It's been awhile since I posted a Counting Crows song and since this is a gray day in Louisiana it seemed like a good day for "Good Time."  It has nothing to do with the weather or Louisiana — it actually mentions Texas, but my logic makes sense to me, so I'm going with it.

What would make more sense on a day like today would be posting "Miami" because it mentions the weather and New Orleans.  But I don't know of a version that feels right for today, maybe an acoustic version where the band is pretty perfect, maybe Immy is wearing a USPS shirt and Dan and Adam smile at the end — of course I can find that.  

Yeah, that's pretty perfect.

Here are a few beautiful songs from Elliott Smith for your Saturday night.  Up first is "Somebody That I Used to Know," a lovely short song of disappointment and bitterness, but happy and upbeat.

I had tender feelings that you made hard,
But it's your heart, not mine, that's scarred.
So when I go home, I'll be happy to go –
You're just somebody that I used to know.

You don't need my help anymore,
It's all now to you, there ain't no before,
Now that you're big enough to run your own show,
You're just somebody that I used to know.

I watched you deal in a dying day,
And throw a living past away,
So you can be sure that you're in control,
You're just somebody that I used to know.

I know you don't think you did me wrong,
And I can't stay this mad for long,
Keeping ahold of what you just let go –
You're just somebody that I used to know.

And a great performance of "Waltz #2 (XO)" from Later with Jools Holland — a great British show for music. Probably my favorite Smith song.    

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 ok, 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 

As I've written before, Smith was an immensely talented songwriter.  I can't say enough about his writing.  It helped that his voice was a beautiful companion to his lyrics and guitar.  "Sweet Adeline" is another favorite.  If you don't have Smith on your iPod you need to get some.  I give you permission to leave the blog and go to iTunes right now.  Go ahead.  More later.

Because I'm a romantic at heart and this is kind of fantastic, watch this:

 From Jezebel.com:

The video was put together by a guy named Walter C. May and his roommates—who just happen to be in a band called The Daylights. It was posted on YouTube yesterday and has since then been tweeted about by May's friends, random strangers, and even Katy Perry.

But May's girlfriend, for whom the video was made, hasn't seen it yet.

That's because May wanted the video to reach her organically—through tweets, links passed between friends, and blog posts. He wanted to show his girl that they "can feel close without having to be close every day," and that their relationship can remain strong even though they'll be thousands of miles apart over the next two years.