Phoebe Bridgers’ touching cover of Elliott Smith’s ‘Whatever’
It may have been over two decades since we lost Elliott Smith, but his legacy lives on in his music and those he inspired. Using the studio like a diary, he blended intimate and vulnerable lyrics with lo-fi guitars to create some of the most devastating songs of all time. His tender soundscapes endeared him to fans of musical melancholia worldwide, and Phoebe Bridgers was no exception.
The sad girl soloist and Boygenius bandmate is no stranger to sonic gloom. Since making her debut with Stranger in the Alps in 2017, Bridgers has been infusing the mainstream with melancholy and moonlight. Between the mammoth success of Punisher and the huge audience amassed by Boygenius, she has become one of the leading figures in the modern iteration of intimate indie folk.
It’s no surprise, then, that Bridgers takes inspiration from the stylings of Smith. Borrowing elements such as double-tracked vocals and lyrics drenched in sadness, his influence is present throughout her catalogue. She has frequently noted Smith’s impact on her own songwriting in interviews, emphasising just how deep her love for the folk singer goes.
“I have experienced the thing where people are like, ‘Oh, really, you like Elliott Smith? Shocker,’” she shared during a conversation with NPR, “And I’m like, ‘Yeah, but really. It’s not just a look. It’s my favourite music.’” She further stressed his importance by comparing his influence on her to The Beatles, stating, “It’s like The Beatles to me, and I mean that in every way.”
Smith’s influence on Bridgers even extends beyond her musical interests and inspirations, as she adds, “If someone doesn’t like his music, I actually feel like I’m not going to agree with them about anything. It informs everything I like.” Bridgers hasn’t limited her outpouring of love for Smith to interviews – she also paid homage to her folk hero in song.
As part of her 2016 release Hard Drive, Bridgers included a cover of one of Smith’s most exquisite tracks, ‘Whatever (Folk Song in C)’, which was released on the posthumous compilation New Moon in 2007. The song represents Smith at his best, with lyrics full of lament that ask, “What are you doing hanging out with me?” Guitars full of intricacy and intimacy soundtrack his words.
Bridgers applies her own soft-spoken vocals to the track in an ode to Elliott, and you can feel her love for the folk singer in her words. It’s a beautiful homage to Smith and a testament to his ever-enduring legacy.
Listen to Phoebe Bridgers’ touching cover of Elliott Smith’s ‘Whatever’ below.
