Son of Sam (song)

"Son of Sam" is a song by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. It was released on April 11, 2000 by record label DreamWorks as the second and final single from his fifth studio album, Figure 8.

"Son of Sam"
Single by Elliott Smith
from the album Figure 8
ReleasedApril 11, 2000
Genre
Length3:04
LabelDreamWorks
Songwriter(s)Elliott Smith
Producer(s)
Elliott Smith singles chronology
"Happiness"
(2000)		 "Son of Sam"
(2000)		 "Pretty (Ugly Before)"
(2003)

Content

The song was not about the real life "Son of Sam", serial killer David Berkowitz. Smith explained, "It's not about the serial killer. I'm not sure exactly what it's about because it's just sort of like telling someone a dream you had last night. There are some destructive figures in it, 'Son of Sam', Shiva... but Shiva's also associated with creativity... I'm not sure... it's just an impressionistic song about destruction and creativity, I guess, if it's about anything."[1]

Release

"Son of Sam" was released on April 11, 2000[2] and is the second and final single released from Figure 8. The single did not chart in the United States[3] but reached number 55 in the UK Singles Chart.[4]

An acoustic version appears as a B-side on Smith's first single from Figure 8, "Happiness".

Music video

A music video was directed by Autumn de Wilde for the song, featuring intermittent black and white stop frames. Smith is seen following a red balloon that moves by itself; this concept resembles that of the 1956 French film The Red Balloon, although de Wilde notes in the photo-book Elliott Smith that the video was inspired by the 1962 French film La jetée. The video opens with whispers by Pascal Nabet Meyer and Autumn de Wilde.

In an interview Smith said, "The person who did 'Son of Sam' is a friend of mine. I didn't want some hot shit Hollywood guy to make God knows what. My friend Autumn, who is a photographer, had never made a film before, but she was very interested in doing it, so she came up with an idea. It was fun because I knew her, and I liked and respected her pictures."[5]

Live performances

Elliott performed "Son of Sam" live on tour in support of Figure 8, both with an electric band and solo with an acoustic guitar. Notably, he performed it with a band on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on April 21, 2000.

Track listing
CD
  1. "Son of Sam" sample 
  2. "A Living Will"
  3. "Figure 8" (Bob Dorough)[6]
7" vinyl
  1. "Son of Sam"
  2. "A Living Will"

Personnel
  • Elliott Smith - vocals, guitars, bass, drums, piano, organ
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References
  1. "Elliott Smith Interview Conducted by Adam Walton". adamwalton.co.uk. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  2. "Elliott Smith". CMJ New Music Report. April 3, 2000. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  3. "Elliott Smith – Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  4. "Elliott Smith | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  5. Steininger, Alex (November 2000). "In Music We Trust – Interview: Elliott Smith: Oscar-Nominee Speaks About Fame and Music". In Music We Trust. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  6. "Figure 8" is a cover of a "multiplication rock" song from Schoolhouse Rock! performed on piano, and does not appear on the American version of Figure 8.
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