🎵 Soundgarden "Spoonman" Reaction

[@John_Locke_108]

Just about a dude who played the spoons. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Also, the entire Superunknown record is pure perfection. Not a weak track to be found.

[@jimmydabaker]

Like the Freud reference😂

[@mattjohn4731]

A spoon is just a spoon to slap against anOther spoon🥄🥄😅

[@jackgilchrist]

Badmotorfinger, Screaming Life, FOPP, Ultramega OK, etc., are all great too. Down on the Upside is pretty darned good as well. Soundgarden is just a great band.

[@ilikejohnhurt]

The Spoonman was incredible: the sounds he created…with spoons.

[@da_blade5040]

AGREED 💯

[@mikegoin6023]

Artis the Spoonman is a real person. A Seattle street musician. He is featured in the song and video. Saw him share the stage with Aerosmith many years ago.

[@douglasostrander5072]

We had our own in Ann Arbor his name was Shakey Jake, God Bless Him.

[@jeffblevins5899]

Used to see him playing down by the Kingdome before Seahawk games and all around Pioneer Square. Shout out to the J & M Cafe! Dude's a legend in Seattle.

[@carlroza102]

Cool!😃

[@gvehar]

Never got to see him live but I remember he was a fixture around town and he was on TV once or twice in the 90s but not really a celebrity.

[@theodoregarman3549]

Yeah thank you for that

[@hyperstar1867]

It’s not about a soup kitchen, it’s about a guy known for playing the spoons, a street performer called Atris the spoonman. “Feel the rhythm with your hands….spoonman”

[@OldSkoolDad23]

Everything Chris Cornell is gold.Soundgarden/Audioslave/Solo.

[@zzz7zzz9]

temple of the dog.

[@walfam9846]

What about that scream album tho? Lolol

[@lantzkeefer557]

Spoonman was a real person who actually played on this song, and yes Chris Cornell's voice was definitely a huge instrument that I really miss. Sun shower was always my favorite song from him but it wasn't a Soundgarden song.

[@noshobalosa3437]

Facts

[@jasonkirkmeyer7625]

About to say this. Here's the Wiki: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artis_the_Spoonman

[@jesterforhire]

He’s actually a friend of mine in real life. His name is Artis the Spoonman. We both live here in Washington State. He plays spoons as an instrument. Like drums but all over his body. He’s in the official video. He has a bunch of Grandkids now. Wonderful person. He made money for years playing spoons at Pike Place Market here and all over the Country. Great guy!

[@antemorph66]

My buddy showed me Sun Shower when I was tripping acid and it was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever heard. Great song

[@mokane86]

@@jesterforhire so did you like grow up in the Seattle Grunge scene? Thats pretty cool lol.

[@jrtilley]

Chris Cornell was so gifted. RIP Chris

[@jdaddy1962]

This song is about a street artist named Artis the Spoonman, who played the spoons on the streets of Seattle, where Soundgarden formed. Artis played his spoons on the song. He is also featured in the video. Artis made $8k total for his part with the song. $1000 for playing the spoons on the track and $7000 for appearing in the music video.

[@sodone4078]

did not know that....that's awesome!!

[@jamescox4231]

I got to see Artis when he came to Dallas a million years ago.

[@jjslickwood]

Spoonman was a dude here in Seattle that played the spoons down at Pike Place Market on the sidewalk for money.

[@jhamler1]

I'm sure everyone already explained who the Spoonman is; playing percussive spoons against his body throughout the song. Matt Cameron, incidentally, is one of the best drummers of the past 30 years. People don't talk about him enough.

[@manna6618]

He shines in this song particularly I reckon, almost tribal.

[@jpace4608]

@@manna6618 He really shines in Jesus Christ Pose

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

The Spoonman visited Chris in the Hospital and played spoons for him to cheer him up. His amazing skill, and the fact he could entertain anyone, anywhere, anytime blew Chris' mind, so he celebrated him with this song.

[@Gekokujo76]

Chris hadnt met Artis yet when he wrote this song.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Here's video of Artis the Spoonman recording this in the studio. You should do a reaction to this amazing insanity! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6qoeKh7qt2gbq8

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

@@Gekokujo76 Get lost.

