Full Band Fridays are always fun to record and share with CME’s YouTube audience—but during the darkest week all year, the CME House Band is taking the tempo a little slower and skipping a beat at the end of each measure with their take on a melancholy tune in 3/4 time. Reminding all of us to remember those whom we love most in our lives, even at our lowest—just as Smith writes in the song, “XO, mom”—here’s the CME House Band performing “Waltz #2 (XO)” by Elliott Smith, off of the late songwriter’s 1998 LP, XO.
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More About Waltz #2 (XO) -
Waltz #2 (XO)" is a song by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. It was released in 1998 by record label DreamWorks as the first single from his fourth studio album, XO. The single did not chart in the United States[1] but reached number 52 in the UK Singles Chart, his highest chart placement in the UK to date.
In its article on the song, Slate called it Elliott Smith's best song. Pitchfork said, "Inside a smoky karaoke bar, a man and a woman—two people who may very well be stand-ins for Elliott Smith's mother, Bunny, and his stepfather, Charlie—select songs that thinly veil their marital strife. She blankly performs the humiliating "Cathy's Clown", he sings the pointed "You're No Good". Smith uses karaoke night to give us this meta novella about pop music and heartbreak." The song was covered by Kiki and Herb in their 2016 cabaret show Kiki & Herb: Seeking Asylum! at Joe's Pub, and by Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Mangan on his 2020 covers album Thief.
More Full Band Fridays!
"Highway Star" Deep Purple | CME Full Band Fridays: https://youtu.be/eqz7UBBIr7s
"Kool Thing" Sonic Youth | CME Full Band Fridays: https://youtu.be/cqqO0_ZT7Ak
"State of Love and Trust" Pearl Jam | Full Band Fridays: https://youtu.be/u4urkf0Gltc
Gear Used:
Nord Electro 6
Nord Stage 3
Averez Yari GYM70CESHB
Paige Clik PC-6 ETI Capo
Fender Custom Shop "Chicago Special" '59 Telecaster
Magnatone Panoramic Stereo 2x10 Combo
Fender Japan JAB Jaguar Bass
Ampeg BR-15 Portaflex
Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch 12/16/22
Zildjian A Armand 14/16/21
Recording Gear Used:
Universal Audio Apollo X8
AEA R88 MkII Stereo Ribbon Microphone
Shure Beta 52A Supercardioid Dynamic Kick Drum Microphone
AEA N22 Active Ribbon Microphone
Shure SM57
Featuring:
Elizabeth Moen - Vocal
Nathaniel Murphy - Guitar
Daniel Albert - Guitar
Gus Martini - Bass
Ryder Baumann - Keys
Zach Moore - Drums
Songs Played:
00:00 - 03:44 "Santa Clause in Comin' to Town" Bruce Springsteen
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Lyrics:
First the mic, then a half cigarette
Singing, "Cathy's Clown"
That's the man she's married to now
That's the girl that he takes around town
She appears composed, so she is, I suppose
Who can really tell?
She shows no emotion at all
Stares into space like a dead china doll
I'm never gonna know you now
But I'm gonna love you anyhow
Now she's done and they're calling someone
Such a familiar name
I'm so glad that my memory's remote
'Cause I'm doing just fine hour to hour, note to note
Here it is, the revenge to the tune
"You're no good
You're no good, you're no good, you're no good"
Can't you tell that it's well understood?
I'm never gonna know you now
But I'm gonna love you anyhow
I'm here today and expected to stay
On and on and on
I'm tired
I'm tired
Looking out on the substitute scene
Still going strong
XO, mom
It's okay, it's alright, nothing's wrong
Tell Mr. Man with impossible plans to just leave me alone
In the place where I make no mistakes
In the place where I have what it takes
I'm never gonna know you now
But I'm gonna love you anyhow
I'm never gonna know you now
But I'm gonna love you anyhow
I'm never gonna know you now
But I'm gonna love you anyhow