Say Yes (Elliott Smith song)
| "Say Yes" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Elliott Smith | |
| from the album Either/Or | |
| Released | 25 February 1997 |
| Length | 2:19 |
| Label | Kill Rock Stars |
| Songwriter(s) | Smith |
| Producer(s) | Smith, Tom Rothrock, Rob Schnapf |
"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 |
References
- 1 2 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.