What the hell happened to Chris Cornell?
Rock star careers come and go. Many have typical arcs - obscurity, notoriety, the drugs, the drink, the fame, Success!, the REALLY BIG album followed by flameout, the REALLY BAD album, the band split, the solo career, start new band with remnants of other bands….solo career….Timbaland! How did Chris Cornell get to this point? And why is his new single so bad words fail me when I try to describe it?
Chris Cornell fronted one of the best heavy rock bands to come out of the Northwest during the early 90’s Sub Pop/Grunge period. With one of the biggest voices in rock, chiseled features and looking like he bench pressed Kurt Cobain every morning to warm up, he was the archetypal rock star. Yet he carried his fame well, almost humbly. Soundgarden were my favorite rock band for a long time. And then they went away.
What followed was an attempt by Cornell at a solo career that didn’t go far; the album ‘Euphoria Morning‘ was his first solo album. Then there was a period of relative obscurity followed by Audioslave, a band that was pulled together from the remnants of the agitprop rock outfit, Rage Against The Machine. And now it’s back to solo career time…
I was going to get in-depth about all this but realized that it would be futile. I doubt anyone cares. Take a listen to the track I’ve posted below and then take a listen to the new cut that Cornell has recorded with Timbaland. It’s available on Ryan Seacrest’s web site, that says it all. And his name is spelled Christ…I kid you not.
Soundgarden - Jesus Christ Pose
Click on image to hear ‘Long Gone” feat Timbaland by Chris Cornell.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:25 am
how cornell has fallen from grace is a crying shame. this song really is terrible. and even “terrible” may be a pretty charitable description.
July 20th, 2008 at 5:59 am
do not want
July 20th, 2008 at 7:16 am
The “Billie Jean” cover on his last album and subsequent cover of that on American Idol didn’t bode well.
July 20th, 2008 at 7:43 am
He needs to swallow it and get Soundgarden back together. Nice to see that Kim Thayil played on ‘Alter’ the collaboration between the bands Sunn O))) and Boris.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Do you really think a Soundgarden reunion would fix this situation?
July 20th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Well, Roy I only say that as an idea because if he’s busy with Soundgarden he may stop making these awful recordings on his own. And Timbaland, what the hell happened to him except for money-grubbing!!! They all deserve each other I suppose…
July 20th, 2008 at 9:00 am
tis just hurts my heart. if he wants to do beats and synths at least work with steve fisk so it can go more of the pigeonhead route. this just reeks of someone who’s lost their creative direction and is scared
July 20th, 2008 at 9:01 am
…that being said, i just listened to down on the upside last week and fell in love with it all over again
July 20th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I totally disagree. I think this is one of the prettiest songs he’s ever written, and no, I don’t think”pretty” is a pejorative word. Does anyone actually have any genuine reasons why they believe this song is terrible? If you think about it, Cornell’s always written pop songs, albeit in a heavy disguise - this knee-jerk reaction to him working with a pop producer shows a lack of musical intelligence and just looks like prejudice against anything that isn’t good ol’ rawk. I’m looking forward enormously to this new album & I hope it’ll see both Cornell and Timbaland working outside the bounds of what they’ve done before. Much as I loved Soundgarden at the time, I’d much rather have this than watch him try to revive the corpse of something that’s been dead for over a decade.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:55 am
@Christine,
My reaction is far from “knee-jerk” as you say and I think my “musical intelligence” is intact. My problem with Chris’s new song is that it is beneath his talents and it is also beneath the talents of Timbaland. Both of them are capable of much, much more. Timbaland’s work with Missy Elliot for instance was both genius and groundbreaking. Cornell’s work with Soundgarden took rock music in new directions and was extremely popular, more than 20 million albums sold around the globe. SO he clearly doesn’t need the money.
