaulta9271 he’s her favourite artist so there is an influence there but I don’t think her songs sound much like Elliott
The only one who came close with the ephemeral magic although in different musical style was Justin Townes Earle, also gone WAY too soon! RIP Elliott and JTE
I can't help crying and smiling everytime I watch this fantastic film.❤😢
I still miss Elliott so much.
He was beautiful, talented, bright, gentle, sensitive, musical genius! He had everything I supposed.
Luckily I went to his gigs and I met him. One of the most happy and precious memories in my life!
Elliott lives in his music and beautiful memories forever. 🥹
between the bars is one of the best songs ever written and Elliott was probably the only guy who could make a big star cover sound better than the original
Clement Batut
Jeff Buckley covered “Kangaroo” by Big Star and it is better than the original. If you’ve read “Big Nothing” then you will recall the awesome picture of Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith standing next to one another at a show. Imagine walking through the crowd and coming upon the both of them standing side by side.
definitely not better. equally great. alex chilton and elliott were both angels among us.
In a world of torture and cruelty, this archived beacon of hope lives on forever. It does not mean that he is dead just because his body is gone. Elliott Smith is immortal.
True
Vladimir Motchoulski Yes 💙💙
@@m.dinardi7526
😅
Before spotify/youtube, before Good Will Hunting, there was Heatmiser and a couple solo albums and somehow at 14, I was one of his biggest fans. I cry once or twice a year thinking about loneliness and how much he touched me.
😟
I saw heatmiser/crackerbash and hazel perform at La Luna in Portland, I think i was 15 or 16 at the time, I was hooked and never looked back musically
to paraphrase a line from the Big Chill: "there was something about Elliott that was too good for this world..."
0:01 Baby Britain Acoustic Intro
1:25 Between The Bars
4:02 Big Star - Thirteen (Cover)
7:42 Angeles
It doesn't sound at all like "Baby Britain" to me.
@@benmeltzer you're a big nothing without listening baby Britain acoustic version
i keep coming back to this. he was so gentle
Oh my, Elliott is one of the most beautiful beings to have graced this planet. There's just something so different about him: a vulnerability that's almost rebellious in our manufactured culture. It makes me so sad to think that I'll never be able to listen to him play live. It would've been such an honour.
I still live here in PDX, I was really young then, but I have friends who hung out with him.. . obviously that means I ran into struggles with addiction and roamed the same streets in this video, most still look the same..... Now that I'm clean myself now... I feel a kinship to him after walking his path with a lot less talent...
"A vulnerability that's almost rebellious in our manufactured culture." Beautiful words. I often come back to his songs whenever I feel down. They make me feel real.
@@janej1696 Thank you for sharing that. I hope you're doing better now
@@mihowmihow thank you.
I think his songs provide solace to a lot of people. It's nice to know that you're not the only one struggling and that someone out there has experienced the same things as you, perhaps in another time.
@@mihowmihow "They make me feel real." I agree 100%!
Angeles is just one of those songs that is in its own lane entirely, even for elliott songs...it gives me such a specific feeling in my stomach right from that absolutely haunting introductory line. The immaculate guitar work, the feeling of dread, as if someone is telling you get out of a dirty business, that it's just not worth it. Either/Or is just a masterpiece.
8:21 his eyes man ... seeing this makes me cry everytime
He was such a beautiful human being. Seemed way too beautiful to be human.
having one of the worst nights of my life. i dont know what to do. what i do know though is that whenever i feel like shit, its always a smart idea to watch this video in order to bring some comfort into my life. i’ll always love you elliott and i hope i will one day be able to meet you, wherever you are.
i hope you got better
@@Pskiop life got better, thank u luv u
@@juusoloukkola8185 absolutely. luv u
sending big hugs friend i understand, elliott is such a huge comfort for those rough nights.
This film is a treasure. Thank you Jem. RIP Elliott.
This piece of media changed my life. This is a constant source of creative inspiration, comfort and hope for me.
The beauty in ordinary, the close ups of deceased names next to shots of beautiful blooming roses, cityscapes and grey skies, but with a focus on how stunning it all is.
I know Elliot had a philosophy degree, and was a philosophical and existential kind of person. So this is my favourite film surrounding him. I think it paints him in the most true light.
Isn't it great? It's a perfect example for a textbook based around the usage of mixed media to promote and display an artist
@@johnm.5913 that's exactly what it is! There are some old visuals for John Frusciante's To record only water for 10 days shot by Vincent Gallo (i know, a divisive character) and they have a very similar style. More abstract and conceptual, but the same style.
I've tried to make short films similar, I adore the style. The raw grainy 90s look is what makes it for me, and there's no way of replicating that authentically anymore! Though I'll keep trying in ways lol
@@ciaraskeleton Nice example. Btw, major Frusciante head personally. That stuff with him recorded in his house while he was spiraling downward was great too, Timothy Leary is on his couch in a shot. I think depp recorded that one.
