I would be interested to know if you have ever performed with Maggie Renee. She is also an Opera singer and is currently attending Juliard. She does reactions videos also.
I'm sad and little bit disapointed.. You didn"t talk about the "talk box" used in that song. It's a guitar effect (the sound goes in a pipe and come out trhough your mouth.) but you didn't noticed it 😥
So I’m sitting at the bar and this guy with pink hair is next to me grabbing some beers, this is in Bonn Germany 1993. We chatted for about 10 minutes with the Screaming Trees on stage behind us, was a real cool guy. About 30 minutes pass and these lights behind a white curtain come on, the shadows of the band are showing through, the sheet drops and there’s that guy I was chatting with jumping up and down singing, I didn’t have a clue it was Layne Staley I was talking to. That was one of the most memorable times of my life, and I still get tears welling up in my eyes when I hear him sing, beautiful voice, the world lost a truly great vocalist when we lost him.
Não consigo explicar, o que deve ter sido, não palavras, ainda nem que ficou com essa memórias pra o resto da sua vida e da minha,que falta e que saudades
In high school, my best friend recited the lyrics to "Rooster" in front of our Language Arts class for his final project in the poetry portion of class. He said he wrote it for his dad, who was a chopper gunner in Nam. Nailed it. Got an A+. Thats the only A I ever saw that dumbass get.
As several other people have mentioned, "Love, Hate, Love - Live at the Moore" is a great next step into seeing Layne's power and control on display. I would also recommend "Down in a Hole - Unplugged" as a way to see the softer side of his vocals with a greater emphasis on the harmonies with Jerry Cantrell.
Yes. Sean knows exactly what he's talking about. Love hate love at the Moore, and unplugged down in a hole are the best things on RUclips. Half of the views are from me personally. 😂
Only person I’ve seen say it’s off key. I don’t know what you’re hearing but that performance is far from off key in my opinion and everyone else’s. It’s way better than the studio version
I am literally screaming in my basement ("NO the best part is COMING!!") as she pauses the video two times right as Layne is about to let it go "FEEEEED MY EYES".
As soon as she said ohh , I like the riff. That told me she hadnt heard the song before, and honey you just wait till the good part. that look on her face
Same (I wasn't screaming in your basement but yeah, I felt like here it comes...he's about to show his power house rang...ah c'mon) . The 3rd times the charm.🎸✌️
Man in the Box was one of the first if not the first “grunge” songs to get radio and MTV play, and really defines the grunge sound for me. And Layne’s vocals were so powerful…and they were just as inspiring live. True talent.
Layne and Jerry were musical twin flames. Jerry knew immediately when he heard Layne’s voice how special he was. No one could have crafted the songs and harmonize so perfectly with Layne. Everything Jerry did on his end really showcased Layne’s incredible talent.
Jerry at a certain point stated that Layne was "his voice"... so incredible to think the chemistry between the two... and do not be mistaken, Jerry is a very good singer himself as well
The thing to understand about this song is that when it came out, it hit people in the ears like a bomb. NOTHING was like it, nothing. It was shocking and amazing and stunning. I could not hear it enough.
I still can't hear it enough today, because literally NOBODY has been able to replicate this same style of music, vocals, and lyrics. AIC was truly unique and gifted as fuck. I miss Layne SOOOOO freaking much, but like he said over and over again in his music, we're all dead already anyway....and he was 100% right. We're all just walking corpses...
My then gf catered their record release party for “Facelift”. Since I’d worked a couple double shifts in a row and had to open the restaurant she told me that she didn’t want me working the party(I’d not heard them yet so had no idea). She said they were “nice guys, but you wouldn’t like their music”. The next day I heard them on KZOK and was blown away. And quite PO’d that I hadn’t been at the release party….
After all they weren't the first to do Harmonies.They were probably the best at Harmonies in the 90's and other things, like she points out, turning a 2 syllable word Jesus into a 8 syllable word. Etc.
I play then on bass they influenced my music, helped my playing asking as many bands did at that time. They were awesome and I know all Alice in Chains music. Welcome to the Grung movement
The harmonies in AIC songs often seem to crisscross, whether or not they actually do. They are sometimes atonal but still in harmony… eerie, amazing, powerful. One of the things that set them on top of the heap, in my opinion.
LOVE this sweet lady and her appreciation of grunge & metal! I’m so in awe of her knowledge and breakdown of Layne’s vocals as well as others. Her giddiness makes me smile and I look forward to watching her every morning while drinking my coffee. ❤️🙏🔥🤘
From what I've read Kurt and Layne never got.a chance to be particularly close. I think they played a/some show together in Brazil at least once for sure. Layne also gave Kurt a ride home once.during which Layne said Kurt beamed about his daughter. Like two ships passing in the night.
So if I can recreate the things you’re talking about when I sing along technique wise, does this mean I have natural talent? I don’t think about all these things when I sing, I just sing it. Don’t get me wrong, I sound nothing like Layne in tone, but technique I just am able to do.
@@hardluck7893 me too, but that is not what it is about. He was able to outsing loud of electric guitars on a stage and he could sing like that all night long, i dont think we would be able to do that
Did you know the chorus of this song is one of the hardest things to ever replicate. How long and straight he keeps that note is insane. Layne was an amazing singer and one of the most talented
I’ve been singing in a band for YEARS and I’ve covered this song over hundreds of times and every time it get a little closer but I never get fully to his voice I consider myself to sound similar but absolutely no where the exact same
Got me wrong imo was their best harmony, especially live when both their faces are side by side during the harmonies. Sounded amazing even with the vocally diminished yet more seasoned Layne.
I have never been a vocal person, more towards instrumentals but, I cannot deny the sheer talent and perfection Layne had with his voice. I don’t think we will ever have anyone who can do it like him.
"Understanding this grunge thing"....having grown up in the Seattle area in the '90's, one of the biggest things I recall was that Grunge was basically a rebuke of the over abundance of "Hair Bands" w/ their speed solos, each album required to have some kind of metal ballad. People were tired of these excesses which followed a formula (it's what the record execs looked for to promote), Grunge brought music back to a more grounded musical expression reflecting on real life feelings of anger, hurt and isolation, the opposite of the 'party all the time', chicks and rock and roll, excesses of the Hair band era
well said. In addition to rebuking the big hair bands of the 80's.... that time and place was a rebuke of the 80's "greed is good" "yuppie" mentality. Hence the long, shaggy hair and the tattered flannel shirts.
This was so awesome to watch. Seeing someone so technically knowledgeable watch/listen to one of my favorite all-time songs; one that makes me weep every time I hear it, was a joy. I love how you reacted to how it made you feel. I love your videos. It’s making me feel like I know some of my favorite musicians a little better.
The function of the talk box is amazing. For anyone who doesn’t know how they work, check it out. In essence, it goes between your amp and your speaker cabinet. When you turn it on, the sound goes straight from the amp into the tube then into your mouth. You shape the actual sounds in your mouth as the energy resonates. Then the sound returns out of your mouth and into the mic & out the PA system. I used one in a song, and it was an awesome toy to play with. 👍👍👍
I think Jim Dunlop brought out the first talkbox/wah pedal & I think Boss made one as well. Bon Jovi Living on a Prayer was an epic song ! Joe Perry from Aerosmith used one as well.
@@matthewmckenzie8508 Thanks for mentioning the wah. When people talk about this song and the guitar, people always mention the talkbox, but few ever mention the wah.
Layne Staley's magic was the fact that his vocals were so remarkably powerful and yet so incredibly vulnerable at the same exact time. No one else could ever do it.
That 's the best description of what I've always loved so much about Layne's vocals. He was hugely gifted & we were so lucky having him represent how generation x felt in 1992....
Even up until his final performance in 1996. He was so weak and frail. Barely moved a muscle, he was in so much pain. His voice never once lost it's power. He was as much a powerhouse vocalist in his last show, as he was in the first. Such an amazing, powerful singer, and he'll always be missed. RIP Layne, your voice got me through the 80's and 90's!
Facts, brother. Layne looked so used up during the MTV Unplugged sessions, but that is some of the most memorable performances that you didn't have to be there for. His lungs and larynx might've been the only part not breaking down at that point.
Layne is a legend. There wasn't anything he couldn't do and was an amazing front man. Many people referred to Layne and Jerry as the Allman brothers of metal.
Why the Allman Brothers? I’ve never heard that. When I think of Layne and Jerry’s vocals I think of Lennon and McCartney. They just go together perfectly.
