Pearl Jam - Black - MTV Unplugged (Reaction/First Listen!)

[@user-Spicoli]

One of the greatest live recordings ever made in my opinion.

[@robbob5302]

Definitely Pearl Jam’s “finest hour.”

[@oktober-vh6gl]

"I know someday you'll have a beautiful life I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky. But why, why can't it be mine" That lyric has put a lump in my throat every time I've heard it for 33 years now...

[@AndyViant]

There is so much pain in his voice as he sings this. Especially in the MTV live version

[@robbob5302]

Best note ever sung by anybody, ever.

[@xtop23]

Yeah lyrically this song is just gorgeous….haunting and sad.

[@johnryan2636]

I completely agree, it’s the hopelessness of letting go , a phenomenal performance from the band and particularly Eddie

[@verdonix1976]

with ya sister! Est. 1976

[@eloyelo8245]

Increible

[@nikkireviews]

So good!

[@kevinunderwood4104]

His body language in this particular performance speaks volumes. It is something that hurts him every time he sings it. It is raw in his soul. He covers his midsection, indicating injury (not physically), he becomes restless, almost at a breaking point, it's a painful song for him. Arguably one of the best live performances ever.

[@buddhamack1491]

Eddie is not known for being still while performing and the producers of unplugged forbid the performers from getting out of the chair during the show. So the restless nature could also just be from him sitting still longer than he's used to while performing. I agree though, he's really feeling it but many people are unaware of how restricted the performers were during these shows.

[@kevinunderwood4104]

@@buddhamack1491 May very well be true, but it's highly specific types of body language that indicates it's more emotion based rather than physical based.

[@cablefellow5315]

If you read an interview about the unplugged set. He said this song was the one he didn’t want to play, because this song was still very painful to sing. He said at the end of it he was about in tears and the audience cheered and he was able to keep going. He said he didn’t remember him rocking back and forth. So a lot of the vocal inflections were him fighting back tears. So a lot of it wasn’t him being a showman. It was him in survival mode. That’s why it felt so raw. Because it was.

[@DanoLance]

What a broken heart sounds like, without Eddie's broken "Black" wouldn't have been made.

[@nikkireviews]

That's very true. 🖤

[@cliveklg7739]

@@nikkireviews he sang this as a tribute to Chris Cornell after his death. That is a heartbreaking performance there.

[@IAmScottL]

I would love to see you react to Pearl Jam - Porch [Pinkpop 1992]. It is an incredible performance, and has a legendary stage dive.

[@nikkireviews]

I'll have to check that out for sure. Thanks!

[@Trendkiller196]

@@nikkireviewsit’s like the best live performance I’ve ever seen

[@DKS1975DKS]

You wont be dissapointed​@@nikkireviews

[@conneryshand.]

Is it better than a rafter dangle? -Drop in the Park 1992

[@IAmScottL]

@conneryshand. It's not better, but it's not worse. Both are awesome in different ways..

[@bigbean5111]

This is the song of my life, thank you...

[@Artimesia]

A very emotional performance, drawing on past, be it a longing for, or a hurtful experience can be great tools to use, I believe that's why there's such passion and grit in his vocal, it's pure

[@RubenSaldana-ez3bq]

❤

[@pazwretzky4673]

each time he stares off and reflects on what was, I know that feeling, these lyrics hit home...this is hands down my favorite song from any of the unplugged performances, however when it comes to just listening to this song, the album version sounds absolutely beautiful

[@IAmScottL]

I've been looking forward to seeing your video on this one!

[@nikkireviews]

I'm glad I was able to finally post it! I got a little obsessed with the other songs (and learning about Pearl Jam in general) but I didn't want to overwhelm people so I tried to space it out a bit. 😂

[@johnsouthwell1869]

they are amazing live. don't forget better man

[@shaunmorris8176]

I love this song 💕, his voice is amazing

[@nikkireviews]

So amazing..😌

[@stevenwasserman9729]

What a shattered heart sounds like. Sometimes when a heart breaks it never truly heals.

