Red Mosquito

Smile vs. Nothingman Vs. Leaving Here

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”

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.

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

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

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.

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

Jaeti wrote: 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

It's definitely one of their best sounding recordings.

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

if only there were a like button

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

Aw huh

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

Norris wrote:It's definitely one of their best sounding recordings.

yeah, it is.

Norris wrote:It's definitely one of their best sounding recordings.

I'd say this about Smile.

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.

Easily Smile

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

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

ABNorman wrote: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.

"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.

Kevin Davis wrote:"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