@skyline2601 honestly, listen to the demo of We Die Young.... the label made them tone it down and the demo of this song has enough "grit" to fully be considered "metal"
Layne was truly one of a kind. His voice and talent will be forever unmatched. And he was such a good dude to those around him. He is the reason Jerry began singing more. Jerry at first was very nervous about singing, but Layne would continuously encourage him to utilize his voice more, and over time, you would hear Jerry singing more and more. He even eventually released some solo albums, and to think that may not have happened had Layne not kept encouraging him, so I think that says a lot about the kind of person Layne was. It's just so sad he lived his life in so much pain, and fought for as long as he could, but in the end, he sadly couldn't overcome his demons. The music world lost a true great when he passed. And he was only 34.
"Down in a Hole" from their unplugged set is a must. A song both beautiful and utterly devastating. Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell do some of their best harmonies.
One of my fav songs , and considering laynes condition. It still shines so much Not many rockstars that have gone down that path, can remain that good. Goes to show
I heard someone say it best when they were talking about that song. They said it sounded like a guy singing at his own funeral. Which didn't hit me when I first herd them say it than boom I was like wow!
Jerry Cantrell is equally as crucial to their sound as Layne was. He runs his guitar through a talk box during the verses as well as providing the backing vocals.
2019 Layne Staley's mother was interviewed. She described Layne Staley's vocal sound perfectly. She stated his vocals sound like razor blades muffled with marsh mellows. His voice hooks you.
Layne has one of the most iconic voices ever. Haunting voice and a haunted life, unfortunately. To me, Layne's voice and the unusual harmonies is a hallmark of Alice in Chains. I think visceral is a great word for his band in general. I highly recommend "Would," "Them Bones," and "Rooster."
Yeah, those are some of my favorites Jessie Girl. Those are but a few of many. I am often frustrated that some don't get the genius of Alice in Chains..
"Would" is so much more powerful. But, To really experience Staley's Talent outside of a recording studio where they can tweak vocals Love hat love live at The Moore is mind blowing.
Even to this day, fans old and new listening to Layne's voice and learning about him. His passing has broken so many hearts and there is still a yearning for him that if only things were different. That man will always be loved. One thing we can agree with, he isn't suffering anymore.
The demon you speak of was the loss of the love of his life, who passed away in 1996 I understand after the unplugged from MTV. Sadly, he never recovered from that blow.
"Down In A Hole" from their MTV Unplugged is an absolute must. "Nutshell" as well. AIC's Unplugged was probably the most haunting performance of all time.
Absolutely agree with either of those, the whole unplugged set was amazing. Sludge Factory would be another of my picks from that performance. RIP Layne and Mike
The dude wasn't just the voice of pain, he WAS pain. As melodramatic as that sounds, anyone who grew up in Seattle in the late 80s and early 90s (like me) knows very well that he was constantly battling himself. Dude just fed all his hate for himself and his addiction through his voice. Completely effortless power. Much like Chris Cornell.
😢That very song turned my world upside down the first time I heard it on the radio in the early 90s. I was just a kid and I thought "THAT, is something special!" I didnt know exactly what it was but I knew definitely I loved it. Its been over 35 years after that and my love for great music kept going through all the decades. Him and Cris Cornell were just such powerhouses!
A lot of people have requested an unplugged version, but the patrons selected this specific song. They get 1 video request per month, so I have to abide!
@@TheCharismaticVoice Yes, the unplugged concert is fantastic. Down in a Hole from that concert would be good if you want to hear the harmonies between Staley and Cantrell, or Nutshell if you just want more Layne and an awesome song to boot.
The unplugged is good but not a good first listen for Layne especially a live version. Unplugged was one of his last live performances and although still good the drugs had taken a toll on him already. If going for a live version something from 89-93 should be done before the unplugged in my opinion. My opinion ain’t worth anymore than anyone else’s but Layne was a force live before the end 93 when he started to go downhill quickly after that. His story is a sad one and a tremendous loss to music in general, so many people tried to copy him after but nobody can even come close really
In case nobody has mentioned it, the "nasal" bit is a combination of Staley's vocals and the guitar running though a "talk box" which is a speaker that is run through a plastic tube into the players mouth.
@@JustInOutDoors78 I think it's the emotional impact that gets people. It's pretty bare song from a production standpoint, so the thing that sticks is the pain. "I live for you, but, I'm not alive..."
@@LordNelsonkm I agree. I'm not trying to knock the song at all. I just think there are better songs, both lyrically and in regard to composition, for a reaction. I love this, and almost every other, AiC song.
Love Hate Love isn’t my favorite song either but from a vocal standpoint which that is her game, she’s a vocal coach, I think it makes since to see one of Layne’s best vocal performances in my opinion. I mean she’s a vocal coach and that’s what she’s reacting to so picking the better or best songs musically doesn’t really make more sense than picking one of Layne’s best live vocal performances does it? I could be wrong though 😂 I mean Love Hate Love doesn’t even make my top ten Alice songs but it gets my vote purely from Layne’s vocal performance alone especially when it comes to a vocal coach reaction 🤘🏽
"Down in a Hole" is their best display of Layne and Jerry's melody. "Love, Hate, Love" is Layne's epic display of range and control (live version, so you can visually see it).
Saw them in '91 or '92 in Greenville SC. They were the unknown opening band. They were on stage when we came through the door, Like they were waiting for us and started playing "Man in the Box". My buddy and I just stood there frozen with mouths hanging open thinking " Holy cow! These guys are good". Probably my favorite concert memory ever.
I dont remember the particular one, but when they replaced Death Angel on the second leg of the Clash of the Titans tour, as an unknown band, they were abuse by the fans. As it wrapped up, Man in the Box got rotation on MTv and the rest is history. I think ozzy's tour was a couple of years later.
@@Krendall2 I had a chance to meet Ozzy at the local rock station when he was touring for Bark at the Moon, and the fucker didn't show. I was about 14 at the time. His solo career hasn't stood the test of time, imho. Lol
Layne always had an incredible talent for singing with that distorted rasp like Kurt Cobain. His ability to move in and out of that distortion with ease was truly a gift.
Stone Temple Pilots is one of the most underrated bands of all time. Every single person I have ever played STP near, no matter what their favorite music is, liked their smooth sound. They are like a rock band for everyone, yet not enough people know about them. They are SOOOO damn smooth.
I kept thinking, "Can't wait for you to hit that chorus..." And as other have said, "Love, Hate, Love" is just a stupid-good performance (the 3rd act is a barn-burner). And "Rooster" (about Jerry Cantrell's dad) will give you goosebumps, hundy-p...
@@theatheistattitude Rooster is a brilliantly constructed song, so different to mainstream pop constructions, complex verse structure yet still melodic, harmonic and "sing-alongable".
Their music is all from the gut. Playing this in a bar was well, some of my happiest moments in life. this is the best of the grunge I think. We used lots of waa and a voice box on the guitar to make it swanky. In the end, like lots of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin all comes out of your solar plexus regardless if your singing, drumming or torturing steel over magnets. I always ran dry on breath for those long yells. Golly gee wiz, this brings back memories...and feelings...oh no, the urges have returned. Excuse me but I have to finish this commercial jingle I am working on...
Ikr? AiC songs were not made for happily bopping around. It's a dark vibe coming from a dark place. I mean, the "Dirt" album is pretty much all addiction, anger, sadness, and death. AND an amazing album, start to finish. Drugs giveth, and drugs taketh away.
@@Thessik73 True, although I think a lot of grunge was more nihilistic or apathetic than distraught. In addition to being a huge pendulum swing away from "party time" hair bands, grunge was a whole-ass smorgasbord of depression, anger, anxiety, irony, and detachment.
The MTV Unplugged, I will never fathom how someone whose frame was so hunched over, who’s mood was so somber could sound so effortlessly beautiful and pitch perfect. He was not of this world. ❤
Layne shot up heroin right before going on stage at MTV unplugged. He was so high yet channelled his pain into one of the most incredible and saddest vocal performances ever seen.
I'm late to the party, but Elizabeth I hope you have taken the time to listen to the Unplugged album. It was the first time I had ever heard them, and I was blown away. The electric versions are a little too busy to really let the vocals shine, and the acoustic guitar really shows off the arrangements.
I'm new into Alice in Chains, man. Apart from Nutshell and the amazing Man in the box, what're AIC hits? I know they have a lot of albums. I need some guidance haha. Greetings!
@@charliemurillo4321 sea of sorrow, confusion, would?, down in a hole, bleed the freak, I know somethin, rooster, junkhead, don’t follow, head creeps, the list goes on and on
"I like the emotion here, it's so distraught". You're only peeking through a crack in the door at the depths of emotions that you'll find in AiC's music
Thing is, grunge was such a powerful, Valid facet of rock, carried a decade, rescued us from LA Glam. It was back in time, but stands the test where glam metal not so much...
I was an 80's baby, 90's kid. Grunge changed everything and developed bands like Deftones, Korn, and Tool which were major bands that got me through a lot of tough times. AIC, Nirvana, STP, and Soundgarden were the saviors of rock along with Pearl Jam.
