There is no way that someone who grew up in the nineties wouldn't know who Elliott Smith was--especially if you've seen the generation (and genre) defining film Good Will Hunting. The movie was nominated for many Academy Awards, including Best Song in a Motion Picture for 'Miss Misery,' a song by Smith. Between the Bars, though, is closer to my heart: used in a precious scene between Will (Matt Damon) and Skylar (Minnie Driver).
But this is not the first time that I heard the song: it was while watching a much more recent film called Stuck in Love. The song is again used in a scene between two young lovers (Nat Wolff and Liana Liberato). The reason I tell you all this is that it emphasises the legacy of the song 'Between the Bars,' that even after Smith's tragic suicide, his music lives on as the best embodiment of that particular emotion.
To me it is not quite clear what the song is about. I am in the habit of reading about the artist of the track, and the revelation that Smith was an alcoholic makes me wonder if the song is actually about the bottle--which would make the tracks rather autobiographical. Even so, the song is sweet, innocent, almost helpless. The melody and arrangement of the track is uncomplicated, an irony since the emotion it represents is so complex. This is perhaps what makes Elliott Smith so loved. He has an uncanny ability to represent a convoluted state of mind through a combination of insightful lyrics and simple strain.
If you are feeling rather helpless, put on Between the Bars.
Image credits: Pitchfork
You can learn more about Elliott Smith here:
About the curator - Aarushi Aggarwal
Aarushi is a senior at college and is majoring in history and international relations. Her music library is as much home to jazz as it is to Indian classical. Her passion for discovering new music far supersedes other equally important things like finishing assignments on time. She loves dogs, coffee and chocolate.
