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Seattle in the 1980s was a city brewing with something different, and Chris Cornell was right in the middle of it. Before the world knew what grunge was, before Nirvana, Pearl Jam, or Alice in Chains broke through, Cornell was already pushing boundaries. Soundgarden didn’t follow trends—they set them. From the moment they unleashed Ultramega OK in 1988, it was clear this wasn’t just another hard rock band. Cornell’s soaring vocals, filled with both fury and fragility, were unlike anything else. By the time Badmotorfinger landed in 1991, the band was a force of nature. Songs like “Outshined” and “Rusty Cage” didn’t just introduce Soundgarden to a wider audience; they redefined what heavy music could sound like.
Then came Superunknown, the album that catapulted Cornell and Soundgarden into rock history. “Black Hole Sun” became an anthem, a song that was as eerie as it was beautiful. “Fell on Black Days” and “The Day I Tried to Live” weren’t just hits—they were personal confessions wrapped in thunderous, unpredictable compositions. This was the moment grunge stopped being a movement and became something timeless. Cornell wasn’t interested in just being another rock star; his lyrics were dark, poetic, and introspective, tackling themes of depression, self-destruction, and hope in a way that resonated deeply.
After Soundgarden disbanded in 1997, Cornell didn’t slow down. His first solo album, Euphoria Morning, was a stark departure from the heaviness of his past work, leaning into bluesy, melancholic melodies. “Can’t Change Me” showcased a different side of his artistry—one that didn’t need the roar of a full band to hit just as hard. But reinvention was his nature, and by 2001, he was fronting Audioslave, a supergroup with members of Rage Against the Machine. With songs like “Like a Stone” and “Cochise,” Cornell’s voice collided with Tom Morello’s radical guitar work, proving that his versatility had no limits.
Cornell’s solo work continued to evolve. Carry On (2007) gave the world his chilling, stripped-down cover of “Billie Jean.” Then came Scream (2009), an unexpected collaboration with Timbaland that divided fans but showcased his willingness to take risks. Higher Truth (2015) brought everything full circle—a return to the soul-baring acoustic songwriting that had always been at the heart of his music.
Outside of music, Cornell was relentless in his efforts to make a difference. He used his platform to advocate for human rights, even writing “The Promise” for the film about the Armenian genocide. His Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation worked to support vulnerable children, proving that his impact wasn’t just felt in music—it was felt in lives.
Awards and accolades never defined Cornell, but they followed him throughout his career. Multiple Grammys, recognition from his peers, and a lasting influence on rock music cemented his legacy. Yet, the true measure of his greatness wasn’t in trophies or record sales. It was in the way his music spoke to those who felt lost, those who searched for meaning in the same dark corners he explored through his songs.
When Cornell died in 2017, it sent shockwaves through the music world. He was more than just a singer; he was a lifeline for so many who saw themselves in his music. His voice, his words, his presence—none of it was ordinary. And while his story ended too soon, what he left behind ensures that his voice will never be silenced.