Fun fact layne would get grumpy if he was asked to record part of a song again. This led to him being one of the greatest live performers of all time in my opinion. This song live is even better than the recording
Really enjoyed this video! Your reactions were sincere and the analysis was detailed and enlightening. So few rock singers can belt from their belly while at the same time adding some distortion from their throat. James Hetfield generally does one or the other - Staley does both, all the time. So much power. And I love how "vocal" Jerry Cantrell's guitar solos are here, using the talk box and the wah pedal to imitate the vowel manipulation Staley does with his voice. It all creates a really distinct aesthetic that permeates the whole song.
That chorus after the solo gives me goosebumps every time. Layne's voice was just so powerful and moving. Just that one note change on the first line makes all the difference.
Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this but the “his voice sounds like a guitar” part is a guitar pedal called a “talk box” (basically a speaker with a hose you attach to a mic and open or close your mouth to give it the wah sound). The pedal is used a lot in this song from the main riff to the solo. At the part you are referring Cantrell was playing and Staley was using the mic on that vocal track.
LOL. I laughed when she said that part. And the "Shove my nose in ...SPIT!" part she mentioned. Some of the effect she speaks of is just the overdub over where it originally says SHIT
Layne is one of the best vocalists ever in my opinion. Just started listening to AIC more and his voice just hooks you in and never lets you go man. RIP
@@lilirishgrl it was a video on here actually. I cant recall the title. It was a memeber of the road crew remembering Layne's voice. I suppose you could try to search a few keywords.. sorry.
"Rain When I Die" is a great song to show the real potential in Layne's voice and the harmonies you said you wanted to hear from them. Anything from that album "Dirt" really :)
My favorite Alice In Chains song, with maybe the exception of man in the box is “Would”? It has everything that makes this band great ! Haunting and powerful vocals from Layne with backing from Jerry and awesome instrumental.
The twist on wood as in Andrew who died of an overdose , Jerry states this song was not directly about Andy, but the play on would as in a decision and wood as in Andy was intentional
It was probably not a good introduction for the band to her, she can’t get past the talk box effect cause she don’t how they’re making the effect. She should’ve watched “down in a hole” the mtv unplugged version. This video doesn’t tell her anything that’s true about the band. She needed to see them raw as they could be because the truth is that Layne on his worst day could still out sing anyone. They’re mtv unplugged had some kinda perfect magic to it.
I'm sure this channel appeals to a very wide demographic and the radio edit, for educational purposes, detracts less for those that know than it adds for those that don't.
@@antonymification212 I would agree if we were talking about truly vulgar and profane language that is simply gratuitous and adds nothing of value. I don't believe that is the case here.
The lyrics: "Buried in my pit" and "Shove my nose in spit" are both the cleaned up versions for MTV & VH1. They are actually supposed to be: "Buried in my shit" and "Shove my nose in shit" and this is the way they are on the album.
When these censored edits first appeared in the 90's for the MTV videos, I was like lol.. you can't just change lyrics like that... and here we are, 30 years later, and most people think these are the actual lyrics. And I agree with Orion, this whole petty censorship BS is entirely cringe.
Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell are on of the most haunting and beautiful harmonies of all time. Please bring more Alice In Chains to the channel! Rest easy Layne
“No Excuses”, “I Stay Away”, “Rooster”, “Them Bones”, “Would”, “Down in a Hole”, “Heaven Beside You”, “Nutshell” are all songs worth doing reactions to. They are an amazing band, but we’re even more so before Layne’s death. He was probably one of the best vocalists in rock history.
Love your channel. I channel Layne so I'm told. My first vocal audition was at 17. Singing ozzy. When I got the gig I asked the band what set me apart, it was my nasal tone that I could change on a whim. I'm 57 now and can still set man in the box on fire. Complete strangers walk up to me end freak out at my, vibrato, power, tone, pitch. I'm definitely blessed. thank
Layne TOLD US in his lyrics that he would die of his addiction. It is both sad and beautiful to see such things play out. To know someone is sick. But to be able to really feel their sickness in the music and know that it is real. Almost like watching a horror movie.
That’s what makes the song “Wake Up” so fucking sad and haunting. He sure as fuck didn’t WANT to die from his addiction. I had serious substance abuse problems too, but if I was him with the fame and connection he had… zero chance in hell I would’ve survived. Zero.
On a similar note, The Rev told us all how he planned to die. Many claim his overdose was accidental, but he literally overdosed with a Brompton Cocktail. And he died days after giving M Shadows the demo track for Fiction.
I can listen to Down in a Hole only once in a while. Watching the Unplugged version was like someone sing at his own funeral. The hurt was visceral. 😢 RIP Layne.
When I was 13 years old my mom took away my Alice in Chains Facelift tape because of this song and video. 35 years later, I'm watching a vocal coach analyze the vocal chord structures of this very song. Weird.
@@jlunn900 I was never a closet rocker. My rocking was always out in the open. I forced my parents to play led Zeppelin and Metallica tapes in the car on long trips. Loud. They even filmed my band playing talent shows when I was in 8th grade on the giant VHS camcorder. Still write music to this day. Lol sorry.. "closet rocker" kinda struck a nerve. Carry on..
“Would” is another one that has a very emotional sound in the vocals. It’s a very sad and pain filled song and Layne Staley’s vocals really capture it.
I love watching people like Elizabeth discover all these great bands I grew up with. The look she gave when Layne was in the box. She’s a total geek but I embrace my inner geek as well so I mean that as a total compliment. Her eyes go big when things surprise her too. Pretty cute.
Down in Hole but the Unplugged one cause she said she wants to hear harmonies and I think that's one of the best of Jerry and Layne on the "bury me softly in this womb (Oh I wanna be inside of you)" like I watch the AiC unplugged yearly cause I have the dvd and it mesmerizes me every time
Almost everything from AIC is just brilliant, all their albums: Facelift, Dirt, Alice in Chains and MTV unplugged. But their EP "Jar of Flies" is just a masterpiece.
That's why I kind of hate all the unplugged requests. His voice was weakening and his singing capabilities were deteriorating, as was he. Don't get me wrong, it was really good and just bare honesty, but it wasn't when he was at his best and not a great representation of his overall vocal abilities. But I'm sure the next AIC video will be from unplugged anyway.
@@insufferablethrashelitist9305 while I agree with what you said, the unplugged stuff just cements his legendary voice cause he was weak and gone by then and he still put that great of a performance on for everyone.
@@kenplotzke86 right. I get it. I love AIC. It's just that other than love hate love, the only videos all these reaction channels ever see is when Layne was at his worst. I'm glad she did the album version of this, and wish sometimes they'd do more earlier versions of their songs so they could really hear what Layne could do. The unplugged songs still break my heart just like Nirvana's and all the late Chris Cornell's acoustic releases. So it's special to us, as fans, but not a great overall representation.
Why has nobody mentioned “Heaven Beside You”?Has always been one of my go to AIC songs, and much over looked IMO. It also shows off Jerry’s vocal ability. Would be a good way to contrast the two, and shows why they fit so well together.
the vocals on that song are sub-par and the song is mostly sang by Cantrell..that's why nobody mentioned it. Cantrell is the mastermind behind AIC and is not a bad singer, but Staley is the soul..he's the one that can hit the high notes
Love AiC. I like “Heaven Beside You” but the breakdowns (bridge (?)) after the chorus don’t really seem to fit. The “yeah, there’s problems in my life…” That part kind of marred the song.
Can't see or hear him without crying immediatly, I grow up with his voice, his soul was very sad and tortured you can hear it his voice. RIP Layne we miss you.
“Down in a hole” probably has the best harmony between cantrell and staley. But the notes staley hits on “junkhead” while singing about his justification of his drug addiction still gives me (good) chills up my spine to this day
Yeah Junkhead is such a haunting song because of the subject matter and our post-knowledge about how it all ended. Sometimes I feel guilty listening to it.
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I would be interested to know if you have ever performed with Maggie Renee. She is also an Opera singer and is currently attending Juliard. She does reactions videos also.
I'm sad and little bit disapointed.. You didn"t talk about the "talk box" used in that song. It's a guitar effect (the sound goes in a pipe and come out trhough your mouth.) but you didn't noticed it 😥
@@michaelromeo9567
Unless a person knows or seen them use it they may not realize it was being used.
