Soundgarden: "Black Hole Sun"

Dive into two piano solo arrangements by Jennifer Eklund of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun," a moody alternative rock classic from the 1990s.

This post is part eleven of the Sonic Surprises Sheet Music Series.

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About Soundgarden:

Soundgarden, an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1984 by Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, and Hiro Yamamoto, played a pivotal role in popularizing grunge music alongside contemporaries like Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana. The band’s early releases, including EPs like “Screaming Life” and “Fopp,” showcased their distinctive sound and earned critical acclaim. Signing with A&M Records in 1989, Soundgarden’s major-label debut, “Louder Than Love,” marked their entry into the mainstream music scene.

Their third album, “Badmotorfinger” (1991), propelled Soundgarden to greater prominence with hit singles like “Jesus Christ Pose” and “Outshined.” However, it was their fourth album, “Superunknown” (1994), that solidified their success, topping the Billboard 200 chart and featuring Grammy-winning singles like “Spoonman” and “Black Hole Sun.” Despite internal conflicts and exhaustion from touring, the band released their final studio album, “King Animal,” in 2012, after reuniting in 2010. Soundgarden’s influence on alternative rock and their significant commercial success, with over 14 million records sold in the US alone, cement their legacy as one of the greatest bands of the grunge era.

About “Black Hole Sun”:

“Black Hole Sun,” was released in 1994 as the third single from their album “Superunknown.” Written by Chris Cornell, it became the band’s signature song, reaching the top of the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and spending seven weeks there. Despite peaking at number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, it finished as the number-one track of 1994. The single also saw success worldwide, reaching the top 10 in several countries.

Cornell wrote the song after mishearing a phrase on TV, and it came together quickly, with him whistling the melody into a Dictaphone immediately. Musically, it’s been described as grunge, psychedelic rock, and alternative rock. The song’s lyrics, described as a surreal dreamscape by Cornell, are open to interpretation, with Cornell himself stating it’s not meant to be taken literally.

“Black Hole Sun” received critical acclaim, with its psychedelic edge and shifting composition praised. The song’s solo, performed by Kim Thayil, was ranked among the greatest guitar solos, and it appeared on several lists of the greatest songs of the ’90s and hard rock songs. The music video, directed by Howard Greenhalgh, depicts a surreal suburban neighborhood and won awards, including Best Metal/Hard Rock Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Overall, “Black Hole Sun” stands as one of Soundgarden’s most successful and iconic songs, leaving a lasting impact on the music industry and earning widespread acclaim.