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Thread started 11/09/06 5:31am

lilgish

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Chris Cornell to cover Billie Jean on next album..

According to Chris Cornell, fans should expect a few surprises from his second solo studio LP when it lands in stores in March — like, say, his cover of Michael Jackson's 1982 hit "Billie Jean."

"I didn't plan on it," he said with a chuckle. "It just sort of happened organically. I changed the music quite a bit, I didn't touch the lyrics. And it's not a joke. I took a completely different approach to it, musically. It's like when Johnny Cash did [the Soundgarden song] 'Rusty Cage,' " on Cash's 1996 LP Unchained, "and people started calling me and leaving messages saying, 'I heard the Johnny Cash version and the lyrics are really, really great.' No one ever told me that before. Ever. Not once. This is kind of like that. It does that to this song, because it's really an emotional song.

"The lyrical content is kind of panicky, because — well, it's a pretty bad thing, someone coming and lying to you, saying you're the father of their kid and you're not."

Cornell, who has played the cover during live gigs in Europe, said the track has to be heard to be believed. But in truth, the cover is rather apropos. The lyrics the Audioslave frontman wrote for the 12 cuts on the follow-up to 1999's Euphoria Morning deal with all kinds of relationships (see "Chris Cornell Working On Solo LP -- But Dismisses Rumors Of Audioslave Split").

The rocker, who began recording the LP four weeks ago and is just about finished with it, said one song — "She'll Never Be Your Man" — tells the story of a guy "whose woman leaves him for another woman, which is sort of hard to deal with because men know how to compete with other men for something like a woman and a relationship."

Not that Cornell's speaking from experience. "I know a couple of different people who were married and their wives left them for women," he explained. "It's like a special kind of weird dis, in a way. It's never happened to me, but just in thinking about it and hearing stories about it, it's like, 'Maybe I was so bad, not only did she dump me, she gave up men entirely?' "

There's also "Arms Around Your Love," which is about "a guy whose girl leaves him for another guy, but she didn't really want to — it was just that he was such a loser," Cornell said. "And now, this guy's got to deal with seeing her around with someone else. That song should really be called 'You're an Idiot.' Maybe it will be when it ends up on the record."

The album, which Cornell said has its "gospel and R&B" moments, will also feature the tune "Disappearing Act," an acoustic version of which appears in the upcoming movie "Bug," directed by William Friedkin ("The Exorcist") and starring Ashley Judd. The album cut is going to be a plugged-in rendition, while the film version was recorded in Cornell's living room.

In fact, Cornell revealed it was writing "Disappearing Act" and "You Know My Name," the theme from the upcoming James Bond film "Casino Royale," that inspired him to release a second solo LP. The songs are also part of the reason why Audioslave — who issued their third album, Revelations, two months ago — won't be touring anytime soon (see "New Audioslave LP: 'Led Zeppelin Meets Earth, Wind & Fire' ").

"I started working on songs for the James Bond film and that song for 'Bug,' and I started writing more and more and more, and decided that I was going to make another record, right away," he said. "I had a lot of song ideas I wanted to work on, and I kind of want to get back to making my own records and touring for a while. But I mean, we made three records in four and a half years. Three of the four of us have had children since we became a band. We don't have any touring plans at all.

"I like the idea of making some music," he continued. "This coming year will be the 20th anniversary of me being a recording artist, so I am looking forward to the idea of putting out another record and going out, doing my own tour and playing everything from my entire history. There's a lot there. It's actually staggering when I think about it."

Here's a live version he recently did http://media.putfile.com/CCMJ
_____
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Reply #1 posted 11/09/06 6:05am

Marrk

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This is just one of those songs that never be 'covered'.
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Reply #2 posted 11/09/06 6:08am

Cloudbuster

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Oh.
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Reply #3 posted 11/09/06 6:27am

Marrk

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Cloudbuster said:

Oh.


'Oh' as in who the heck is Chris Cornell? or 'oh' as in you agree with me?
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Reply #4 posted 11/09/06 6:30am

Cloudbuster

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Marrk said:

Cloudbuster said:

Oh.


'Oh' as in who the heck is Chris Cornell? or 'oh' as in you agree with me?


Just "Oh", really. lol

Billie Jean should be left untouched, she's precious. smile
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Reply #5 posted 11/09/06 7:08am

lilgish

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Cloudbuster said:

Marrk said:



'Oh' as in who the heck is Chris Cornell? or 'oh' as in you agree with me?


Just "Oh", really. lol

Billie Jean should be left untouched, she's precious. smile


She's a ho!
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Reply #6 posted 11/09/06 7:10am

Cloudbuster

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lilgish said:

She's a ho!


Who claimed Mike was the daddy of ONE of her twins. biggrin
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Reply #7 posted 11/09/06 8:18am

StillDirrty

That's cool. Chris is a superb singer.
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Reply #8 posted 11/09/06 9:12am

Tom

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Is he out of his mind?! LOL. I could see him doing a good job with more R&B/Soul influences in his work, if he wants to include that - he just needs more well written songs. He's got the voice, but those last two Audioslave albums suffered really bad from poorly written songs.
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Reply #9 posted 11/09/06 9:20am

emmi

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I Think Chris Cornell has a great voice and stuff but Billie Jean?! disbelief nothing good can come out of it...
pull your cell phone out and call your next of kin; we're about to get funky
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Reply #10 posted 11/09/06 1:57pm

guitarslinger4
4

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emmi said:

I Think Chris Cornell has a great voice and stuff but Billie Jean?! disbelief nothing good can come out of it...


