I've never understood the snobbish Soundgarden fans who don't like this song. Maybe it's just overexposure or a knee-jerk reaction to commercial success. But in my opinion, it contains all the qualities of a "Soundgarden" song while adding on top a layer of melodic beauty reminiscent of The Beatles. It's one of the most inventive "hits" in the history of popular music.
Every band has fans who love the band most before they become very successful. We are all guilty at times of wanting bands/artists to be ours and ours only!
I wasn’t aware that this song wasn’t liked. It’s not like Cornell went pop. As a songwriter it influenced me to follow my ear and trust that I will find a way to stick the landing…and that there many ways to support a melody that still sound ‘pop’ to the general public.
THE rock song for the summer of 1994. It was everywhere, and now serves as one of my reference recordings for auditioning a stereo system. Lightning in a bottle ⚡️🔥🚀
I worked at Bad Animals through the 90's as an engineer. Long hours, lots of crazy, fantastic stuff. I had some amazing experiences during the recording of that album. We had two EMT plates at the studio, in a back room outside of the main studio area. We used to go into the back room where the plates were kept, while Chris was tracking, or when they were mixing, and listen to his vocal coming through the plate. It was awesome. I had the horrible habit of singing bands songs that were in the studio, as I was working in various other studios at Bad Animals. Studio X had a back entrance to the big room (Studio X), which was also the lounge/kitchen/restroom area. There was a door into the back hall, which wasn't usually used by the bands. I was in the back hall one night after midnight belting out "Jesus Christ Pose". I came around the corner and came face to face with Chris. I immediately shut up and froze. He looked at me and said "Sonics look good this year, eh?" I mumbled yes and hurried off. Nice guy. Such a loss of an amazing vocalist.
I didn’t know the engineer was Jason Corsaro! He was the man behind The Power Station Tony Thompson drum sound, another of the most amazing drum sounds of all time!
Love this one -- I watched the original interview you did with Michael about SuperUnknown probably 10 times. Special, special record (in my personal top 5 of all time) and of course song. One thing -- the guitars you mentioned being used I'm pretty sure were Chris's guitars (maybe Kim used them too!), and I remember Michael saying that Chris played a good majority of the rhythm guitars throughout the record. Thanks Warren!
The amazing thing is the tempo. How slow is black hole song. Count it out. You don't get popular songs this slow. It's slow but it doesn't sound like it's dragging. Everything is great about this track. The video is iconic to boot. It just all came together.
Early Soundgarden fan here, and to me, Badmotorfinger is their best album... or at least I enjoy the most.. But then, I'm not a critic. I was at that Pinkpop gig when they played in the middle of a thunderstorm and it all fit so well together.
Warren, you once again hit it out of the park with this video. Interesting, insightful and delivered with such respect for the music and the incredible people involved in making this song. I said it before, you are the real deal. Chris would have loved this. Thank you!
First time I heard this song, I was sitting in my car at a stoplight and it was on the radio. I pulled over and listened to the entire thing, just astonished at the incredible feel and writing. Great vid as always, Warren!
Incredible track by an amazing band. Whenever it came on the radio in the 90’s, my car volume always went to 11! RIP Chris. Glad we have your music to always listen to.
Matt Cameron became part of my top 2 drummers of that genre the first time i heard Jesus Christ Pose. Dear Lord, that song is intense. Danny Carey was the other. The drumming on Opiate floored me.
I remember when this song came out . I was at lunch from school in a music store where radio was playing and this song stared to play. I was like; I gotta listen to that album. Next thing I knew I became a fan . Thats when I discovered Ten by PearlJam. What an era ...freakn miss the 90s
Another great video, but I must (respectfully) protest at your passing over Badmotorfinger so abruptly! When that album came out it blew my mind - Rusty Cage, Jesus Christ Pose, Slaves & Bulldozers... the whole thing just blazes with wild, heavy, frenetic energy like nothing we'd heard at the time. I absolutely love Superunknown (and indeed the whole Soundgarden discography) but, for me, Badmotorfinger will always be No.1.
Amazing video! But Kim Thayil didn't record the 'rotary' arpegios of the verse. Cornell did. You can hear Thayil discussing this in a Rick Beato interview.
I personally feel it is the best song of the Grunge era music- there are so many other greats but this one "Black Hole Sun" is a an achievement of it's time. It is beautiful and intense and deep and melancholy and lastly so profound as a musical statement. l love Warren and his ability dive into all kinds of music and find the common denominator of the Heart. Thank you so much
Warren, this song was my shizzy! Played it constantly couldn't get enough. This was their pierre de tier or magnum opus. The lack of a click track allowed this to breathe. I'm curious, have you heard Eddie's son Wolfgang on his 1 st album? The song "Stone" affected me similarly because it's not quantized either.
Thinking too much about "what people want" is indeed toxic. I can think of one famous band I won't name whose second album was an indie rock masterpiece, but flopped financially. The singer took that as indication that album wasn't good and proceeded to churn out soulless crap (imo) for the next 30 years. He's since begrudgingly come around to "liking" that album now that it's become a cult classic. But I can only imagine how much better their music would have been since then if he'd just kept going in that direction. Of course, they also would have made far less money, so maybe I'm the one who's wrong here. But regardless, Soundgarden was lucky: they got to have it both ways. They expanded their sound AND got more popular.