[@Gekokujo76]

@@TheKitchenerLeslie Pearl Jam bass player Jeff Ament came up with the title. Along with Eddie Vedder, Layne Staley and various other grunge forebears, he was in the 1992 movie Singles, which stars Matt Dillon as a musician named Cliff Poncier. A prop in the film is Poncier's solo tape; Ament contrived the song titles, one of which was "Spoon Man." (At the time, Cornell was in the group Temple Of The Dog ("Hunger Strike") with Ament and Stone Gossard, who went on to form Pearl Jam.) When Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell, who also appears in the film, saw the tape, he recorded actual songs with those titles just for fun. The 5-song recording was pressed to about 5000 CDs which were used to promote the film. This original version of the song was recorded on a 4-track tape to emulate how Poncier would have done it. It's very raw. When it came time to record Superunknown, Cornell made a polished version with Soundgarden, this time as "Spoonman." Ament is credited on the album for coming up with the title. Cornell had yet to meet Artis when he wrote the song.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

@@Gekokujo76 Yeah, uh huh, sure. And they "willed" a Spoonman into their lives. LOL

[@kenday5735]

Ya gotta watch the videos. Spoonman is a street musician who plays the spoons, the song was written for him.

[@nickface55]

Yes as pointed out below the Spoonman was a real guy. He was a street performer who used to be seen at Pike's Place Market in Seattle quite often. The guy was phenominal and yes he played the spoons like no one else ever could.

[@S7GraveDigger]

The Spoonman is a man that literally plays the Spoons like an instrument. In the video Brad is watching, it says to listen to the spoons playing in the background during the drum part.

[@jamesking4024]

Artis the Spoonman, born October 3, 1948) is an American street performer and musician from Seattle, Washington, who uses spoons as a musical instrument.

[@tonysousa9305]

Should react to Temple of the Dog “Say Hello to Heaven”. Unreal vocals 🔥🎸

[@lodey]

Call Me A Dog too please!

[@hkeabarca6324]

Agreed! Also, Four Walled World... the highs in the back vocals are ridiculous.

[@MikeB12800]

This song was EVERYWHERE when it came out, and Black Hole Sun was even bigger.

[@sleepbananas]

It's about the busker Artis the Spoonman who actually plays the spoons as a musical instrument you can hear during the drum solo. He's in the music video, if you ever watch those.

[@Bee-28]

Brad: "He can sing about anything and will still sound good"...Got yourself a new fan, my man!

[@lisajohnson521]

Can we appreciate how great of a bass player Ben is though. Definitely underrated in my opinion.

[@dwpwdlgovasitsb4id13orlife2]

Absolutely! I remember hearing Jesus Christ Pose when I was 16 with my fender p bass, like 👀😁🤘🤘

[@brandonwinchester8854]

Spoonman is Artis the Spoonman. He was very popular here in Seattle in the 90s. Soundgarden being from Seattle, were friends with him. Artis had several spoons that he played by clacking them together and hitting them all over his body. He played all the time at Pike Place market, street fairs and festivals. Very talented gentleman.

[@mdoster5325]

Saw him outside the Coliseum one time, before this song became popular.

[@michellechase4753]

I remember him playing at the Market long before this song. Good memories.

[@Tim21189]

Great song from one of the best bands of their era. Check out Rusty Cage, Fell On Black Days, Black Hole Sun.

[@GrandpaOCE]

his best vocal with soundgarden is beyond the wheel blows my mind hearing him sing that

[@hookemhorns1883]

@@GrandpaOCE hell yeah! live version is fantastic!!

[@williambarlow9498]

Artis is his name. He was a street musician that often played Pike place market in downtown Seattle. he also played the flute.

[@acn4962]

I laughed so hard at what she said about the ladle. He was a guy that played spoons. It is a weird song but its a good one. Love soundgarden

[@jackgilchrist]

It's about a well known street performer in Seattle (and other places) named Artis who played the spoons. He also played spoons on this song, and was in their music video. Though back then I was deep in the dope and I thought spoon man meant something different. I miss the old days in a lot of ways, but I'm sure glad that part is behind me, and that I survived (unlike so many of my musical heroes).

[@manna6618]

This is one of them songs where you need the filmclip...it shows the guy they are singing about slaying the spoons, and unless you knew you wouldn't even pick up on the spoons being played in the song. If you rewatch it back with the actual filmclip you'll catch the crazy beats Spoonman can actually play, its what sets this song apart from the rest.