It's a good cover! You should listen to it, it's much much different than the original which is great! If he'd tried to do it like the original, it would sucked, but he made it his own.

THis is also good news, I hope Audioslave breaks up. Cornell's solo disc was really good and I'm happy to hear he's making some more music by himself.
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Reply #11 posted 11/09/06 4:24pm

PunchDrunk

Cornell WAS one of the best vocalists I've ever heard during his Soundgarden days. Now, though, I'm not so sure. I've heard him live with Audioslave and it ain't pretty. All that smoking shit he did back in the day has taken its toll.
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Reply #12 posted 11/09/06 8:39pm

MajesticOne89

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Marrk said:

This is just one of those songs that never be 'covered'.


i felt this way the second i read the thread title...
chill..prince doesnt like men being front row, makes it hard to sing the ballads
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Reply #13 posted 11/09/06 9:04pm

thekidsgirl

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I do adore Chris, but I don't understand why he would even want to cover this song. It's such a trademark MJ song

Though, that one group did cover Smooth Criminal a couple years ago...but where are they now??
If you will, so will I
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Reply #14 posted 11/09/06 9:10pm

HoneymoonXpres
s

chris cornell is fine as hell and he can sing his ass off, but...Billie Jean? I don't know...hmmmm confuse
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Reply #15 posted 11/09/06 9:11pm

HoneymoonXpres
s

thekidsgirl said:

I do adore Chris, but I don't understand why he would even want to cover this song. It's such a trademark MJ song

Though, that one group did cover Smooth Criminal a couple years ago...but where are they now??

and it was a dope ass cover too, I had to admit, they did it a lot of justice...Alient Ant Farm was the name...and no, I don't know where they are now lol
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Reply #16 posted 11/09/06 9:21pm

thekidsgirl

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HoneymoonXpress said:

thekidsgirl said:

I do adore Chris, but I don't understand why he would even want to cover this song. It's such a trademark MJ song

Though, that one group did cover Smooth Criminal a couple years ago...but where are they now??

and it was a dope ass cover too, I had to admit, they did it a lot of justice...Alient Ant Farm was the name...and no, I don't know where they are now lol


Hey, I liked it too smile
...But making that their first single I think kinda killed their career.

I mean, how do you follow up a song as good as Smooth Criminal, with some average, ordinary, whiny, teen angst pop-rock tune. No where to go but down!

Not saying that, that was the case though lol
If you will, so will I
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Reply #17 posted 11/09/06 9:22pm

HoneymoonXpres
s

thekidsgirl said:

HoneymoonXpress said:


and it was a dope ass cover too, I had to admit, they did it a lot of justice...Alient Ant Farm was the name...and no, I don't know where they are now lol


Hey, I liked it too smile
...But making that their first single I think kinda killed their career.

I mean, how do you follow up a song as good as Smooth Criminal, with some average, ordinary, whiny, teen angst pop-rock tune. No where to go but down!

Not saying that, that was the case though lol

that sounds about right to me! lol
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Reply #18 posted 11/10/06 3:38am

DarlingDiana

It's a good cover, here it is live: http://media.putfile.com/CCMJ
[Edited 11/10/06 3:40am]
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Reply #19 posted 11/10/06 5:31am

lilgish

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DarlingDiana said:

It's a good cover, here it is live: http://media.putfile.com/CCMJ



Yea, guys, did you hear the live version, he killed it...

PLus, I've heard good rock covers from the Bates, Neil Finn and Jose Feliciano.
[Edited 11/10/06 5:32am]
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Reply #20 posted 11/10/06 7:43am

damosuzuki

lilgish said:

DarlingDiana said:

It's a good cover, here it is live: http://media.putfile.com/CCMJ



Yea, guys, did you hear the live version, he killed it...




I was dubious, but I gave it a chance and now think it's fantastic.
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Reply #21 posted 11/10/06 7:46am

Axchi696

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Is it just me, or are people in the audience laughing in the beginning?
I'm the first mammal to wear pants.
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Reply #22 posted 11/10/06 9:58am

PeteZarustica

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damosuzuki said:

lilgish said:



Yea, guys, did you hear the live version, he killed it...




I was dubious, but I gave it a chance and now think it's fantastic.



I'm having the same reaction...
"I got the devil in me, girl." - 'John the Baptist', Afghan Whigs
"Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself."
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Reply #23 posted 11/10/06 12:38pm

JasmineFire

That was awesome, thanks for posting. smile

I think that I will always be a fan of Chris Cornell, I love his voice and he brings a great deal of genuine emotion to his songs. Hearing this cover has made me want to dig out my old Temple of the Dog stuff. touched
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Reply #24 posted 11/10/06 6:07pm

DarlingDiana

Axchi696 said:

Is it just me, or are people in the audience laughing in the beginning?

just you.
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Reply #25 posted 11/10/06 7:37pm

CinisterCee

sad
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Reply #26 posted 11/11/06 5:51am

lilgish

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thekidsgirl said:

HoneymoonXpress said:


and it was a dope ass cover too, I had to admit, they did it a lot of justice...Alient Ant Farm was the name...and no, I don't know where they are now lol


Hey, I liked it too smile
...But making that their first single I think kinda killed their career.

They had a really good second single called Movies.
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