Is Chris Cornell in OneRepublic's Music Video?! Songs About The World We Live In Pt. II
''I only Play For Money'', ''Lord Grunge'', ''History Never Repeats'', ''Society'' + OneRepublic's connection to grunge!!!
‘‘Lord Grunge’’ & ‘‘I Only Play For Money’’
The Frogs are from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and were founded in 1980 by brothers Jimmy and Dennis Flemion. The band writes music which explores topics of race, religion and sexuality. Whilst, the band writes catchy pop melodies and has punk sensibility, they also have ties to grunge music. For example, after meeting Kurt Cobain in 1993, The Frogs wrote ‘‘Lord Grunge’’ about him and made a videotape for him ‘‘Toy Porno’’. This would become viewed frequently in the Nirvana and later Foo Fighters tour bus, also being sold at their shows.
Out on the West coast
Black Sabbath, Black Flag meet The Beatles
It was the Seattle sound that made me proud
In the year of our lord grungeLumberjack rockstar
Jagging in the audiences mouth
It was the year punk broke
In the year of our lord grunge
Moreover, they would open for grunge icons Pearl Jam and Mudhoney. But most notably, the Smashing Pumpkins' frontman Billy Corgan under the name ‘‘Johnny Goat’’ produced their EP ‘‘Starjob’’. And on this EP, there is a song called ‘‘I Only Play For Money’’ which Eddie Vedder performed alongside The Frogs. Whilst, this song explores the mind of a rock star, ‘‘who’s gone so far’’, the sarcastic performance comments on the relationship between money, fame, art and the artist. The prioritisation of money over everything else, was not only the theme of the 1980s under Reaganomics where self-indulgence was encouraged, but still can be found across contemporary artistic creations. This preference has never went away and can always be found in one way or another, just a human and social trait.
Grunge did protest financial greed, self indulgence and encouraged self awareness and modesty in all aspects either issues concerned with economics, environment, or ecological footprint. However, Eddie Vedder singing this song is a stylish sarcastic protest. Vedder specifically chooses to cover music which fits with the Pearl Jam’s political awareness. The Frogs are not the only ones playing only for money, so are world leaders.
If you take my picture your camera's smashed
If you send me fan mail I won't write back
Don't you love the star
When he's a prick
I only play for money
I don't give a fuck about the fans
I only play for money
So keep your autograph books at home
I don't give a damn
Cause you're diggin' on the star
Cause you're diggin' on the one who's gone so far
‘‘History Never Repeats’’
Mark Twain believed that “history does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme’’ whilst George Santayana said that "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it’’ . Learning about the past, history and even music (even grunge in fact) will show you the future. One thing is for sure, world leaders don’t learn from history.
In this performance Eddie Vedder joined Betchadupa to sing Split Enz song ‘‘History Never Repeats’’(1981). Liam Finn is the frontman of Betchadupa and he is the son of Neil Finn who is the principal member of Split Enz. Vedder also performed the song with Neil Finn in 2014 for Max Sessions. Vedder also has noted that Neil Finn was very influential for him.
History never repeats
I tell myself before I go to sleep
Don't say the words you might regret
I've lost before you know I can't forgetthis old world, is so cold, don't care nothing for your soul
you share with your own ones...
Whilst, this song narrates one hoping that history never repeats before going to bed, Audioslave’s ‘‘Wide Awake’’ narrates the world leader sleeping at a time when they should have been wide awake. However, the narrator is not like them, ‘‘so come pull the sheet over my eyes, so I can sleep tonight despite what I've seen today’’. Two different songs, ‘‘History Never Repeats’’(1981) and ‘‘Wide Awake’’(2006) yet the same political awareness and criticism of the political regime. The essence and heart of the political order has not changed.
‘‘Society’’ (2019)
Swedish rock band Mando Diao in the last song of their album Bang (2019) chants that we are going to face the end of society. Just like, ‘‘I only Play For Money’’, ‘‘History Never Repeats’’(1981) and ‘‘Wide Awake’’(2006) the topic is money and humanity. Whilst, Split Enz song explains that ‘‘this old world, is so cold, don't care nothing for your soul’’, ‘‘Society’’ talks about the man in the suit who plays God with your money and wants to ‘‘to steal your heart and your land’’. Both songs talk about ‘‘this old world’’ and this old society, asking ‘‘will we ever change society?’’ Probably not, as the last line of the song reveals.
