It recently struck me that one of my all-time rock heroes is deserving of a tribute on no category. Chris Cornell has probably, over the past 20 years, changed his sound more dramatically than any other rock singer I can think of. And, while his personal transformation may be musical in nature, it is also a testament to our ability as adults to continue to learn and to grow. His musical career shows how a commitment to adult development can lead one to new heights of possibility. Here's the rundown of this remarkable singers career, so far...
Chris Cornell first entered the public eye as the front man for Soundgarden. Here's their video for 'Outshined' circa 1992. The band started out playing a heavier brand of grunge rock than many of their contemporaries like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Stone Temple Pilots.
Soundgarden eventually broke into the mainstream with their 1994 album Superunknown. Many of the album's songs were slower and more introspective. Here's the video for 'Fell on Black Days.'
It was probably inevitable that Chris would one day set out on a solo career, and explore his potential as an individual artist apart from his band. Here's the video for 1998's Can't Change Me, which I think is one of the best compositions of his career.
Cornell's solo career has recently taken him in a direction that no one could have ever predicted. His latest album, Scream, which was produced by Timbaland, is a mix of rock, pop, and r&b. And I, for one, have loved watching this rock icon see what he can achieve in this foreign musical landscape. In my opinion he has succeeded immensely with his new sound, which is fun and interesting and, as with this song 'Long Gone,' quite moving. I can't even guess where Chris will go from here, but based on past history, I'm sure it will be exactly where he wants and needs to go.
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