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June 25, 2009

She & Him Cover The Smiths' "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want"

thubmnail icon: She & Him Cover The Smiths' "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want"

There's a long history of "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" covers in movies: Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Not Another Teen Movie, Sky High... OK, not that long. But you can add to the list (500) Days Of Summer, the Zooey Deschanel/Joseph Gordon-Levitt love story with the meaningful-core soundtrack (its trailer opens with the leads bonding over "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"). I think I saw an advertisement for it somewhere? Zooey's joined here by her songwriting partner, folk monster Matt Ward, and theirs is a ghostly, twangy take on the Smiths' briefest ballad, appropriate for the last dance at a '50s prom (ask grandma).

Here's what else you'll find on the soundtrack. (I'd say cue the Garden State comparisons, but you probably did that when Joseph Gordon-Levitt appeared in oversize headphones.)

01 Mychael Danna And Rob Simonsen - "A Story Of Boy Meets Girl"
02 Regina Spektor - "Us"
03 The Smiths - "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"
04 Black Lips - "Bad Kids"
05 The Smiths - "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want"
06 Doves - "There Goes The Fear"
07 Hall & Oates - "You Make My Dreams"
08 The Temper Trap - "Sweet Disposition"
09 Carla Bruni - "Quelqu'un M'a Dit"
10 Feist - "Mushaboom"
11 Regina Spektor - "Hero"
12 Simon & Garfunkel - "Bookends"
13 Wolfmother - "Vagabond"
14 Mumm-Ra - "She's Got You High"
15 Meaghan Smith - "Here Comes Your Man"
16 She & Him - "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want"

And the Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man" is used in a karaoke scene. Here's Zo and Joe drinking beverages and talking about how much they love karaoke.

Sorry guys, she's engaged. That Brian Wilson is a lucky guy.

(500) Days Of Summer soundtrack is out 7/14 on Sire.

Posted at 3:13 PM by Scott in
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33 Comments

Looks like a pretty good line-up.

Posted by: ZiggyDPR profile link at 06/25/09 3:46 PM | Reply
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Deezey

I like Ward's retro-sounding guitar, that's what M Ward always does so well, but not sure about Zooey's vocals here. And if there ever was a song that shouldn't be fucked with, it's this one.

Posted by: Deezey profile link at 06/25/09 3:59 PM | Reply
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Just reminds me of how great that Ferris Bueller scene is.

and Zooey Deschanel was never more appealing than when she played Cameron Crowe's older sister.

Posted by: BlackRiver at 06/25/09 4:06 PM | Reply
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Elliot

Wrong. Cat on Weeds.

Posted by: Elliot profile link in reply to BlackRiver's comment at 06/25/09 5:16 PM | Reply
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Zooey is great, and I like She & Him plenty, but her attempt at this song fell pretty short. The only version I've heard of this song comparable to the original was done by The Autumns on their limited Covers EP. Dig it up.

Posted by: m. at 06/25/09 4:22 PM | Reply
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did someone say 500 days of summer? what's that?

Posted by: aesthetic eyelashes at 06/25/09 4:23 PM | Reply
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You forgot Pretty in Pink!!! "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" is also in Pretty in Pink. god i need a life.

Posted by: rick at 06/25/09 4:28 PM | Reply
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This Is England too, I think

Posted by: D at 06/25/09 4:52 PM | Reply
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Doves have covered it as well, from an old BBC show called Re:Covered - they do quite a good job of it

Posted by: Analog Bass at 06/25/09 5:47 PM | Reply
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I'm pretty sure Deschanel is engaged to Ben Gibbard

Posted by: Nick at 06/25/09 8:31 PM | Reply
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Could someone explain to me why on earth would they include such a mediocre cover ALONG SIDE the original version that brushes perfection? By the way, one of my favorite Smiths songs.

Muse covered it as well, for an EP, about 8 years ago, or something like that. Was decent.

Posted by: d33r profile link at 06/25/09 9:39 PM | Reply
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Also, I'd like to add that this movie has a 90% chance of being ultra cheesy and stupid.

When I saw that scene where they are in the elevator and he's listening to The Smiths... and oh well, just watch the trailer. It's like "whoaaaa, you like The Smiths. It's like no one in the world does!" *eye roll* Give me a break already.

Posted by: d33r profile link at 06/25/09 9:42 PM | Reply
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for anyone who is judging this movie before they've seen it, do yourself a favor and just stop. This movie is brilliant. I have never seen a more realistic depiction of love and heartache. It was done with the most amazing and original style, I have never see anything like it before, and I go to a lot of movies. Marc Webb is a genius. So maybe the cover isn't the best (I'm not debating that), and maybe it has a couple cheesy parts (so does life). But Marc Webb tears down the fourth wall (to use a theatre term) which makes us comfortably aware that we are sitting in a theatre observing other peoples lives. With this film, you honestly feel the love, and the heartache, and every other emotion. You feel like these are your friends, or at least that they could be. It's not full of glamor and fluff, this movie cuts to the core. I have never left a movie feeling more fulfilled. I'm not saying that it is the best movie I've ever seen, just the most fulfilling. I left the movie thinking and feeling, rather than just saying "that was awesome!" I want to be an actor, and if I ever do succeed in this, I only hope that I ever get to do a movie as original and meaningful as this one.

