On his "unplugged" live performance, Chris Cornell (Audioslave/Soundgarden) made a great version of a very popular Michael Jackson song called Billie Jean. Clearly, he made one of the best covers in history. brunofuzz.carr...
People are complaining that Cornell made this song depressing. They fail to see how he stripped it down and brought the lyrics to the forefront and how depressing the lyrics are. He gives it blues and exposed the conflict in it. I think I love this version more than the original.
Rez, yeah this song was dark even when I hear mj sing it . It really great paranoid dark song. I wish people realized just how dark and paranoid MJ song writing was, AND that he did his best writing when he writes depressing paranoia driven music, not those sappy ballads about healing all the kids and animals.
I've listened to MJ songs a lot but never noticed the darkness. I suppose this is the one song that I did sense it. Cornell brought it up to the forefront.
well those topics are just as dark and have reason to have a sence of paranoid to it....cuz those are the real true issues...:) in response to Dani Van saying " those sappy ballads about healing all the kids and animals" lol
Chris Stapleton is as talented as Chris Cornell but there will never be another of either of them. Voices like theirs are gifts that only come along once! I grew up listening to Cornell from his temple of the dog days all the way up to his untimely demise. He will never know just how many lives his music has touched and influenced. I believe his existence has made a positive impact on humanity through his art and for that i hope he is in a better place!!! Godspeed Chris, your music will live on forever!!!
Totally brilliant. Still hard to believe these legends are no longer with us. And took there own lives. Soundgarden, Audioslave, Nirvana, Linkin Park were amongst some of the bands of my younger years. Gone but never forgotten...
This song, no matter who sings it, tells a story....a strange yet common one. This is some powerful shit! Michael Jackson's funk-soul original with that killer bassline, a man tells on himself, dispite all denials. And in Cornell's bitter acoustic rant, one begins to believe... maybe ...the words are true. Always were.
chris cornell is the voice of a generation, i would listen to him sing the phonebook, as a frontman he makes every band better, as a solo artist he stirs my soul. greatest singer of all time
Randy Mc strange calling him the voice of a generation.. that exactly words are on his grave stone. awesome voice and for me he was the ultimate Xanax. King of kings and the man of golden words!
My friend JUST turned me onto this... How in the ever living FUCK have I never heard this before?!?! Chris Cornell was so much more than just an amazing voice... The man was an artist!!!
Covers only make sense when they differ from the original enough,would be interesting to know if Michael had a chance to hear this. Most def one of my favourite covers of all time.
Sometimes I hear certain songs and when I think hard enough, I can hear them in his voice. His voice truly stood out amongst the rest. And in my opinion, it's the greatest singing voice ever. Chris Cornell is my favorite musician of all time.
Why all the "who's version is better" crap that youtube is always full of ? Chris had the guts to do something very different with a very popular song; and both versions are cool..just enjoy the music guys and relax?
Now that is how you make a song your own.. his voice takes the me back to 2005 when I was 10 yrs old.. & looking up at a sweaty Chris Cornell sing his heart out with Audioslave..a greatly cherished childhood memory..👍
It’s so tough, as a normal, untalented “Regular Joe” to see and hear Chris Cornell and realize that depression made him believe he was worthless. That’s such a gut punch.
Chris vocals and that guitar! Man, whomever got to see this live count yourself so blessed! This is a masterpiece and how should one tackles remaking a song and make it your own. Make it original and a complete sultry and beautiful and perfect song just simply breathtaking
Lyrics : She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene I said don't mind, but what do you mean, I am the one Who will dance on the floor in the round? She said I am the one, who will dance on the floor in the round She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one Who will dance on the floor in the round People always told me be careful of what you do And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts And mother always told me be careful of who you love And be careful of what you do 'cause the lie becomes the truth Billie Jean is not my lover She's just a girl who claims that I am the one But the kid is not my son She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son For forty days and forty nights The law was on her side But who can stand when she's in demand Her schemes and plans 'Cause we danced on the floor in the round So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice (Do think twice) She told my baby we'd danced 'til three, then she looked at me Then showed a photo my baby cried his eyes were like mine (oh, no) 'Cause we danced on the floor in the round, baby People always told me be careful of what you do And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts She came and stood right by me Just the smell of sweet perfume This happened much too soon She called me to her room Billie Jean is not my lover She's just a girl who claims that I am the one But the kid is not my son She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son So take my strong advice, and remember to always think twice (Do think twice)
This... This is like Jimi Hendrix taking All Along the Watchtower and making it his own, Johnny Cash and Hurt, this just elevates it to something greater I'm at complete awe
Very sad news today. Both of them made history in music and we should all be thankful for that. Hope MJ and Cornell meet each other somewhere to sing this one together. I wonder if now, people will stop fighting about who sings this song better in the comments and focus in what really matters: the music.