@@ciaraskeleton that one is called "stuff"
@@johnm.5913 I know 'stuff' well! It's awesome too, but is hard to watch. Yes Depp and Gibby Haynes recorded stuff just after the passing of River Phoenix (another rabbit hole). It features songs from Niandra laDes, one of my fav albums. I freaking love the music he recorded during the darker times as much as his sound when he came out of that.
I'm talking about his work with Vincent Gallo for his Album: To Record Only Water For Ten Days. They shot a few music videos for the album, very very abstract and sort of visual representations of the sound John was emitting at that time, definitely go look those MVs up, there should be a playlist on UA-cam! If you haven't seen those already then I guarantee you'll love them!
Very similar idea to this one of E.S, but far more abstract!
Fucking awesome that you love Frusciante, it's hard to find other froosh heads out there, but we all have amazing taste in art ☺️
This film is a little treasure.
This video first got me into Elliott around 15 years ago. Probably still my favourite and most influential music video of all time. Well done Jem Cohen
Still missing him every bit as much as on that awful day 15 years ago already … Exactly. :( Most of this was filmed right down the street from me in Ladds Addition, Portland Oregon. He lived right off of Division on 16th st. ( a purple house now ) Charlotte Armstrong roses plackard I have it. Thank goodness his amazing music will live on forever.
no words to describe his kindness.
Elliott you will be forever missed. Your music and art lives on.
I wanna hug him so bad
God, Elliott's voice was so beautifully tender and vulnerable. It complements the intimacy of his songwriting. I really love it.
Sweet Elliott
I will love you for the rest of my life
You were so special
You made us hear what love sounds like, you showed the beauty there's in pain in such a soft way
Is like a secret code only the ones who truly felt it can hear it.
May your beautiful soul be at peace feeling everything you never got to feel here.
So beautiful in all his modesty. I love seeing Elliott play.
I love when he takes a breath in between each phrase on between the bars. Such a cool sound.
I dont think I've ever heard him play a less-than-perfect version of Angeles
if you ever want to hear one I'm happy to show you :)
Where did they find anyone who didn't love this? ES was a master.
His 13 makes me sob like a baby. Thanks for putting this on UA-cam.
Sometimes I find myself snickering while listening to his songs - mixed with tears and relief over that someone finally put all the misery, lost love but also the faint glimmers of hope into words and music. What an absolutely brilliant songwriter he was.
best version of angeles is right here, not to put down the either/or version or anything of the sort but i just like this version's authenticity
yea same
this is the either/or version just without the synth thingy
After living same lifestyle, in Portland, same circles, even some pics of me back then with greasy hair and not taking care of self..... Just without the musical talent.... But I still listen to him and see how close we both came to same conclusion....I have light a candle for my fallen brother in arms...
All of these performances are so good they almost sound like the album versions, R.I.P
I love this, gets me every time, great artist and person. Raw and awesome
This video is probably one of the most beautiful things ive ever witnessed especially his little smile at the very end and god the comments on these videos of him are so endearing yet sad. Rest easy elliott
i always feel that i know him a long time... idk how to explain this feeling... i just feel it. and i feel it when i play my guitar and feel that the only who can understand my melodies is him.. he's my inspiration as a brazilian musician and i love "Antonio Carlos Jobim" by heatmiser (Elliott's band)
Exactly the same feeling with me too. It’s because we share the same pain and hope. We understand his music and it understands us. The only artist I’ve come across that has made me feel this way. It’s definitely something special.
Hope you’re doing well.
At the Old Firehouse there was a handbill for his gig there in about '95. "Monster Guitarist", it said.
He could play anything, and he did. I often wonder what the whirring sound is that leads into "Angeles". And have always imagined it to be one of those glass bottles on a long string that an indigenous folk-- the Maori, maybe-- whirl around their heads.
So steeped in Angeles as the first tune I heard of his, that my mind plays it with the whir in, no matter which version is playing.
He made the world a richer experience, and because of his gift, will never experience the third death.
absolutely adore him
The shots of the city add a super melancholic context to the music. It nearly makes the music make more sense.
I would like to give him a hug as strong as I can just to thank him for how much his music has helped me
This was recorded the day I turned 10.
I sure do miss you, Elliott and those innocent days way back. 😢
I listen to him now as much as I did when I first discovered him for myself. He was such a beautiful artist. RIP.
today, 20 years ago, he left. how sad. he is remembered.
This contains the absolute best version of Angeles, in my humble opinion.
we miss you, Elliott.
so much...
I've watched this more times than I can count, but on this rewatch I finally got that he was trying to mimic the poster behind him at 7:08 😂
he's really just an all-rounder. intriguing guitarist, incredible songwriter, a beautifully haunting voice. such a wonderful person. I'll always miss him, don't know if anyone else has such a beautiful soul
Thank you Elliott and Jem for producing this footage. My favorite part is the little ending clip that is reversed, where Elliott tosses the wooden stick into the puddle of water. Something about it seems so pure, appreciate the little things.
