Elliott Smith - Waltz #2 + interview - 1998-08-20

XO is the fourth album by singer/songwriter Elliot Smith and Waltz #2 was the first single. It came out (as a single) in september of '98, a few months later than Miss Missery.
This appearance occurred in Toronto, at a very known music television channel. Live song performance followed by an interview about the album and the other issues.
NOTICE: This clip came from ESMF DVD (memorial fund) and was kindly shared with Steelygray by NONONO. So all the credits go to him.

[@andrewfroese1067]

The interviewer is Sook Yin Lee. She was my favourite VJ on Muchmusic. She was one of the only interviewers who got to talk to Thom Yorke after Kid A came out. She brings honest enthusiasm and creates comfortable spaces for those who are uncomfortable in normal interviews.

[@billdauphine951]

Agree 👍

[@sonicdiablo8968]

She's a very good interviewer

[@davidschmidt270]

Sorry sorry....have to say it.... she's one of those stereotypical HOT Asian chicks for sure! Dammmm

[@FranciscoSanchez-kn7tk]

Check out my songs

[@AyakiKay-kj8gm]

Thank you 🎉

[@FlameFlickers]

Excellent version of Waltz #2 and also very good interview. He gets gradually more comfortable as it becomes clear she really knows her stuff and she's a real music fan. Thanks for the upload.

[@AyakiKay-kj8gm]

I love you Elliott ❤

[@mysusbigsoss2101]

Seen the interview with WEEN, really one of the best interviewers I've seen

[@ThePacemaker45]

How am I just watching this?! Lol he was so perfect.

[@Doobeydoobeydont]

How can someone so sensitive be perfect? How did you watch this, lol, did you like have someone, have like turn the like tv on? Like. Huh.

[@kennydon]

@@Doobeydoobeydontsay again?

[@Doobeydoobeydont]

Wow, I promise you I didn't write that incomprehensible babble, no idea how that has been attributed to me. For a start I don't use the word 'like' in this way, rarely ever say LOL and hopefully I make sense on the whole. I'll look into this. @@kennydon

[@claralinnea9682]

@@Doobeydoobeydont hahaha xD

[@MichaelKennedy-uh6wl]

Canada much music just simple fun

[@j.b.8546]

Great interview. Classic Lots of funny parts, the kerfuffle thing and the cop stalking part are jokes. Also i like how she asks about his songwriting process and the qualities of his voice. 10/10

[@Delicate_Elephant]

The interviewer compliments him then turns it into a minor disaster with almost every question, then Elliott, just responds like the sweetest, most honest person in the world. What a legend. You can tell that he's super nervous to be there and his hands are shaking between the chords, but he champions through the song hitting all the notes perfectly. So cool to hear his writing method. He figured out what works and sticks with it. Much love, Elliott. RIP.

[@j.b.8546]

I thought she matched his energy pretty well especially as the interview went on. Great interview overall btw. I'd never considered how his singing style has a sort of "androgynous" quality as they discussed, that was kinda interesting. Kerfuffle....

[@azanattrener]

Rip ES💔

[@BassByTheBay]

A minor disaster? That was one the best Elliott interviews I've seen. She was asking thoughtful, non-generic questions -- most were specific to Elliott rather than just vague songwriter questions. I'm sure Elliott was smart enough to know she was legitimately interested in his artistry based on her questions.

[@juniper1135]

“Were their hands clammy?”

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

new disaster lol

[@sliver0fwhatsy0urs]

nice. very cool.

[@somes3cretcat]

Does someone know how I could get in touch with much music for some archives from the 90s?

[@adamcleall]

wow he played the rivoli in toronto? i thought it was really hard to get a show there.

[@brmbkl]

gus van sant is a hell of a recommendation

[@fishylogic222]

Nirvanna the band the show??!

[@theheartofablackbird2109]

This was Much Music right?

[@steelygray]

Yes

[@FranciscoSanchez-kn7tk]

Check out my songs

[@e2215]

Asian women seem drawn to Elliott

[@AyakiKay-kj8gm]

Ahahahahahahffhfgcb j nnm true

[@daniillarussov]

Какая красивая ведущая. Кто она?