[@darkjedi447]

Wish you had seen the video for this one! SOINDGARDEN were already HUGE in the grunge scene and hard Rock scene , but when they released this album - SUPER UNKNOWN with lead singles SPOONMAN and BLACK HOLE SUN, they became MEGA SUPER STARS as even people listening to main stream music were taking notice of them and buying their album. Personally, I love SPOONMAN and so glad you reacted to it. Thanks and keep smiling 🤘 🙂

[@arnoldcox9128]

R.I.P Chris Cornell what a legend

[@bigdaddypiggy]

Artis the Spponman is a Seattle street performer Chris used to see all the time,in the video for the song Artis shows you why they call him Spoonman,check it out

[@howardlederer4941]

Saw them In 1997 at the old Seattle center arena and yes the real spoonman was there and played his part of the song

[@djl9919]

RIP Chris Cornell, awesome musician

[@evhleppard]

Always loved the groove of this song.

[@alenadoll645]

Also, Spoonman played his spoons at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, just like there is a horn man with paper cups.

[@SonicImmersion_]

Yup, I grew up near Seattle when this came out there during the grunge movement. There was a street performer there who'd play the spoons. ...Also a man in a suit fully painted like a tin man.

[@nancymjohnson]

The Spoonman- Artis - played once before Soundgarden when an opening act cancelled. I was a DJ when this was new, and this info came straight from the source. This guy is incredible playing the spoons!!

[@thefalloutshelter7799]

My favorite Soundgarden tune

[@windyhead7960]

Being homeless, actually, it's about a street musician. Cornell wrote it without knowing him; he just used the title as inspiration.And when the artist heard the song, particularly "All my friends are brown and red" part, he said:'My best friend is a native-american, Cornell had no way of knowing it." And Cornell just stated that bring a street artist means you're friends with different types of people. I think he was very smart.

[@snowman4098]

Clicked fast 4 this . Great song ,great band ! 1st time live was incredible! Introduced to Rage against the machine the same day ! Never the same after . Went a Metallica fan ,Left and felt different .... Rage took over lollapalooza. Thanks you guys! Happy holidays ⛄

[@Eowyn187]

Damn this is a great one!! Kudos for reacting to this!

[@Gekokujo76]

Pearl Jam bass player Jeff Ament came up with the title. Along with Eddie Vedder, Layne Staley and various other grunge forebears, he was in the 1992 movie Singles, which stars Matt Dillon as a musician named Cliff Poncier. A prop in the film is Poncier's solo tape; Ament contrived the song titles, one of which was "Spoon Man." (At the time, Cornell was in the group Temple Of The Dog ("Hunger Strike") with Ament and Stone Gossard, who went on to form Pearl Jam.) When Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell, who also appears in the film, saw the tape, he recorded actual songs with those titles just for fun. The 5-song recording was pressed to about 5000 CDs which were used to promote the film. This original version of the song was recorded on a 4-track tape to emulate how Poncier would have done it. It's very raw. When it came time to record Superunknown, Cornell made a polished version with Soundgarden, this time as "Spoonman." Ament is credited on the album for coming up with the title. Cornell had yet to meet Artis when he wrote the song.

[@steveyoung2317]

Rip. Chris Cornell. Great rock voice

[@michaelfrantz975]

I knew Spoonman (Artis) for years. He taught me the ropes in Berkeley in 1980. Traveled together a couple times. Beautiful soul.

[@mlh169]

Listen for the sppons being played at the of the drum solo, it is a street musian that plays spoons.

[@grungyasscinema]

Nah, the song is about a street performer in Seattle that used spoons as his main instrument lol

[@rickdeckard2240]

official video is definitely the way to enjoy this song, as the spoonman is in it! But definitely my fav Soundgarden song.

[@martymar1964]

I met the Spoonman. He used to do his thing down on the quad when I was going to Univeristy of Washington in Seattle.

[@raymo6795]

..people plated the "spoons". You would put you index or middle finger between 2 spoons and they would be used as a percussion instrument.It is illustrated in the video...it was a thing back in the day...before you were born

[@tvrizzle1]

This is the first Soundgarden song I ever heard, it’s one of the tracks on ATV Off-road for Fury PlayStation 2. I adjusted the playlist to only play this song while playing the game. This is the song that got me into Soundgarden, but it wasn’t until years later. My dad listened to country music, my mom and sister listened to pop music, and I just kinda listened to whatever they listened to. After I “moved on” from that game, I never heard the song again until I started getting into rock music (when the guitar hero games/rock band came out). It was a playable song on Rock Band 2, and after finding it, I fell in love with it all over again, and a Soundgarden fan was born. Absolutely love this band! So glad I got a chance to see them before Chris passed. TLDR: more Soundgarden!!! 😆

[@nomasker1360]

Temple of the Dog " call me a dog " Don't miss out on that song . Soundgarden and Pearl Jam combo .