Audioslave was a pitiful mess too. I have no problem with Cornell moving toward “pretty” pop songs, I’d just like to see him break new ground. Of all the people out there Justin Timberlake killed it with his album Future Sex/Love Sounds and Sexyback was a killer hit single. ‘Long Gone’ is nowhere near the level of that “pop song.” Sorry.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:24 am
as usual, people jumping the gun based on either a snippet or one song…….why not give Chris the benefit of the doubt and perhaps WAIT TIL THE ALBUM IS RELEASED and actually LISTEN TO it!!! Maybe then a more fair critique will ensue…..this endless debate I’m seeing everywhere makes me giggle…….and while what we’ve heard so far normally isn’t my cup of tea, for some reason the song LONG GONE is sticking in my head……WHY??? Don’t know….what I do know is sometimes CCs music is a ‘grower’…..may not like it the first or second time much but eventually it HITS and then it might become your fav track…..it’s his voice FIRST and FOREMOST that gets me, every time……
July 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
D. Martin, whose graces has Chris fallen from? Not mine! You generalize! People! Like the new music …. don’t like the new music that’s your preference. But just because you don’t like it, don’t equate that with Chris being washed up and through! I wish I could be a tiny blood cell traveling through Cornell’s brain just to see everything going on up there. That would be a trip!! I have a feeling this new concept album, Scream, will take us on an unexpected trip also. I’m anxious to hear it in its entirety!!!
July 20th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Funny…Christ…well his name is Christopher, maybe the person that was entering in the meta data was in a hurry to go home or something. I will tell you this, Timbaland needs to find a new pose for the photogs, he looks like he just had a stroke.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
The End Is Nigh…
July 20th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
They’re all past their prime. Dave, you hammered closest to the nail when you said, “I doubt anyone cares.”
There’s too much other good stuff happening.
July 20th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
@Toshala and @warriorwoman….Chris’s album Euphoria Morning sold 343,000 copies <— Check this link. Soundgarden sold over 20 million albums…. When Chris’s new song, Long Gone, tops the charts I will be happy for him but not for the state of music today. I stand by my critique, music is an art form, he and Timbaland are artists, they failed on this song but yes, maybe the album’s ok, we’ll have to wait and see.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
When I first heard Chris Cornell’s version of Ave Maria I realized how much I love his voice, no matter what he’s singing. I just love to hear him sing. There’s something he brings to his music that is unique that I love. The style of music is sort of secondary. I’m not analyzing his choice of producer or assuming its calculated (go ahead and call me naive) or trying to figure out his musical legacy. I just want to hear it and decide if I like it. And I really like this song. I heard it live the other night and I think that made me like it more. I think this really is a good song. To each his own, I guess.
July 20th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I have to agree with Liz. I have loved Chri’s voice since Temple of the Dog. No matter what he’s singing, I love his voice.
I have played this song over and over and it has become a song that is sticking in my head. Looking forward to hearing the new CD in it’s entirety and to see Chris and Timbaland on the top of the charts. His voice just gets me every time. AMAZING!!!!
July 21st, 2008 at 1:24 am
Exactly! The voice is what’s still happening!!! What the hell happened>? Whatever happened I love it!!! What kind of question is that? He grew up and had babies and wanted to make music his family could enjoy. You can’t expect him to make the same song over and over again. There can only be one Jesus Christ Pose. I think this new direction is fantastic and I am so happy for Chris that he has come this far. The Tim project has my vote and I cannot wait to hear the entire album, I think as a collective work it is just going to blow everyone away. Yea Chris!!!
July 21st, 2008 at 7:51 am
I think it is still too early to conclude that ‘nobody cares.’
Chris “fronted one of the best heavy rock bands” of the grunge period, and I think it is very possible that he’ll have success in this new genre. His voice has fit well in too many settings for me to believe that this Timbaland project will be “so bad words [will] fail…to describe it.”
Wait until a few new songs emerge, and try not to juxtapose them all to Jesus Christ Pose. Nobody has ever said that this new album will be anything like Soundgarden. I don’t understand why the reaction from so many is “This isn’t Soundgarden! It sucks!”
July 21st, 2008 at 8:05 am
@Andrew H,
I don’t think anyone is saying that “this isn’t Soundgarden.” I put up the Soundgarden track for comparison based on how on one hand, Cornell was courageous in breaking new ground with what was basically a metal band while the world was embracing Nirvana, and how on the other he is currently embracing pop music in a bid for what appears to be radio hits and acceptance. I still stand by statement that both he and Timbaland can do much better even if they want to make a pop album. I have no problem with pop, I’m a huge Cut Copy fan for example, but Long Gone is nowhere in the league of current pop greats whatsoever. I think this new album of his has a lot riding on it….
July 21st, 2008 at 8:09 am
@ christine: the reason why i think the song is terrible is because it reeks of sterility. if you like the song, great. i think it’s on both ends, from cornell (more on him in a second), and timbaland, as well. timbaland has done much better (check both missy elliott and alliyah’s first two albums for proof). this is just my personal opinion, but it looks like an attempt to cash in on both ends.
