(Track from album, “Either/Or”)
This is an unquestionably wonderful song. A little acoustic melody about the realism of love coming and going, superbly layered with a double vocal track, and aptly featuring as the partial soundtrack one of cinema's most bizarre, but intriguing and beautiful love stories...
The track itself, written and recorded by the late Elliot Smith, just over 15 years ago, is a calm, steady paced lament of love; its got a slight American twang, and whilst retaining a reservedness and candid, personal atmosphere, amplified by the vocal arrangement, its gutsy delivery, discussing 'the morning after' and the imminent expletives that rocket through our minds in times of stress, make it unique and special as an acoustic track all of us should hear, if anything, just to relate to.
Melodically (if you listen carefully), it is pretty similar to Avenged Sevenfold's "Dear God", reviewed recently, and whilst perhaps not as complex and structured as that song, "Say Yes" feels more realistic and applicable to you, the listener. Lyrically, its a perfect love song, and like no other in that explores the thoughts of a person in love through all the ups, downs and the psychological torment.
The acoustic guitar would seem pretty average, and not all that talented, but there is some skill in the finger-picking over the top of the chords pattern, and I'm not sure whether both are being played at the same time, but its soothing and gentle nonetheless. It feels very circular as a tune, and always comes back to where it started, rotating around nicely through verses before hitting the cleverly differentiated bridge section. And this is one of those tracks where the vocal really is an instrument - its the loudest thing here, and moves up, down and around even more than the guitar.
The lyrics are hard hitting but very easy to relate to, even if you're not in your mid-twenties and struggling with thoughts about the possibilities of last night as a 'mistake'. The trials and tribulations of love in general are still present here, and I think its the tone that helps to achieve this most; he talks about situations being messed up and things turning around, being another fool, being in love with the world because of a girl and, most touchingly, the mind-melting tension of hoping that, she just says yes to him. Its the confusion that really comes across well, and especially in the film "Good Will Hunting", it helps in representing the blatant and yet incredibly complex relationships shared with the main character and the people around him.
Personally, I love it, and I especially like its very head on approach, tackling the subject from the real, ground perspective and not from behind rose-tinted glasses...
Everyone in love...no, JLS, don't put your hands up...listen to this song. Its a great tune, and you'll find yourself putting yourself right into the lyrics. They are incredibly touching and poetic, and perhaps the tragic death of the singer a few years after the recording of this album, puts another tragic spin on the sound...
★★★★★
Versions of "Say Yes"
Album Version – 2:15