[@JonnyPhive]

You should watch the music video the Spoonman is playing the spoons in it. he is amazing, the high clicking rhythms you hear in the song during the drum solo is him playing accompaniment.

[@waynefurrow845]

That metallic "clicking you heard just after the drum solo section was a musician playing the spoons. It was common in blue grass music, and many street performers play them (amazigly), and that is what the song is about.. They actually had a prominent street performer (I don't remember his name) play the spoons during that section of the song.

[@LyonByTheSea]

Spoonman was a guy around that was a street performer that did it with spoons. Chris wrote about him and spoonman was in the song. you can here him at the breakdown of drums

[@joeturner7604]

I hope you have seen the video by now. I used to see Artis Spoon Man performing at Seattle Center back in the day before this song came out. Then much later would see him again down there. It was really cool to have such a Seattle Busker Icon included in a song like this.

[@robincanter5835]

Spoonman is Real person playing the "spoons" in the background.

[@Deadwood1919]

It's a song about a guy who plays the 'spoons' - literally two metal soup spoons (with their spoon bottoms touching). You heard the dull metallic sounds during the song - that's the spoons.

[@TheSundanceKid71]

Remember seeing Spoonman at the Pike Place market in Seattle back in the day ❤️

[@bettysmith4641]

RIP Chris 🙏

[@TheSmokey999]

She’s a rocker !!!

[@russellboynton8798]

The spoonman is a guy who has two spoons held in one hand,struck on your palm,chest,thigh,knee or just about anything solid enough. Old school homemade instrument sort of sounds like metallic maracas or castinettes.

[@petermarselos5634]

One of my all time fav bands! Please do the day I tried to live next!!

[@gud2go50]

You need to watch the video that actually shows the spoon man playing in the background.

[@Bekka_Noyb]

Classic Soundgarden! ♥ I suggest: Soundgarden - My Wave

[@32artjenkins]

Street performer who used spoons as a percussion. Was at Pike Place Market in front of the OG Starbucks often.

[@bdmention]

Spoonman is a street musician from Seattle back when these grunge bands were coming out. You can here him playing the spoons during the drum solo.

[@da_blade5040]

OMG This is one of Favorites from Soundgarden!! Great Grunge Sound that Gets You Pumped Up! 🎸❤️😁 You need to Watch the Video to See!

[@sumonjamal1653]

One of the best by Soundgarden... their 1994 album 'Superunknown' is an amazing record... Just an amazing list of songs - 'My wave' ... 'Fell on black days' ... 'The day I tried to live' ... 'Fourth of July' ... 'Limo wreck' ... 'Let me drown'... 'Black hole Sun'...🔥🔥🤘🤘

[@guitaraholic83]

I remember the first time I heard My Wave. I was blown away. I need to play this album again. It’s been too long.

[@haywin4601]

Just stupid radio stuff. Louder Than Love is WAY better and more artistic.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

I went to school with the son of 2 people who were in Chris' solo band.

[@bryanhale5254]

So you see when you here just a drums in the bass you can hear that clicking noise that's the spoons that are being played by this guy

[@bryanhale5254]

Yeah you'll have to see the video because they show the guy playing the spoons and it's an actual duties out on the street there probably in Seattle yeah my step-brother he actually played spoons he does pretty good alright crazy kids

[@YoDuker]

its a shoutout to a spoon player from seatle. it contains connotations of getting high on heroin though too. trust those boys got high af

[@efakter1]

The spoon man is a real person on the streets of Seattle. He bangs spoons together and made tunes out of it.

[@jasonmgomez]

Artis the Spoonman is still alive and kicking. He just celebrated his 73rd birthday in October of this year. All hail.

[@TheBlindGuitarSlinger]

Yes it’s about a guy who played the spoons as an instrument, but you also cook dope up in a spoon to shoot up. JS

[@bobbybissell4770]

I had a music teacher who was a huge soundgarden fan. I learned the spoon beats for a talent show in 9th grade.

[@bwcgames4549]

Next movie night, you should check out “Singles”. Set in Seattle in the early 90s, the music is a supporting actor and more grunge musician cameos than I can name.

