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Chris Cornell Sings Grammy-Nominated Song, Vows to ‘Keep the Promise’ to Help Refugees in Exclusive Video

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Chris Cornell Sings Grammy-Nominated Song, Vows to ‘Keep the Promise

Chris Cornell Sings Grammy-Nominated Song, Vows to ‘Keep the Promise

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In a new video for Chris Cornell’s Grammy-nominated track, “The Promise,” the late Soundgarden frontman pledges his efforts to protect refugee children in war-torn countries.

The video features a number of short clips from stars, including Elton John, Tom Hanks, Barbra Streisand, George Clooney, and Hugh Jackman, promising to come together for the charitable cause.

The campaign is tied to Cornell’s song, written for Terry George’s 2016 historical drama of the same name, which centers on the Armenian genocide. Cornell’s proceeds from the song were donated to refugee aid organizations.

“The Promise” actors Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac also make appearances in the clip, along with Cornell’s children, Toni and Christopher. “From basic human rights to women’s rights, my dad believed that if we each vow to keep one promise, we could work to make the world a better place,” Toni says.

Cornell opens the video vowing to fight for “the world’s most vulnerable children.”

“The idea of supporting whatever you’re passionate about, and to me, that’s what The Promise campaign is, and that’s what I like to speak about,” Cornell says before the clip concludes.

Cornell was given a posthumous award at a Human Rights Watch organization dinner in November for his involvement with the cause. Cornell worked with the late composer Paul Buckmaster on the track.

Source: http://variety.com/2018/music/news/chris-cornell-the-promise-video-1202659950/

How Chris Cornell Found Inspiration for His Song From Armenian Genocide Film ‘The Promise’

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Even though the Armenian genocide depicted in Open Road’s The Promise took place more than 100 years ago, when Chris Cornell wrote the searing end-title theme, he wanted to bring awareness to similar atrocities going on today.

“Rather than people thinking, ‘Wow, what a horrendous thing that happened a century ago,’ I’d love for them to realize that it is happening now and the fact that the warning signs are always the same leading up to a genocide,” said the late Soundgarden singer in an interview a few weeks before his May 2017 death and shortly before the film, starring Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac, opened.

However, when Cornell wrote “The Promise,” musically he stayed rooted in the past. “That was a conundrum I hadn’t dealt with before. I couldn’t have any popular music references that are natural to me” like Led Zeppelin or The Beatles, he said. He also didn’t want to write a strictly period piece tied to the early 1900s, using only instruments that existed in Armenia, “because the song needed to do a bigger job, it shouldn’t be confined by geography or time.” He settled on acoustic guitar, piano, tympanis and strings, with orchestration by the late Grammy-winning arranger Paul Buckmaster.

Lyrically, Cornell, who earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2012 for “The Keeper” from Machine Gun Preacher, drew from The Promise writer-director Terry George’s script and rough edits of the film, as well as research – reading and watching documentaries – about the genocide. He told the story from the perspective of a young man singing to a photo of his father or grandfather about the inspiration they had provided by persevering through horrendous acts. Though not Armenian, Cornell also drew upon his wife’s Greek heritage since her ancestors were affected by the same World War I genocide that led to the death of 1.5 million Armenians.

Cornell, who donated proceeds from the song to the International Rescue Committee, an organization that provides assistance to those fleeing conflict, wanted to leave viewers with a sense of hope. “The hope was built into the story,” he said. “To me, the challenge was being able to distill it in a couple of verses and a chorus.

Chris Cornell posthumously honored with Promise Award from Human Rights Watch

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Chris cornell

The Los Angeles Committee of Human Rights Watch presented its inaugural Promise Award to the song The Promise during the Voices for Justice Human Rights Watch Annual Dinner on November 14, 2017, Human Rights Watch reported.

Inspired by the film and song that powerfully depicted the atrocities committed against the Armenian people, the award recognizes an outstanding song, television show, or film that advances the values of equity and justice in an original and powerful way. Fittingly, the inaugural honor was given to the late legendary singer and songwriter Chris Cornell in recognition of his song, The Promise.

The pioneering recording artist Chris Cornell, who sadly passed away in May, wrote the title song for the film, The Promise, the first major Hollywood film about the Armenian genocide. The song and its video fittingly weave the genocide with humanitarian crises of today. The song focuses on courage, perseverance, and hope – connecting with emotions that characterize and amplify the worldwide struggle for human rights. Cornell donated all proceeds from the song to benefit refugees and children, and his song continues to inspire millions as an anthem for the human rights movement.

We’re so grateful to @RyanTedder and #DrewBrown of @OneRepublic for their performance of @thepromisefilm song in honor of the talented @chriscornell at tonight’s #VoicesforJusticeLA dinner. #KeepThePromise #NeverStaySilent @esrailian pic.twitter.com/uGA6COYu6K

— HRW California (@HRWSoCal) 15 ноября 2017

ANCA to honor Chris Cornell for Genocide awareness activity

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The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region will pay tribute to the late famed musician and songwriter, Chris Cornell at the ANCA-WR Annual Gala Banquet to be held on October 8 in Beverly Hills, California.

Cornell is also known for his philanthropic work with refugees and his commitment to raising awareness for the Armenian Genocide.

“With the tragic passing of Chris Cornell earlier this year, the world lost a highly influential and compassionate voice in the fight to uphold human rights and justice for all oppressed people who suffer at the hands of evil,” remarked Nora Hovsepian, Chair of the ANCA-WR.

“The Armenian People in turn lost a genuine ally in its struggle for justice for the Armenian Genocide, but we are fortunate to have the final gift of his theme song for “The Promise” and all his efforts to promote this important film. For this reason, we deemed a tribute to Chris Cornell at our Annual Gala Banquet to be a fitting show of appreciation and gratitude for his groundbreaking work for the Armenian Cause.”

In 2017 Cornell wrote the theme song for “The Promise”, ultimately becoming one of his biggest hits. Cornell cited a connection with “The Promise” through his Greek wife, whose family had been affected by the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocide. This prompted his family to tour refugee camps in Greece, where they formed the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation, to help aid child refugees and the issues affecting them. At the time of the song’s release, Cornell stated, “[The Promise] is mainly about paying homage to those we lost in the Armenian Genocide, but it’s also about shining a light on more recent atrocities.”