Badmotorfinger is definitely a mix of the outstanding and the totally forgettable. I would say that Soundgarden was a group that had great songs, but not great albums - but Superunknown and Down on the Upside were much *closer* to being cohesive, sit-down-and-listen-through albums.
@@ragebait988 - Badmotorfinger is a good album. People might hate on it but I love it. Searching With My Good Eye Closed is an epic song. But yeah, this is definitely the bust album.
This series is getting weird. Even though I was a kid in the"Grunge era" I was a bit too young and British to get it. Yet I bought this on CD single. One of my favourite tracks of all time. Please stop reading my mind.
One of my favourite songs of all time. Black Hole Sun has always given me a surreal feeling. Like living in a dystopian world and embracing the impending doom that will come when our universe inevitably implodes. Almost like the musicians who kept playing on the Titanic as it sank. And that snare…. Is there a better snare sound?
I remember hearing this song the same day that the death of Kurt Cobain was announced. The song, the guitar sounds especially, so encapsulated the gloomy mood that day fell into. The song to me had an instant timeless feel, that now around 30 years later it still holds up as a classic. Another great video in this series, Warren. Thanks.
It is interesting growing up here near Seattle and having the chance to be where these epic songs were created. I remember hearing some of SoundGarden's early stuff on the local radio stations when I was in middle school. I still remember Black Hole Sun being played a lot during our summer break and listening to it with my band friends. Thanks for this one Warren, it brings back such great memories. Hope you are doing well!
When I feel like I need creative inspiration, this album is one of the top few I put on. I was a kid when it came out and I listened to it a bajillion times. I miss the 90s.
I remember seeing the music video and hearing the song first time when it came out...I never bought a album because of the music video...but in this case....the whole album is a masterpiece. Love listening to it together with my favourite progressive rock bands. Great video Warren! What happened with the SSL?😢😢
Couldn't agree more with your sentiments Warren. For me , Chris was THE greatest rock vocalist of all time (with Robert Plant in 2nd) . He is so badly missed. What a production and thank god Michael B got this out Chris and the band. This story highlights to me that a good producer should know how to manage people and get the best out of them. Honestly delivered in a compassionate and understanding way. Thank you for your insights on this Warren and for making this video.
I could be wrong but I think Kim said recently in a Beato interview that Chris played the intro guitar line with the Leslie due to it not being a style of guitar Kim plays and he had difficulty doing it. So Chris played it on the record. Regardless great video.
Another great one Warren! Growing up in Seattle I was able to see Soundgarden in Tacoma at the Comunity World Theatre opening for the Butthole Surfers years before the success. There was no doubt then that Chris's voice was one of the best rock voices ever. The Black Sabbath influence was definitely there way back then. I had never seen Soundgarden before that show and I was really there to see the Butthole Surfers. I remember saying to my friend Dexter "These guys think they are Black Sabbath." LOL. Was awesome to watch them grow and get more and more success with each record. What started as a band I just happened to see opening on a bill eventually became my favorite band from my hometown. Thanks again for your great take on an incredible song by an incredible band. RIP Chris.
great video guys! love this kind of content. i remember being ten years old when this came out, me and some buddies were playing mortal kombat on snes and we turned it off and everyone freaked out when black hole sun was on mtv, i was the only one who didnt know it yet
Not sure where u were when Badmotorfinger came out or which moronic review you base your story from but it was and remains their best album. Superunknown is exhausting to listen to in retrospect.
That song could be called „Ohrwurm“ ear worm in german. I remember being called out in the school for humming it all the time for a day. Black hole sun and spoon man… Of course it’s dark. Even if you don’t understand english, you got it when seeing the video that it’s not a happy song. Besides the radio we were happy with MTV and the german version of it Viva. Grunge was the epiphany moment after some dark and funny 1980s spent with Heavy-Trash Metal and Queen :) Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Jane’s addiction and bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, etc.. Parallel to it HipHop, Trip-Hop! Drum&Base, House and a lot of other crazy stuff.
I knew "Louder Than Love" and "Badmotorfinger" was played endlessly through 1992 by me. "Superunknown" was a different beast. the sonic palette was a lot wider and the production seemed "brighter" and the sound not as thud-heavy as before. "Black Hole Sun" is a showcase for Cornell's vocals and what a voice! The subject matter and apocalyptic scene were totally different from anything else Soundgarden has ever done. "Black Hole Sun" is a song where everything just "fit." Soundgarden nailed it. When I first heard "Black Hole Sun," I was stunned. Soundgarden had so expanded their sound that it took me a while to catch up. An incredible statement of purpose.
It's great to hear you're saying "Totsiens". My native language Afrikaans. 😀 Love your videos. I don't comment much, but trust me when I say, I ALWAYS click on the like button, because your videos makes sense. Laat dit goed gaan met jou. Greetings from Port Elizabeth, South Africa 🇿🇦
I love Badmotorfinger. Jesus Christ Pose, Outshined, Drawing Flies are all absolute killer tracks. I was already in love with the band thanks to Ultramega OK and Louder than Love when I queued up a Volume Records in Newcastle to get my copy signed when they were in town with G'N'R. I've found BHS hard to listen to ever since a mate said "It's great, but the icecream van jingle ruins it." So now I've passed that can't-un-hear to you.
