I ended my imaginary, one sided love affair with you quite some time ago when your music started to COMPLETELY SUCK, but there was still affection, you know? There was Soundgarden at least, and I always had that to look fondly upon. Then, last week after an AWJ meeting, I stopped for gelato and while flipping through a magazine, found some glossy print ad with you hawking a Verizon cell phone, with like, Rihanna or something.
I responded with a profanity.
Why would you do this to the legacy of the mighty Soundgarden? Does your past respectability as a credible musician mean so very little to you? Wait, you've already answered that:
Also please stop tanning, you look like a Lil' Smoky with hair.
OK. I think I've spewed enough bile about music this weekend. Back to the happy!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Dear Chris Cornell: WTF DUDE!?
Posted by K. at 9:27 PM
Labels: chris cornell, fail, music
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28 comments:
I disagree with you here, tho you are certainly entitled to think what you may. I recently saw Chris at Alpine Valley and in St. Louis. His voice is more incredible than in the mighty Soundgarden, he can still rock it, but even tho the new stuff is a different direction for him, the music is well crafted. And if you don't like it, it is only one cd. He changes direction like the wind.
Jill
*K--I apologize for this & please feel free to delete it if you want, I'm feeling salty and you KNOW how this topic sets me off*:
BWHAHAHAHAHAHA! Voice "more incredible"--sorry, I choked on my laughter there. Though I still like his voice, it doesn't do justice to the high and low notes this man was capable of hitting during his Soundgarden days--and K & I managed to see him multiple times in one year, I got in on an acoustic set that should've been a stellar showcase for his vocals, but it was obvious his range has depleted --which is natural over time and wear/tear, so to say it's 'more incredible' is obviously the statement of someone someone who's only managed to see him in mega-venues with so much damn equiplment working his vocals that you have to wonder live or memorex.
And it's not only one CD that some of us take issue with--the downward spiral started with Audioslave's second album has only managed to rapidly decline from there. As for well-crafted...wow, just wow. This shite with Timbaland is about as well-crafted as the latest Britney/Lohan/Duffy collaborations.
And dammit...why is he giving these people the good hair...They.DO.NOT. APPRECIATE his hair the way we did, K!!!!
PS--DAMMIT, I listened to that clip...my ears are bleeding AGAIN!
OMG!! I am feeling the same way. Where did that wonderful howling banshee that we once knew go off and make something with Timbawhatever?? It makes me sick. My one sided love affair has ended as well.
Must be that new wife and her end lifestyle he's trying to support. Damn, where is Susan silver when you need her?
Quietlygoingmad - well at least you've made it obvious what your REAL issue is!
BUT - I've heard nothing but stellar reviews of all his live performances over the past year and a half - including the new songs. Definitely another new direction for him.
QGM: Your message is A-OK! No deletion here. I would only delete personal attacks anyway.
I have to say, I must respectfully disagree as well about his voice being better than in SG, he's got about at least a quarter of the range he had back then, whenever he's in the higher register he's totally straining, where as he never had to before. The CC of today could never, ever hit that wicked b-flat (i'm pretty sure it's a b-flat) in "birth ritual"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3bblpum6Ho
As for the music, I would be fine with going in a new musical direction, if that new direction showed any growth or experimentation. I like pop structure, melodies, etc. So it's not that. His Timbaland songs could be easily be sung by a moderately talented American Idol finalist. There's nothing in the songwriting or production that's distinctive or noteworthy.
It's lacking in passion and musicianship. IMO, he's sleepwalking his way to a paycheck.
1. QGM--cosigned. Couldn't have said it better myself.
2. The L'il Smoky with hair comment had me snorting in my cubicle. Bwahahahahaha!
Anonymous--you know, I wanted to blame the wife too, but I just can't. CC has been known to be a litiguous cuss long before he met up with the current mrs. I think he's just fallen into the 'wanna be a rock star' mindset as he's gotten older and alienated many of his truly good musician brethren. He's no longer about solid, well-thought out, well-played music, but instead about ensuring he has a large fan-base that affords the lifestyle he's obviously become accustomed to with his modeling, restauranteering, etc. It's no longer about the music or the art of music, but instead, I think it's really become about the ego--the really giant, inflated ego.