[@Chris-mu4us]

I remember watching this live as a 19 year old. At the time, I didn't realize how I lucky was to watch and hear music this good!

[@nikkireviews]

Yeah it's hard to find stuff like this nowadays. 😪

[@iSpitboxer]

My favorite live performance ever

[@seanmurphy637]

This is always a good one to watch reactions to. I love this song because it has the full intended meaning for me.

[@jayzez715]

I love reactions that react along while the song is playing - nicely done!

[@cainealexander-mccord2805]

I dropped by for this version of "Black" (my fave PJ song since day 1.) and was pleasantly surprised to hear you say you actually engage with your viewers. How refreshing! And then to hear that you're just now really exploring PJ and have stopped off here, ooowee. I couldn't miss this. Make sure you check out their version of "Crazy Mary" for the Victoria Williams tribute show. It's still a fave here. Pretty sure you'll love it. I look forward to seeing more from you. Well done, young lady!

[@michaelbriefs9764]

The "gritty" sound is Eddie expressing pain and passion in one sound. This was a very personal song for him. He lived this and you can sense that as you watch and hear his emotion expressed in the performance. This is what it's all about. Hey, you should also check out a song from the Unplugged video called "State of Love & Trust". Great song!

[@robbob5302]

I would call it “grungy.” Good word?

[@Casey-zp9kv]

Fantastic video Nikki, I'm so glad you uploaded your Black reaction after already reacting to many many of PJs hits. Alive is another classic from their 10 album so I'm sure you'll love it too. Some newer singer/songwriters you may enjoy are two brothers Peter & Billy Raffoul (the songs - "F***ed Up Together" & "I Wish You Were Here")

[@gordr223]

What a great reaction Nikki! 😊👍

[@thejohnson9204]

I loved your reaction to this epic live performance. Thanks.

[@LostHate]

I would say this is their best song/performance ever, and maybe even best 90s grunge performance of all time.

[@AndyViant]

Pretty Noose by Soundgarden has to be up there too.

[@garysimonson1135]

Where Did You Sleep Last Night on NIrvana Unplugged will never be topped in my mind. But also "School" from Reading '92 by Nirvana is insane. Alice in Chains "Love Hate Love" at the Moore, Soundgarden "Beyond The Wheel" in Germany. There are so many great ones. This is definitely top 5.

[@PaulSink]

I would agree 💯 can't get enough of these unplugged shows.I think MTV could still do these today and people would watch them!

[@davidward9737]

Just a man that will never have something again

[@RoaldRoberts]

As a grown man having had lost loves, it's hard for me to not just commence bawling out loud hearing this one. It's so good.

[@nikkireviews]

I can understand that. It's a great song but it's also heartbreaking. 🖤

[@IgorBzovski]

Nikki, I love your reaction on Pearl Jam's "Black"! ❤ I am 48 years young boy 😊 from Serbia 🇷🇸, and this song is still one that gets me every time. Pearl Jam is one of my favorite bands, and i strongly recommend they latest album "Dark Matter". PJ still have stories to tell us!

[@DarrellW_UK]

I’m lucky to be the right age to have heard Pearl Jam the first time around and was a big fan of Eddie’s vocals. This Unplugged version to me is one of their best performances ever, it’s just got that extra bit of rawness that the song needs. Definitely here for more Pearl Jam (and The Warning) 😂

[@maggieshevelew1693]

I love Eddie’s voice. It is such a rich, deep baritone, as opposed to many lead singers who tend to have thinner, tenor voices (imo). And while he can’t reach the highest notes anymore, his voice has only gotten deeper and more resonant with age. Even his speaking voice is deep. I never get tired of it.

[@nikkireviews]

Oh his voice is just amazing. ❤️🎵

[@jasonremy1627]

This performances is so great

[@danrue3263]

Love the cry in his voice chilling and honest

[@IAmScottL]

It was not a single in the US but has gotten tons of airplay and charted at number 3 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.

