One morning in college I woke up to my clock-radio's alarm (pre-smartphone days) playing "I Am The Highway" on the radio. That was the beginning. In my state of semi-consciousness, I instantly recognized this piece of musical perfection. I thought to myself, "Okay. This is something special. This isn't just another song."
The passing of Chris Cornell in May 2017 devastated me. I woke up to a news alert on my phone, and, in the early-morning darkness, unsure if I was actually awake or not, I immediately said, "No." Without even thinking, I posted the article on Facebook hoping that someone would feel the way I felt. Since that day, I have listened to and watched Chris Cornell every single day. Really, every day. Never before has the death of someone I've never met affected me so much.
I didn't realize how much his music meant to me until he was gone. He was, in my mind, for years, just one of many amazing musicians that I listened to regularly and admired. I never thought about Chris Cornell more than other musicians really, but his passing revealed to me that his music left an irremovable mark on my consciousness. And, strangely enough, this mark he left on me came only from his work with Audioslave; I didn't even get into Soundgarden or his solo material until this year. It goes to show, however, how truly incredible and powerful Audioslave's music is.
My thoughts and feelings around the passing of Chris Cornell can be mostly summed up by a random YouTuber's comment, something along the lines of: "What are these tears I cry for a man I have never met?"
Chris Cornell is a legend. His voice, his lyrics, his presence, his character, and now, his legacy... they are all inimitable and unforgettable.
I didn't realize how much his music meant to me until he was gone. He was, in my mind, for years, just one of many amazing musicians that I listened to regularly and admired. I never thought about Chris Cornell more than other musicians really, but his passing revealed to me that his music left an irremovable mark on my consciousness. And, strangely enough, this mark he left on me came only from his work with Audioslave; I didn't even get into Soundgarden or his solo material until this year. It goes to show, however, how truly incredible and powerful Audioslave's music is.
My thoughts and feelings around the passing of Chris Cornell can be mostly summed up by a random YouTuber's comment, something along the lines of: "What are these tears I cry for a man I have never met?"
Chris Cornell is a legend. His voice, his lyrics, his presence, his character, and now, his legacy... they are all inimitable and unforgettable.
