Bon Iver on Letterman | Skinny Love

Bon Iver on Letterman performing Skinny Love from For Emma Forever Ago.

[@meganh7526]

I remember when I first heard this song when the album came out in 2007. I was in my first year of university, getting my heart broken for the first time. All of my emotions were so amplified back then, and I would listen to this song constantly… along with “Where Does the Good Go” by Tegan and Sara, “A Better Son/Daughter” by Rilo Kiley, “Anthems for a 17 Year Old Girl” by Broken Social Scene… It’s been fifteen years since then, and listening to those songs again always takes me back to those days, riding the train to class or driving with the windows down in the summertime.

[@noahmcdaniel4920]

I miss the days when this song was just the world. It definitely has the staying power and is still one of my favorite songs ever, but it's one of those songs that when it discovers you, it basically just becomes you for a few months or years.

[@stoneyhudson]

I wish I could discover bon iver again, oh that feeling

[@dayra6425]

Well said.. this song meant so much to me for a few years.. even to this day it takes me back to that time.. but I try to block out that time period so it’s hard for me to listen to this song

[@gfunkera]

You’re pathetic

[@noahmcdaniel4920]

@@gfunkera you’re lost

[@blackbeltbassist18]

Not a single corner of the internet is unpolluted by arguments and bickering. This song is fucking great.

[@HiManusbeauty]

this is the greatest performance i have ever seen, the passion in this is insane..

[@wildlife253]

the first artists in a while who care more about the raw beauty of music that comes from personal experiences more than they care about outer image. wonderful:)

[@southmom1]

2:04-2:09 single-handedly broke my heart.

[@h0lmie]

This was my first introduction to Bon Iver, sent by an acquaintance in 2008. I would dive into everything Justin Vernon ever touched, and barely listened to anything else for several years after that. Today this music reminds me of being young, scared, hopeful, uncertain, and yet content. I occasionally return to it on a lonely Saturday evening, to remind me of how I once felt. As if it was another person, in a different timeline. I wish I could hug that young man, and tell him: It will be okay.

[@13BeatKing]

I love the recorded version, but the live performance of this song is unbeatable. I'm hooked! 13

[@alayna.g]

this performance is actually flawless

[@jmo87]

This is where I fell in love with Bon Iver. I remember it fondly.

[@111whitepony111]

when you listen to bon iver it's so awesome because you just know it's something that you'v never heard before from any other artist.

[@ytcarol]

Lord, it's 2:30 am and I am mesmerized by this song, looking for all the different versions on youtube. Yipes, time for sleep but I can't stop.

[@CMC2892]

His album makes my skin crawl and my eyes cry. No matter how many times I hear it, it just does something to me (...)

[@JacobAnsteyVEVO]

My whole insperation and life. Is it bad I spend more time listening to bon iver than being social?

[@alpine95m3]

Just a beautiful and powerful song.

[@awsumawstun]

I don't understand how someone can not like this song, or Bon Iver in general.

[@bigjetplane]

still love this song, despite it being on repeat for over a year now.. i get chills everytime i hear it amazing

[@cap4529]

This performance got me hooked on these guys. I still remember seeing it on the tv. Here we are 10 years later....

[@OneSeasonMusic]

So much soul and raw energy from this.

[@aiikedo]

he's wearing a badgers shirt! i'm so proud to be a Wisconsinite because of this man.

[@fuckallsenseis]

I just shed a tear watching this. So beautiful.

[@ThePhilippSchepers]

Can´t stop listening to this song!

[@jan279]

I'm friggin' addicted to this song!

[@maartentjetje]

one of the best performances on Lowlands ´09! I love Bon Iver´s music! For Emma And Forever Ago!

[@jimb0718]

Justin is so amazing, He's also rockin' the Bucky Badger shirt! Love it!

[@VannMan826]

BEAUTIFUL

[@rewax43]

LOVE THE SOUND

[@HappinessbythekW1]

Love this song.

[@sluraplea]

THIS. MAN. OWNS. IT. i wish i could be half of what he is.. i feel like leaving everything behind and going to a wooden cabin in the middle of nowhere to get some inspiration...

