Grunge Covers & The Complexity Of ''Footsteps''
Interpretations of grunge classics by Ryan Adams -''Down In A Hole’’, "Dead Wishes" & "Fell on Black Days", Mando Diao - ''Come As You Are'' and Chris Cornell's cover of ''Footsteps''
Ryan Adams - ‘‘Down In A Hole’’, "Dead Wishes" and "Fell on Black Days"
7-time Grammy nominated Ryan Adams has been praised as one of rock's most talented songwriters and he can transform a song like no one else. For example, he released a cover album of Taylor Swift's 2014 album "1989" in 2015. His cover of ‘‘Style’’ is just amazing. This album showcased Adams' unique interpretation of Swift's pop songs through a darker alternative sound. However, his grunge covers are the best.
Ryan Adams has captivated fans with his beautiful interpretations of grunge classics, whilst bringing his signature Americana-alt-country sound. His covers showcase his ability to infuse emotional depth and a fresh perspective into tracks, transforming them into something uniquely his own. These renditions highlight both his versatility as an artist and the great influence of grunge music on contemporary song writing.
For SPIN Magazine he explained that initially he preferred Mudhoney over Nirvana when he heard Bleach (1989) or the ‘‘Dive’’(1990) single, however he fell in love with Nirvana’s Nevermind (1991) and now he has all of their records. ‘‘I’m amazed I didn’t pay more attention to it when it happened’’ he explains.
Not only was Nirvana influential but Alice in Chains. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals on Follow The Light (2007) covered Alice in Chains iconic track ‘‘Down In a Hole’’(1992). The song cover captures an emotional depth that resonates deeply, and again showcases Adams' signature sound characterized by its intensity and depth. You just have to listen to it!
Equally amazing is his cover of Alice in Chains ‘‘Nutshell’’ (1994) which he performed for an acoustic session, also releasing a Live from Federal Way, WA recording in 2023.
After the world learnt about the death of Chris Cornell, Ryan Adams paid tribute to the influential musician and grunge icon in 2017 by performing Soundgarden’s ‘‘Black Hole Sun’’ (1994). Furthermore, he covered Cornell’s solo track "Dead Wishes" and Soundgarden’s "Fell on Black Days" at the I Am The Highway : Chris Cornell Tribute Concert in Los Angeles, California (January 16, 2019).
Before launching into ‘‘Dead Wishes’’ he explained that his brother Chris actually gave him his first Soundgarden album, thus dedicating this performance to his brother, Chris Cornell and of course everyone present and listening. All of these renditions serve as a powerful testament to his artistry.
Mando Diao - ‘‘Come As You Are’’
The Swedish rock band Mando Diao released a cover of Nirvana’s ‘‘Come As You Are’’ for Musikexpress tribute and compilation album A Tribute To Nevermind (2011). The band themselves have been inspired by Nirvana. Particularly, the band desired their song ‘’Down in the Past’’(2004) to be : ‘’as easy like ‘Come as You Are’ or like a Nirvana song’’. Check out this earlier article which explains grunge music’s influence on Mando Diao’s ‘’Song for Aberdeen’’(2007) :
When it comes to the meaning behind ‘‘Come As You Are’’, Jonathan Poletti in ‘‘When Kurt Cobain went to church’’ explains that the song tittle is a phrase often used by Evangelical churches and to “come as you are” means to not put on a show, but to arrive at church as yourself’’ (Poletti, 2022). The song is full with theological terms, as example when Cobain sings that “Come as you are, as you were, As I want you to be, As a friend, As an old enemy’’. Poletti notes that ‘’the “old enemy” would be Satan, so often called the “enemy” (Lk 10:19, etc.) (Poletti, 2022). Likewise, ‘’Lithium’’ is a satire of Kurt’s church goings. Whilst, Simon Harper for uDiscoverMusic provides an alternative interpretation and analyses of the song:
‘‘Lyrically, the song – like much of Nevermind – reflects Cobain’s diametric tendencies, with deliberate contrasts throughout. He implores the listener to “Come as you are,” before acquiescing to “as you were,” while the command to “take your time” is countered by “hurry up,” though ultimately “the choice is yours”.
