The greatest singer of all time, according to Chris Cornell
There’s certainly a place in rock music history reserved for the late, great Chris Cornell.
Throughout his time with Soundgarden and Audioslave, Cornell’s ability to pull raw emotion in every song whenever he performed made him stand out among some of the biggest vocalists of the 1990s. Like every great showman before him, though, Cornell was indebted to the greatest frontmen of the past.
Looking at his body of work, it would be easy to draw comparisons between Chris Cornell and Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin. Since both men came from bands known for making eclectic rock music alongside some amazing pop hooks, Cornell practically has the influence of Zeppelin subconsciously branded on him. You could maybe even pair him with the unapologetic gruffness of Bob Dylan
But when talking about some of his most significant influences, though, Cornell stands by Freddie Mercury as one of the greatest musicians in rock history. Compared to the traditional approach to rock vocals, Cornell thought that Mercury belonged in the conversation of more renowned vocalists in classical music.
He viewed his skills as virtuosic on a truly trained level, telling Yahoo Music, “Freddie Mercury had a powerful, almost operatic voice and a stage presence that was undeniable”. Given he wrote to match his own pipes too, you could consider him to be the perfect triple threat.
Aside from his talents as a vocalist and showman, Mercury was also known for having a tremendous approach to rock instrumentation. So maybe make that a quadruple threat. Throughout his career with Queen, Mercury could turn some of the strangest ideas into a musical symphony, famously pairing disparate pieces of songs together to create ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, for example.
Even with a massive musical mind, Mercury knew that the studio was far from his strong suit. Despite being an auditory artist behind the microphone, Mercury held the crowd in the palm of his hand whenever he played shows with Queen, putting every ounce of energy into the songs and engaging with the crowd in various participatory vocal ad-libs. He often wondered whether that wizardry was eroded without a live audience.
Cornell didn’t seem to think so. Outside of the raw power, Cornell also noticed a soft side of Mercury’s vocal tone that really came across in the hush of Trident. “There was a vulnerability to it,” he explained, “his technical ability was amazing, and so much of his personality would come out through his voice. I think Freddie Mercury is probably the best of all time, in terms of a rock voice”.
Listening back to Soundgarden and Audioslave’s work, it’s easy to see where Cornell got some of his tricks. While admitting to not buying too many Queen records growing up, Cornell’s way of sustaining notes is indebted to Mercury’s style of singing, from the smooth tone that comes through on ‘Seasons’ to screaming bloody murder on the chorus of ‘Spoonman’.
Also, given that Mercury has one of the highest recorded vocal ranges in pop music, you can see where Cornell got his bravery to use his full range, too. Not to mention the bristling bravura of it all.
Moreover, Cornell also had a personal connection to Queen because of one of his best friends. Rooming with Mother Love Bone singer Andy Wood, Cornell remembered Wood considered Mercury to be his idol. Since Temple of the Dog was formed as a tribute to Wood’s memory, it’s hard not to think of the tortured sound of ‘Hunger Strike’ as Cornell’s subtle tribute to Mercury’s influence.
While Freddie Mercury will forever be known as one of the greatest vocalists to ever command a stage, Cornell prefers to see him as a musician instead of the showman that has gone down in history. As if being “the best” singer ever wasn’t enough!
