Son of Sam (song) explained

Son of Sam
Cover:	SonOfSam_cd_single.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Elliott Smith
Album:	Figure 8
Released:	April 11, 2000
Genre:	Power pop^[1]
Length:	3:04
Label:	DreamWorks
Prev Title:	Happiness
Prev Year:	2000
Next Title:	Pretty (Ugly Before)
Next Year:	2003

"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."^[2]

Release

"Son of Sam" was released on April 11, 2000^[3] and is the second and final single released from Figure 8. The single did not chart in the United States^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Thompson. Stephen. March 29, 2002. Elliott Smith: Figure 8. June 25, 2021. The A.V. Club.
2. Web site: Elliott Smith Interview Conducted by Adam Walton . adamwalton.co.uk . https://web.archive.org/web/20090125224809/http://adamwalton.co.uk/mmt_arc/int-elliott.htm . January 25, 2009 . June 29, 2013.
3. April 3, 2000 . Elliott Smith . . June 24, 2013.
4. Web site: Elliott Smith . . March 14, 2015.
5. Web site: In Music We Trust – Interview: Elliott Smith: Oscar-Nominee Speaks About Fame and Music . Steininger . Alex . November 2000 . In Music We Trust . 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.
7. Elliott Smith – Chart History | Billboard |magazine=Billboard] |access-date=March 14, 2015}} 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"
   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

   References

   .