There’s a theory that the song is an allusion to heroin, which Cobain had been using for a couple of years. Its sedative role as a comforter made it “a friend,” yet its addictive and destructive qualities rendered it “an old enemy.” The instruction to come “soaked in bleach,” meanwhile, may have its roots in the same source as the title of their 1989 debut, Bleach, which was an 80s HIV awareness campaign in Seattle that encouraged users to bleach their needles after use to ensure the disease wouldn’t be spread.
Cobain, however, said the song is “about people, and what they’re expected to act like” (Harper, 2024).
However, if lyrics are considered aside, Mando Diao’s interpretation of the song is one of the best. This is a super intensive, raw yet balanced and elegant take on one of Nirvana’s classics. Whilst, it is a stripped down arrangement, Björn Dixgård’s vocals shine with full intensity and demonstrate why he is one of the best rock singers out there. The band has done multiple covers like ‘‘A Hard Day`s Night’’ by The Beatles, ‘‘Don`t Let Me Be Misunderstood’’ by Nina Simone (Also famously covered by The Animals), ‘‘Sleeping My Day Away’’ by D-A-D and "Hold On, We're Going Home" by Drake [And this one is definitely 100 times better than the original ;) ] Again, you must check them out!
Chris Cornell - ‘‘Footsteps’’
In his signature, hauntingly beautiful style and artistry, Chris Cornell- the grunge icon performed Pearl Jam’s ‘‘Footsteps’’ alongside Seth and Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers on Live on Fallon in 2013. No One Sings Like You Anymore is a true statement about the singer and this performance perfectly captures this.
This song is really special as it’s origins are a bit complex. Grunge supergroup Temple Of The Dog’s ‘‘Times Of Trouble’’ has the same melody, but with different lyrics written by Cornell. However, the song’s origins actually can be traced back to one of the first grunge bands Mother Love Bone which was fronted by Andrew Wood. The half-finished Mother Love Bone song was called "So Pleasing’’. The lyrics were written by Wood, whilst the music by Stone Gossard. After Wood’s death, Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament formed Pearl Jam.
Instead of the song being titled ‘‘So Pleasing’’, in an interview, Stone confirms that Andrew Wood had the original version, however, it was called ‘‘Times of Trouble’’. They worked on it closely before his death but it was never recorded.
But then to really muddle things up, Jeff Ament explains that:
‘‘Actually, the 'Footsteps' version was first. The tape that Eddie got of Stone's songs that me and Mike and Stone had recorded on there … just the music. At the very same time, we were putting together the Temple of the Dog thing and Chris heard that song and really, really liked it and semi-rearranged it to fit some words that he had and consequently there were two versions that were being worked on at the very same time. So, 'Footsteps' was first but we didn't really follow through with it cause it ended up on the Temple record’’ (Five Horizons, 1999).
The lyrics of Pearl Jam’s ‘‘Footsteps’’ were written by frontman Eddie Vedder who remarked that it’s the final act of the Momma-son Trilogy (‘‘Alive’’/’’Once’’/’’Footsteps’’). About the story behind the song and meaning, for RIP magazine in 1991, he explained that:
"It was three songs, like rambling weird stuff. One of them is called 'Alive,' and one of them is called 'Once,' and then one of them was called 'Times of Trouble,' which, actually, Chris [Cornell, Soundgarden] did a version of on the Temple [Of The Dog] record. Mine was called 'Footsteps.' It was the same music, but different words. There are two versions of that floating around. Actually, the whole thing was a three-song mini-opera.
Using Stone's music, I set it to this three-act play 'Alive' was the first act, and that has incest and violence. You have to read all this into it. Actually, the violent one was 'Once' -- he goes out and kills people. Then 'Times of Trouble,' or my version, 'Footsteps.' That song sounded like sitting in a jail cell. It's about a guy who was tortured as a child, which is the reason behind him turning into a mass murderer" (Five Horizons, 1999).
Furthermore, Rolling Stone in 1993, Vedder confirmed that it’s:
‘‘Footsteps,' the final song of the trilogy [it was released as a U.K. B side to 'Jeremy'], that's when he gets executed. That's what happens. The Green River killer... and in San Diego, there was another prostitute killer down there. Somehow I related to that. I think that happens more than we know. It's a modern way of dealing with a bad life."
[Then he smiles as he says], "I'm just glad I became a songwriter"
(Crowe, 1993).
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Loved this!
Great article. Check out New Orleans guys Thou, they covered many grunge bands and even have a whole album of Nirvana’s covers https://thou.bandcamp.com/album/blessings-of-the-highest-order