Posted by: Alison  in reply to d33r's comment at 07/10/09 1:49 PM | Reply
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I've been reading a lot of good comments about the movie, actually, but you can't deny that the trailer - that thing intended to interest you and tell you if a movie is something special, not a collection of cliches - doesn't look interesting at all!

Oh well, more reasons for the indie kids to drool over Zooey Deschannel and hate Ben Gibbard.

Posted by: d33r profile link in reply to Alison 's comment at 07/11/09 3:38 PM | Reply
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love ben, finding reasons to hate zooey. (this cover is one)

Posted by: rachel in reply to d33r's comment at 07/20/09 1:46 AM | Reply
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I love this song. Zooey's voice is simply beautiful.

Posted by: Cody at 06/25/09 11:07 PM | Reply
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I like it, it's a lot better the second time you listen to it but no ones cover can compare to the original.

Posted by: rachel at 06/25/09 11:51 PM | Reply
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I like it, it's a lot better the second time you listen to it but no ones cover can compare to the original.

Posted by: rachel at 06/25/09 11:52 PM | Reply
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Is this a meta-comment?

Posted by: Paul Ramon in reply to rachel's comment at 06/28/09 9:52 PM | Reply
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Not feeling that cover at all. Rob Dickinson recently did it way better (although certainly not as good as the original, either). http://www.myspace.com/robdickinson

Posted by: david at 06/26/09 7:41 PM | Reply
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The 'Tinderbox' version that can be heard on YouTube is worth a listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvmjzYUVafk

The 'Nouvelle Vague' covers of 'Sweet & Tender Hooligan'(Smiths) and 'Ever Fallen In Love'(Buzzcocks) are also pretty entertaining.

Posted by: mark at 06/26/09 8:10 PM | Reply
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the only thing I want to say in defense of this kind of cute movie is that the "meet cute in the elevator over the Smiths" scene is played as obvious cliche and a flimsy way into a relationship.

Posted by: josh profile link at 06/27/09 1:04 AM | Reply
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wow. i can't stop listening to this song. this is just a wonderful cover done by she and him. zooey deschanel's voice is so amazing, especially this song. i also love m. ward's guitar is also very, very good. i just checked the remastered version that was done in 2007 and this cover is very similar. beautiful job. well done.

Posted by: benp at 06/27/09 3:16 AM | Reply
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I don't like the vocals. Also not really liking the lead guitar. Overall, I would not be disappointed if this song had never existed, because I don't see a need for it to.

Posted by: makebeeleaves profile link at 06/27/09 5:39 PM | Reply
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Although I think the original is better, I'll admit I can't stop listening to this. I absolutely love Zooey's voice and Ward's guitar is very dreamy and calming.

Posted by: Monica profile link at 06/28/09 2:16 PM | Reply
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you're right. it was probably a typo. I think they're getting married this summer, not sure though.
this cover is really good, wish it was for download.

Posted by: Stone Birds profile link at 06/28/09 5:08 PM | Reply
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indybree

I've never posted on here (though I'm a staple at Videogum), but I figured this was the perfect place to start. I love Zooey and I love The Smiths :) In my totally biased opinion, this is splendid.

Posted by: indybree profile link at 06/29/09 2:48 PM | Reply
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Zapruder

I agree Morrissey-Marr and Zooey are adorable.

Posted by: Zapruder profile link in reply to indybree's comment at 06/29/09 7:01 PM | Reply
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GOD AWFUL.

Posted by: matt at 06/29/09 9:01 PM | Reply
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Elvis vs. Shark

The original is one of the best songs of all time, but as far as covers go, the Deftones did the best cover of this song. I know heavier music isn't really liked around here but whatever, I dug it.

Posted by: Elvis vs. Shark profile link at 06/29/09 11:16 PM | Reply
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Only some hollywood-legacy kid/wannabe indie rocker would be unhip enough to choose THIS song as their Smiths cover. Mrs. Deschanel, please go back to acting and leave the spotlight for real musical talents who might actually have to work for attention.

Posted by: klsl at 06/30/09 6:40 PM | Reply
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That was a sweet rendition. I like many Smiths songs better than this one, though. A cover of "I Don't Owe You Anything" with Zooey?- that would be special.

Posted by: kyle at 07/01/09 1:28 AM | Reply
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AAAAHHHH! I HATED 'Garden State,' and I never once thought of that crap-ass movie when I saw trailers for '(500) Days of Summer.' Thanks a f*ckin' lot.

Posted by: Amy at 07/01/09 11:26 AM | Reply
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