Oh, and please feel free to join my facebook group: "I Quit You, Chris Cornell"
In addition...when you look at artists like Eddie Vedder and Trent Reznor--they've veered down different paths, yet still managed to hold a level of artistry with their work. Heck, I can even give Scott Weiland credit--for all the f'ing up he's done, he's managed to come back and make a pretty good show of things with STP all over again.
*skips off singing: "sell out, with me oh yea, sell out, with me tonight, record company's gonna give me lots of money and everything's gonna be (all right)."
Wow, I just watched that clip, and then when his sappy mock-intensity became to much to take, I just listened to it.
This. Is. Crap.
Is his voice still better than a majority of male vocalists out there? I guess. But it's nothing compared to what it used to be, and it has been put to evil service in this whiny-ass song.
I weep for what was. Sigh.
Sid...just remember--WE STILL HAVE TRENT!
That song is pretty bad; sounds like a knock-off Daughtry ballad. He looked bored singing it. Maybe the rest of the album is better (let's hope so anyway).
I think that what the "author" of this article has said here is absolutely TERRIBLE. And the little comment about Cornell's "tanning" was absolutely unnecessary.
I recently saw Cornell perform at both Alpine Valley (in Wisconsin) and at the Verizon Wireless Center (in Indiana) and I must say that I thought both he and the band sounded GREAT! Cornell's new musical direction is going to do nothing but attract new fans . . . and knock those fans off the wagon that are holding on too tightly to the Soundgarden days.
Cornell's art is fleeting, breathing, ALIVE. His voice is not restricted to any genre and I will continue to be a fan of his music - regardless of whether or not I "agree" with the direction the music is taking.
Sincerely,
"E-Dogg"
myspace.com/upontheshelf
Clearly the Chris Cornell fan community has me in their sights. Heh, amusing. I was one of you once, sisters!
It may "terrible," but the truth often is, E-Dogg. But that's cool. Soundgarden fans have moved on. That means more Chris for you!
"And the little comment about Cornell's "tanning" was absolutely unnecessary."
So is excessive tanning. I'm sorry, LOOK AT HIM.
not only is overt tanning unnecessary, but unhealthy.
And why is it terrible that someone isn't playing into blind fandom? a part of being a true fan of anything from books, music, television, movies, etc. is being discerning and not just following someone around because of his/her name. It's looking at something with a critical eye and realizing whether it stands up to what they've done previously---CC's current stuff doesn't...not by any stretch of the imagination.
My question is---do you think these fangirls who are now praying at the altar of CC--the same altar we prayed at how many years ago?-- actually know a soundgarden song from an audioslave song from a solo song from a timbaland song IF it wasn't played on the radio? I'd be willing to bet not.
First off, I have to wonder why it matters to you how dark Mr. Cornell is? Does his complexion alter your opinion of his music? I have been a fan for 16 years and never once have I felt disapointed by the music he has been involved in. If you were to spend a day listening to his entire catalog you would undoubtedly hear the constant evolution of his sound. You can't say that about the majority of artists who stick to what they know, they cling to their safe ground.
Personally, I don't trust anyone's opinion who doesn't love Cornell's music.
You say the music sucks , but give no explaination of why you think so, other than "he looks like a lil smoky with hair" and if you are judging music on the appearance of the artist..boy you are missing the big picture. Its not about the way he looks, its about the way he sings , his lyrics and his sound.
I hope he never stops making music as long as he lives!
Darlin', I'm black. African American-y and what not.
So, his darker complexion means not a thing to me. There's dark-skinned, and there's orange and leathery. That's CC now.
I've been a fan for as long as you, and own about 95% of his catalog, so I'd calm down a bit before making the thinly veiled accusations of racism or playing the uberfan card, anonymouse.
I don't like Chris Cornell's new musical direction or the fact that he tans too much. I'm sorry this offends you so badly. Actually, no I'm not.