Elliott ---He knows how to pull the heart strings.
i wish he knew how much he was missed... we werent even alive at the same time (i was born late 2003) but im so grateful theres so much of his wonderful work around on the internet that i dont think ill ever find all of it. thank you for posting this there will never be another artist like him
Elliot if u were still alive....I just wanna say u really have touched me more than anything and that Thirteen is one of my favorite songs u wrote u really know how to make a person feel alive
after i watch this video....i dont know but i just wanna thank u for the amazing hero person u are to all
Donovan don’t think he wrote that one I’m afraid.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Star@@husband1
Seen this plenty o times over the years... but just sat down for a nice watch. Captivated, moved... elliotts look at the end, after he'd sung, i felt was the end, i saw him, then he smiled :) and i smiled back.... so great...
Elliott Smith needs to enter the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.
yes.
Saw him in an old firehouse with maybe 20 other blown away people that year (1996). Everyone was just in awe. After good will hunting that dynamic changed so drastically.
But this footage is basically what it was like to sit a foot away from the guy and listen.
i remember ex-church shows, bowling alley shows, laundry mat shows... where the hell were the firehouse shows (and why wasn't i invited ;) ?!! lol
(for other bands... never had the privilege to see ES:()
He breaks my heart.
genuinely amazing how good he sounded live. everything in this video was perfect and somehow it felt richer than the studio versions. absolutely beautiful
probably nicest sounding acoustic i have heard
Cheap Yamaha guitars are amazing sounding. Especially in his hands
Also, the sound recording is credited to Elliot. Guy really knew how to sound at his best.
Happy Birthday Elliott.
God I miss that Portland. It's unrecognizable now save a few secret nooks and crannies.
This film captures the Portland of the 90s pretty well. Most of it's gone now as you mentioned, but watching this sent all those memories flooding back for me.
its the same with Austin. I lived there in the 90's and its almost unrecognizable now. kind of sad
Seattle, too.
Pretty sure most US urban areas as we knew them aren't gonna come back anytime soon - feels more likely it'll happen 1st in some new familiar form in the suburbs somewhere
Such an incredibly beautiful piece of film, music and Elliot
people you’ve been before that you don’t want around anymore
Me and my buddy Kenric shot pool with Elliot one night at Beulahland in Portland Oregon. He was about the nicest guy you could meet!!!
Constantly coming back to this. Thank you. Lucky Three always feels like a needed hug. ❤
I ask myself if this man was real, really, his sadness, kindness, his intense emotion in delicated voice and wonderful songs, a diamond in this planet, thanks for the post ❤❤❤
he was real. touched the 90s... touches today.
Really beautiful, just really really really beautiful.
This film is just so fucking haunting. I may have a bias here though... but holy shit is this ever fucking beautiful and at the same time chilling. Seriously, I don't know if it's me but yeah. Fucking awesome. That Baby Britain Intro though.
It’s a fucking great film for fucks sake! Fucking unbelievable!
i just sit and cry to this a lot. such a calming and healing video tbh, yet so sad.
this is gorgeous, thank you for sharing freely
Just became familiar with Elliottt Smith's music from an interview with Julian Lange & checked it out.
He was a "Shooting Star" and there are many throughout history.,
They leave their mark andl then their milestone m
Gone but never forgotten.
The Big Star cover is perfect. It is song so sympathetic to Elliot's own music..
He still lives in this song
i had been looking for a cop of Lucky Three since I was 12, thank you so much
i love his music !!!
love you elliott, your beautiful energy will live on forever through your music
literally the greatest video ever made
Angeles is such a beautiful song.
I used to watch this video constantly. That was 20 years ago almost. Elliott had only died a year or 2 before that. The people you have touched poor elliott RIP
I’m so glad this performance is available on UA-cam. For me it’s his best: intimate, real acoustic sound, no double tracking, completely raw and beautiful. The live shows with the direct acoustic don’t sound that good imho
watching this in 2022 was a baby when this was filmed so happy to find it Elliott is the best ever
😍 so glad this was made
so wonderful
the intro song is so lovely!!
Fruit stand in SE still there. Miss you Elliott
Timeless.
my favourite video of all time
this makes me cry.i feel like he understands me truly.
I wish the video could capture more of his finger style. But any way, truly precious video!
beautiful.
I keep coming back once a year... don't know why lol ..should go to bed. Rip ES.
This is perfection
Wow he's tuned down a whole tone to D, sounds great!
gone for 19 years today :(
So cool seeing some old Portland spots throughout this video. The Lovejoy Columns are long gone but Sheridan Fruit is still there and my art studio building is visible across the street in the shots of Elliott at Sheridan’s
That was so nice to watch. You know why. 💧 Thanks peeps.