I would love to see you do a snead occonnor song troy...but great song here for sure
@@michaelromeo9567 it's a vocoder, Jerry play with in live
So I’m sitting at the bar and this guy with pink hair is next to me grabbing some beers, this is in Bonn Germany 1993. We chatted for about 10 minutes with the Screaming Trees on stage behind us, was a real cool guy. About 30 minutes pass and these lights behind a white curtain come on, the shadows of the band are showing through, the sheet drops and there’s that guy I was chatting with jumping up and down singing, I didn’t have a clue it was Layne Staley I was talking to. That was one of the most memorable times of my life, and I still get tears welling up in my eyes when I hear him sing, beautiful voice, the world lost a truly great vocalist when we lost him.
I love hearing stories of his down-to-earth sweetness. Thank you for sharing.
Are you German or were you stationed over their at the time?
Não consigo explicar, o que deve ter sido, não palavras, ainda nem que ficou com essa memórias pra o resto da sua vida e da minha,que falta e que saudades
@@monicajean37 I was stationed at Spangdahlem AFB
@@F.A.F.O.818 Thank you for your service...what an amazing moment you had with Layne!
Spit was a dub, we all know what the real word he was singing was.
Threw me off. Hadn’t heard the radio edit in a while lol
Spit and pit 🤦🤷
And to ad insult to injury the song it-self is also shortened, specifically the parts leading up to the verses 😢
spit n pit
Unedited version has s**t a the word
Definitely check out "Rooster" at some point. It's a really deep and powerful performance.
In high school, my best friend recited the lyrics to "Rooster" in front of our Language Arts class for his final project in the poetry portion of class.
He said he wrote it for his dad, who was a chopper gunner in Nam.
Nailed it. Got an A+. Thats the only A I ever saw that dumbass get.
No goddam it wecalway hear the same 3 songs starting from this song then rooster then heaven beside you or nutshell
Kirk keeps saying this is his favorite song. Let's see how many upvotes this gets and I'll put it on my list!
Letsss gooo
Or love, hate, love. There is a great live recording that is available
JAAAAAYYYeYeYESUS CHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIST! Me every time she pauses or I get an ad.
As several other people have mentioned, "Love, Hate, Love - Live at the Moore" is a great next step into seeing Layne's power and control on display. I would also recommend "Down in a Hole - Unplugged" as a way to see the softer side of his vocals with a greater emphasis on the harmonies with Jerry Cantrell.
This 100%
Yes, Love, Hate, Love at The Moore is amazing. The whole show is apex AIC.
Yes. Sean knows exactly what he's talking about. Love hate love at the Moore, and unplugged down in a hole are the best things on RUclips. Half of the views are from me personally. 😂
Definitely the MTV Unplugged Down in a Hole. It's a difficult/personal one, but definitely a good track for your vocal and lyrical breakdowns.
Only person I’ve seen say it’s off key. I don’t know what you’re hearing but that performance is far from off key in my opinion and everyone else’s. It’s way better than the studio version
I am literally screaming in my basement ("NO the best part is COMING!!") as she pauses the video two times right as Layne is about to let it go "FEEEEED MY EYES".
Lol, right?
As soon as she said ohh , I like the riff. That told me she hadnt heard the song before, and honey you just wait till the good part. that look on her face
She does that on before all the good parts 🤯
Hahahaha i did the same lol
Same (I wasn't screaming in your basement but yeah, I felt like here it comes...he's about to show his power house rang...ah c'mon) . The 3rd times the charm.🎸✌️
“Would?” Is a really good display of Layne Staley’s powerful vocals especially the third chorus where he holds the note longer.. amazing
Yes, would have been a better song for her to dissect.
Rooster better for vocals imo
One of my favourite songs after roughly 60 years of listening.
@@philipwilson3430 how’d you figure that?
I was thinking Would too. Although Rooster would show a different style. Would has a lot of those stops she was talking about.
Man in the Box was one of the first if not the first “grunge” songs to get radio and MTV play, and really defines the grunge sound for me. And Layne’s vocals were so powerful…and they were just as inspiring live. True talent.
Layne and Jerry were musical twin flames. Jerry knew immediately when he heard Layne’s voice how special he was. No one could have crafted the songs and harmonize so perfectly with Layne. Everything Jerry did on his end really showcased Layne’s incredible talent.
Well put.
Amen
Perfectly on point
Super facts
Jerry at a certain point stated that Layne was "his voice"... so incredible to think the chemistry between the two... and do not be mistaken, Jerry is a very good singer himself as well
The thing to understand about this song is that when it came out, it hit people in the ears like a bomb. NOTHING was like it, nothing. It was shocking and amazing and stunning. I could not hear it enough.
I remember when it was release, such a powerful voice. I still can’t get enough of it.
Right! That's what was so amazing about that time. Grunge in general was totally new.
I still can't hear it enough today, because literally NOBODY has been able to replicate this same style of music, vocals, and lyrics. AIC was truly unique and gifted as fuck. I miss Layne SOOOOO freaking much, but like he said over and over again in his music, we're all dead already anyway....and he was 100% right. We're all just walking corpses...
My then gf catered their record release party for “Facelift”. Since I’d worked a couple double shifts in a row and had to open the restaurant she told me that she didn’t want me working the party(I’d not heard them yet so had no idea). She said they were “nice guys, but you wouldn’t like their music”.
The next day I heard them on KZOK and was blown away. And quite PO’d that I hadn’t been at the release party….
I bought This album and 10 at the same time. That was a good day.
“I really liked the harmonies”.
Welcome to Alice In Chains.
After all they weren't the first to do Harmonies.They were probably the best at Harmonies in the 90's and other things, like she points out, turning a 2 syllable word Jesus into a 8 syllable word. Etc.
I play then on bass they influenced my music, helped my playing asking as many bands did at that time. They were awesome and I know all Alice in Chains music. Welcome to the Grung movement
Thought the exact same thing, scrolled down to the comments to find it. Surely somebody said it.
The harmonies in AIC songs often seem to crisscross, whether or not they actually do. They are sometimes atonal but still in harmony… eerie, amazing, powerful. One of the things that set them on top of the heap, in my opinion.
AIC is all about the harmonies.. beautiful ones
LOVE this sweet lady and her appreciation of grunge & metal! I’m so in awe of her knowledge and breakdown of Layne’s vocals as well as others. Her giddiness makes me smile and I look forward to watching her every morning while drinking my coffee. ❤️🙏🔥🤘
She’s given me so much better appreciation of many bands and singers especially.
"I know I haven’t got much of a voice, but Layne has one hell of a voice.” - Kurt Cobain
Layne is favorite. But this is why Kurt was cool. He knew talent.and recognized it.in Layne while being an absolute genius in his own way.
I've never heard that quote wow
From what I've read Kurt and Layne never got.a chance to be particularly close. I think they played a/some show together in Brazil at least once for sure. Layne also gave Kurt a ride home once.during which Layne said Kurt beamed about his daughter. Like two ships passing in the night.
So if I can recreate the things you’re talking about when I sing along technique wise, does this mean I have natural talent? I don’t think about all these things when I sing, I just sing it. Don’t get me wrong, I sound nothing like Layne in tone, but technique I just am able to do.
@@hardluck7893 me too, but that is not what it is about. He was able to outsing loud of electric guitars on a stage and he could sing like that all night long, i dont think we would be able to do that
Did you know the chorus of this song is one of the hardest things to ever replicate. How long and straight he keeps that note is insane. Layne was an amazing singer and one of the most talented
I’ve been singing in a band for YEARS and I’ve covered this song over hundreds of times and every time it get a little closer but I never get fully to his voice I consider myself to sound similar but absolutely no where the exact same
@@gwarguy7812there's any video to enjoy that closeness?
I've been trying desperately and I'm closer each day myself. I'll never be Layne but goddamn it if I won't shoot for the stars to hit the moon
This is accurate
@@emperomassinencambio...9941 I’m sure there is some but you’d have to search for it. It’s very hard but not impossible
“Down in a hole” shows how well layne and jerry sang together
This, but the live unplugged concert 👌
Yes! My favorite of their songs
Got me wrong imo was their best harmony, especially live when both their faces are side by side during the harmonies.
Sounded amazing even with the vocally diminished yet more seasoned Layne.
KISS Unplugged - I Still Love You
ruclips.net/video/Q94QkRRQKG4/видео.html
KISS Unplugged - I Still Love You
ruclips.net/video/Q94QkRRQKG4/видео.html
I have never been a vocal person, more towards instrumentals but, I cannot deny the sheer talent and perfection Layne had with his voice. I don’t think we will ever have anyone who can do it like him.
"Understanding this grunge thing"....having grown up in the Seattle area in the '90's, one of the biggest things I recall was that Grunge was basically a rebuke of the over abundance of "Hair Bands" w/ their speed solos, each album required to have some kind of metal ballad. People were tired of these excesses which followed a formula (it's what the record execs looked for to promote), Grunge brought music back to a more grounded musical expression reflecting on real life feelings of anger, hurt and isolation, the opposite of the 'party all the time', chicks and rock and roll, excesses of the Hair band era
That is probably the single best description of grunge I have ever heard!
