24. Smile vs. Nothingman Vs. Leaving Here

[stip]

Smile vs. Nothingman Vs. Leaving Here

[liebzz]

Damn. A lot of covers made it into this tournament. Smile is one of my favorites.

Misheard lyric: “Free cookies with swirls all around, don’t it make you smile”

[stip]

Leaving Here is a great cover. In 1995 I received 3 Pearl Jam songs after getting a new album pretty much every year of my fandom. I listened to Leaving Here a LOT.

I like the sentiment behind smile a bit more than the performance. Don't care for neil young guitars and the performance is a little nasely for me. I get the appeal, but it's always been a pretty middle of the road track for me. Works better live.


Nothingman is one of their most beautiful songs. Pretty much every full track on Vitalogy is a masterpiece.

[Norah]

I can understand voting for Smile, it's great. But Nothingman is gorgeous.

[tragabigzanda]

Ahhh. Dammit. Two amazing songs, plus one of their best covers ever. But Nothingman is like top five PJ for me.

[Jaeti]

Smile is one of those songs I just assume I'll get to vote for at least once because I like it so much. But this is a Nothingman vote. I feel like no one ever claims it's Pearl Jam's best song, and I wouldn't put it there either. But if someone wanted to make a case for it, I wouldn't feel the need to argue.

[JuanHamm]

Nothingman is one of Eddie's finest vocal performances. It's really beautiful.

[stip]

this is a Nothingman vote. I feel like no one ever claims it's Pearl Jam's best song, and I wouldn't put it there either. But if someone wanted to make a case for it, I wouldn't feel the need to argue.

you know, you're right. Even Trag's top 5 claim feels unusual. And it's a shame

[Norah]

It's definitely one of their best sounding recordings.

[tragabigzanda]

Nothingman is one of Eddie's finest vocal performances. It's really beautiful.

if only there were a like button

[epilogue]

I can understand voting for Smile, it's great. But Nothingman is gorgeous.

Aw huh

[LetMeSleep]

All three are beautiful but Nothingman is quite simply a thing to be appreciated. A unique track of frailty in their catalogue.

[dad]

It's definitely one of their best sounding recordings.

yeah, it is.

[Birds in Hell]

It's definitely one of their best sounding recordings.

I'd say this about Smile.

[Brett]

Studio covers are weird. "Leaving Here" is fine, but it's not a song I ever find myself wanting to hear. I've always wished that "Smile" was a weirder song than it is, but it's still a lovely piece with its jagged verses contrasting with the soaring sway of the chorus. I could vote for it here if not for "Nothingman" being the third contender. "Nothingman" is a masterwork in creating an evocative and subtle mood, rich with emotional energy.

[Anders]

Easily Smile

[ABNorman]

Smile has an average of 82 votes per tournament, with Nothingman at 67.

Nothingman has made one Top 16, Smile has made 4.

[stip]

Smile has an average of 82 votes per tournament, with Nothingman at 67.

Nothingman has made one Top 16, Smile has made 4.

that's a surprise to me.

[Kevin Davis]

"Smile" vs. "Nothingman" is a coin flip for me. So I am going to flip one. Heads "Smile," tails "Nothingman."

It was heads. "Smile" can use the votes more anyway.

[tragabigzanda]

"Smile" vs. "Nothingman" is a coin flip for me. So I am going to flip one. Heads "Smile," tails "Nothingman."

It was heads. "Smile" can use the votes more anyway.

Ah the old John Fowles approach