[@nikkireviews]

Ooh okay. 👌🏻

[@JerryWhite-ee5hy]

Amazing choice. Hreat review! Thank you!

[@garyb7575]

Not sure if it's been said already here, but Pearl Jam's record label urged the band to release this as a single, but Eddie refused as he considered the song to be too personal! 😭

[@nikkireviews]

So sad. 😕

[@Brett_Nebraska]

Imagine anyone these days sounding this good purely live.....its unimaginable for someone modern day to sound this good. ( If you want a couple other Pearl jam videos check out "Release" Live Holland, its a black and white video. Also 2018 Daughter Live Chicago. I saw them live last year in 2023 for the first time...let me say they ALLL still got it and Eddie's voice live..ammmmazing even 30 years later....

[@nikkireviews]

Oh that's amazing that you got to see them live! I watched a few live videos of them from more recent performances and I agree, they all still sound great! 🎵

[@eggstu]

Pearl Jam is amazing. "Release" and "Breath" are 2 really good suggestions

[@SteefVanHeijgen]

Hi Nikki, nice to see that you like Pearl Jam. I was fortunate enough to be 17 years old when their debut album came out in 1992! I've seen them live here in the Netherlands like 10 or 11 times, they never dissapoint! But....if you want to see a classic performance of the whole band you should watch "Porch" live in 1992 at the Pinkpop festival in the Netherlands.....LEGENDARY!! This festival is the oldest music festival in Europe, been there since 1970, seen the likes of Paul McCartney, Metallica, Rammstein, Chilli Peppers, Lenny Kravitz, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay and so on. But their performance of this song was voted the best of all those 50 years! Please watch "Porch":) You will love it!!! I am kinda jealous you have probably never seen this haha. Enjoy!

[@MikePassignano]

I miss these unplugged performances. This really showcases those vocals which are amazing. Every song has the same emotions like when it was first written.

[@davidh7123]

Man, Pearl Jam was one of my main favorite bands during my coming of age years. I'll always love them. Some "lesser known" but awesome songs of theirs are Daughter, Given To Fly, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter to name a few. Would love to see you react to them someday, I think you'd really like them edit: I would recommend the studio versions or official music videos of them

[@nikkireviews]

Thank you! I will definitely add them to the list to check out! ☺️

[@PriestessOfNothing]

Eddie oozes passion out of every pore in his body. Master musical storyteller. He's a national treasure and must be wrapped in bubble wrap and protected at all costs! I wish you did more PJ, you're really missing out. I can't remember what you've done, but try "Alive", "Evenflow", "Daughter", "Better Man", "Dissident", "Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town", "Why Go", "Given To Fly", "Breath", and of course "Porch" live at pinkpop for one of the most amazing performances ever!

[@nikkireviews]

Yeah, he really does sing everything with such passion! I think that's what I like about him so much..he just heightens everything you already feel from the song. I know I'm seeing your comment now, 2 months later. 😅 But I'm happy to say I've checked out some of those songs and can't wait to check out more. I got em on the list so thank you! 💛

[@a.j.pinckney88]

Also, he's singing about a love lost. When he reaches this part ... "I take a walk outside/I'm surrounded by/Some kids at play/I can feel their laughter So why do I sear?" ... I think it genius writing how it's "sear" but it's also "see her."

[@Christopher-Baltimore]

HIGHLY recommend the studio version. It is a whole other experience.

[@drewcliff82]

Well hello there. This is the first time I've seen you. Great song.

[@Chauncey71]

Love the reaction.... definitely check out Porch ...from this MTV unplugged session . But also you can do the Pink Pop Porch....done 2 different ways but a amazing song

[@brianhurt3271]

You have to follow the lyrics with Pearl Jam songs, especially this one. They are everything.