many people don't see how depressing this lyric really is, mainly because of the vast of his talent MJ put in this song, so fortunately we have this version.
Both versions are great, Cornell just highlights how depressing the lyrics are. He changes the narrative and feel and it's fucking impressive. It almost feels like listening to a song in a old Western.
primera vez que escucho esta versión, increíble, sin dudas que estes donde estes Chris tu voz es la tormenta, el viento y los relámpagos a partir de ahora, la mejor voz.
The whole range of his voice on this glorious song and expressing the deepest darker sentiments that MJ was singing about and frosted it with sweet sweet pop music to distract the general public from what is truly being expressed.
She was more like a beauty queen from a movie screen I said don't mind, but what do you mean I am the one Who will dance on the floor in the round She said I am the one, who will dance on the floor in the round She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one Who will dance on the floor in the round People always told me be careful of what you do And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts And mother always told me be careful of who you love And be careful of what you do before the lie becomes the truth Billie Jean is not my lover She's just a girl who claims that I am the one But the kid is not my son She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son For forty days and for forty nights The law was on her side But who can stand when she's in demand Her schemes and plans 'Cause we danced on the floor in the round So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice (Do think twice) She told my baby we'd danced till three, then she looked at me Then showed a photo my baby cried his eyes were like mine (oh, no!) 'Cause we danced on the floor in the round, baby People always told me be careful of what you do And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts She came and stood right by me Then the smell of sweet perfume This happened much too soon She called me to her room Billie Jean is not my lover She's just a girl says that I am the one But the kid is not my son Billie Jean is not my lover She's just a girl who claims that I am the one But the kid is not my son She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice (Do think twice)
This is sad. I am really Glad that his music is still here, i just discovered him and he sounds fucking nice. RIP good man, may we listen to those in need better that we did so far.
Bruh.. don't sleep on his guitar playing in this song.. & this might be the best live performance I've ever heard in my life.. I'm so glad I seen him live as a kid..a legend indeed..🙏
MJ made you wanna dance with his original version. In Chris' version his voice is so powerful and emotionally charged that it makes you share the anguish and the pain in those lyrics and I think that's a much harder thing to do and more appropriate given the subject matter of the song. If MJ was here he'd listen with pride and shed tears with us. RIP Chris. You are sorely missed.
It's a good cover and can stand on its own. But is it better than the original? No. It is uniquely different but that does not translate to "better." And I am someone that would take Chris Cornell over Michael Jackson any day.
Chris could literally cover a kids bop CD and I would still jam hard asf My GOD is there anything this genius couldn't sing? Rest in peace to a legend. Always in our music, always in our hearts.
@@noname-nobody1247 Hmm, taking an over played pop song and making it into a blues song that was way better than the original is pretty damn genious. He threw his own style into whatever he did. It made him stand out as a genious singer. Sorely missed.
Greatest Vocalist Ever!!!!! Not even close he is a genius, This man could sing the phone book and make it a hit ,yes he took his life,but he left us with the most amazing voice in the last 100yrs
I was with him for a few months in early 2000. Being with such a brilliant person isn't so great as you might think. I miss him greatly, but he was always troubled.
Τοσο καιρο θεωρουσα καλύτερη την εκτέλεση του cornel απο του Jackson, παρολαυτα του βιντζιλαιου τους ξεπερασε και τους δυο κατα την προσωπική μου παντα αποψη και ακουστική αισθητικη.... χωρις να μειωνω,εννοείται, τους αλλους δυο!!!!
Holy Shit! I never even liked this song - until today. Phenomenal. I'm so incredibly lucky though - I haven't listened to a lot of Chris Cornell - until today.
