How I Met Your Mother Music - Britney Spears episode (Ted and Stella and a tattoo)

Author: Spencer

24 Mar

Tonight’s episode of How I Met Your Mother closed with a great song from Big Star called “Thirteen” (iTunes). Was really hard to hear the lyrics - tried a few times and finally figured it out.

By the way, I thought Britney Spears was really good (playing herself). Also wondering if this is the titular “Your Mother”. She was at a St. Patty’s day party and left early. It seems pretty obvious - maybe too obvious.

“Thirteen” lyrics (iTunes)
Won’t you let me walk you home from school
Won’t you let me meet you at the pool
Maybe Friday I can
get tickets for the dance
and I’ll take you
Won’t you tell your dad, “Get off my back”
Tell him what we said ’bout ‘Paint It Black’
Rock ‘n Roll is here to stay
Come inside where it’s okay
And I’ll shake you.
Won’t you tell me what you’re thinking of
Would you be an outlaw for my love
If it’s so, well, let me know
If it’s “no”, well, I can go
I won’t make you

Filed under: Television show music

3 Responses for "How I Met Your Mother Music - Britney Spears episode (Ted and Stella and a tattoo)"

James March 26th, 2008 at 5:02 pm 1
actually that is orginially a Smiths song, and then later Elliott Smith did a cover of it for “New Moon” a posthumourous record both of these versions (especially the latter) are so far and above anything Big Star ever dreamed about and i would beg you to check out those versions and ignore Big Star
Spencer March 26th, 2008 at 5:33 pm 2
OK - I have to correct you. It appears that this song was originally done by Big Star - a band that pre-dates the Smiths by many years:

From Pitchfork - Elliott Smith remade Big Star’s puppy love classic the only way he knew how– as a textbook Elliott Smith anti-production. His “Thirteen” sounds more reincarnated than covered, as if it passed through the membrane of his melancholy and emerged transformed, swathed in delicate gauzes. Smith trims some hitches from the guitar line to reveal a more lugubrious essence, replaces the sturdy jauntiness of the original vocal with his usual pensive keening, and predictably yet beautifully apprehends the celebration as an elegy. There’s a sweet eternity in this song, one endless summer of passion and discovery free-standing in time, but while Big Star reveled in the moment, Smith’s version is a lament for everything precious that slips through the fingers too quickly and never returns.

I have to say - while I like the Elliott Smith version, as with a lot of recordings from New Moon - it’s very deconstructed - as if you’re listening to Smith’s earlier work pre XO. I rather like the Big Star version - I don’t think Smith’s is better - just different.
Katherine November 16th, 2008 at 10:13 pm 3
I agree with you, Spencer! It was featured on That ’70s show ages ago, too.