Well said
100% right! you cant party all the time when you are depressed about life lol
Passed on the whole grunge thing. Stuck to the heavier side of metal such as thrash through this whole decade, but yeah good description.
well said. In addition to rebuking the big hair bands of the 80's....
that time and place was a rebuke of the 80's "greed is good" "yuppie" mentality. Hence the long, shaggy hair and the tattered flannel shirts.
Lane's voice is like a thousand souls crying out in pain.
Or an angel being bathed in a demon's blood.
Great description. It's like a bottomless pit of angush.
His voice is like trying to eat pudim with a straw
His voice is like me waking up in the morning before noon
I love all these descriptions!
The way Layne attacks that chorus after the guitar solo always gives me chills. He always had another gear to kick into when a song needed a punch.
It's my favorite moment of any AIC song.
EYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
That's what sets him apart from his contemporaries.
Hell yeah! Powerful!
This was so awesome to watch. Seeing someone so technically knowledgeable watch/listen to one of my favorite all-time songs; one that makes me weep every time I hear it, was a joy. I love how you reacted to how it made you feel. I love your videos. It’s making me feel like I know some of my favorite musicians a little better.
In that opening part, Staley's vocals are doubled by Jerry Cantrell using a talkbox with his guitar. That gives it that weird wah warble throughout.
this
Golden Throat talk box
The function of the talk box is amazing. For anyone who doesn’t know how they work, check it out.
In essence, it goes between your amp and your speaker cabinet. When you turn it on, the sound goes straight from the amp into the tube then into your mouth.
You shape the actual sounds in your mouth as the energy resonates. Then the sound returns out of your mouth and into the mic & out the PA system.
I used one in a song, and it was an awesome toy to play with. 👍👍👍
I think Jim Dunlop brought out the first talkbox/wah pedal & I think Boss made one as well. Bon Jovi Living on a Prayer was an epic song ! Joe Perry from Aerosmith used one as well.
@@matthewmckenzie8508 Thanks for mentioning the wah. When people talk about this song and the guitar, people always mention the talkbox, but few ever mention the wah.
Layne Staley's magic was the fact that his vocals were so remarkably powerful and yet so incredibly vulnerable at the same exact time. No one else could ever do it.
well I TRY ! lol ruclips.net/video/quIlrnkdzC8/видео.html
That 's the best description of what I've always loved so much about Layne's vocals. He was hugely gifted & we were so lucky having him represent how generation x felt in 1992....
Chris Cornell comes to mind
Chino Moreno's vocals imo also invoke the concept of powerful & vulnerable congruently .
Jeff Buckley could
Even up until his final performance in 1996. He was so weak and frail. Barely moved a muscle, he was in so much pain. His voice never once lost it's power. He was as much a powerhouse vocalist in his last show, as he was in the first. Such an amazing, powerful singer, and he'll always be missed. RIP Layne, your voice got me through the 80's and 90's!
Real fkn talk bro 💯💯💯💯💯💯
@Drew Mad season. he also recorded 2 last songs for The Vault around then too.
@Drew Mad Season is amazing.
Facts, brother. Layne looked so used up during the MTV Unplugged sessions, but that is some of the most memorable performances that you didn't have to be there for. His lungs and larynx might've been the only part not breaking down at that point.
His voice still gets me through a lot of days. Love Alice in chains 4 life
The way you are able to articulate how you hear his voice is amazing. Thank you for your time.
Layne is a legend. There wasn't anything he couldn't do and was an amazing front man. Many people referred to Layne and Jerry as the Allman brothers of metal.
I love Alice In Chains but I can't help but cringe a little whenever someone puts Alice In Chains in the same sentence as metal.
Why the Allman Brothers? I’ve never heard that. When I think of Layne and Jerry’s vocals I think of Lennon and McCartney. They just go together perfectly.
@@skyline2601 What do you mean? They're technically metal, just lumped in into grunge thanks to journalists
@@bretviola6871 kinda reminds me of the Wilson sisters, of Heart.
@skyline2601 honestly, listen to the demo of We Die Young.... the label made them tone it down and the demo of this song has enough "grit" to fully be considered "metal"
"Nutshell" for MTV Unplugged. One of the most gut wrenching and emotional performances I have ever seen.
This!!!!
What about the studio version? Why the live version?
@@tylurmackinnon6217 just the emotion in the MTV unplugged is unmatched. Both incredible nonetheless.
100%
Love what you just said I think we are a ton of AIC fans trying to ask this chick who are you to dissect this song
“Would” , “Rooster”, Down in Hole and nutshell are musts.
My favorite is Dont follow
Yeah, the Unplugged version of Would? is a great one to review. I'd love Elizabeth to check that one out!
I was about to name these exact same 3.
Unplugged Nutshell is absolutely haunting.
Another commenter wrote that it was like "seeing a man sing his own eulogy"
Dirt is such a heavy, eerie, melodic album 🤟
Layne was truly one of a kind. His voice and talent will be forever unmatched. And he was such a good dude to those around him. He is the reason Jerry began singing more. Jerry at first was very nervous about singing, but Layne would continuously encourage him to utilize his voice more, and over time, you would hear Jerry singing more and more. He even eventually released some solo albums, and to think that may not have happened had Layne not kept encouraging him, so I think that says a lot about the kind of person Layne was. It's just so sad he lived his life in so much pain, and fought for as long as he could, but in the end, he sadly couldn't overcome his demons. The music world lost a true great when he passed. And he was only 34.
"Down in a Hole" from their unplugged set is a must. A song both beautiful and utterly devastating. Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell do some of their best harmonies.
I had never been a fan of Unplugged back in the day, so I actually only saw that performance recently due to reaction videos.
It is the best version.
Nearly any other performance of this song is unacceptable, imo
One of my fav songs , and considering laynes condition.
It still shines so much
Not many rockstars that have gone down that path, can remain that good. Goes to show
This right here is the only acceptable way to listen to Down in a hole!
I heard someone say it best when they were talking about that song. They said it sounded like a guy singing at his own funeral. Which didn't hit me when I first herd them say it than boom I was like wow!
Jerry Cantrell is equally as crucial to their sound as Layne was. He runs his guitar through a talk box during the verses as well as providing the backing vocals.
Lots of intense vocal harmonies between the two over the years. "Got Me Wrong" for instance.
Is the talk box how they get the “aaHhhAaahhHaaahhH”s?
Comment on point!!!
I would say he is essential because of his songwriting skills.
Those two together were pure magic but Layne was absolutely the front man for a reason. His vocals were absolutely amazing.
2019 Layne Staley's mother was interviewed. She described Layne Staley's vocal sound perfectly. She stated his vocals sound like razor blades muffled with marsh mellows. His voice hooks you.
prefect description!
I always thought he sung and looked like a billy goat ! I mean that in the best way...
Thanks. Fascinating and great choice of artists. ❤
Layne has one of the most iconic voices ever. Haunting voice and a haunted life, unfortunately. To me, Layne's voice and the unusual harmonies is a hallmark of Alice in Chains. I think visceral is a great word for his band in general. I highly recommend "Would," "Them Bones," and "Rooster."
Should listen to Layne when he was in Mad Season. Amazing.
@@charreed8727 I was about to say the same, Mad Season; River of Deceit
All mad season songs are priceless
Yeah, those are some of my favorites Jessie Girl. Those are but a few of many. I am often frustrated that some don't get the genius of Alice in Chains..
Nutshell I think was Layne’s best with Alice in Chains. And like someone else said here, yes river of deceit by mad season was one of his best.
Layne ‘s voice is so missed. You need to hear his side project Mad Season “River of Deceit”
That song is so freaking good!!
"Would" is so much more powerful. But, To really experience Staley's Talent outside of a recording studio where they can tweak vocals Love hat love live at The Moore is mind blowing.
YES. BEST.
Definitely some Mad Season. I was thinking it would be interesting to see her reaction to Long Gone Days.
“Wake up” on that album hits ya in the feels. layne’s voice cuts through you like a razor. Damn I miss his voice!
I love Layne, it's so heartbreaking he couldn't overcome his demons. I have shed tears listening to AIC just thinking of it.
Even to this day, fans old and new listening to Layne's voice and learning about him. His passing has broken so many hearts and there is still a yearning for him that if only things were different. That man will always be loved. One thing we can agree with, he isn't suffering anymore.
You are not alone in your grieving. He truly had the voice of an angel.
The demon you speak of was the loss of the love of his life, who passed away in 1996 I understand after the unplugged from MTV. Sadly, he never recovered from that blow.
I read up on that a bit. A Friend of theirs said she never used heroin before she met him, so I guess he felt responsible for her death.
