"A lot of people are kind of depressed. I'm happy some of the time, and some of the time I'm not."n- Elliott Smith in 1998, as told to Barne...
"A lot of people are kind of depressed. I'm happy some of the time, and some of the time I'm not."n- Elliott Smith in 1998, as told to Barney HoskynsnnWe came across a really lost special tape for this episode of Blank on Blank: Elliott Smith interviewed in 1998 by Barney Hoskyns. It’s a little eerie hearing him now more than 10 years after his death, but it’s also kind of soothing to hear his signature comfort and discomfort bubbling beneath the surface. It’s kind of like his timeless collection of music. Smith died under mysterious circumstances in 2003 at the age of 34. nnIn this animated film Elliott Smith talks about feeling like a freak in high school, how he initially didn't feel confident singing in the style that became his signature voice, what he said when people compared him to Paul Simon, writing about people with addictions, the internal chaos that people face, and how his music isn't happy or sad. "I couldn't say what it is"nnEnjoy, everybody. RIP, Elliott. nnELLIOTT SMITH QUOTESnn"There's a bunch of Elvis Costello records that made all the difference between feeling like a total freak and feeling like ... only a freak. A freak among other freaks"n"I've been doing four-track songs by myself since I was like a teenager, where I'd sing in a way that I ... I just didn't think other people would like it, so I didn't play it for them but eventually I got over that, which I'm happy that I did."n"People would be like, “Paul Simon.” I'd be like, “I don't feel like I'm anything like Paul Simon.”n"Certain songs just feel a way that's hard to put into words and it's not happy and it's also not really sad but I couldn't say what it is"nnGet the interview backstory, GIFs and more @ http://blankonblank.org/nnHear the full interview with Elliott Smith @ http://RocksBackpages.comnnSubscribe for new episodes every other Tuesday (it's free):nhttp://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=blankonblanknnExecutive Producer: David GerlachnAnimator: Patrick SmithnAudio Producer: Amy DrozdowskannWatch our previous episodes:nnRobin Williams on Masksnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PHGmIAv4DcnnWayne Coyne on Living with Deathnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJXU7f0hI30nnMaya Angelou on Con Mennhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VybIJEA41yknnBette Davis on The Sexesnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNnTUyrxzWYnnMichael Jackson on Godlinessnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoCa3Po7M_8nnJimi Hendrix on The Experiencenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK2lfs_uiwknnMeryl Streep on Beautynhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG_T5dwnJuMnnPhilip Seymour Hoffman on Happinessnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osn8rjkPyYMnnDavid Bowie on Stardustnhttp://youtu.be/lFIDXXDsxAonnGene Wilder on The Truthnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PUW2POEjX4nnJohn Lennon on Lovenhttp://youtu.be/DmvmnYEy9NYnnJohnny Cash on The Gospelnhttp://youtu.be/ALGi0tcFCcwnnHeath Ledger on Role Playingnhttp://youtu.be/qDRUzbAa6lInnTupac on Life and Deathnhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x2FqX2YZwsnnKurt Cobain on Identitynhttp://youtu.be/C1Z2BkZaOQcnnJanis Joplin on Rejectionnhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdF4b1_LQnQnnBarry White on Making Lovenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmJIlqjYGkwnnMaurice Sendak on Being a Kidnhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvtgqJTVVhEnnCarol Burnett on Finding Homenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aixlc1DJZiEnnGrace Kelly on JFKnhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5EOuppHoTMnnFarrah Fawcett on Stiletto Powernhttp://youtu.be/8Eskff0RUQ8nnBeastie Boys on Being Stupidnhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4mx2P...nnDavid Foster Wallace on Ambitionnhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5R8gd...nnWilt Chamberlain on Tall Talesnhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxLiVn...nnLarry King on Getting Seducednhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yD8Pz...nnJim Morrison on Why Fat is Beautifulnhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhszZ5... Less
