{"id":73394,"date":"2023-07-13T16:44:17","date_gmt":"2023-07-13T21:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=73394"},"modified":"2023-07-13T16:44:21","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T21:44:21","slug":"song-spotlight-rooster-by-alice-in-chains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=73394","title":{"rendered":"Song Spotlight: Rooster by Alice in Chains"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>BY NICK McCOY<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Alice In Chains - Rooster (Official HD Video)\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uAE6Il6OTcs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Grunge is a genre I have a lot of fondness for. Whether it\u2019s the memorable guitar riffs, the vocal performances, or the dark subject matter present in the lyrics, it\u2019s music I\u2019ve enjoyed listening to ever since high school. While I completely understand why some may not enjoy it, given its relative nicheness and just how dark some of the songs can be (seriously, it can get depressing at times), I find myself listening to this type of music more often than not.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, you can\u2019t talk about grunge without bringing up the big four. While there were obviously much more than four grunge bands that existed during the early to mid-90s, it\u2019s four specific bands that many people immediately think of when someone brings up grunge: Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and the subject of this week\u2019s song spotlight, Alice in Chains.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Undeniably the darkest of the four bands, Alice in Chains would also undoubtedly earn their place as one of the pioneering grunge bands. The band is defined by its sludgy, dark guitar riffs and equally dark songwriting courtesy of Jerry Cantrell, and the undeniable vocals of Layne Staley, whose distinctive vocals paired perfectly with Cantrell\u2019s lyrics. The harmonization between Cantrell and Staley also became an integral part of the band\u2019s music. With drummer Sean Kinney and original bassist Mike Starr, the group would create some of the classic grunge songs of the 90s, from their first two studio albums, \u201cFacelift\u201d and \u201cDirt\u201d, and the \u201cJar of Flies\u201d EP.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" data-attachment-id=\"73395\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?attachment_id=73395\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-1.jpg?fit=1600%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,900\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Redferns&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - FEBRUARY 21: Alice in Chains (Layne Staley) perform at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 12th February 1993. (Photo by Frans Schellekens\\\/Redferns)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;1993 Frans Schellekens&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Alice In Chains Layne Staley 1993&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Alice In Chains Layne Staley 1993\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS &#8211; FEBRUARY 21: Alice in Chains (Layne Staley) perform at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 12th February 1993. (Photo by Frans Schellekens\/Redferns)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-1.jpg?fit=370%2C208&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-1.jpg?fit=790%2C444&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"73395\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-1.jpg?resize=790%2C444\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-73395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-1.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-1.jpg?resize=370%2C208&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-1.jpg?resize=150%2C84&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-1.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"414\" data-attachment-id=\"73396\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?attachment_id=73396\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-2.jpg?fit=1528%2C800&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1528,800\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Rooster Spotlight Pics 2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-2.jpg?fit=370%2C194&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-2.jpg?fit=790%2C414&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"73396\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-2.jpg?resize=790%2C414\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-73396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-2.jpg?w=1528&amp;ssl=1 1528w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-2.jpg?resize=370%2C194&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-2.jpg?resize=150%2C79&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-2.jpg?resize=768%2C402&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>Layne Staley (left) served as Alice in Chains\u2019 lead vocalist. Known for his distinct, powerful vocals and his harmonization with Jerry Cantrell, he would become an icon of the grunge scene. Unfortunately, he would suffer from drug addiction during his later years with the band, and ultimately died of an overdose on April 5th, 2002. Musician William Duvall (right) would serve as Alice in Chains\u2019 lead vocalist alongside Cantrell from 2006 onward.\u00a0<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sadly, despite their success, the band suffered several hardships; Staley struggled with heroin usage during his time with the band, causing much difficulty during the production of their self-titled album in 1995. Staley would completely disappear from the public eye following Alice in Chains\u2019 iconic MTV Unplugged performance before he tragically lost his life to a drug overdose in 2002. Mike Starr, meanwhile, suffered from similar issues, leaving the band in 1993; he also lost his life to a drug overdose in 2011. The band would continue despite these tragedies; however, with Mike Inez serving as the band\u2019s bassist from 1993 onward, while musician William Duvall served as the lead vocalist alongside Jerry Cantrell starting in 2006. The band released the albums \u201cBlack Gives Way To Blue,\u201d \u201cThe Devil Put Dinosaurs Here,\u201d and \u201cRainier Fog\u201d in 2009, 2013, and 2018 respectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of all the iconic songs the band would release throughout the 90s, from \u201cMan in the Box,\u201d \u201cWould?