See the poor man's kid
Begging on his knees
People passing by
Afraid to realize
See the man in the suit
Playing God with your money
He's doing all that he can
To steal your heart and your landWhen will we change society
Will we ever change society
When will we change society
We gonna face the end of society
The Promise (2017)
And one promise you made
One promise that always remains
No matter the price
A promise to survive
Persevere and thrive
And dare to rise once more
A promise to survive
Persevere and thrive
Fill the world with life
As we've always done
Chris Cornell was deeply committed to philanthropy, using his fame to support a wide range of humanitarian causes. In 2012, he and his wife Vicky founded the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation, which focused on protecting vulnerable children facing homelessness, poverty, abuse, and neglect. The foundation supported organizations like Childhaven and the International Rescue Committee, and it also provided funding for refugee aid, education, and healthcare. Chris Cornell has always been involved in politics even through music. One song which showcases this is ‘‘The Promise’’ which was written for the film with the same tittle. The film is about the Armenian Genocide and all proceeds went to the International Rescue Committee. Chris Cornell explained that:
‘‘The Promise to me is mainly about paying homage to those we lost in the Armenian Genocide, but it's also about shining a light on more recent atrocities. The same methods used in the Armenian Genocide were used to carry out crimes against humanity in Bosnia, Darfur, Rwanda and right now in Syria on multiple fronts, contributing to a massive global refugee crisis.
Unfortunately, the words 'never again' seem like just words when we recall these mass executions of the twentieth century, as well as renewed racism and prejudice around the world. Even in the U.S., the warning signs — isolating groups based on race and religion — are evident. We really need to tell these stories and keep telling them in as many different ways as we can. As humans, we have a tremendous capacity to trudge ahead in our lives and not look at the difficult and challenging moments... but I think it's important. Educating ourselves on the past is the best way to understand the present and avoid future atrocities by understanding and intervening. We must educate and stand as one to combat this fear and violence, and as citizens of the world, work to protect each other's human rights."
Ryan Tedder’s covers of ‘‘The Promise’’ and ‘‘Last Goodbye’’
There is a connection with grunge when it comes to OneRepublic. The inaugural honour in 2017 was awarded to Chris Cornell in recognition of his song ‘‘The Promise’’. Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic performed the song as Human Rights Watch presented the Voices For Justice Annual Gala.
In August 2017, Tedder alongside Toni Cornell, daughter of the late Chris Cornell, delivered an emotional rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" alongside ABC's Good Morning America. This performance honoured both her father and his close friend, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, who had passed away shortly after Chris. The song held special significance as Bennington had performed it at Chris Cornell's funeral in May 2017. OneRepublic also covered Jeff Buckley’s ‘‘Last Goodbye’’ in 2008.
Chris Cornell also appears in the first seconds of OneRepublic’s music video for ‘‘Say (All I Need)’’:
Ryan Tedder not only is an amazingly skilled vocalist, but he is one of the most popular and remarkable songwriters of the 21s century. He has written popular hits not only for his own band OneRepublic like ‘‘Counting Stars’’, ‘‘Apologize’’ or ‘‘Love Runs Out’’ but other pop artists. Beyonce ‘‘Halo’’ (2008) & ‘‘XO’’ (2015), Adele ‘‘Turning Tables’’ & ‘‘Rumour Has It’’ (2011), Maroon 5 ‘‘Maps’’(2014), Jonas Brothers ‘‘Sucker’’ (2019), Tate McRae ‘‘Greedy’’ (2023) and ‘‘Sports Car’’ (2025) just to mention a few. Check out Ryan Tedder’s performances of ‘‘Halo’’ which he is ‘‘happy he gave away’’, and ‘‘XO’’ which he wishes he had kept for OneRepublic.
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