[@YoDuker]

'come on will i get off' ...is a reference to sitting around, your boy brings the goods and yer like is it GOOD? lol

[@BulletsInVerse]

As legend has it, Soundgarden's opening act couldn't make it for some reason so they used the real life spoon man as their opener. Thus the line line "Save me".

[@shannonpendleton7865]

The experience of walking through Seattle and coming across Arliss playing spoons inspired this song.

[@an1malsr0ck]

Great choice! My favourite soundgarden song!

[@tithannisk7470]

Spoonman was a real person, Artis the Spoonman, a steet performer who did music using sponns (and he plays in the song).

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

"My Wave" is also a great, overlooked one by Soundgarden.

[@SicSemperTyrannis74]

It's about a guy that plays spoons like an instrument. You can here them in parts of the song and he's in the video. Sometimes we overthink things

[@storiedworlds6261]

This song always takes me back to the Beavis and Butthead “reaction”.

[@crazyk369]

I literally listened to this song on my phone at the same time you uploaded just to find this video a couple hours after

[@333Ocsis]

What the heck Brad, you were reading the lyric video. It told you about Spoonman and even suggested that you Google him.

[@SG-js2qn]

Inexplicably hard to get people to react to this song. Is the title putting people off? IDK. It's a solid song. I link it in my mind with "Rubberband Man," a great song by the Spinners.

[@stephenbrewer5300]

I think that spoonman was an actual homeless person, most likely in Seattle or the Pacific Northwest, who was a constant. Played the spoons while panhandling, or you could call him a "busker". Soundgarden probably knew him and wrote a song about him. BTW, that's the short version. The long version really shows the spoon skills.

[@EiriUesugiKun]

I have joked that "I've forgotten more good 90's music than has been made during 2010's" and here is yet another example of an great 90's song I had totally forgotten..

[@ainsophwac78]

Awesome spoon solo

[@davidblauyoutube]

As a music lover, I geek out at the 7/4 time in this song. And of course, the solo by the Spoonman himself and Chris Cornell's voice (RIP). Soundgarden really knew how to mix so many eclectic instruments into a harmonious whole.

[@jeremyperry9021]

I love this song! Spoons. How awesome it's in the song!

[@BLUESMAN1221]

Spoonman was a performer that used spoons as his instrument to play music.

[@gigglehurtz3167]

im from the seattle area, i vaguely remember there being some dood locally famous for playing "the spoons" I could be remembering wrong though.

[@eximusic]

OK, you just heard a spoon solo and still wondering what a spoonman is??!! It's someone who plays spoons. The definitive Soundgarden song is Outshined - you should react to that one!

[@MW-cx3sb]

Its about a spoon man ie. playing a rhythm with spoons clappin each other. Was a pretty big thing in the 90's alongside thigh slapping lol.

[@coling657]

Nice reaction as always. As others have said. Anything on this Superunknown album is gold. If I could make a request, The Day I Tried To Live stands out. Thanks for considering.

[@jasonk6732]

Searching for my home with my good eye closed best guitar riff of all the Soundgarden songs

[@nickjones605]

one of my fav rock songs of all time

[@kevinmitchell4018]

the can of worms is opened now; u have to do outshined. it is sound garden at their best .the lyrics are awesome

[@jamesredman1263]

Notice the word used the most. Rhythm. And Spoonman's personification of it. Lots of people on here know and are talking about Artis the Spoonman. He's on this. Artis brought the rhythm playing spoons. He brought the rhythm playing on the street, he brought the rhythm making Chris smile in the hospital, he brought it here if you listen close. He got the rhythm in his hands and gets other people clapping hands with him, bringing rhythm together. People making music together, making rhythm together, can save the world from those who want to drive us apart. The white guy Chris says "All my friends are brown and red." Together. "All my friends are skeletons." What's the opposite of a fatcat? The skeletal starving poor. Bring us together, share food together. Save me, save us, bring the rhythm, groove together.

[@deboragill4756]

Blach Hole Sun is another great one. Love All of Soundgarden, Alice In Chains. Long list of fav.s when you're 64. Like the Beatles song. I feel 25 when I hear older tunes I adore!

[@stacyragland3123]

Chris Cornell's vocals still give me chills! Please react to more Soundgarden. Blow up the Outside World, Fell on Black Days, My Wave, Outshined, Black hole Sun, Head Down, Rusty Cage, Pretty Noose, 4th of July are all awesome songs.