[@thursday251]

best performance of this song yet

[@Villemo1990]

this song is so great

[@onewizzard]

love ❤ the bucky tshirt

[@AirrickakaEric]

One word: Amazing.

[@maizeyes]

2:03-2:09. such vocal control. a love supreme

[@brewtown45]

Fantastic!

[@BrianLeo666]

Bon Iver is the most emotional lumberjack that ever lived.

[@lizardlizard8009]

This was my first time hearing of Bon Iver, I remember watching this broadcast at my Aunt and Uncle's house with family. I was immediately struck by Justin's voice and the arrangement of the performance, really vibing with it, and my Aunt bursts out like "ugh this is just terrible! worst music I've ever heard!"

[@davidmcmullen6485]

Haha. I get that actually. It’s because it’s so raw. Its so stripped back and under produced, yet because of that it makes it stand out in a world where most music is over produced to the point where singers don’t need to be able to sing because of auto tune

[@noahjerome1]

I don't understand how a band can perform so perfectly... almost every time! Justin never makes a mistake, even in head voice, and the rhythm of the rest of the band is just as phenomenal as the studio version. I bet that they did the studio version in one take!

[@paulturcu]

really deep song! i just heard of them yesterday by mistake surfin on youtube and i declar myself a fan already :))... music that comes from your saul dosen't keep count of how many harmonies you use or how fast you move your fingers!!! the vocals aer so perfect no note out of tune! 100 thumbs up!!!!!

[@Razzle1066]

Stunning

[@komati1234]

best live version so far on youtube

[@donkeytrain80]

Sooooo sick...I love it

[@ralvarezguitar]

This guy is awesome

[@MyThomas21]

Perfect.

[@sherberthehe]

why are the top comments always people putting down other artists. you don't have to put other artists down to appreciate this music. this beautiful music.

[@MrFashizzel]

you got it!

[@Palpac]

I like the guy playing the one drum with the one stick, looks easy but I would still probably mess that up:) Good Song.

[@scaley057]

@saintlysinner666 I saw em perform this live at glastonbury in 2009. It was awsome. I was backstage when I heard them, and just had to go round the front for the rest of the set. It had me mesmorised, and you know how hearing a song will take you back to a location, time and feeling? this one does it for me, hot summer evening, relaxing with beer, the rest of the band and friends. Puts a smile on my face every time I hear it.

[@tnrstrategy]

Super talented guy. All in the moods and vibe, extremely musical. Some people are missing unfortunately because of the completely different instrumental approach he keeps choosing. He is the real deal.

[@LouiseStanwayOutdoors]

Its got to be said, the rest of the band amplify his voice. This is the best i've seen/heard Bon Iver perform live..and it's simply amazing! The band vocals provide the impact that is needed in the live performance!

[@dwelfusius]

my new hero :D ^^

[@brianrussell7369]

You know it will be good when it is in 240p.

[@sassulusmagnus]

I think this guy is Canadian and just doesn't realize it. So different. Thanks for uploading this clip.

[@dulcita001]

Que hombre tan divino

[@xchubbychibix]

Bon Iver is so flippin amazing

[@GarandEv]

if you type in boniver on take away you hear him with his band sounds twice as good as these lives shows :)

[@iSupplanter]

I prefer the RAWness of old, rather than the cleanliness of this performance.

[@Rainmakerlola]

2:05- 2:09 was amazing.

[@diablo19876]

from 2:50 onward the drums compliment the song very AWESOMELY

[@stevesteve55]

@anderstornvig roroy gallagher loved to play that guitar, great sound off it. i love the drum thing they do here, original

[@DjKalel]

AWESSOME :D

[@MrPittsSox]

@stanerz79 what I like most is the variety...the changes between this and Jools are beautiful...

[@JohnnysChingaderas]

from what the top commenter said as how artists really use their imaginative mind and the real feel of music, the other week i was in oakland on first friday at stork club and heard the band "Puff Puff Beer" yea they dont sound nothing like bon iver but an incredible genius band using all kinds of instruments and sound! check them out!

[@ANeonTiger]

@qpong Yeah wow I didn't realize it was that old either. Self-released in 2007 with a wider release in February '08. I added "For Emma" to my iTunes May 2009 and the rest of the album Sept. 2010. This album took a while to get big.

