On My Playlist: Top 5 Chris Cornell songs

Chris Cornell was a musical enigma. A creative genius who had the voice, the look and everything else that just screamed rock star. His death last week was a shock to the music world – a massive loss to everyone who knew Cornell and resonated with his music whether it be with his bands Soundgarden, Audioslave or his solo work. Cornell will be remembered for his amazing four octave voice with which he was blessed with.
It could go to the highest high’s and the lowest lows and was symbolic of Cornell’s lyrics as well. This musical poet will be missed.
Here are the top 5 Chris Cornell songs from his extensive discography:
Honourable mentions: Can’t Change Me, Like A Stone, As Hope And Promise Fades, Be Yourself
5. Cochise (Audioslave)
This song kicks off the countdown with a bang as Cornell’s time with Audioslave is put into the spotlight. His sheer aggressive vocals on this track showcases Cornell at his raunchiest with his wailing vocals setting the tone of the song. His vocals in the chorus is also equally spectacular as his “come on and save yourself” part really shines through.
Cornell reaches amazing heights on this track, especially in the bridge where he holds his breath forever, whist keeping the note – something that only Cornell is capable of. The “You don’t feel a thing” part where he accentuates the word “thing” must surely rank as one of the greatest rock vocals of the 21st century.

4. Hunger Strike (Temple of the Dog)
This is a classic song that truly shows off the 90’s grunge vocalists’ at their prime. Cornell and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder were in a band called “Temple of the Dog” and together they produced this piece of incredible music.
“I don’t mind stealing bread from the mouths of decadence. I can’t feed off the powerless when my cup is already over filling,” is a powerful vocal line that Cornell and Vedder shares with great effect.
The best part of this acoustic driven song must be the chorus where Cornell and Vedder trade off the lyric “I’m going hungry,” with Vedder’s baritone vocals opening the line before Cornell finishes it off with an amazing high note. This is what a duet between two male vocalists should sound like.

3. Show Me How To Live (Audioslave)
‘Show Me How To Live’ is one of the perfect examples of Cornell’s range as a rock vocalist with incredible diversity. Cornell’s crooning vocals in the intro and verse is amazing in the sense that it just keeps on building into something greater.
This is also in direct contrast with his vocal range in the chorus as he just belts out the words with ferocious loudness and intensity:
“You gave me a life, now show me how to live,’ he sings at the top of his lungs, before moving into the verse that gives the song that powerful loud and soft dynamic.
The highlight of the song is the bridge where Cornell once again shows his diversity with mind bending vocal range alongside great buildup drums from Brad Wilk. A true classic from Audioslave and Cornell.

2. Call Me a Dog (Temple of the Dog)
“Call me a dog, well that’s fair enough. There ain’t no use to pretend you’re wrong,’ sings Cornell in this 90’s song from his time in the band Temple of the Dog.
The lyrics in this song are also brilliantly written about a dysfunctional relationship and the problems when one person in the relationship is stubborn and the other tries his utmost best to be the better person regardless.
“If it’s my time to throw the next stone, I’ll call you beautiful, if I call at all,”. The best part of this acoustic ballad is the bridge when Cornell reaches an insane high note that really blows one’s mind as he comes back down to a husky voice with precision. One of the underrated highlights of Cornell’s career for sure.

1.Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden)
This is probably Cornell and Soungarden’s most popular song that focuses on human’s ability to despise one another and take advantage of one another for personal gain. The dark lyrics were a feature of Soundgarden and Cornell and this song’s lyrics and the delivery of it are top notch: “Black Hole Sun, won’t you come wash away the rain. Black Hole Sun, won’t you come, won’t you come.”
The best part of this song is when Cornell sings the chorus in different vocal ranges at each bar that shows off his ability as a vocalist to a tee.