Pearl Jam - Black - MTV Unplugged (Reaction/First Listen!) 

"I know someday you'll have a beautiful life I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky. But why, why can't it be mine" That lyric has put a lump in my throat every time I've heard it for 33 years now...

What a broken heart sounds like, without Eddie's broken "Black" wouldn't have been made.

One of the greatest live recordings ever made in my opinion.

I would love to see you react to Pearl Jam - Porch [Pinkpop 1992]. It is an incredible performance, and has a legendary stage dive.

His body language in this particular performance speaks volumes. It is something that hurts him every time he sings it. It is raw in his soul. He covers his midsection, indicating injury (not physically), he becomes restless, almost at a breaking point, it's a painful song for him. Arguably one of the best live performances ever.

I remember watching this live as a 19 year old. At the time, I didn't realize how I lucky was to watch and hear music this good!

What a shattered heart sounds like. Sometimes when a heart breaks it never truly heals.

This is the song of my life, thank you...

I love Eddie’s voice. It is such a rich, deep baritone, as opposed to many lead singers who tend to have thinner, tenor voices (imo). And while he can’t reach the highest notes anymore, his voice has only gotten deeper and more resonant with age. Even his speaking voice is deep. I never get tired of it.

each time he stares off and reflects on what was, I know that feeling, these lyrics hit home...this is hands down my favorite song from any of the unplugged performances, however when it comes to just listening to this song, the album version sounds absolutely beautiful

He fucks up the lyrics, gives a little shake of the head then slays the rest of the song leaving us all wrecked….

Not sure if it's been said already here, but Pearl Jam's record label urged the band to release this as a single, but Eddie refused as he considered the song to be too personal! 😭

It's a shame that tortured souls have nowhere to turn today without revisiting music like this.

I've been looking forward to seeing your video on this one!

Great reaction ❤ PEARL JAM: EVENFLOW, ALIVE , LAST KISS, and YELLOW LEDBETTER. TEMPLE OF THE DOG: HUNGER STRIKE SOUNDGARDEN: OUTSHINE, when you get a chance. Great video, keep it up 👍

The "gritty" sound is Eddie expressing pain and passion in one sound. This was a very personal song for him. He lived this and you can sense that as you watch and hear his emotion expressed in the performance. This is what it's all about. Hey, you should also check out a song from the Unplugged video called "State of Love & Trust". Great song!

I would say this is their best song/performance ever, and maybe even best 90s grunge performance of all time.

TEN is a phenomenal debut album and I totally understand you using it as your starting point to explore PJ but they are so much more than TEN. They have 33 years worth of music to enjoy including their new record Dark Matter that was released in April 2024. Everyone will just suggest the PJ “hits” (Evenfow, Jeremy, Alive, Black etc, and with good reason) but don’t be afraid to stray off into the deep cuts from all their albums. Songs like Indifference from the VS album, Immortality from Vitalogy, Hail, Hail from No Code, Faithful from Yield, Of The Girl from Binaural, You Are from Riot Act, Gone from the 2006 self titled album Pearl Jam (Avocado), Amongst The Waves from Backspacer, Infallible from Lightning Bolt, Superblood Wolfmoon from Gigaton, Waiting For Stevie from Dark Matter…just to name a few 😉

A very emotional performance, drawing on past, be it a longing for, or a hurtful experience can be great tools to use, I believe that's why there's such passion and grit in his vocal, it's pure

It was not a single in the US but has gotten tons of airplay and charted at number 3 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.

Pearl Jam is amazing. "Release" and "Breath" are 2 really good suggestions

I love reactions that react along while the song is playing - nicely done!

Eddie oozes passion out of every pore in his body. Master musical storyteller. He's a national treasure and must be wrapped in bubble wrap and protected at all costs! I wish you did more PJ, you're really missing out. I can't remember what you've done, but try "Alive", "Evenflow", "Daughter", "Better Man", "Dissident", "Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town", "Why Go", "Given To Fly", "Breath", and of course "Porch" live at pinkpop for one of the most amazing performances ever!

