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so we're bleeding out slowly I see | Vocal Coach first time reaction/analysis of Pearl Jam's "Black"

Julia Nilon

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Today we foray for the first time into Pearl Jam with their iconic song "Black". Join me in breaking down the vocal technique of Eddie Vedder and muse about the artistry of musical choices in this heartrending, spiralling reflection of lost love and the grief that can come with it. What a sucker punch of a tune.

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Original Video: HQ Audio Black Pearl Jam Lyrics Subtitled ...

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20 Comments

@davidhart6291 2 weeks ago

“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, why can’t it be mine?” 😭😭😭😭😭

@loopgru 2 weeks ago

This was a really good balance of technical analysis and, you know, not being dead inside and actually feeling the mind-boggling emotional weight of the song. Big thumbs up. :)

@jindas4217 2 weeks ago

This whole MTV Unplugged performance is top notch. ❤

@timothyhoehn4912 2 weeks ago

Pretty much nailed it. Eddie says this song was written about how you can never really hold onto your first love and what it feels like to watch them move on.

“…a star in someone else’s sky…” has gotten me for 30+ years, every single time.

@andrewkubat1506 2 weeks ago (edited)

Eddie was sick during this performance which created some of the rasp in his voice.
"I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky... but why can't it be mine?" That hits hard every time.

@pocortr9077 13 days ago

He sang the $hit outta that song. The hurt runs deep

@philr696 2 weeks ago

Emotion beats perfection everytime.

@LupusSanguis 2 weeks ago

You picked the greatest version of Black. The end, which isn't on any other recording, gets me. An already emotionally charged song Eddie turned up for this. My favourite Pearl Jam recording and you nailed it Julia. This is pure emotion.

@PureJadeKid 2 weeks ago

"His phrasing and ability to sustain is kind of crazy." He would sing challenging things while climbing to the roof and hanging from the rafters. Eddie Vedder in the Early Nineties, live, was the most rock-and-roll thing ever, just boundless youthful energy. And he's still going decades later! PJ never let up. They are incredible still, in every way.

@DariaBilowus 13 days ago

Now you know why we fell in love with Pearl Jam & Eddie Vedder.
He's not performing, he's remembering.

@KyleS.1987 2 weeks ago

Eddie's been doing his thing for almost 40 years now. God bless him for carrying the torch.

@ericmichaelgormley2734 2 weeks ago

When this had never been featured before, I just kinda assumed you knew it. I'm both happy that I was wrong but also sorry that you walked right into this wall of emotion unprepared. Thanks for sharing and thanks to Caption Julia for the analysis.

@joshuawiedenbeck6944 2 weeks ago (edited)

Veddar wrote this about one of his long-term relationships. He didn't want to include it on the album, but his team/bandmates convinced him to do it. I would imagine that he relives that experience to a certain degree every time he sings it.

@Jagg3h 2 weeks ago

Lots of people have mentioned that he didn't want this song to become a single.
This was because it was so personal to him he didn't want it to become commercialised and lose its emotional gravitas.
IIRC, he doesn't even enjoy performing it because it's so emotionally draining for him and even he tears up singing it...

@verdonix1976 12 days ago

@13:38 we ARE watching someone fall apart... literal raw emotion.

@prchise 2 weeks ago

you cannot learn this in any singing schools/conservatories/academies. this is pure emotions. gives me shivers 30 plus years later.

@Jlweber 2 weeks ago

The Pearl Jam MTV unplugged that was broadcast just before Kurt died was one of the most heart wrenching musical performances I’ve ever heard. Pure raw emotion 😢.

@PrymalChaos 2 weeks ago

Eddie is single-handedly responsible for the 90s grunge trope of singing exclusively in vowel sounds.

@Angryburrito 2 weeks ago

She blown away now. Wait till she gets to even flow.

@ronnyderocker 2 weeks ago (edited)

Now you know what we had to endure in the 90's..haha, pearl jam, Alice in chains, silver chair... I screamed my lungs out to vent all the emotion out of my system through those songs and bands! ❤