"Rusty Cage" from Badmotorfinger is more of what I would call Soundgarden's signature song...driving energy, kickass riffs, passionate vocals, and complex changes in tempo and meter. Black Hole Sun is ok but like a drowsy nap in comparison. I agree that the production is excellent, though...
My introduction to Soundgarden and next to Nirvana was my introduction to grunge music. A great haunting but beautiful melody, heavy chorus and a Creepy Music Video to boot. Its a great song on a great album.
For me this song was undeniable, right from the very first listen. There's a bunch of really good songs on this album. The production, though very slick for a grunge type band, was meticulous and perfect for the songs imo..
Huh, I did not know there was any controversy around Badmotorfinger. Sure, I love Superunknown as much as the next person who was alive in the 1990s, but Badmotorfinger is my personal favourite Sound Garden album. I ought to go back and give them both a good, close listen, see if that still stands, and if so, why. Cornell truly was one of the greatest rock vocalists ever.
I was buying their first albums by reading print. Bleach, Mud Honey, ect. They were from my region and the record store I worked in got a monthly music magazine called ‘The Rocket’. It was so good to be present for what was about to break huge. Once it did, it was a mixed bag but SoundGarden hung on and grew while Nirvana had the misfortune of being the “It” band which brought ruin. Nobody was looking after these young guys. Loved this band and what a shame we don’t have these voices that we need. Just knowing someone is out there, gives peace of mind.
Funny, I always heard black Sabbath and basically classic rock in some grunge, the pink was sprinkled in as well, but more from the attitude aspect... If that makes sense...?
This brings back memories of this one band that I recorded during the late 90s in my own studio at the time. They were very much into that 'grunge' sound and they were great at it. But there was this moment during the recording sessions of their main track where the guitar solo needed to be done. The guitar player, being a very young but super talented dude had this guitar solo prepared and after so many takes he kept messing up. At one point I suggested to forget about his prepared solo and just go wild and see where it goes. Although he humored that idea for like 1 take (which I thought sounded awesome) he then just said "no, I can do this". He absolutely nailed the very next take of his prepared solo, and it completed the song perfectly. Not sure how relevant this little anecdote is to this video, other than being inspired by it 🙂
Brilliant video, thank you so much. It's funny: I'm surprised to hear that Badmotorfinger had a mixed reception, because I honestly don't know whether that or Superunkown is my favourite Soundgarden album! They're so different, so I suppose I admire them equally but for different reasons. Either way, I have a huge amount of respect for their ability to be so weird and yet so good at being weird! All those odd time signatures, alternate tunings variety of influences...all four of them are/were talented guys, whether many listeners realise it or not. And of course the sound design on Superunkown captures their respective greatness brilliantly.
i never heard this song til 2012 or so... must be timeless because i was so surprised to hear it is from a much earlier time! incredible. RIP Chris. : (
It's one of my least favorite Soundgarden songs but it's catchy as hell.... Fun random fact, my girlfriend's creative writing teacher was Kim Thayil's mom and she had an effect... she's turned into famous and rather interestingly dark contemporary artist. So Kim's mom is pretty rad and encouraging... most of the time she taught music. People focus on Cornell but the rest of the band had such an existential "weltschmertz" about it. Glad they are putting the final songs together.
Chris and I are the same age, born barely two months apart and grew up less than an hour apart so I can identify with some of his ideas, themes and angst. We both grew up listening to the same kind of music. I never got to know him, we crossed paths at a party that was raided by the police where an early version of Nirvana played, later I saw him at another Nirvana show that didn't get shut down. Such is life, we were on different trajectories. "Superunknown" is a great album, but I have to listen in small doses, it's quite dark and if you're prone to melancholy, it can be addicting. Some may disagree, but I think "Black Hole Sun" is a masterpiece, but it sure as hell ain't chipper, unless you're talking about that scene from Fargo. Cheers, Warren - another great video, Thanks!
Somber and affectionate tribute to the great Chris Cornell. I appreciate the comments about the placement of the overheads and the darkness of the Ks. The width and heft of the drum sound on this record is remarkable.
Warren mate you are knocking it out of the park! Maiden the other week now Soundgarden what a treat! I think Chris Cornell was one of the very best ever rock vocalists. He could scream but do tender just as well. Miss you Chris RIP x
I’m a flight attendant and once had the pleasure of looking after Chris Cornell in First Class on a long haul flight. As far as I recall he was my only customer that day. He was calm and gentle: a very pleasant guest.
Love this song, and I really love learning more about music. But I gave up on this particular video about mid-way through because of the the constant RU-vid ad interruptions .
The final thoughts section of the video perfectly describes just bout EVERYTHING that is missing in this vacant modern pro-tooled and auto-tuned world of music. If we want to really explore and make important fulfilling music again, listen to these final thoughts. F&%king Brilliant opinions.