[@showimprovement]

H O L Y sH!t..... LOVIN THIS, DRUMS Fantastic

[@BrianLeo666]

I'm gonna play cow bell to this song

[@MillerxMiles]

@SuperNerdWebb I'm a huge Skrillex fan and I didn't come here to hate. I love music of all types and I love Bon Iver. Computer generated or not both are talented in their own right. Granted Bon Iver is incredibly talented but it all appeals to different people. Music just needs to be that expression.

[@notoriousmole]

i want to say a massive thankyou to Bon Iver. Thankyou for writing this beautiful tune. My cover of this song is getting played on my local radio station! i owe you a beer or six. if anyone wants to hear it, its the top song on my page.

@lfcheart haha I feel just like you man, this is fantastic, I'm addicted

[@schu1324]

hahaha, i love it.

[@MoeBadu]

It's a National NRP 14 Fret (National-Reso-Phonic).

[@DylanSantoriello]

what the hell? best live performance ever

[@Thin1Thin2Thin3]

I really wish that people would respect eachother. I know, I know. This is THE INTERNET. We can write anything to eachother, without having any consequences...

[@SamiGuettai]

This music is so awesome, so much powerful than the skinny love from the record. The end is like an explosion, is there any way to download the sound of this live?

[@Kornwolf91]

Look up the jools holland version it almost brought me to tears its so powerful

[@lsterkmanagement]

@ThousandShakes Serious? This is good music, Bon Iver makes music with passion!

[@HelenaNV]

@stanerz79 And the drum bass. I find it really makes a difference.

[@emerica1mason]

this made me smile hard

[@ohanley100]

@AttarkarmaChaos I agree , that was something special bro....

[@WeaslyIsOurKing]

My, my, my :)

[@SubstituteForCharlie]

@MsJehosaphat yes!

[@hellocarlo]

2:04 so good...

[@AMDS789]

Justin Vernon's guitar is gorgeous.

[@crisscorreag]

@23RMD A.A. Bondy is my favourite right now.

[@iamthebyron]

emillotrfan: You're right about the tuning making the song, but the guitar itself is actually rather unusual. Resonator guitars like this have a very distinctive sound, and they're much louder than a normal acoustic guitar. They're also a lot of fun to play. :)

[@njett4]

He's got a Bucky Badger t-shirt on!!!

[@ctullydo]

@MrMusicFan2011 who cares about a cover - that is what youtube has become - a place for people to post videos covering music instead of writing and recording their own - no wonder the music industry is shit and rare gems like THIS are becoming harder and harder to find...pure talent here...not overproduced like 99% of the crap that comes out nowadays

[@wilcogrundens9086]

"Just hit the snare?" "Just hit the snare bud"

[@DonzeJ]

@whiteflystudios hear hear, well said

[@Villemo1990]

Me too

[@ilovecloudythegiant]

@andrewmaddennn i agree with you, but to clarify, Skrillex is really an artist. Not comparing him to Bon Iver, but he's good at what he does; just because it's not being produced by a live instrument doesn't mean it's easy to create. it's a lot of programming more than actually playing an instrument, but producing that sound is a lot harder than it seems

[@AquaStarDolphin]

@quietgirlriot No problem! I greatly respect your taste in music! :-D

[@abimljones]

Are you kidding me 'Shakes?' This was incredible, he is incredible, all is well in the world when he is singing. Sesame street couldn't handle Bon Iver!

[@13BeatKing]

#KZbinTuesday Still one of my favorites from Bon Iver!! #goodmusic

[@upinsmoke656]

I fucking like this song!!

[@RydeMusic]

Justin Vernon has a great collection of beanies

[@andrewmaddennn]

@CloudNineGamer I'd just like to believe that there's a difference between "art" and "beats." Vernon puts his heart and soul into the music. I just don't feel like someone who's making party music is a better artist than a man who is pouring his heart into what he's doing.

[@IronsideRecordings]

My, my, my . . .

[@brandonehhhh]

thumbs up if you knew this song before the grammys.

[@algotbulle]

another guy thats look awesome in beard is mat weddle, when he sings his hey ya cover,