Nebraska’s Two Best Songwriters

If you spend a lot of time in one place, you start forming a relationship with it. I’m not from Nebraska, but the time I’ve spent here has already developed a distinct flair in my memories. The things that I love about my home state of Missouri are not anywhere to be found in Nebraska, but new relationships are forming quickly. The lay of the land affects people in ways that can’t really be described. Luckily, that’s where art and music can serve their ultimate purpose.

Here I’ve written about two of my favorite musicians to come out of Nebraska. These people used their talents to create brilliant little depictions of life in this state.

Elliott Smith

This singer-songwriter was born and raised in Omaha, though much of his career was spent in Portland, Oregon. He went relatively undiscovered until director Gus Van Sant included him in the soundtrack of his film “Good Will Hunting''. His song “Miss Misery” was even nominated for an Oscar. This led to an explosion of popularity that he struggled to deal with for the rest of his life. October 26 marked the twentieth anniversary of Smith’s tragic passing. The music that he left behind outlines a melancholy that is unique to his experience and relatable at the same time. I think the song “Ballad of Big Nothing” is a perfect portrait of what it feels like to grow up and move away from home. That’s Elliott’s style: bright vivid pictures with a little hollow feeling behind them.

Conor Oberst

This man is the lead singer and songwriter of the band Bright Eyes. He’s been a big name in the independent music scene for a long time. Some listeners are immediately charmed by Oberst’s unusual vocal style, and some are put off by it. Though his first project was released a quarter of a century ago, Oberst continues to tour and release music with the same group. Most Bright Eyes records were actually recorded right here in Lincoln. When I saw the band perform in Michigan, he talked about his roots like this: “I’m actually from Omaha, Nebraska. You probably think that’s weird. People don’t think of Omaha as a place you can be from, but I am.” I knew exactly what he meant. Nebraska is just a little difficult to place in people’s minds. Some feelings are very strong but incommunicable. Luckily, music can describe things that words cannot. If any of this seems interesting to you, I recommend starting with the simple and brilliant song “First Day of My Life”.

By Luke Morris