The rest of the unplugged album is excellent.

If you react to Alive. The music video is different from the album version as it was a live performance. I prefer the album version only because of the solo

This is always a good one to watch reactions to. I love this song because it has the full intended meaning for me.

Eddie ascended into God mode in this performance

Also, he's singing about a love lost. When he reaches this part ... "I take a walk outside/I'm surrounded by/Some kids at play/I can feel their laughter So why do I sear?" ... I think it genius writing how it's "sear" but it's also "see her."

Eddie's voice is Eddie's voice. It's a thing unto itself. Sui generis.

I’m lucky to be the right age to have heard Pearl Jam the first time around and was a big fan of Eddie’s vocals. This Unplugged version to me is one of their best performances ever, it’s just got that extra bit of rawness that the song needs. Definitely here for more Pearl Jam (and The Warning) 😂

Subtitles are a MUST for this classic breakup song!

Nikki, I love your reaction on Pearl Jam's "Black"! ❤ I am 48 years young boy 😊 from Serbia 🇷🇸, and this song is still one that gets me every time. Pearl Jam is one of my favorite bands, and i strongly recommend they latest album "Dark Matter". PJ still have stories to tell us!

Fun facts: there’s a Pearl Jam song with Layne Staley. There’s a band with Pearl Jam guitarist Mike mcready and Layne Staley (Mad Season). There’s an Alice In Chains song with Chris Cornell. Obviously, there’s Temple of the Dog with members of Pearl Jam and Chris Cornell as the lead singer (Eddie Vedder sang on hunger strike). And then Audioslave which is Rage Against the Machine with Chris Cornell as the lead singer. Unreal collaborations.

I loved your reaction to this epic live performance. Thanks.

I love this song 💕, his voice is amazing

I would agree 💯 can't get enough of these unplugged shows.I think MTV could still do these today and people would watch them!

What a great reaction Nikki! 😊👍

Love the cry in his voice chilling and honest

For me the Best of this unplugged is Porch , 1000 % of feelings. Regards from Chile

Love the reaction.... definitely check out Porch ...from this MTV unplugged session . But also you can do the Pink Pop Porch....done 2 different ways but a amazing song

This performances is so great

Fantastic video Nikki, I'm so glad you uploaded your Black reaction after already reacting to many many of PJs hits. Alive is another classic from their 10 album so I'm sure you'll love it too. Some newer singer/songwriters you may enjoy are two brothers Peter & Billy Raffoul (the songs - "F***ed Up Together" & "I Wish You Were Here")

He's singing about a lover who chose another man and left him broken hearted.

The song went right over your head

Great reaction. It's great if you can continue watching pearl jam on your channel without being too tempted to listen to them in your own time. Good luck

I can only imagine HOW GREAT ALICE IN CHAINS ⛓️ would have been if they'd have performed an UNPLUGGED 10 years earlier, while Layne was in his prime, EDDIE VEDDER us LEGENDARY, great live performer, I've seen them 4 times, EXCELLENT EVERY TIME

SUGGESTION: “Do the Evolution”. The music video is amazing, If you want to see them perform that song live I’ll recommend: Monkeywrench Radio; Madison Square Garden (2003); Single Video Theory (the first and last one are in PJ’s official RU-vid channel)

Amazing choice. Hreat review! Thank you!

One of PJ's greatest performances imo. The band and the backing vocals sound great and the emotion and intensity in Eddie's voice are incredible. Watching people hear or react to this for the first time can be extremely interesting and, in some ways, almost reverential. Lotta great Unplugged performances out there but Nirvana's rendition of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" is def worth checking out as well.🤘

Well hello there. This is the first time I've seen you. Great song.

If I remember right he was sick with the flu and fever during unplugged

🖤

Eddies voice is sizzling bacon, try the songs Porch from pinkpop, release in holland, and state of love and trust from this same unplugged

I was in 6th grade when Vs. came out. PJ's second album. During the pledge of allegiance I held up my CD Ten insert and pledged to it instead. That was Vs. album release day.