@ warriorwoman: okay, so cornell hasn’t fallen from your graces. that’s fine. but, like dave, i found soundgarden to be a top-shelf rock band while they were around. there was an aura of danger permeating from nearly everything they recorded, and even on their “prettiest” songs, there was an underlying creepiness. soundgarden was a very interesting and progressive band. i’m sorry, but i don’t find cornell’s solo work (or this song with timbaland) to be either interesting or progressive. that’s just my opinion.
for the record, i did really like audioslave’s first album.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:57 am
While I am not in for the negative comments I am happy to see an intelligent conversation coming
along about this. So, intelligent or not ;0) I’ll put in my two cents:
I have to agree with loving his voice whatever he sings. I think his music, even in Soundgarden, was always different. I think he really enjoys making different types of music. To me, that is his gift to ‘play’ with. It is out of the box for both Cornell and Timbaland to work with one another, can you imagine the energy that must have been going on in those sessions? Sure, extreme differences but I can’t wait to hear the whole cd. I am giving both of them, Cornell and Timbaland, my full attention and open mind with this.
Euphoria Morning~perhaps it did not sell as SG did but, those people I’ve spoken with about it, their copy is priceless.
Oh, and from what I saw, his ‘Billie Jean’ cover did great on tour as well as on the American Idol show. I don’t watch that show but damn if it wasn’t all I heard about just about everywhere I went, on the radio news as well as on the television. So, I guess it depends on who is telling the tale. {not meaning you, meaning which radio station, magazine, etc.}
July 21st, 2008 at 9:31 am
What happened to Chris is that what many of us consider to be his best work and what he seems to want to do as an artist are apparently pretty different things. Not really an unusual phenomenon, I’m afraid. Many’s the artist whose fans have been disappointed in the direction taken when opportunity arises. I’ve long thought that Chris secretly wanted to be Perry Como. (Even before I heard his recording of “Ave Maria”!) The stuff he comes up with on his own tends to be pretty weak. (Take “Be Yourself” for “Christ” sakes!) He’s always done his best work when he has a good guitarist behind him kicking him in the ass. Tom Morello did that pretty well at times, but Kim Thayil always did so pretty terrifically. Chris is a great vocalist and he does sound good no matter what he’s singing, but some of the songs he’s done aren’t worth listening to no matter how well they’re sung. (Apologies to Perry Como fans! For his genre Perry *is* quite good!)
Please, Chris, how about a SG reunion? Just a couple more albums, that’s all I ask!
July 21st, 2008 at 9:37 am
I love Chris(t)’s voice and have tons of respect for Soundgarden too but that song is a generic turd. It should play nicely in Wall-Mart. Does Wall Mart still sell CD’s?
July 21st, 2008 at 11:21 am
hmmm…some intelligent discussion, some not so intelligent. I think the WORST thing anyone with even a “passing interest” in Chris Cornell’s work over the years can do is to judge an entire CD of his (not yet released) based on a tiny snippet of music (which I really don’t find ear-splitting at all; in fact, I can actually say that, after hearing it over and over, I’m pretty darn sure I like it!!). Chris’s work has always led him into uncharted territory, and for a lot of fans, especially those who want nothing but regurgitated CD after regurgitated CD (YAWN), this brings a lot of discomfort: Familiarity is easy, change requires attention. What I DON’T find surprising is that all the reviews of his shows (currently on tour with Linkin Park & Projekt Revolution) have been above expectations, musically, including his new material. As so many others have said, Chris Cornell’s best instrument has ALWAYS been his VOICE, and I hear no decline in quality, there. Maybe I’ll have to “get used to” a new style of music for Chris’s new CD, but I already know I’ll love it because his voice is too powerful to hide - and it’s what I always come back to the table for!!!
July 21st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
First off “looking like he bench pressed Kurt Cobain every morning” brought up an amusing image and made me smile.
But as far as falling from grace…who put him up on that pedestal in the first place? It’s impossible to please everyone 100% of the time, so why do it if not for fulfilling your own passion and drive? I love Chris Cornell, but I won’t follow everything blindly because of the name attached. When first hearing the songs, I tried to listen without any bias, labels or names and asked myself if this is something I would enjoy listening to anytime, or anywhere. And the answer was yes! That’s was all I needed.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Chris Cornell was doomed the moment he allowed a producer to put that “reverse” fx on his voice on Rusty Cage. It was the same nonsense that was used on Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow”–a cheesy studio gimmick that was a cliche before it was even used. That reverse sound effect is some kind of sinister government self-destructo programming that causes your career to tank later on. Musicians…do NOT use the reverse FX on your vox. Your career will perish later.
