Black - Live MTV Unplugged - Eddie Vedder - Pearl Jam - REACTION & VOCAL ANALYSIS (Sing & Scream)

This performance contains some of Eddie's most vulnerable and tonally sought after vocal moments. His breakup towards the end of the song is incredible.

In this video, I analyze his whole vocal performance and I show you how to get the exact kind of distortion that Eddie gets in this song. I break it down into simple steps so that you can do it simply and safely! We also talk about other aspects of Eddie's voice that make this performance so compelling. Let's dive in! ...And do a little experimenting with our own voices along the way!

[DeAguaMusic]

I think that the best lesson we can take from Eddie is to be ourselves and develop the best of our own voices. Amazing video as always, Chris, thanks!

[stumbling_through_history]

I'm so happy to finally hear a professional mention that this is Eddie's natural style. I've been saying that for a couple of years while watching reactions. It's like, "listen to any of his interviews, he talks just like he sings".

[Gyarkify]

Chris, I rarely comment, but just in case you needed hear it, you're such a lovely, kind, humble, calm, talented guy. An amazing communicator and teacher.

You break everything down so clearly, your explanations are outstanding, the advice given is always is fun to try, easy to understand and easy to follow. You offer so much knowledge, experience and high quality content and for free.

What a guy.

[Guinevere]

Eddie's sounds to me as if he was crying with his mouth tightly shut, as if he was trying to repress a scream.

[emdet]

I love that you brought up that he talks the same way as he sings, I think a lot of people overlook that. Great reaction!

[russellspear]

Sometimes in the course of performing a song, a singer will make something magical happen. It happens here right around the 4 minute mark through the sheer force of Eddie Vedder’s conviction in what he's singing about and how intensely he feels it as an artist. Eddie is singing the part about: "I know someday you’ll have beautiful life, I know someday you’ll be a star, in somebody else’s sky, but why, why, why can’t it be…oh, can't it be mine”

He raises the intensity further as he closes his eyes and reaches for something deep inside of him. By 4:16 in the Unplugged video his eyes are closed and he’s trembling and then right at 4:20 into it, his eyelids start fluttering, you only see the whites of his eyes and his eyelashes looking like butterfly wings…he has reached that place and in the process, turned in a truly transcendent performance.

[MrAyla]

Thank you for encouraging us to make weird sounds with abandon to find out what our voices are capable of. This to me is a huge help. A number of years ago I took an overtone/throat singing class. It totally changed how I approached singing. One of our lessons was singing the vowels AEIOU over a sustained L, R and A sound underneath. Play with that moving around in different parts of your throat, mouth and face. You’ll find all sorts of of of overtones and in some spots you can hit two notes at once. Eddie’s voice reminds me of Tuan and Mongolian throat singing

[jamiegunn]

Great video as always! That's a great way of going in and out of grit in how you demonstrated perfectly. Love how you talked a little about embracing the uniqueness of your own voice too, using Eddie as an example.

[vennettegloud]

The greatest example is when freedom meets control….creates authenticity! Good lesson! Love Vedder forever!

[SeleckPlays]

So many memories, so many interesting techniques to explore. Thanks as always Chris!

Some of my thoughts throughout the video:
1. SPOT ON comment about Vedder's voice, it's just who he is genetically
2. Yes, Eddie is a chronic smoker
3. I love the phrase "moving his resonance around"!
4. Those voice cracks are 90s Vedder
5. For those of you who may not know, Black is a song about someone Eddie loved, so it's very personal to him

What a great performance!!!

[MrLinkDay]

I already commented, but I gotta also say, Eddie is not the cleanest when singing and that is what is so special about him. It can sometimes lack control but it never lacks emotion, and all the cracks just make a deep emotional feeling come into us listening to him. Another singer that makes me feel that way is Janis Joplin, the uniqueness of a "dirtier" voice.

[jenniferjanke]

Stream of consciousness poem…you nailed Ed’s writing in four words.

[ikegreen]

Good ole Chris. Always bringing the quality content for us

[simmovai]

Regarding the Scott Stapp comparison- Ten was released in 1991 and the MTV Unplugged gig was 1992. Creed's first album was released in 1997, if anyone copied anyone's sound, Scott copied Eddie, there is no need to clarify Eddie's singing voice.

[pearljamcovers]

Yes!! So glad to see this, great video Chris! I have the full MTV unplugged on my channel with ISOLATED MIC and CAMERA of Eddie! Please feel free to use it!!!

[iSpitboxer]

Love this song and version. The way you break down how he does what he does is the best way I've heard anyone try to describe it. You're clearly a legend in your own right.

[MishiaEatingUnicorn]

Chris, you're just the best! Eddie is one of my favourite male vocalists, I'll definitely try the ending part when I'm home alone haha

[CatrielSambartolomeo]

Omg I've been waiting for a black video for soo long Chris tysm

[CanadaDan]

This was an awesome reaction, not only you know what you're talking about when it comes to the technical aspects but you also are familiarized with Eddie n his amazing voice.

[colinmaher]

The quirk of this performance is his mixing up of the lyrics in the first chorus. If you look back you can see his reaction. Amazing song & amazing performance.