(A-D)
“Alice Said” – Uncle Anesthesia (1991)
“All I Have to Do Is Dream” (The Everly Brothers cover with Rita Wilson) – AM/FM (2012)
“Arms Around Your Love” – Carry On (2007)
“Ave Maria” (with Eleven) – A Very Special Christmas 3 (1997)
“Before We Arise” – Uncle Anesthesia (1991)
“Before We Disappear” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Bend in the Road” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson cover) – Carry On (2007)
“Can’t Change Me” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“Circling” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Climbing Up the Walls” – Scream (2009)
“Dead Wishes” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Disappearing Act” – Carry On (2007)
“Disappearing One” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“Do Me Wrong” – Scream (2009)
“Drive My Car” (The Beatles cover with Beat Bugs) – Beat Bugs: Season 2 (2016)
(E-H)
“Enemy” – Scream (2009)
“Ferry Boat #3” – Singles (reissue) (2017)
“Finally Forever” – Carry On (2007)
“Flutter Girl” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“Follow My Way” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“Get It While You Can” (Janis Joplin cover) – No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1 (2020)
“Get Up” – Scream (2009)
“Ghosts” – Carry On (2007)
“Ground Zero” – Scream (2009)
“Heavy Is the Head” (with Zac Brown Band) – Jekyll + Hyde (2015)
“Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)” (Jimi Hendrix cover with M.A.C.C.) – Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (1993)
“Higher Truth” – Higher Truth (2015)
(I-L)
“Island of Summer” (with Malfunkshun) – Malfunkshun: The Andrew Wood Story (2011)
“Josephine” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Jump into the Fire” (Harry Nilsson cover) – No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1 (2020)
“The Keeper” – Machine Gun Preacher (2011)
“Killing Birds” – Carry On (2007)
“Let Your Eyes Wander” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Lies” (with Gabin) – Third and Double (2010)
“Long Gone” – Scream (2009)
“Lost Cause” – Scream (2009)
(M-N)
“Misery Chain” (with Joy Williams) – 12 Years a Slave (2013)
“Missing” – Singles (reissue) (2017)
“Mission” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“Moonchild” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“Murderer of Blue Skies” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Never Far Away” – Scream (2009)
“No Such Thing” – Carry On (2007)
“Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince cover) – No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1 (2020)
“Nowhere But You” – Singles (1992)
(O-P)
“Only These Words” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Ordinary Girl” – Scream (2009)
“Other Side of Town” – Scream (2009)
“Our Time in the Universe” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Part of Me” – Scream (2009)
“Patience” (Guns N’ Roses cover) – No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1 (2020)
“Pillow of Your Bones” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“Poison Eye” – Carry On (2007)
“Preaching the End of the World” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“The Promise” – The Promise (2016)
“Promise” (with Slash) – Slash (2010)
(R-S)
“Right Turn” (with Alice in Chains and Mark Arm) – Sap (1992)
“Roads We Choose” – Carry On (2007)
“Sad Sad City” (Ghostland Observatory cover) – No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1 (2020)
“Safe and Sound” – Carry On (2007)
“Scar on the Sky” – Carry On (2007)
“Score Piece #4” – Singles (reissue) (2017)
“Scream” – Scream (2009)
“Seasons” – Singles (1992)
“She’ll Never Be Your Man” – Carry On (2007)
“Showdown” (Electric Light Orchestra cover) – No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1 (2020)
“Silence the Voices” – Carry On (2007)
“Stay with Me Baby” (Lorraine Ellison cover) – Vinyl: Best of Season 1 (2016)
“Steel Rain” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“Stolen Prayer” (with Alice Cooper) – The Last Temptation (1994)
“Stop Me” – Scream (2009)
“Sunshower” – Great Expectations (1998)
“Sweet Euphoria” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“Sweet Revenge” – Scream (2009)
(T-U)
“Take Me Alive” (with Justin Timberlake) – Scream (2009)
“Through the Window” – Higher Truth (2015)
“‘Til the Sun Comes Back Around” – 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)
“Time” – Scream (2009)
“To Be Treated Rite” (Terry Reid cover) – No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1 (2020)
“Today” – Carry On (2007)
“Two Drink Minimum” – Scream (2009)
“Uncle Anesthesia” (with Screaming Trees) – Uncle Anesthesia (1991)
“Unholy War” (with Alice Cooper) – The Last Temptation (1994)
(W-Z)
“Watch Out” – Scream (2009)
“Watching the Wheels” (John Lennon cover) – No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1 (2020)
“Wave Goodbye” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“When Bad Does Good” – Chris Cornell (2018)
“When I’m Down” – Euphoria Morning (1999)
“Whole Lotta Love” (Led Zeppelin cover with Santana) – Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time (2010)
“Worried Moon” – Higher Truth (2015)
“Wrong Side” – Higher Truth (2015)
“You Don’t Know Nothing About Love” (Carl Hall cover) – No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1 (2020)
“You Know My Name” – Carry On (2006)
“You Never Knew My Mind” – Forever Words (2018)
“Your Soul Today” – Carry On (2007)
Check out our fantastic and entertaining Chris Cornell articles, detailing in-depth the band’s albums, songs, band members, and more…all on ClassicRockHistory.com
Top 10 Chris Cornell Songs
Complete List Of Chris Cornell Albums And Discography
Top 10 Chris Cornell Cover Songs
Chris Cornell’s Higher Truth CD is Stunning!
Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com
Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory
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