If you don't trust someone's opinion because they don't blindly follow an artist long after they've stopped making music they find compelling, I can't help ya, dude. To each their own. But you keep enjoying his new shit. I'll cling to the past.
Back when CC had songwriting talent and artistic integrity.
I don't think I was being obnoxious or rude. I am just stating that tho Chris had better range in Soundgarden, he has consistently hit high notes and gives a better overall performance on a CONSISTENT level, day after day, performance after performance.
I know the heimlich if you need it.
Dude, a reason doesn't have to be given for why it sucks--all anyone has to do is listen to it to realize it's sub-par musical quality. Listen to an early Soundgarden, an early Audioslave, a late Audioslave, any one of his solo stuff, and then his latest Timbanell creations and it's easy to see the downward rushing tide of the waterfall plunging in the swirling churning mass of other mass-produced, mediocre tunage that hits the airwaves today.
Let's hear it for CONSISTENT mediocrity.
"I don't think I was being obnoxious or rude. I am just stating that tho Chris had better range in Soundgarden, he has consistently hit high notes and gives a better overall performance on a CONSISTENT level, day after day, performance after performance"
But the songs suck!
Anyhoo. I'm don't need the heimlich, as I am not the one anonymously posting on someone else's blog berating them for having a different opinion than me.
Enjoy the new album and new direction, anon. It's not for me, but I'm glad he has fans that still give a shit enough to bother strangers.
I've been a fan since the mid 90s, and he's singing one hell of a lot better now than he was in that decade, when he was thin, sick and frequently out of his head on booze. Seen him last year and this, met him, talked to him, and neither time did he look like he'd been anywhere near a tanning salon or a bottle of fake tan. He had regained much of his original range and vocal strength, too. I'd say there's people here making their minds up on the basis of their own retroactive prejudices. And saying a lot more about themselves than they are saying about this artist or his music.
Blogs are meant to be commented on, thus, the comment section. I wasn't berating you, tho you were choking with laughter on mine, sweetheart.
Whenever someone starts to have an opinion other than the popular one, things always start to get ugly.
And of course, some don't know how to post without getting mean.
Jill
Anonymous/Jill: Heh. I could be a LOT meaner.
Either way, please note the following post:
http://www.enjoyandexciting.com/2008/08/public-service-announcement-and-what-i_26.html
Comment all you want here, but ... "Carry On" sucks. CC hasn't written a decent song in years. You're free to spend money on his shit, but I'm done.
Toodles!
Oh, and in case I didn't spell it out clearly enough:
You like Chris Cornell; I no longer do. Hurray for both of us.
Go spend time fangirling over him with other people who actually still care. You are truly wasting your valuable time here.
Holy crap, this is so awesome, K! All these Chris Cornell fans whining in defense of their darling.
Everyone knows his pipes have been on a downward slide for a long time, but if he wants to cash in and get a tan now, I say go for it. It creates lotsa comments.
PS- Listen to Slayer.
Jon: I know! It's amusing. I'm like, why do you all give a shit that some random chick on the internet hates your boy? Go get a hobby!
And listen to Slayer.
I am a huge Soundgarden fan. I can honestly say I am so sick of all of these negative comments directed at Chris. True, you are entitled to your opinion but please don't be mean about it.
If you don't care for his current songs so be it. Move on then and stop the bashing. I'm sure his next solo record will be totally different than this one. I've seen Soundgarden in concert twice ('94 and '96). IMO his voice sounds better live in concert today than those two times I'd seen him concert in the past when he fronted Soundgarden. I'd seen Chris a couple weeks ago on the Projekt Revolution tour. The Linkin Park fans seem to love his two new songs he performed (Watch Out and Scream) and so do I. They really sound great live. I'm a fan of his voice period.
One thing that hasn't changed is Chris' sense of humor. He still cracks me up. I can recall funny jokes or comment he makes at every concert of his I've been to.
I think the new song is GOD AWFUL, His singing is alright but musically there is nothing there all I hear is a "Boom-Boom, Clash" sound repeating over and over and over and over ...
It's so annoying!
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