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.
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Looks like a pretty good line-up.
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.
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.
Wrong. Cat on Weeds.
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.
did someone say 500 days of summer? what’s that?
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.
This Is England too, I think
Doves have covered it as well, from an old BBC show called Re:Covered – they do quite a good job of it
I’m pretty sure Deschanel is engaged to Ben Gibbard
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.
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.
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.
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.
love ben, finding reasons to hate zooey. (this cover is one)
lol, very true, I must agree with your statement that that scene is kind of a bust.. like when does anyone anywhere say something to someone in an elevator about the music they’re listening to? it just doesn’t happen in the real world, unfortunatley. Its like having a single serving (to quote fight club).. but that’s why movies are so great.. especially ones with Zooey ;P
It’s funny that you think that the reality of the scene is unlikely. In the DVD commentary, the scriptwriters discuss how many events of the movie are based on things that actually happened to them, including that elevator scene.
I love this song. Zooey’s voice is simply beautiful.
I like it, it’s a lot better the second time you listen to it but no ones cover can compare to the original.
I like it, it’s a lot better the second time you listen to it but no ones cover can compare to the original.
Is this a meta-comment?
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I agree Morrissey-Marr and Zooey are adorable.
GOD AWFUL.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Has anyone heard Muse’s cover of it? It’s horrible. The deftones covering it is laughable, the deftones ahahah.
But this version’s pretty decent, it has that cool old time feel to it.
Yet it never feels right hearing a Smiths song coming from anyone else mouth except Morrissey’s.
Because you know that he’s the only person ever who could’ve written those words.
you also forgot “never been kissed”!
so actually, it is a pretty decent list
Zooey’s voice is impressive very melancholy this girl has the chops saw here in concert fantastic they do different takes on everything from motown to standards M.Ward is sone of the best retro sounding gutiarist around check out the she & him it’s one of my favs of all time they even o the beatles have to check it out
I LOVED IT ! WOW!
This Is England used this song the most effectively.
This (fantastic) film came in a surprisingly close second.
Two of my all-time favorite films.
Referring to a man with schizoaffective disorder as lucky… real classy.
Totally unnecessary cover. And it’s missing that rush that you feel from the original when that wall of guitars (or were they mandolins?) comes in near the end of the song. Was she trying to jazz it up by singing it off the beat? Her voice isn’t good enough for that.
I would have loved to hear Everything But the Girl cover a Smiths tune or too. Hearing Tracey Thorn always leaves me sad – in a good way, if that makes any sense.
re: Buzzcocks ‘ever fallen in love’ cover – i love Thea Gilmore’s version. and also her cover of the Beatles ‘I want to Tell You’ – found on a MOJO cover CD.
Is it just me, or does She & Him sound like Mazzy Star with a less adept vocalist?
Brian Wilson is the singer from the beach boys. I think you are thinking of Ben Gibbard from Death Cab whom she’s marrying. but I will separate the two upon the meeting of Zooey and I
Oh, and as far as their cover of the Smiths song…it’s a great cover! those who doubted Zooey’s voice might reconsider