\u201d, \u201cThem Bones,\u201d \u201cDown in a Hole,\u201d \u201cI Stay Away,\u201d \u201cNutshell,\u201d and \u201cNo Excuses,\u201d there is one thing which I consider to be not only one of their greatest songs, but an absolute classic of the 90s: \u201cRooster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Serving as the fourth single off of the band\u2019s iconic 1992 album \u201cDirt,\u201d \u201cRooster\u201d was written by guitarist Jerry Cantrell about his father, Jerry Cantrell Sr. The title derives from Sr.&#8217;s childhood nickname. Cantrell wrote the song about his father\u2019s time in the Vietnam War, something that greatly affected his childhood and his relationship with his father. Jerry Cantrell Sr. appears in the now iconic music video, where referring to the war, he said, \u201cIt\u2019s a weird experience and a sad experience, and I just hope nobody else has to go through it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"539\" data-attachment-id=\"73397\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?attachment_id=73397\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-3.jpg?fit=1176%2C802&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1176,802\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Rooster Spotlight Pics 3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-3.jpg?fit=370%2C252&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-3.jpg?fit=790%2C538&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"73397\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-3.jpg?resize=790%2C539\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-73397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-3.jpg?w=1176&amp;ssl=1 1176w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-3.jpg?resize=370%2C252&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-3.jpg?resize=1024%2C698&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-3.jpg?resize=150%2C102&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-3.jpg?resize=768%2C524&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"398\" height=\"506\" data-attachment-id=\"73398\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?attachment_id=73398\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-4.jpg?fit=398%2C506&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"398,506\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Rooster Spotlight Pics 4\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-4.jpg?fit=205%2C260&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-4.jpg?fit=398%2C506&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"73398\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-4.jpg?resize=398%2C506\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-73398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-4.jpg?w=398&amp;ssl=1 398w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-4.jpg?resize=205%2C260&amp;ssl=1 205w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Spotlight-Pics-4.jpg?resize=118%2C150&amp;ssl=1 118w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>Jerry Cantrell (left), the lead guitarist, primary songwriter and vocalist of Alice in Chains, wrote \u201cRooster\u201d about his father, Jerry Cantrell Sr. &#8216;s (right) time in the Vietnam War. Having had a strained relationship with his father since childhood, Cantrell used the song as a way of making amends. Cantrell Sr. was reportedly brought to tears upon hearing the song for the first time. Nowadays, \u201cRooster\u201d is a classic grunge song and a favorite among many veterans.\u00a0<br><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The song starts off with an instantly recognizable, flanger-covered riff from Cantrell, accompanied by Mike Starr\u2019s melodic bass tone. Soon later, Cantrell and Staley join together for a haunting yet beautiful vocalization, before Staley fully comes in, belting out the song\u2019s dark lyrics with his iconic voice. Cantrell\u2019s lyrics paint a vivid picture of an American soldier in the jungles of Vietnam, struggling to survive as he is shot at by an unseen enemy, thinking about the wife and kids he\u2019s left at home. The song gradually increases in intensity, with the soft chord progression replaced by a blistering guitar riff, just as Staley belts out the iconic lines \u201cHere comes the rooster\u201d and \u201cYou know he ain\u2019t gonna die!\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The song is only amplified by its legendary music video, a graphic and unwavering depiction of one of the worst wars in history. Its war scenes, which have been favorably compared to the classic Vietnam film \u201cPlatoon,\u201d are intercut with interview footage of Jerry Cantrell Sr. Despite how gritty and dark the song is, there is an underlying sense of courage and determination behind the lyrics, as the protagonist seems dead set on making out of the jungles alive. It is both an incredibly haunting and sad look at a devastating war, but also an homage to the brave men who fought for their lives during that time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ever since its release, \u201cRooster\u201d has gone down as a classic of the grunge era, and one of Alice in Chains\u2019 greatest songs. Its unwavering depiction of the brutality of war, along with its underlying messages of courage and will have made it a popular song amongst actual veterans. The incredible performances of the band members themselves have left a major impact; It is both one of Jerry Cantrell\u2019s finest displays of songwriting, and one of Layne Staley\u2019s greatest vocal performances. Whether you see it as an anti-war anthem, a testament to United States\u2019 soldiers, or just as a beautiful haunting and excellently performed song, \u201cRooster\u201d is a grunge masterpiece, and one of the greatest songs of the 90s.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BY NICK McCOY Grunge is a genre I have a lot of fondness for. Whether it\u2019s the memorable guitar riffs, the vocal performances, or the&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":73399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,12390,3402,3399,55],"tags":[15305,286,14189,14765,442,15306,15116],"class_list":["post-73394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-editorial","category-area-music","category-music-reviews","category-opinion","tag-alice-in-chains","tag-music","tag-music-review","tag-nick-mccoy","tag-reviews-2","tag-rooster","tag-song-spotlight"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rooster-Feature-Image.png?fit=512%2C288&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=73394"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73400,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73394\/revisions\/73400"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/73399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=73394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=73394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=73394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}