[@justinsadowski9823]

Very true…Lyrically, Tremor Christ may be my favorite Pearl Jam tune…several honorable mentions

[@irvingdahlhoff3121]

The song went right over your head

[@nikkireviews]

It did. 👀

[@JV-mw7gv]

Fun facts: there’s a Pearl Jam song with Layne Staley. There’s a band with Pearl Jam guitarist Mike mcready and Layne Staley (Mad Season). There’s an Alice In Chains song with Chris Cornell. Obviously, there’s Temple of the Dog with members of Pearl Jam and Chris Cornell as the lead singer (Eddie Vedder sang on hunger strike). And then Audioslave which is Rage Against the Machine with Chris Cornell as the lead singer. Unreal collaborations.

[@alleyeditor]

Love you like Pearl Jam. I first saw them in a small club just before they broke to stadium shows. Their shows were legendary because of Eddie's crazy antics on stage, his stage dives into the crowd, scaling the lighting rigs like a monkey, just F'ing incredible energy. Oh yeah, and they write phenomenal music.

[@brentkelsay3439]

One of PJ's greatest performances imo. The band and the backing vocals sound great and the emotion and intensity in Eddie's voice are incredible. Watching people hear or react to this for the first time can be extremely interesting and, in some ways, almost reverential. Lotta great Unplugged performances out there but Nirvana's rendition of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" is def worth checking out as well.🤘

[@avid1959]

The rest of the unplugged album is excellent.

[@Bego70]

In my 90s, Pearl Jam denounced in their songs what society covered up. The song Daughter opened my eyes and I worked hard studying to get married and start my family. I have been training their songs and Eddy Vedder's voice for more than 30 years and finally, this summer I enjoyed them live

[@n.i.k1977]

🖤

[@innocentbystander1853]

TEN is a phenomenal debut album and I totally understand you using it as your starting point to explore PJ but they are so much more than TEN. They have 33 years worth of music to enjoy including their new record Dark Matter that was released in April 2024. Everyone will just suggest the PJ “hits” (Evenfow, Jeremy, Alive, Black etc, and with good reason) but don’t be afraid to stray off into the deep cuts from all their albums. Songs like Indifference from the VS album, Immortality from Vitalogy, Hail, Hail from No Code, Faithful from Yield, Of The Girl from Binaural, You Are from Riot Act, Gone from the 2006 self titled album Pearl Jam (Avocado), Amongst The Waves from Backspacer, Infallible from Lightning Bolt, Superblood Wolfmoon from Gigaton, Waiting For Stevie from Dark Matter…just to name a few 😉

[@AndyViant]

I don't think there's been a better debut album since Led Zeppelin released Led Zeppelin. That first album was insane from the drop of the first note..

[@Sif3r]

TEN is one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded. Every single tells a story.

[@jerkwater407]

Yellow Ledbetter and Release are must react to also

[@nikkireviews]

I did Yellow Ledbetter live here if you wanna check it out. 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaaTeZ9-f66jmtE I'll add Release to my list! Thank you!

[@ruidos38]

For me the Best of this unplugged is Porch , 1000 % of feelings. Regards from Chile

[@murf1201]

Great reaction. It's great if you can continue watching pearl jam on your channel without being too tempted to listen to them in your own time. Good luck

[@nikkireviews]

It's tempting to listen on my own but these videos make it extra fun. ☺️

[@hotstonez]

He fucks up the lyrics, gives a little shake of the head then slays the rest of the song leaving us all wrecked….

[@davepascoe6093]

Can see him at 02:48 shake his head and go nope shouldn't be singing that just yet, but he is able to lead the band back around to where the song needs to be that you'd not notice it if you were a casual viewer.

[@dvdramm]

yeah I didn't even notice until someone else pointed it out. Funny enough, If you Google the lyrics, they match this unplugged video, but if you go into other sites, you see the missing line, "I know she gave me all that she wore" (and also the recorded track obviously).

