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Son of Sam (song)

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Wikipedia article




"'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'.

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."

Release



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

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 jete'. 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."

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

# "Son of Sam"

# "A Living Will"

# "Figure 8" (Bob Dorough)"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'.

; 7" vinyl

# "Son of Sam"

# "A Living Will"

Personnel



*Elliott Smith vocals, guitars, bass, drums, piano, organ

References



Category:2000 singles

Category:Elliott Smith songs

Category:2000 songs

Category:DreamWorks Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Tom Rothrock

Category:Indian mythology in music

Category:American power pop songs

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