[@j.b.8546]

Sook-Yin Lee I remember watching Much Music as a kid, since I'm Canadian. She's definitely easy on the eyes

[@daniillarussov]

@@j.b.8546 Thank You! She is sooo pretty

[@FranciscoSanchez-kn7tk]

Check out my songs

[@incessantmurkysmuggler]

kafuffle

[@jessicagonzalez-no2wu]

That made me laugh lol

[@sophiewood]

i love his reaction to the voice comparison compliment cause you can tell he’s genuinely happy with it but i’m laughing at the “wow… that’s a really nice compliment👀”

[@matthewsolina4920]

The siren during the intro! That’s live music for you.

[@ededwinson5774]

the cop car or the woman?

[@ExternusArmy]

@@ededwinson5774 lmao good one

[@nicolasbicerne2041]

and the ring phone in the end? lovely

[@ljavwa3459]

More like "that's downtown Toronto for you."

[@FranciscoSanchez-kn7tk]

Check out my songs

[@ermertieplug]

This proves that you can have all the musical production and autotune on a song but nothing can create an artist.

[@ellegaunt]

I love how 90s she looks. Such a time capsule.

[@frankieandtheflowers]

I watched her in the 90s and I just watched this now in 2023 and got a shock because I had forgotten about her and there she was and it pulled me right back to then 🥲 time is crazy

[@jarekharmening8993]

@@frankieandtheflowers who is she? What's her name?

[@frankieandtheflowers]

@@jarekharmening8993 I can’t remember her name 😭 would take some googling

[@frankieandtheflowers]

@@jarekharmening8993 Sook-Yin Lee !! Found her (Much Music Toronto 90s hosts)

[@FranciscoSanchez-kn7tk]

Check out my songs

[@WilRockQ]

I watched this just as much for the interview. He was a great interview because was his own person and never just told people what they wanted to hear. You can tell he was so intelligent.

[@andyvanvlierberghe5389]

Example

[@hurkamur1]

I was visiting canada with friends when this originally aired, and i remember watching it in the hotel room. We were all super stoked for XO to drop, and it was in constant rotation after it did. Glad that you uploaded this. I couldn't find it on KZbin before.

[@JackT13]

I think it’s often too easy to criticise interviewees especially young women who are often automatically labelled as ‘dumb flirty fan girl’, but I actually really liked her interview. She was genuinely interested and drew on her other music interests to make for an engaging exchange

[@BassByTheBay]

Wow... what a hidden gem this is! Probably the closest I've ever seen to Elliott looking comfortable 😊. Loved the interviewer's questions -- she seemed like a true music nerd/fan asking the kind of specific questions that we nerds/fans would ask. Thanks so much for posting this!

[@TheMiapapia]

I love that he’s chewing a big hunk of gum, even when he sings. That’s talent!

[@maovslandlords9244]

A lot of singers do this to keep their mouth wet so they can pronounce words more clearly when they sing.

[@noverrr4508]

Dave grohl and his famous chewing gum too lol

[@nros5020]

Probably nerves from TV those people didn't make him very comfortable usually

[@robmarshall9026]

All got it from Lennon @@noverrr4508

[@North_Sea]

It's because of amphetamines

[@Brettyboy101]

I have only really discovered Elliot in the last couple of weeks and i have the Waltz son on repeat in my head❤

[@randmiller88]

Thanks for all the Elliot uploads to celebrate his life! What a talent he was.

[@steelygray]

You're welcome. What a talent he was.

[@FranciscoSanchez-kn7tk]

Check out my songs

[@jayandalaska]

One of the most beautiful & thoughtful interviews i have watched of Eliot smith

[@luvisacigarette8]

I love Elliott Smith but damn he does not give a lot in interviews. Kudos to the interviewer here. Great clip

[@rosswoodie]

I love that moment where he makes a slight laugh, and she brightens and says, "ope, there you are"

[@michelepasquale8227]

The right person to interview Elliott. Nice, friendly conversation to the self-called "weird Oscars guy". Lot of nostalgia.

[@polypx]

She's gentle as possible, like she knows she needs to be. I reckon she could have got deeper given more time.

[@jamesheath7601]

He’s the best ever

[@evanmuir7394]

He hit the high note too!!!

