Chris Cornell and The Billie Jean Phenomenon
Posted 11/26/2008 by CCadmin
During a live acoustic radio session at Stockholm’s O Baren back in 2006, Chris Cornell unveiled a bold and bluesy new arrangement of Michael Jackson’s 80s dance anthem Billie Jean. Not so much a cover, more a reinvention, it swiftly became an underground favourite among fans and later surfaced in a full band version on his 2007 solo album Carry On.
Controversy followed when American Idol contestant David Cook drew praise from the judges when he used Cornell’s Billie Jean arrangement for his own spot on the show. It took a while for the judges to realise where the idea’s origins lay, but it helped Cook on his way to winning the contest – and the unexpected musical pairing went on to bear more fruit. Cook’s US single Light On, which debuted at #8 on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart, was co-written by Cornell with producer/writer Brian Howes.
Since Cook’s success in the US, other hopeful TV contestants around the world have sought to replicate the Billie Jean effect. In Michael Jackson week on Britain's The X Factor, American Idol judge Simon Cowell chose the arrangement for his protegé Austin Drage. Even more recently, Teale Jakubenko performed the song on Australian Idol and 15-year-old Paulina Lenda gave the lyric a sex change on Poland's Got Talent. Most recently, popular recording artist Christos Dantis caused a scandal when he used Cornell’s arrangement for his guest performance on Greece’s version of The X Factor – and passed it off as his own.
Performances have resulted in a huge sales boost worldwide for Cornell’s version, which came about after his wife challenged him to think of the most unlikely cover version he could attempt. “And off the top of my head, the least likely thing I could think of was Michael Jackson," said Cornell, whose idea seems to have caught the imagination of aspiring singers right around the world.
Sometimes it’s the unlikeliest collaborations that catch the public imagination – something which Cornell’s own forthcoming album “Scream” with super-producer Timbaland is sure to underline. Set for release early in 2009, it's a groundbreaking work which looks set to spearhead a brave new world of cross-genre collaboration.
Chris Cornell performs Billie Jean on MSN, May 2007
David Cook on American Idol
Austin Drage on Britain’s The X Factor
Paulina Lenda on Poland’s Got Talent
Teale Jakubenko on Australian Idol
Christos Dantis on Greece’s The X Factor
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Chris Cornell on MuchMusic today
Posted 11/20/2008 by CCadmin
Chris Cornell will be stopping by at at Canada's MuchMusic today. Watch MuchOnDemand starting 5pm ET - more details HERE.
You can also vote for the video for new Canadian single Part of Me HERE.
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"Songs From The Underground"
Posted 11/19/2008 by CCadmin3
Chris Cornell and Linkin Park joined forces this summer during the Projekt Revolution tour, on a live version of Cornell's "Hunger Strike" and Linkin Park's, "Crawling". You can now own those never-before-released performances on "Songs From The Underground". The new CD, previously only available through Linkin Park Underground, will be sold at selected Best Buy locations starting Thanksgiving Day! This limited edition CD includes "Hunger Strike" (Live from Projekt Revolution 2008 featuring Chester Bennington) and comes with a free one month trial membership for LPU and access to a FREE download of "Crawling" (featuring Chris Cornell).
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Chris Cornell and Timbaland in "Inspiration Sessions"
Posted 11/13/2008 by CCadmin
Chris Cornell and Timbaland will appear on the Sundance TV channel next month as part of a special new series called "The Inspiration Sessions", which will feature "four dynamic artist and producer pairings and the candid free-flowing conversation that ensues as they produce an album together". A new episode of "The Inspiration Sessions" will premiere each week during the 13-part series "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…", which also features behind-the-scenes footage of Costello's guests discussing the artists and the music that inspired them.
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…" is sponsored by luxury automaker Infiniti and will be premiered in the US on Wednesday, December 3 at 9 PM ET. The series also will be broadcast on CTV in Canada and Channel 4 in the UK, beginning later this year.
Meanwhile some of the content featuring Chris and Timbaland is available to view HERE.
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MASH UP songs from the new CHRIS CORNELL album SCREAM with your favorite SOUNDGARDEN songs
Posted 10/30/2008 by IGA
MASH UP songs from the new CHRIS CORNELL album SCREAM with your favorite SOUNDGARDEN songs to create a unique genre-mashing remix!
Click HERE to get started.
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Chris Cornell Encourages Fans to Help Curb Domestic Violence and E-waste
Posted 10/30/2008 by CCadmin
Chris Cornell fans have a chance to make a dream come true and do something good for their community at the same time. Next Sunday, November 2nd, Cornell and Verizon Wireless are asking fans to bring their old cell phones and accessories (from any carrier) to the Tukwila store to help the Auburn Domestic Violence Task Force (ADVTF). Verizon Wireless will donate ten mobile phones (each with 3,000 minutes of airtime) to the ADVTF for distribution to battered women in the area.
Fans bringing used phones to the Tukwila store (17100 Southcenter Parkway) on Sunday between 12-4 PM have an opportunity to meet the artist and qualify to win an autographed guitar and tickets to the Chris Cornell & Timbaland concert later Sunday evening at the Showbox in Seattle.
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Make Sure to Watch Chris Cornell's "Watch Out" Featured on One Tree Hill Tonight!
Posted 10/28/2008 by IGA
Make sure to catch Chris Cornell's ‘Watch Out’ featured tonight on One Tree Hill (CW) 9/8c!
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