I’m with ya
i like how obvious the censoring of "Shit" into "Pit" and "SPIT" are
"Down In A Hole" from their MTV Unplugged is an absolute must. "Nutshell" as well. AIC's Unplugged was probably the most haunting performance of all time.
I cried. Desperately wish Layne and Mike could have driven back those demons.
😭😭
Absolutely agree with either of those, the whole unplugged set was amazing. Sludge Factory would be another of my picks from that performance. RIP Layne and Mike
Agreed. The melancholy oozes from that performance, and it’s oddly cathartic when I am feeling really bad.
@@metallikat05 I know exactly what you mean, funny how that works
That entire show is just an emotional rollercoaster
The dude wasn't just the voice of pain, he WAS pain. As melodramatic as that sounds, anyone who grew up in Seattle in the late 80s and early 90s (like me) knows very well that he was constantly battling himself. Dude just fed all his hate for himself and his addiction through his voice. Completely effortless power. Much like Chris Cornell.
Chester from Linkin Park as well
I don’t think effortless. Layne seemed 100% passion and that takes effort when performing.
He was a junkie who happened to be a very talented singer. I don't know why people insist on mythologizing drug addiction. Sad
@@jeffersonparsons5519tell me you’ve never met an addict without telling me
@@jeffersonparsons5519lack of empathy is gross.
😢That very song turned my world upside down the first time I heard it on the radio in the early 90s. I was just a kid and I thought "THAT, is something special!" I didnt know exactly what it was but I knew definitely I loved it. Its been over 35 years after that and my love for great music kept going through all the decades. Him and Cris Cornell were just such powerhouses!
Down In A Hole is one of their greatest songs. It's gut wrenching agony, despair, and longing all in a beautifully crafted and performed composition.
Agreed, one of my favorite AIC songs by far
When she mentioned AIC's harmonization, Down in a Hole was the first song that came to mind. It's also quite dynamic, vocally.
Angry chair as well!!!
Seconded, and I highly recommend the unplugged version as I feel like Layne Staley’s state at the time adds a whole new element to the songs meaning
Totally the unplugged version is the best - more raw more heartfelt more betterer
ahhhh should have done a live version. Still happy you finally got to Layne, he's one of my all time favorite vocalists.
A lot of people have requested an unplugged version, but the patrons selected this specific song. They get 1 video request per month, so I have to abide!
Love your avatar 😅
@@TheCharismaticVoice you know who else abides? The Dude! Love this channel. 🦄
@@TheCharismaticVoice Yes, the unplugged concert is fantastic. Down in a Hole from that concert would be good if you want to hear the harmonies between Staley and Cantrell, or Nutshell if you just want more Layne and an awesome song to boot.
The unplugged is good but not a good first listen for Layne especially a live version. Unplugged was one of his last live performances and although still good the drugs had taken a toll on him already. If going for a live version something from 89-93 should be done before the unplugged in my opinion. My opinion ain’t worth anymore than anyone else’s but Layne was a force live before the end 93 when he started to go downhill quickly after that. His story is a sad one and a tremendous loss to music in general, so many people tried to copy him after but nobody can even come close really
"Would," "Down In A Hole," "Rooster," and "No Excuses," are all classics.
@ and nutshell
them bones is a favorite of mine.
Angry chair is underrated
Add I Stay Away to that list. So many bangers though hard to list em all.
Down in a Hole is a masterpiece of the depths, but I have a special fondness for No Excuses for reflecting on the wistful depths with a flying groove
5:04 can’t believe she paused it at the building up😒😭😂
She always does. 😂
2x😂
In case nobody has mentioned it, the "nasal" bit is a combination of Staley's vocals and the guitar running though a "talk box" which is a speaker that is run through a plastic tube into the players mouth.
^ THIS!!
You da man, beat me to it
Exactly
@@zachosborne6577 me 2 lol
Yup!
“Rain when I die” is a great vocal performance by Layne Staley
damn dude, I haven't thought of that song in forever. Down the rabbit hole I go....
Absolutely love that song!!!
@@somejoshthing you mean, Down In A Hole
@@Adrian101882 i adore that one as well. Man, imma have to go throw on the whole album, it was amazing.
ruclips.net/video/1x6IULst9r4/видео.html City and Colour - "Rain When I Die" by Alice In Chains, GREAT COVER!!!!!!
Layne Staley is the sole reason I fell in love with music. There is nobody else who can make you feel emotion through voice like he can. AMAZING
Lol
Haha!
Layne Staleys voice and songs still gives me chills to this very day.
Well well well, finally Layne! But I suggest you Love, Hate, Love, an absolutely stunning performance!
And it needs to be live at The Moore. Anything done from Layne needs to be live in my opinion 🤘🏽
I actually don't like this as a song choice for her reaction. There are many better options. Especially live
@@JustInOutDoors78 I think it's the emotional impact that gets people. It's pretty bare song from a production standpoint, so the thing that sticks is the pain. "I live for you, but, I'm not alive..."
@@LordNelsonkm I agree. I'm not trying to knock the song at all. I just think there are better songs, both lyrically and in regard to composition, for a reaction. I love this, and almost every other, AiC song.
Love Hate Love isn’t my favorite song either but from a vocal standpoint which that is her game, she’s a vocal coach, I think it makes since to see one of Layne’s best vocal performances in my opinion. I mean she’s a vocal coach and that’s what she’s reacting to so picking the better or best songs musically doesn’t really make more sense than picking one of Layne’s best live vocal performances does it? I could be wrong though 😂 I mean Love Hate Love doesn’t even make my top ten Alice songs but it gets my vote purely from Layne’s vocal performance alone especially when it comes to a vocal coach reaction 🤘🏽
"Down in a Hole" is their best display of Layne and Jerry's melody. "Love, Hate, Love" is Layne's epic display of range and control (live version, so you can visually see it).
Agree totally
For sure
Agree as well....
came here to say this
love hate love is amazing
Saw them in '91 or '92 in Greenville SC. They were the unknown opening band. They were on stage when we came through the door, Like they were waiting for us and started playing "Man in the Box". My buddy and I just stood there frozen with mouths hanging open thinking " Holy cow! These guys are good". Probably my favorite concert memory ever.
Isn’t awesome seeing the people before they blow up? Such an amazing thing
Even a few weeks before the lp dropped, they were getting booed at concerts they played, After their lp dropped.......
Would that have been Ozzy's "No More Tours" show? I know they opened for him during it. (What I wouldn't give to see one of those shows.)
I dont remember the particular one, but when they replaced Death Angel on the second leg of the Clash of the Titans tour, as an unknown band, they were abuse by the fans. As it wrapped up, Man in the Box got rotation on MTv and the rest is history.
I think ozzy's tour was a couple of years later.
@@Krendall2 I had a chance to meet Ozzy at the local rock station when he was touring for Bark at the Moon, and the fucker didn't show. I was about 14 at the time. His solo career hasn't stood the test of time, imho. Lol
Layne always had an incredible talent for singing with that distorted rasp like Kurt Cobain. His ability to move in and out of that distortion with ease was truly a gift.
Cobain isn’t even close when comparing
“Sitting nails” was the description at the time of this style. I think it was coined about Kurt Cobain.
Spitting
Layne's voice ALWAYS gives me goosebumps. Doesnt matter what genre he's singing. He is so missed.. :'(
For real
It's been so long. 😔 😢
...Benji would always serve his laws in sh!t lol
17:20 yeah it's intense.
I'm actually tearing up listening to this video
Layne,s voice was absolutely incredible.
I miss Layne's voice. I hate that he died alone. :( These guys shaped my teens and twenties, along with Stone Temple Pilots and Soundgarden.
Stone Temple Pilots is one of the most underrated bands of all time.
Every single person I have ever played STP near, no matter what their favorite music is, liked their smooth sound.
They are like a rock band for everyone, yet not enough people know about them. They are SOOOO damn smooth.
Same
@@dialecticalmonist3405 same, and I think tiny music is one of their most underrated albums
@@Brainwarts99 Core will forever be my favorite. Tiny Music wasn't bad either, though.
Same here.
I kept thinking, "Can't wait for you to hit that chorus..." And as other have said, "Love, Hate, Love" is just a stupid-good performance (the 3rd act is a barn-burner). And "Rooster" (about Jerry Cantrell's dad) will give you goosebumps, hundy-p...
YES, Love Hate Love (live at the Moore) and Rooster
@@theatheistattitude Rooster is a brilliantly constructed song, so different to mainstream pop constructions, complex verse structure yet still melodic, harmonic and "sing-alongable".
