We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

I Can't Tell You Why

by Jess Cornelius

supported by
mgsalemi
mgsalemi thumbnail
tracy-straight
tracy-straight thumbnail
kurt gottschalk
kurt gottschalk thumbnail
Distant Lights
Distant Lights thumbnail
rmcintosh
rmcintosh thumbnail
dexitroboper
dexitroboper thumbnail
Christopher James
Christopher James thumbnail
hizleggys
hizleggys thumbnail
SuckerLake
SuckerLake thumbnail
Drentwett122
Drentwett122 thumbnail
hellygill
hellygill thumbnail
tio_pepe
tio_pepe thumbnail
marpl
marpl thumbnail
horner89
horner89 thumbnail
Kristan Baker
Kristan Baker thumbnail
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $2 USD  or more

     

about

I can’t remember when this song first came under my radar — I imagine that, like for many people, it was sort of playing in the background on one of those classic hits stations. One day a friend put the song on (because we were talking about late 70s yacht rock, I guess) and it got a bit stuck in my head so I learnt the chords. It wasn’t ever going to be something that I covered faithfully, and I didn’t see the point anyway.

So I was messing around with the arrangement, making it less bouncy and darker. I have always loved the melody, and the tension of the chorus, but to me it was a sad song and I wanted to bring out the frustration of the lyrics. Also, years ago I heard Lou Reed cover Peter Gabriel’s Solsbury Hill, which is one of my favorite covers of all time, and that became a bit of a template for this version. It’s almost an homage to that cover, really.

I wanted to learn the guitar solo, because I never do, so it was fun to practice all that cheesy string bending. Of course, my version is a little trashier. And I started with drum machine drums but added some live drums at the end. I kinda wanted it to sound like it was disintegrating — luckily Jarvis Taveniere was mixing so he made the drums sound cohesive and not as chaotic.

credits

released March 24, 2021
Jarvis Taveniere- Bass
Jess Cornelius- guitars, voice, drums
Aaron Stern - additional keys
Recorded by Aaron Stern, mixed by Jarvis Taveniere. Mastered by Phillip Shaw Bova

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jess Cornelius image

Jess Cornelius Los Angeles, California

Jess Cornelius writes arresting songs that capture the disorientation and endless possibilities of being in flux. On her sophomore album CARE/TAKING, the New Zealand-raised, Los Angeles-based artist sings of personal upheaval with striking lucidity and emotional nimbleness. ... more

shows

contact / help

Contact Jess Cornelius

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Jess Cornelius, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now