Released in May 1994, Black Hole Sun is Soundgarden’s most iconic song, featured on their album Superunknown. Written by lead vocalist Chris Cornell, the song blends psychedelic rock, grunge, and alternative rock, creating a haunting, surreal atmosphere.
Cornell wrote the song while driving home, inspired by a phrase he misheard on the news. The lyrics are abstract and dreamlike, with Cornell describing them as a stream of consciousness rather than a literal narrative.
With its melancholic melodies, swirling guitar effects, and Cornell’s emotive vocals, Black Hole Sun became a defining track of the 90s rock era. It topped the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for seven weeks and was the No. 1 rock track of 1994. Worldwide, the single reached the top 10 in Australia, Canada, France, and Ireland.
The music video, directed by Howard Greenhalgh, features distorted, surreal imagery, adding to the song’s eerie tone. It won Best Metal/Hard Rock Video at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards.