What Makes This Song Great? 'Black' Pearl Jam

In this episode of What Makes This Song Great?™ we explore the Pearl Jam classic "Black" from the TEN album.
#WMTSG #PearlJam #Black

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[whyisntitpossible]

Not many songs hit on an emotional level the way this one does...

[ryanjones]

I once told my wife that this song was how I would feel if we weren't together anymore. She wasn't really a fan of this kind of music, but after that I would catch her listening to it sometimes. She passed in November.

[WhyTheHorseface]

“I know someday you’ll have a beautiful life, I know you’ll be a star in somebody else’s sky, but why can’t it be mine?” Absolutely CRUSHING lyrics.

[TheReal_Pim_Tool]

"I know someday you'll have a beautiful life
I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky, but why
Why, why can't it be, oh, can't it be mine?"
Still gives me shivers every time I hear it.

[ButBigger]

This really should be "What makes this album great" because TEN is a masterpiece.

[WalkerKlondyke]

Can you imagine being Stone Gossard, sending your demo tape off to this goofy, surfer dude down in San Diego and getting back lyrics of such perfection?

[marigonzalles]

On the MTVs Unplugged version, when Eddie sings “We, we belong, we belong together”, the amount of emotional weight in there makes me tear up every time… such a beautiful version

[CFCMahomet]

Never have I ever been so happy that Pearl Jam aren’t Blocker’s...

[HaXaW]

Rick always gives credit everyone that had something to do with a song, all the way down to who played the Maracas.
I love that about him. Without the little things there can be no big things.

[espenvorland]

On this very day, exactly 20 years ago, I was watcing Pearl Jam at the Roskilde festival (Denmark) looking forward to this particular song. But we never got that far. After "Daughter" the band stopped playing, as people in front of the stage were being crushed towards the fences and each other.

We lost nine Pearl Jam fans in the mud and rain in front of the Orange Stage that ninght. Seeing Eddie crying as he helplessly witnessed the drama right in front if us still haunts me today. It broke our hearts, and it almost broke Pearl Jam apart as well.

Thank you Rick, for the walk through of one of my absolute favourite songs on this special evening.

[sanjeevrajput]

And this is how, boys & girls, you critically appreciate a song. A masterclass ...

[CyroSchmidt]

The part about the loved person being a star in someone else's sky gets me EVERY DAMN TIME.

[danmarshall]

"You'll never be able to not hear that part again" IS a great alternate title for this series.

I will also say that this came out when I was 19 and what 19 year old can't relate to lyrics in this song. Heck, I feel like girls I didn't even know were breaking up with me at that age.

[missstorrm]

The last part of these lyrics ("someday you'll have a beautiful life...." and so on) is arguably best bit of writing in a rock history. Sure there are more philosophical lyrics, ones that discuss society or human nature etc. But non so emotionally raw, personal and vulnerable, which you can hear for a thousandth time and it still hits you just as hard as the first time... It's a pure lyrical brilliance.

[ArsonFire]

My neighbour's been listening to this song so much, even I miss his ex.

[vanessarose]

"Black" is a religious experience.

[g.belanger]

That part of being a star in someone else's sky has always totally destroyed me. That bit is one of the top vocal performances of all time. My god the emotion...

[xavibasmusic]

The last section of this song feels like the world falling apart, like if everything shut in darkness

[djjazzyjeff]

Les Paul + Strat Sound. Guitar players for 50+ years have been debating which is better. Turns out, they're like Chocolate and Peanut Butter. Great on their own, even better together. Lol

[pdcrmr]

It’s funny, I never equated “Grunge” with sophistication but leave it to Rick to show just how well-crafted these songs are.