MTV Unplugged and Metal Mayhem were the best shows MTV had.

The word I would use to describe Eddy’s voice, is “grungy.” Anybody else agree?

If you wanna experience something special...lay down, close your eyes and listen to the studio version! I wish I could experience that for the first time again! 🫶🏼

BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE RIGHT? I LOVE PEARL JAM, MY FAVORITE BAND ON THIS CRAZY PLANET SINCE THE BEGINNING 1991. THE WHOLE UNPLUGGED SET IS AMAZING!! LIKE PEOPLE IN COMMENTS "PORCH" IN THIS SET AND THE 1992 PINKPOP "PORCH" IS A DIFFERENT LEVEL, WATCH CRAZY EDDIE!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CRAZY EDDIE AND ANGRY EDDIE!! INCREDIBLE REACTION NIKKI!! DEEP DEEP RABBIT HOLE IM LOVING IT!! CHECK OUT "DO THE EVOLUTION" THE ORGINAL MUSIC VIDEO IS INCREDIBLE, ITS REALITY CHECK FOR SURE!! THERE ARE LIVE PERFORMANCES ALSO LIKE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDENS IN 2003 IS REALLY COOL. THE EVOLUTION OF EDDIE VEDDER IS AMAZING!! THANK YOU NIKKI, YOUR AWESOME!! 😊💓🔥🤘✌️

HIGHLY recommend the studio version. It is a whole other experience.

Pearl JAM, Alice in Chains ⛓️, and NIRVANA all blew up, and came out of Seattle at the same time

I love this, but no it was not a single iirc, I just love how he sings with his eyes closed most of the time.

❤❤❤

Hello my friend Nikki!!!....Believe me this: You have to react to this Incredible Singer with the Most Insane Vocal Range of The World!!!...When I recommend Dimash to experts like you, sometimes they laugh and they look at me with that look that says "Have you gone crazy?...Nobody can sing like that"....And I smile and tell them "Do you want to bet your car?"...Of course after they hear him their faces say it all!!...Lol!!...They can't believe what they are seeing and hearing....So well, I want to invite you to make a reaction to this incredible singer, who is leaving all the experts with their jaws literally on the floor....In 2017, a 22-year-old singer from Kazakhstan, named Dimash Kudaibergen, was invited to participate in the famous Chinese program for professional singers called "The Singer"... In his first appearance, Dimash covered one of the most difficult songs in the world, a famous French composition called "S.O.S. D'un Terrien En Détresse"!!....Since then all this madness began on the internet, RU-vid and social networks worldwide and he is already considered the best singer on the entire planet!!!... It is almost impossible to see a human being, being able to reach vocal ranges of 8 octaves, that is, the 88 keys of a digital piano, which allows him to reach all registers, both masculine and feminine, that is, he can sing as Bass, Baritone, Tenor, Contratenor, Contralto, Mezzosoprano and Soprano!!!....You can see in RU-vid to all kinds of experts (Vocal coaches, analysts, singing teachers, singers, youtubers, reactors, etc.), who have dedicated themselves to watching his videos and verifying for themselves that what is said about him is completely true!!!...In addition to all this, Dimash is capable of singing in more than 12 languages...In all his concerts worldwide, tickets are sold in just seconds, via the internet, due to the immense popularity he has worldwide!!!....Anyway, I think you haven't met this impressive singer yet, so here is the link to the first song that Dimash performed in China in that year 2017, the song S.O.S., and if it doesn't bother you, I would like you to mention me as the person who recommended it to you!!...Warning: You have to be prepared for thousands of views, comments and new subscribers...The video It is more recent, so it does not have the millions of views that the first ones, but it is more complete, including an intro, subtitles in several languages and better audio and sound quality...ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bDX3FhmyNac.html

Release Me, the album version, will always be my favorite Pearl Jam song... Black, off the album, comes in 2nd..❤❤ Jeremy and Even Flow round out the top 4..