Their music is all from the gut. Playing this in a bar was well, some of my happiest moments in life. this is the best of the grunge I think. We used lots of waa and a voice box on the guitar to make it swanky. In the end, like lots of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin all comes out of your solar plexus regardless if your singing, drumming or torturing steel over magnets. I always ran dry on breath for those long yells. Golly gee wiz, this brings back memories...and feelings...oh no, the urges have returned. Excuse me but I have to finish this commercial jingle I am working on...
"It sounds so distraught." Yeah I think that's a fair assessment of every Alice in Chains song.
Ikr? AiC songs were not made for happily bopping around. It's a dark vibe coming from a dark place. I mean, the "Dirt" album is pretty much all addiction, anger, sadness, and death. AND an amazing album, start to finish. Drugs giveth, and drugs taketh away.
Or grunge in general, really.
All these things. Rugged song
@@Thessik73 True, although I think a lot of grunge was more nihilistic or apathetic than distraught. In addition to being a huge pendulum swing away from "party time" hair bands, grunge was a whole-ass smorgasbord of depression, anger, anxiety, irony, and detachment.
The MTV Unplugged, I will never fathom how someone whose frame was so hunched over, who’s mood was so somber could sound so effortlessly beautiful and pitch perfect. He was not of this world. ❤
Layne shot up heroin right before going on stage at MTV unplugged. He was so high yet channelled his pain into one of the most incredible and saddest vocal performances ever seen.
I'm late to the party, but Elizabeth I hope you have taken the time to listen to the Unplugged album. It was the first time I had ever heard them, and I was blown away. The electric versions are a little too busy to really let the vocals shine, and the acoustic guitar really shows off the arrangements.
I have it on dvd. One of my favorite things.
Totally agree. One of the best performances ever.
Welcome to the world of Layne Staley. This song is just the tip of the iceberg of his vocal abilities
I'm new into Alice in Chains, man. Apart from Nutshell and the amazing Man in the box, what're AIC hits? I know they have a lot of albums. I need some guidance haha.
Greetings!
@@charliemurillo4321 personally I think rooster is a really good song
@@charliemurillo4321 sea of sorrow, confusion, would?, down in a hole, bleed the freak, I know somethin, rooster, junkhead, don’t follow, head creeps, the list goes on and on
This was a truly wonderful reaction. Perhaps my favourite from your vast library. Thank you!
"I like the emotion here, it's so distraught". You're only peeking through a crack in the door at the depths of emotions that you'll find in AiC's music
Laynes voice was like no other. So very soulful and unique.
A healthy Layne was a "fucking MONSTER"
I think “Them Bones” is a very good example of Layne and Jerry harmonies
Dam that river too
"Would" is another good one too
R O T T E N A P P L E
junkhead
Definitely. Also Bleed the Freak, We Die Young, and Angry Chair
Thanks!
Am I the only one that feels weird hearing someone talk about 90's Grunge in an historical aspect?
No
Probably people who are older... grunge happened before I was born muhahahaha
Yeah I’m with you man. Feels like it was maybe 5 years ago to me. Must be getting long in the tooth
Thing is, grunge was such a powerful, Valid facet of rock, carried a decade, rescued us from LA Glam. It was back in time, but stands the test where glam metal not so much...
I was an 80's baby, 90's kid. Grunge changed everything and developed bands like Deftones, Korn, and Tool which were major bands that got me through a lot of tough times. AIC, Nirvana, STP, and Soundgarden were the saviors of rock along with Pearl Jam.
Fun fact layne would get grumpy if he was asked to record part of a song again. This led to him being one of the greatest live performers of all time in my opinion. This song live is even better than the recording
Agreed, and that's why I think the unplugged show is still one of the best performances in Rock and Roll history.
When the mix is correctly done at the console, live is almost always superior to studio.
Layne had such an iconic voice. He and Jerry Cantrell harmonize so well together in so many songs. One of my favorite bands of all time.
when she stopped that last time before the chorus, I was like "oh shit....here it comes"
Really enjoyed this video! Your reactions were sincere and the analysis was detailed and enlightening. So few rock singers can belt from their belly while at the same time adding some distortion from their throat. James Hetfield generally does one or the other - Staley does both, all the time. So much power. And I love how "vocal" Jerry Cantrell's guitar solos are here, using the talk box and the wah pedal to imitate the vowel manipulation Staley does with his voice. It all creates a really distinct aesthetic that permeates the whole song.
miss the 90's much?
I know I do the music was epic
10:53 😮 lol
Mr adam ragusea is an Alice in chains fan. Mint
I always end up finding you in the comment section of random videos lol love your vids as well
Crazy running into you here. Layne Staley was the goat. Him and Chris Cornell were probably the best rock singers of the 90s.
At 15:38, when Layne unleashes his power, her reaction and acknowledgement of it is priceless.
What I came here for..you da real mvp
Appreciate it homie lol she didn’t know what to think
Of course a commercial pops up exactly at 15:37 😆
That chorus after the solo gives me goosebumps every time. Layne's voice was just so powerful and moving. Just that one note change on the first line makes all the difference.
YES, GOOD CATCH.
Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this but the “his voice sounds like a guitar” part is a guitar pedal called a “talk box” (basically a speaker with a hose you attach to a mic and open or close your mouth to give it the wah sound). The pedal is used a lot in this song from the main riff to the solo. At the part you are referring Cantrell was playing and Staley was using the mic on that vocal track.
LOL. I laughed when she said that part.
And the "Shove my nose in ...SPIT!" part she mentioned. Some of the effect she speaks of is just the overdub over where it originally says SHIT
Wah pedal
Peter Frampton-“Do you feel Like I do”. Perhaps the original voice /talk box modulation?
@@jeremyj8736 Jeff Beck on She's a woman from the Blow by Blow album before anyone else!
The talk box is actually called a Framtone, as it was invented and patented by Peter Frampton.
Layne is one of the best vocalists ever in my opinion. Just started listening to AIC more and his voice just hooks you in and never lets you go man. RIP
The road crew would say you could physically feel his voice coming off of him on stage. The dude was a powerhouse
Where did you read or hear that? I’d like to read what else was said too
@@lilirishgrl it was a video on here actually. I cant recall the title. It was a memeber of the road crew remembering Layne's voice. I suppose you could try to search a few keywords.. sorry.
@@realbluemeanie that’s okay. Thank you for replying
"Rain When I Die" is a great song to show the real potential in Layne's voice and the harmonies you said you wanted to hear from them. Anything from that album "Dirt" really :)
OMG YES!
Yes, that chorus blows the roof off
if you couldnt tell thats my favorite AiC song
@@rainwhenidie666 Really? How would I know?! 😂
@@rainwhenidie666 But seriously, it’s one of my favorite AIC songs ever.
Layne truly was one of a kind! An absolute powerhouse of a singer!
We lost a wonder of the world on that day. I love Jerry, but man I miss Layne.
@@BKPrice For real man!!
I love Elizabeth's reaction to the music and sound. When she doesn't know exactly how to react, is the best. ❤❤ Love all your videos
The greatest thing about this era is there was room for EVERYBODY. So much talent. The 90s were the best.
Exactly! Nirvana, Fighters of Foo, Chevelle, Sound Garden, Pearl Jam, I mean we can go on and on!
Fucking A!.
Remove foo fighters
@@chelseapthib36primus in there somewhere too!
My favorite Alice In Chains song, with maybe the exception of man in the box is “Would”? It has everything that makes this band great ! Haunting and powerful vocals from Layne with backing from Jerry and awesome instrumental.
I'd be interested to see her take on how the studio track ends. Such oomph.
The twist on wood as in Andrew who died of an overdose , Jerry states this song was not directly about Andy, but the play on would as in a decision and wood as in Andy was intentional
It was probably not a good introduction for the band to her, she can’t get past the talk box effect cause she don’t how they’re making the effect. She should’ve watched “down in a hole” the mtv unplugged version. This video doesn’t tell her anything that’s true about the band. She needed to see them raw as they could be because the truth is that Layne on his worst day could still out sing anyone. They’re mtv unplugged had some kinda perfect magic to it.
Got me wrong studio or unplugged.... PHENOMENON HE AND JERRY....VOCALS TOGETHER ❤ 👏
Down in a hole.... If you ever struggled with heroin his music hits different.
Don't know if others have mentioned this, but the "spit" and "pit" in the version you listened to were overdubs of "shit" in the original.
Which is so perfectly appropriate as the song itself is about censorship. XD
I wonder if she played that version on purpose? It makes much less sense.
I am the dog that gets beat.
Rub my nose in spit(?).
I'm sure this channel appeals to a very wide demographic and the radio edit, for educational purposes, detracts less for those that know than it adds for those that don't.
@@antonymification212
I would agree if we were talking about truly vulgar and profane language that is simply gratuitous and adds nothing of value. I don't believe that is the case here.
