Can't Change Me

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"Can't Change Me"
Chris cornell can't change me.png
Single by Chris Cornell
from the album Euphoria Morning
B-side
Released1999
Recorded1998
Studio 11 AD Studios in Los Angeles, California [1]
Genre Alternative rock
Length3:23
Label Interscope
Songwriter(s) Chris Cornell
Producer(s) Chris Cornell
Natasha Shneider
Alain Johannes
Chris Cornell singles chronology
"Sunshower"
(1998)
"Can't Change Me"
(1999)
"Preaching the End of the World"
(1999)

"Can't Change Me" is the first single released from Chris Cornell's debut solo album, Euphoria Morning (1999). [2] The song peaked at No. 5 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks, [3] and at No. 7 on the Alternative Songs chart. [4] A music video was produced for the song. [5] "Can't Change Me" was nominated for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 2000 Grammy Awards. [6]

Contents

Origin

Chris Cornell told MTV News that students of Soundgarden's music can find the genesis of "Can't Change Me" in some of the band's hits, such as "Blow Up the Outside World" and "Fell on Black Days". [2]

About the meaning of the lyrics, Cornell told MTV's Making the Video :

It was written in the middle of a long songwriting period that I had for the record. Although it's the first song released as a single, it was probably one of the later songs that I wrote. The idea of the song... you kinda get the idea that it's a statement from the singer. It's kind of more of a sad discovery that this singer is involved with this person that has amazing powers to help people and change things positively, and he's realizing that none of it is really rubbing off on him. [7]

Release and Reception

"Can't Change Me" was released in early 1999 and turned out to be the biggest hit from the album commercially and the song had strong chart positions. "Can't Change Me" was the first Cornell single to chart but in late 1998 "Sunshower" charted in the US on the Modern and Mainstream chart.

"Can't Change Me's" peak on the Mainstream rock Tracks was No. 5 and on the Modern Rock Tracks its peak was No. 7. The song also charted in the UK where its peak was No. 62 and became a minor hit outside the US.

Greg Tate of Rolling Stone said this about the song "Can't Change Me," is as rhapsodically gorgeous as pop gets, putting a spin on true love that any reprobate slacker can relate to: "She's going to change the world/But she can't change me/Suddenly I can see everything that's wrong with me/But what can I do?/I'm the only thing I really have at all." Cornell unveils a desire to be reckoned with as an openly wounded and unabashedly portentous rock balladeer." [8]

Music video

A music video directed by Johan Renck was produced for the song and premiered on MTV on September 6, 1999. [5] [9] The video's concept was Cornell's idea. [10] It also stars Portuguese model and actress Ana Cristina de Oliveira. [11] The video was shot in Hollywood in four days, between July 31 and August 2, 1999, in locations such as at the Raji's, the Townhouse Motel, and in the tiny mountain town of Cornell, located in the Santa Monica Mountains. [10] The fire shots were filmed in Stockholm, Sweden on August 19, 1999. [10] Its filming was showcased in an episode of MTV's Making the Video followed by the world premiere of the music video. [10]

French version

Cornell recorded a version of the song in French. [12] This version is a bonus track on Euphoria Morning's deluxe version, [13] and on the Japanese [14] and European editions of the album released in November 1999. [15] The song was translated to French by Alexis Lemoine. [15]

Track listing

CD1

  1. "Can't Change Me" (Cornell)
  2. "Flutter Girl" From the Poncier CD (Cornell)
  3. "Nowhere But You" From the Poncier CD (Cornell)

CD2

  1. "Can't Change Me" (Cornell)
  2. "When I'm Down" Demo (Cornell)
  3. "Can't Change Me" (Enhanced CD-Rom video)

Chart positions

Chart (1999)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 5
US Billboard Alternative Songs 7
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles [16] 2
UK Singles Chart [17] 62

Related Research Articles

Soundgarden American rock band

Soundgarden was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto; Matt Cameron became the band's full-time drummer in 1986, and bassist Ben Shepherd became a permanent replacement for Yamamoto in 1990. The band dissolved in 1997 and re-formed in 2010. Following Cornell's death in 2017 and a year of uncertainty regarding the band's future, Thayil declared in October 2018 that Soundgarden was finished, though they did reunite in January 2019 for a one-off concert in tribute to Cornell.

Chris Cornell American musician

Christopher John Cornell was an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. He also had a solo career and contributed to soundtracks. Cornell was also the founder and frontman of Temple of the Dog, a one-off tribute band dedicated to his late friend Andrew Wood.

<i>Badmotorfinger</i> 1991 studio album by Soundgarden

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<i>Euphoria Morning</i> 1999 studio album by Chris Cornell

Euphoria Mourning is the first solo studio album released by American musician Chris Cornell. It was released on September 21, 1999 through Interscope Records. Euphoria Mourning sold over 75,000 copies in its first week of release, and eventually sold 393,000 copies in the U.S. alone. While a large success critically, it did not sell nearly as well as Cornell's albums with Soundgarden. It is Cornell's only album between the split of Soundgarden until he formed Audioslave with members of Rage Against the Machine. The lead single "Can't Change Me" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 2000 Grammy Awards.

Rusty Cage 1992 single by Soundgarden

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Black Hole Sun 1994 single by Soundgarden

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Spoonman Song by Soundgarden

"Spoonman" is a song by American band Soundgarden. Written by frontman Chris Cornell, "Spoonman" was released on February 15, 1994 as the first single from the band's fourth studio album Superunknown (1994). "Spoonman" is credited as one of the songs that launched Soundgarden's career into the mainstream. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number nine on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. A remixed version of the song by Steve Fisk appears on the "Black Hole Sun" and "My Wave" singles. The song was included on Soundgarden's 1997 greatest hits album A-Sides and the 2010 compilation album Telephantasm.

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Outshined 1991 single by Soundgarden

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The Day I Tried to Live 1994 single by Soundgarden

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Pretty Noose Song by Soundgarden

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Blow Up the Outside World Song by Soundgarden

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My Wave Song by Soundgarden

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References

  1. "Chris Cornell - Euphoria Morning (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Kaufman, Gil (September 7, 1999). "Ex-Soundgarden Singer Expands His Art On Euphoria Morning". MTV News.
  3. "Chris Cornell Chart History - Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  4. "Chris Cornell Chart History - Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Chris Cornell - Can't Change Me". YouTube.
  6. CHRIS CORNELL Explains 'Euphoria Morning' Album Title Change
  7. "Chris Cornell on the meaning behind the song "Can't Change Me"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  8. Greg Tate (September 30, 1999). "Rolling Stone review of Euphoria Morning". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  9. Bambarger, Bradley (11 September 1999). "'Euphoria Morning' Dawns For Soundgarden's Cornell On A&M". Billboard (published September 11, 1999). p. 19.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Chris Cornell - Making The Video - Can't Change Me". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  11. "A portuguesa que conquistou Chris Cornell (vídeo)". Impala (in Portuguese). May 18, 2017.
  12. Chris Cornell - Can't Change Me (French)
  13. Chris Cornell’s Greatest Hits: Grunge Icon Dead At 52
  14. Chris Cornell – Euphoria Morning (Japan)
  15. 1 2 Chris Cornell – Euphoria Morning (Europe)
  16. "Chris Cornell Chart Search". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  17. "Chris Cornell". Official Charts Company . Retrieved March 25, 2019.