My Sunday Song – “Cochise” by Audioslave

For My Sunday Song #332, we are going to discuss the song “Cochise” by Audioslave which includes lead singer Chris Cornell and the reason we are here. The song was the band’s first single off their debut album from 2002. The band consists of Chris Cornell and the musical styles of the band Rage Against the Machine including Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk. Since Rage broke up, they band stayed together and brought in Chris to form a new band. The song went to #2 on the US Mainstream Rock Chart and #2 in the UK on their Rock & Metal Chart where it sold over 200,000 copies.

The song titles is “Cochise” and what the heck is a “Cochise”? Well, I’ll tell you. Cochise was an Apache Indian Chief and he was a badass. He was brutal, yet fearless and resolute. He didn’t let anything stop him and was full of rate and fury which is what Tom felt the music was that way and thus the name of the single. However, “Cochise” doesn’t appear anywhere in the song and is not about him in any way.

The song is about people that waste their life away doing nothing. They need to look in the mirror, wake up and get moving with their life. Chris had mentioned that the song was inspired by himself looking in the mirror and thinking that same thing. I look at it like Chris is out there rocking the world, having so many great adventures while that guy in the mirror is doing drugs, drinking or whatever else to destroy his life. It is like there are two people and if he doesn’t wake up and get both lives in order, the end won’t end well. And we know how that sadly ended.

The song has this tribal drum beat feel, while Tom is doing crazy things on his guitar and Tim on his bass. After about 50 seconds of this growing intensity, that wicked Morello riff comes crashing in. And what a riff it is. Chris sounds great, attacking the lyrics with that same intensity. Plus that scream towards the end is perfection. Tom’s playing throughout is worth the price of admission alone. A great, heavy ass track that let us know Audioslave was for real!!

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My Sunday Song – “Renegades of Funk” by Rage Against the Machine

For My Sunday Song #57, I am going with “Renegades of Funk” by Rage Against the Machine.  The song was released on election day in 2000 and with George W. Bush winning I am sure RATM had a lot more to “Rage” about.  The song is off their ‘Renegades’ album and was produced by the great Rick Rubin.

What I never knew, or had just forgotten, was the song was actually a Cover of a song performed by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force and released back in 1983.  These two songs really sound nothing alike and Rage has turned into a funked up metal song that fits my taste nicely.  Not only is it a cover, Rage has included a percussion piece of the song “Apache” by the Incredible Bongo Band.

I had never really listened to Rage Against the Machine as the late 90’s were not a great time for me so had overlooked them.  It was playing Guitar Hero or some video game where the song was featured and I was like…WOW!!…how have I missed this song.  Ever since then I have been a fan of the band. Tom Morello just absolutely slays it on the guitar and he is one of the best out there. The sounds and riffs he does are so his own style there is no mistaking when he is on lead guitar.

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