[@evildays1987]

sook yin lee🏅💙💙💙

[@RustinChole]

Thanks for uploading this. Can’t listen to Elliott anymore without crying, but this footage was worth it.❤️ “In the place where I make no mistakes, in the place where I have what it takes…”

[@steelygray]

Thank you for your comments.

[@TheresNothingToSee123]

Chet Baker and João Gilberto

[@jeezusjuice344]

Many thanks. I had no clue how to spell the second name!

[@BassByTheBay]

That was cool. I hadn't really thought about the similarities till she mentioned it.

[@ectoplasma5]

Thank you,i could not understand the second name .

[@kpdelaney6460]

Love their stuff!

[@FranciscoSanchez-kn7tk]

Check out my songs

[@romancandle1994]

that mightve been the most human interview hes ever done

[@ronpudding9598]

Thanks for uploading!

[@steelygray]

No problem

[@Brettyboy101]

I like how he gets a kick from the word Kerfuffle😂

[@markhelm7426]

Wow...what a fantastic performance. But did they put makeup on him?!?

[@ellegaunt]

“I played it about a million times! I’m tired of it.” HAHAHAH no filter needed, buddy

[@andyvanvlierberghe5389]

No this ignorant world dident deserve his songs. If would have hated social media, influencers and Musk.

[@jasonburke4256]

The interviewer is beautiful!

[@amberm2168]

she’s Sook Yin Lee. an artist in her own right

[@deepakchoke-ya2560]

She was in Shortbus.

[@shloop.]

@@deepakchoke-ya2560I thought that was her but I was like “there’s no way” and came to the comments to check lol.

[@FranciscoSanchez-kn7tk]

Check out my songs

[@allimensch]

yes king give her nothing

[@jesserogers3869]

Honestly this guy was very average

[@abhiskekrachit1411]

Elliott impressed celebrity's diction Mmm kerfuffle

[@BenSchillaci]

Canadian slang, it'll stump ya!

[@sophiewood]

@@BenSchillaciit’s scottish!

[@BenSchillaci]

@@sophiewood It’s also Canadian👍

[@sophiewood]

@@BenSchillaci because of the scottish immigrating to canada :)

[@BenSchillaci]

Ya that's how Canada and culture works. Name something Canadian and 9/10 times it didn't originate here. We're a commonwealth country, our spelling of colour is the same as UK lol We share some similarities@@sophiewood

[@richalderson6069]

Title track of XO? I thought it was called Waltz #2.

[@xxmyharturhandzxx]

the full title is waltz #2 (xo)

[@richalderson6069]

@@xxmyharturhandzxx Oh I see.

[@dania4647]

filmed on my birthday! ten years before I was born 😅

[@chiscui]

BRilliant artist

[@matthewellis6327]

his song writing is so beautiful. thank you elliott smith

[@TheMonolake]

Thx for sharing this!

[@danfulop6197]

Kerfuffle 🤣

[@ColombianThunder]

Was watching the movie Short Bus and couldn't put my finger on where I'd seen the protagonist before. Then it dawned on me that it was this interviewer!

[@rohanbeer1654]

Omg what a crazy connection lmao

[@andrewfroese1067]

Yup, her name is Sook Yin Lee. She was an amazing veejay on the music channel here in Canada: Muchmusic

[@BlamingBuddha]

Did she just misname the song?

[@frankieandtheflowers]

The gum is maddening 😆🙈

[@lekmusic]

6:05 did she portend his death?

[@j.b.8546]

Damn :(

[@FranciscoSanchez-kn7tk]

Check out my songs

[@nicktaylor1902]

No that's Celine dion chill

[@AdamMaekju]

Never got it. My loss i suppose

[@tommyconancoates7097]

Miss misery wasn't written for the movie it was written and recorded well before that movie ever existed or Elliott was ever aware of the plot

[@erokraider1690]

This interviewer is terrible? Were their hands clammy? 😂

[@halonsox]

Is the host Jeniffer Chiba?

[@SG_7733]

no, it's Yoko Ono

[@punk471]

Sook Yin Lee

[@FranciscoSanchez-kn7tk]

Check out my songs

[@cumputerboys8880]

im glad this video doesn't have any thumbsdown

[@ermertieplug]

I can change that