"The Promise" is a single[1] by American singer-songwriter Chris Cornell. The song was written as the ending credits song for the film of the same name. The song was released in 2017, and is notable as being the last solo release from Cornell prior to his death on May 17, 2017.[2][3]
| "The Promise" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
Background
The song was first written by Chris Cornell after being approached by movie producer Eric Esrailian to write a song for his movie, The Promise.[4] Cornell agreed, as the film's topic - the Armenian Genocide - resonated with him.[4] While he was not personally Armenian, his wife was Greek, and her family line had been affected by the genocide.[4] He initially had reservations, being surprised that Serj Tankian of System of a Down was not asked to write the song, as Tankian was working on the movie itself, and had been quite outspoken about the genocide in the past, though with introspection and discussions with the production staff, he came to the understanding that he was a good combination of being neither too close, nor too far removed from the subject.[5][4]
The song was released as a charity single to help benefit the International Rescue Committee. It received a lyric video on March 10, 2017.[5] On April 19, 2017, he performed the song live with Sound Garden drummer Matt Cameron and a string quartet on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[1][6]
Themes and composition
The song features Cornell on vocals, and a orchestrated instrumentation by Paul Buckmaster, a composer known for his past collaborations with Elton John and The Rolling Stones.[4] The song was noted by Rolling Stone as a departure from the sound Cornell was known for with his work in grunge band Soundgarden.[5] Cornell explained that the change in sound was an effort to fit the themes of movie, stating:
I wasn't trying to record a song that sounded like it was from 1915, but I didn't want there to be obvious modern references because obviously at the time there was no such thing as the Beatles or Metallica or everything that is my reference for musical ideas. So the orchestra works just because that did exist and it can be a little bit out of time, so I was swimming in those waters of ambiguity.[5]
The song is described as having gentle, acoustic verses leading into a powerful chorus containing a "lush orchestral" sound.[7]
Reception
Consequence of Sound praised the song for being "equal parts grace and poignancy" and specifically noting that Cornell's vocals did well in evoking the painful situations conveyed in the movie.[8] Spin was less positive, referring to the song as slightly "sappy", though conceding that the message, and its proceeds going to charity, were commendable.[1]
Personnel
- Chris Cornell - vocals
References
- ^ a b c http://www.spin.com/2017/04/chris-cornell-the-promise-tonight-show-fallon-video/
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7800264/chris-cornell-obit
- ^ http://abc7.com/entertainment/rocker-chris-cornell-dies-at-52-rep-says/2006846/
- ^ a b c d e http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7760610/chris-cornell-the-promise-soundgarden-album
- ^ a b c d http://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/hear-chris-cornells-orchestral-the-promise-w471391
- ^ http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/chris-cornell-on-armenian-genocide-depicted-in-the-promise-movie-these-things-happen-now/
- ^ http://loudwire.com/chris-cornell-the-promise/
- ^ https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/04/soundgardens-chris-cornell-and-matt-cameron-perform-the-promise-on-fallon-watch/