[@nikkireviews]

I didn't catch that! I mean I guess I wouldn't upon first listen but now I do. 🙃

[@lauragonzalez4487]

SUGGESTION: “Do the Evolution”. The music video is amazing, If you want to see them perform that song live I’ll recommend: Monkeywrench Radio; Madison Square Garden (2003); Single Video Theory (the first and last one are in PJ’s official KZbin channel)

[@davesherrard4013]

Great reaction ❤ PEARL JAM: EVENFLOW, ALIVE , LAST KISS, and YELLOW LEDBETTER. TEMPLE OF THE DOG: HUNGER STRIKE SOUNDGARDEN: OUTSHINE, when you get a chance. Great video, keep it up 👍

[@nikkireviews]

Thank you so much! Some of them I did Already but I definitely will add the others to my list! 💛

[@davesherrard4013]

@@nikkireviews , awesome 😎

[@jarrodbinthenc6810]

❤❤❤

[@iiitzHimmy]

The saddest song ever written

[@immune85]

Ever heard any Irish music?

[@DMBFAN90]

It's a sad one. But not even close to the saddest ever.

[@xNaturalist]

I was in 6th grade when Vs. came out. PJ's second album. During the pledge of allegiance I held up my CD Ten insert and pledged to it instead. That was Vs. album release day.

[@jeffroskywalker]

If I remember right he was sick with the flu and fever during unplugged

[@nikkireviews]

Really?? 👀Well he sounded amazing through what I've listened to of it so far. I don't think you can even tell.

[@samuelmregister]

Subtitles are a MUST for this classic breakup song!

[@snakeeyes5638]

Eddie ascended into God mode in this performance

[@victorjohnson7512]

He's singing about a lover who chose another man and left him broken hearted.

[@Mary-xj3lt]

And that was how it was done in the 90s kids

[@betorenteria7768]

Nikki said “I need more Pearl Jam.” We all do….

[@nikkireviews]

Right?? Can never get enough. 😁

[@dbstrozier]

More crazy emotional ones Inside job 2016 Wrigley field..so beautiful. 2010 Come Back .but you have to see the speech to understand the emotion behind this 1:47:12 mark kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3m9qqiPZpKKeKcsi=BztAthDAU2zWI6w9 And in line with that Love boat captain 2022 Copehagen Release - 1992 Utrecht Also 2016 wrigley field version Also New songs from new album..live from new tour 2024 clips upper hand Setting sun Waiting for Stevie Scared of Fear..tour or howard stern version

[@jasonremy1627]

Eddie's voice is Eddie's voice. It's a thing unto itself. Sui generis.

[@johnzubil2875]

It's a shame that tortured souls have nowhere to turn today without revisiting music like this.

[@seanyoung7713]

Eddies voice is sizzling bacon, try the songs Porch from pinkpop, release in holland, and state of love and trust from this same unplugged

[@rickybranch4547]

MTV Unplugged and Metal Mayhem were the best shows MTV had.

[@richardhenderson9767]

Release Me, the album version, will always be my favorite Pearl Jam song... Black, off the album, comes in 2nd..❤❤ Jeremy and Even Flow round out the top 4..

[@reanimated]

Nikki: He sounds so smooth Me: Don't speak so soon Nikki: Maybe I spoke too soon

[@robbob5302]

The word I would use to describe Eddy’s voice, is “grungy.” Anybody else agree?

[@nikkireviews]

That's the first thing I think of!

[@n.i.k1977]

If you wanna experience something special...lay down, close your eyes and listen to the studio version! I wish I could experience that for the first time again! 🫶🏼

[@natishagough]

Back when MTV was good. It was genius to take electric and turn it acoustic....our hard songs slowed down.... awesome 💯😎

[@mikebeyen7635]

Crazy Mary live long version

[@killatokes]

The term you are looking for is “vocal fry”. Its a taught skill amongst vocalists

[@nicolepace809]

Check out ' Release' live

[@ytcag2007]

Pearl Jam became one of my favorite bands from their first album "TEN". The entire album is great musically and of course Eddie's voice is as emotional as it is unique. Why Go Even Flow Alive Jeremy and Black are all worthy of a listen, but I think the entire album kicks ass! 😊❤️🤘🤘

[@AndyViant]

4 Top singles off it. It was a killer album. They never did something as good again, Not that what they did after was bad, but the years they were in the record company wilderness meant that everything on Ten was a banger. When they came out with VS it all seemed like B sides to Ten that had been rejected.

