CHRIS CORNELL SAYS THERE IS ART IN MICHAEL JACKSON COVER

With a powerful version of Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ on his latest solo album, Chris Cornell discusses the art of a cover song.

Chris Cornell, who is the powerful and legendary vocalist behind Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog, is set to release his second solo album, ‘Carry On’ on June 5th. On the upcoming album, Chris and his band went into the studio a week after Audioslave finished recording their last album ‘Revelations.’ ‘Carry On,’ is the second solo album released by Cornell, the first one being 1999’s ‘Euphoria Morning.’ One of the most intriguing songs on the new album is a cover of Michael Jackson’s hit song ‘Billie Jean’ which was from his hit album ‘Thriller.’ With the song slowed down to a blues tempo, Chris uses the song as a platform to show his incredibly dynamic vocal range.

We caught up with Cornell recently to discuss the art of recording and performing a cover song.

“I was just messing around. I was having fun with music, which is what it’s all about. I was having a conversation with my wife about the art of a cover song and explaining it and she said ‘Why can’t you prove it to me. Show me what you mean.’ So I had to dig up something and I thought it has to be the most unlikely person I can imagine. Then I have to pick a song and somehow reinvent it and make it my own and make it exciting and bring some emotional angle to it. So it was just a fun experiment.”

Chris Cornell will be touring Europe until their show in Milan, Italy on May 25th. Cornell and his band will then play a few selected dates in the US for May and June before heading back to Europe for a few dates with Aerosmith beginning June 22nd at The Graspop Festival in Belgium.