Who else is listening to this today? Definitely left us too soon. Layne, you may be gone, but you left us with so much. RIP ❤
Truth with a message that times now need just as much as back then.
The lyrics: "Buried in my pit" and "Shove my nose in spit" are both the cleaned up versions for MTV & VH1.
They are actually supposed to be: "Buried in my shit" and "Shove my nose in shit" and this is the way they are on the album.
yeah the pit and spit parts are so cringe
@@orion46n27 yeah, and like whose spit is the dog's nose being shoved in???
@@insawid lol :)
When these censored edits first appeared in the 90's for the MTV videos, I was like lol.. you can't just change lyrics like that... and here we are, 30 years later, and most people think these are the actual lyrics. And I agree with Orion, this whole petty censorship BS is entirely cringe.
@@m2svirtual384 The Doors on the Ed Sullivan show. 'Instead of "higher", can you say, girl we couldn't get much better"? >_
Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell are on of the most haunting and beautiful harmonies of all time. Please bring more Alice In Chains to the channel! Rest easy Layne
Literally vocal soulmates
"I Stay Away" from the Jar of Flies album has a great example of Layne and Jerry harmonizing vocals.
And "Angry Chair"
Don't follow is a nother awesome some from that album
“No Excuses”, “I Stay Away”, “Rooster”, “Them Bones”, “Would”, “Down in a Hole”, “Heaven Beside You”, “Nutshell” are all songs worth doing reactions to. They are an amazing band, but we’re even more so before Layne’s death. He was probably one of the best vocalists in rock history.
Junkhead
Sea of Sarrow is so good also
"Would" is the best song.
Rain When I Die
Love Hate Love recorded version and live version as well!
Love your channel. I channel Layne so I'm told. My first vocal audition was at 17. Singing ozzy. When I got the gig I asked the band what set me apart, it was my nasal tone that I could change on a whim. I'm 57 now and can still set man in the box on fire. Complete strangers walk up to me end freak out at my, vibrato, power, tone, pitch. I'm definitely blessed. thank
Layne TOLD US in his lyrics that he would die of his addiction. It is both sad and beautiful to see such things play out. To know someone is sick. But to be able to really feel their sickness in the music and know that it is real. Almost like watching a horror movie.
That’s what makes the song “Wake Up” so fucking sad and haunting. He sure as fuck didn’t WANT to die from his addiction. I had serious substance abuse problems too, but if I was him with the fame and connection he had… zero chance in hell I would’ve survived. Zero.
On a similar note, The Rev told us all how he planned to die. Many claim his overdose was accidental, but he literally overdosed with a Brompton Cocktail.
And he died days after giving M Shadows the demo track for Fiction.
Definitely. Listening to the Dirt album is like reading the diary of an addict.
We die young
I can listen to Down in a Hole only once in a while. Watching the Unplugged version was like someone sing at his own funeral. The hurt was visceral. 😢 RIP Layne.
When I was 13 years old my mom took away my Alice in Chains Facelift tape because of this song and video. 35 years later, I'm watching a vocal coach analyze the vocal chord structures of this very song. Weird.
Haha I was a closet rocker too! If mom found out I was listening to the devils music (clearly wasnt) I was toast
@@jlunn900 I was never a closet rocker. My rocking was always out in the open. I forced my parents to play led Zeppelin and Metallica tapes in the car on long trips. Loud. They even filmed my band playing talent shows when I was in 8th grade on the giant VHS camcorder. Still write music to this day. Lol sorry.. "closet rocker" kinda struck a nerve. Carry on..
@@jdd3786 🤣🤣
@Nikola Ilic cool mom
I remember jamming out this song ever since I first heard it in the early 90's
“Would” is another one that has a very emotional sound in the vocals. It’s a very sad and pain filled song and Layne Staley’s vocals really capture it.
The last 20 seconds of Would is goosebumps every single time.
I love watching people like Elizabeth discover all these great bands I grew up with. The look she gave when Layne was in the box. She’s a total geek but I embrace my inner geek as well so I mean that as a total compliment. Her eyes go big when things surprise her too. Pretty cute.
Definitely react to “Nutshell”, “Rooster”, “Down In a Hole”, “Them Bones”, “Would?”. Really great Alice In Chains songs.
Should just say react to the entire Dirt album xD
Rain When I Die
Do them all from the MTV Unplugged versions.
Down in Hole but the Unplugged one cause she said she wants to hear harmonies and I think that's one of the best of Jerry and Layne on the "bury me softly in this womb (Oh I wanna be inside of you)" like I watch the AiC unplugged yearly cause I have the dvd and it mesmerizes me every time
Really no Grind ???????
Almost everything from AIC is just brilliant, all their albums: Facelift, Dirt, Alice in Chains and MTV unplugged. But their EP "Jar of Flies" is just a masterpiece.
Don’t forget Sap
Down In a Hole - Would
I also loved their contributions to the Last Action Hero soundtrack, which can also be found in the Music Bank.
Total agreement!
They were still producing good music until the end.
Even “died” and “get born again” showed potential they still had together
His healthy voice distortion was probably one of the few "healthy" things of his sadly short life..
God i wish he could have beat his demons, him and a few others of the era.
@@amberowens2453 RIP Chris, Scott, Kurt and Layne.
That's why I kind of hate all the unplugged requests. His voice was weakening and his singing capabilities were deteriorating, as was he.
Don't get me wrong, it was really good and just bare honesty, but it wasn't when he was at his best and not a great representation of his overall vocal abilities.
But I'm sure the next AIC video will be from unplugged anyway.
@@insufferablethrashelitist9305 while I agree with what you said, the unplugged stuff just cements his legendary voice cause he was weak and gone by then and he still put that great of a performance on for everyone.
@@kenplotzke86 right. I get it. I love AIC. It's just that other than love hate love, the only videos all these reaction channels ever see is when Layne was at his worst. I'm glad she did the album version of this, and wish sometimes they'd do more earlier versions of their songs so they could really hear what Layne could do. The unplugged songs still break my heart just like Nirvana's and all the late Chris Cornell's acoustic releases. So it's special to us, as fans, but not a great overall representation.
@5:25 gentlemen, get yourselves a lady that looks at you like that cuz if she doesn’t then she don’t want you.
One of the greatest Vocalists in Rock N Roll history, right here. RIP Layne
Why has nobody mentioned “Heaven Beside You”?Has always been one of my go to AIC songs, and much over looked IMO.
It also shows off Jerry’s vocal ability. Would be a good way to contrast the two, and shows why they fit so well together.
Great, underrated song that should get more recognition! Great comment
Has one of the beet riffs in rock too
the vocals on that song are sub-par and the song is mostly sang by Cantrell..that's why nobody mentioned it. Cantrell is the mastermind behind AIC and is not a bad singer, but Staley is the soul..he's the one that can hit the high notes
Lyrics were shite. But I like that song.
Love AiC. I like “Heaven Beside You” but the breakdowns (bridge (?)) after the chorus don’t really seem to fit. The “yeah, there’s problems in my life…” That part kind of marred the song.
The harmonies between Layne and Jerry are absolutely wonderful on the song "Down in a Hole"
One of my all time favorites, right next to Nutshell
from the MTV unplugged concert!!!
Agreed both “Down in a Hole” and “Nutshell” on that MTV Unplugged concert are great harmonies between Layne and Jerry.
God I wish he was still with us. Such a genius.
Can't see or hear him without crying immediatly, I grow up with his voice, his soul was very sad and tortured you can hear it his voice.
RIP Layne we miss you.
Me too bro, me too. A piece of me died with him. A Shakespearean tragedy, we all wanted him to pull through. 😕
@@zzztech13 He will never bee forgoten.
we all do, but being real, i can say that he'd have hated to see how the world changed since his time in Grunge music.
Agreed. I get emotional but yet can never get enough of the Layne era songs!
Same here brate
"No Excuses" has the vocal harmonies between Jerry and Layne that you want!
Brother or Got Me Wrong are what I would go for.
That was one of the first songs I forced myself to learn on drums. Such a cool song!
Big time!!!
That or “I Stay Away”. Oh! Or “Them Bones”
“Down in a hole” probably has the best harmony between cantrell and staley. But the notes staley hits on “junkhead” while singing about his justification of his drug addiction still gives me (good) chills up my spine to this day
Actually “angry chair” from Dirt album has the best harmonics especially when they sing the post chorus of “ I don’t mind…”
I think the harmony in Stay Away is better. I love your pick too.
Yeah Junkhead is such a haunting song because of the subject matter and our post-knowledge about how it all ended. Sometimes I feel guilty listening to it.
Anything from the Unplugged album
I know he was in bad shape but the down in the hole acoustic version might be my favorite of theirs. It's fucking amazing.