[@ytcag2007]

@@AndyViant I completely agree. When I heard TEN, I was sure I found the band that was gonna have me on a permanent adrenaline rush. But when I heard the second album I was so disappointed, so I thought they'd bounce back but after the 3rd album, I was convinced they TEN was their only bullet in the chamber. No to deviate from PJ, but Skid row was kind of the same to me. Great first album, pretty much all bangers and a couple good songs on Slave to the Grind. After that? smh lol If I'm going to be honest here, I'll have to say that I never even knew Sebanstian vacated his position. At the time me and a buddy used to go to a club here in NJ called "Birchhill/Stingray's back in the 90s and we saw Sebastian Back doing songs solo but I had no idea he wasn't with SR. 😂 Anyway, yeah, that sucks. Cheers! 👍

[@CoreyWickramasekera]

I can only imagine HOW GREAT ALICE IN CHAINS ⛓️ would have been if they'd have performed an UNPLUGGED 10 years earlier, while Layne was in his prime, EDDIE VEDDER us LEGENDARY, great live performer, I've seen them 4 times, EXCELLENT EVERY TIME

[@50NewEyes]

Yes!❤

[@exoticnoise420]

Then you would have never gotten one of the best unplugged performances of all time. You can watch all kinds of videos of Layne in his prime. This was one of his last. Why trade that?

[@CoreyWickramasekera]

@exoticnoise420 I love AIC, they're my favorite band of all time, UNPLUGGED was great, but definitely not his best. If they would have done one in the same time period as PEARL JAM and NIRVANA, when SEATTLE BANDS were BLOWING UP, I'D HAVE LOVED TO SEE THAT, I own everything on dvd of ALICE IN CHAINS ⛓️ live that has been on the retail market

[@CoreyWickramasekera]

Pearl JAM, Alice in Chains ⛓️, and NIRVANA all blew up, and came out of Seattle at the same time

[@n.i.k1977]

I think it's so sad, that so many reactors don't see the very end of the video. The last scene shows Eddie a bit closer...heartbreaking! Btw.. I try not to leave a comment every single time i revisit your reaction... 🫣 Not sooo easy. Take care, Nikki! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn6ZfaSDoM-bmcUsi=BTFj0hYSd_E7IITJ You can see it in this video. Just found out it's not in every music video. 😩

[@abrahamesparza01]

If you react to Alive. The music video is different from the album version as it was a live performance. I prefer the album version only because of the solo

[@beanvillen24]

The 90’s were the best you had to be there!

[@nikkireviews]

The best!

[@tranmer32]

'MMMmmmmMMMMMmmmMM" is the Eddie Vedder sound!

[@carlmcclatchie2122]

I love this, but no it was not a single iirc, I just love how he sings with his eyes closed most of the time.

[@nikkireviews]

So good.. and yeah, it's like he's channeling something to help give him that emotion behind the voice.

[@leeasbury7273]

That happened

[@jaimesosa4916]

It’s call real love..

[@cjjoe2385]

People now days hear but do not listen. It’s a very different and more rewarding experience if you listen.

[@damiandamn]

React to " immortality" and " rearviewmirror"

[@robbob5302]

If you are truely interested in learning more about Pearl Jam, then let me point you in a direction you might not expect. Please react to Weird Al, My Baby’s in Love with Eddy Vedder. Informative and hysterical!

[@nikkireviews]

I may need to check that one out soon! 😂

[@teddyjackson1902]

Eddie’s voice is how a real man cries.

[@magicbrownie1357]

I would describe Eddie Vedder's voice as gravely with great control.

[@brianforrester9670]

This is usually the first PJ song reactors start with. Interestingly, Black was never released as a single. Try as their record label might, they resisted releasing this one because it was "personal" to the band.

[@abrahamesparza01]

The official video had over 93 million views but it got blocked