On an even less serious note…are we really having this discussion? Let’s do the math:
1. Struggling Seattle band makes good, rides wave.
2. Seattle band appears in Cameron Crowe movie.
3. Seattle band gathers large, uncritical audience.
4. Band falters after some amusing experiments with short hair and lack of screaming.
5. Singer gets comfortable solo career, keeps short hair.
6. Singer sucked into bowels of music industry hell. Fat paychecks as long as tours keep happening.
7. Singer yawns, ensures continued employment by hooking up supergroups and star producers.
Chris Cornell will eventually spearhead an ABBA reunion, installing himself as the lead soprano. Or maybe he’ll play Garfunkel to Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland’s Simon. Call it an unthinkable future.
Never mind the SG reunion, comparatively speaking I’d rather see a **TG** reunion with Chris, Cosey, Sleazy and whatever Genesis P. Orridge is calling his/herself lately. At least that would be time for a laugh. Seeing SG together again would like being in the front row of the US festival for the Led Zepplin reunion with Phil Collins on drums, AKA the “Robert Plant’s Voice Is Past It” show.
tee hee.
As an additional inflammatory gesture (just to make myself laugh) I’ll now drop a plug for Coil’s Love’s Secret Domain–tha bomb. It’s either that or the 13th Floor Elevators turned up to 11.
Let the flames begin.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:03 pm
PS–Are you SURE that’s Chris Cornell? It looks an awful lot like Dave Navarro with a perm. And WHERE is Timbaland’s OTHER hand?
July 21st, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I listened wanting to totally loathe it. And I did for about the first 30 seconds. But I gotta say -
what I’m hearing is a pretty damn great melody. Some wonky lyrics in the beginning, tho….
And is it a bit Timabland-cookie-cutter-One Republic-wannabe sounding? Sort of…
But I guess I’m imagining the song, but done as rock ‘n roll song - and it might sound pretty damn great.
I love Cornell’s voice. Always have.
Hell, it’s certainly not even close to being as hideous as that frickin’ Hayden Panettiere….
What audience is he supposed to attract now though?
His Soundgarden fans have probably moved way on by now…
He’s not really known in the pop world…
Alternative radio (which is still totally scream-o emo) isn’t exactly on board with him….
Maybe he’s going for, like, the Seal/John Mayer demographic?
A rock band should cover this and release it….
Or Soundgarden should reform and record it, all crunchy and darker sounding.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:41 am
@Paul V. –Seriously, if SG wanted to reform like you suggest, I think they’d do well to hook up with Steve Albini behind the desk and see what happens. Albini would be good for them— he’d knock all the pop right off ‘em. Sure, I’m biased bein’ in Chicago and all, but if you want to run your work through the buzz saw and get back down to something primal, Albini’s the man. SG would sound phenomenal with him mashing the buttons and riding the faders.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:33 pm
What the hell happened to Chris Cornell? He evolved. He branched out to different genres. All the more reason to collect new fans across the board. I like the ‘new’ music & I’m sure I will enjoy it even more when I see him in concert next month.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I like it, my favorite album all time is Euphoria Morning….to all those haters, you just need to whine because that is what you do and you live in the past and are nobodies and never will be anybody…this is great stuff, no one beats cornell’s voice
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
@Jim,
Thanks for the comment. You sure have a lot of hate for all the “haters”
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Me, I have hate for the haters of all the haters who hate to hate.
Never mind Chris Cornell, I want to know what happened to Chris CONNELLY.
I’ve been namedropping far too many of those goth-dustrial names round here lately. Give me 40 lashes and make me walk the plank. Plus I’m showing my age.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
It’s always difficult to watch an artist grow and wander off into unfamiliar territory but that is the spirit of being an artist. Following the feeling, sound, moment of whatever is inspiring you…without worrying too much about what other’s might think or how they might judge you. I’m sure Chris is expecting much of the reaction that he’s getting and more so once the album hits. I say stick to your convictions! It’s not about him losing fans, it’s about his fans losing him. I say stick around for the ride!!
August 12th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Check out my comic about this whole Cornell Timbaland nonsense. http://austintownhall.com/2008/08/11/scream/