Love you like Pearl Jam. I first saw them in a small club just before they broke to stadium shows. Their shows were legendary because of Eddie's crazy antics on stage, his stage dives into the crowd, scaling the lighting rigs like a monkey, just F'ing incredible energy. Oh yeah, and they write phenomenal music.

The 90’s were the best you had to be there!

Yellow Ledbetter and Release are must react to also

If you are truely interested in learning more about Pearl Jam, then let me point you in a direction you might not expect. Please react to Weird Al, My Baby’s in Love with Eddy Vedder. Informative and hysterical!

The official video had over 93 million views but it got blocked

This was not a single, but it was by FAR THE MOST POWERFUL SONG ON THE ALBUM for those (men) who listened to the whole thing, rather than just the hit singles. It's almost a homage to Led Zep, or Pink Floyd, or King Crimson - bands who thought that the singles were nothing and the whole message of an album was contained in a whole album. If you want another great example from the era from another "culture", check out Capoicity by Powderfinger.A non hit song on the end of an album, that had a huge punch just like black. "The fragile bond has shaken loose This secret love a shrinking noose Suffocated on the truth Left with nothing"

Crazy Mary live long version

Pearl Jam became one of my favorite bands from their first album "TEN". The entire album is great musically and of course Eddie's voice is as emotional as it is unique. Why Go Even Flow Alive Jeremy and Black are all worthy of a listen, but I think the entire album kicks ass! 😊❤️🤘🤘

It's not vibrato that you hear in his voice, it's called "fry". More specifically, "vocal fry" which is very common with Seattle grunge. It's so common that it can also sometimes be called "Seattle Voice" or "Seattle Grunge Voice."

React to " immortality" and " rearviewmirror"

That happened

This is usually the first PJ song reactors start with. Interestingly, Black was never released as a single. Try as their record label might, they resisted releasing this one because it was "personal" to the band.

More crazy emotional onee Inside job 2016 Wrigley field..so beautiful. 2010 Come Back .but you have to see the speech to understand the emotion behind this 1:47:12 mark ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mHZyuY1-WBE.htmlsi=BztAthDAU2zWI6w9 And in line with that Love boat captain 2022 Copehagen Release - 1992 Utrecht Also 2016 wrigley field version Also New songs from new album..live from new tour 2024 clips upper hand Setting sun Waiting for Stevie Scared of Fear..tour or howard stern version

I would describe Eddie Vedder's voice as gravely with great control.

Please react to Brother - Alice in Chains(Unplugged) :33

2 live crew Me So Hor#ny

I reckon one way you could describe his voice is grungy!

A woman once got upset with me for trying to compliment her by saying "You're a prettier version of Eddie Vedder"🤣🤣

Check out ' Release' live

Your only true love is the first... the rest are to forget

Awesome my name Jeremy

I would maybe try some pearl jam that not every reactor is putting out. Try something recent by pearl jam like waiting for Stevie or wreckage from the new album to see how diverse pj are and how they have aged. My 2 cents

I know you listened to even flow, but listen to the music video, which is a compilation of live shows, also check out release, live in Holland,

Painful exuberance

Give us some Alice in chains song MAN IN THE BOX 🔥👍

Pearljam Army Assemble 😊

Uncensored official video for Jeremy

This was not a single. Eddie wouldn't let the record label use it as a single as it's to personal of a song. Yet the radio stations still played it due to the amount of requests.

How would you describe his voice? Simple, Eddie Vedder.

Jeremy that's good I don't know how to repair them and no love songs

You gotta check out a new song like wreckage or scared of fear

People now days hear but do not listen. It’s a very different and more rewarding experience if you listen.

Everyone picks the unplugged video to critique but have never once mentioned the missing verse 🤔

Finally ...black..👍 Next please react PLEASE REACT...eminem biggest freestyle in the world , westwood.🔥👍

React to Alterbridge! Blackbird ou Watch over you!

Try some Tool, Maybe the song H?? Or any Tool song really but best to start at the beginning and work through their discography to see the evolution of Tool…