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“Miss Misery” – Elliott Smith
(Words/music: Elliott Smith, available on Good Will Hunting OST, Capitol 1997)

Part I: The Song

Like many others, I came across Elliott Smith through Good Will Hunting.  Both director Gus Van Sant and Smith were from Portland, Oregon and Van Sant used a few of Smith’s songs to help flesh out the film’s misunderstood mind.  These songs share a lot with their creator as well - misunderstood works of precise craftsmanship and the product of a heartbreakingly romantic view of the world.  In 2009, Smith’s suicide defines his legacy to many people (and provides a convenient and limiting critical entryway into his catalog).  This single event unfairly eclipses his gift for songwriting.  Yes, many of these songs have sad undertones, but Smith’s not the first (and certainly not the last) to sing about heartbreak or melancholy, yet many immediately link his songs with dour feelings.

Of course, having your breakthrough song titled “Miss Misery” won’t shake those casual assumptions.  Beneath the protagonist’s message to his former lover, Smith lays out a carefully considered musical arrangement.  Every strummed chord, snare drum strike, and keyboard line serve a specific purpose.  Where others might have erred toward an overblown, theatrical arrangement, Smith’s restraint and efficiency give the song an understated dignity.  In particular, Smith carefully uses vocal harmonies without making them overpowering.  He might not have a choirboy’s voice, but he uses it to the best of his ability, treating it like another instrumental choice.  For example, there’s a moment halfway through each verse where his voice in the background helps ease the transition into the next chord – you’ll have to listen closely for it (for example, when the band first enters) as it sounds almost like a string instrument.  Others might use their moment in the spotlight (as “Miss Misery” was composed for Good Will Hunting, a major studio film – easily Smith’s biggest “break” to that point) as an opportunity to show off one’s abilities, but Smith continued to work the same way he always worked – by making the best choice for the individual songs.

Later tonight - Part II: The Academy Awards Performance

More on Elliott Smith: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm