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Stop Trying So Hard
Too much effort can ruin anything.
Maybe you’ve heard how Chris Cornell wrote one of the greatest rock songs of all time, “Black Hole Sun.” He was driving home at 4 am, and the song just started playing in his head.
The title came from something he misheard on the radio. He thought a news anchor had said “black hole sun,” and something sparked.
Cornell kept the song going in his head until he reached his front door. Then he whistled the melody into a tape recorder — just in case he forgot it. He scribbled down the basic ideas to the lyrics.
The next day, he tweaked the key. Then he wrote the rest of the lyrics following a stream of consciousness. And so a hit was born. It was the child of steady work, talent, and serendipity.
That song helped put Soundgarden on the map, even though they’d been recording great music for years.
Listen to Badmotorfinger, also a great album. A lot of musicians will tell you that “Jesus Christ Pose” is a better song than “Black Hole Sun.” It’s just not as fit for public consumption. If you know what I mean.
Here’s the thing about musicians like Chris Cornell, or any real artist. There’s an inevitability to their work. Obviously, they spend countless hours perfecting their art. The put in all the…
