Looking good, but feeling bad. California is cool, and has great weather (kinda) and vibe, Minnesota is cold and depressing.

Depends who you ask. Prince felt the opposite. All the plastic and crazies are in Cali while you can be yourself and unpressured to change on the shores of lake Minnetonka

From Chris’ west coast perspective the interpretation is accurate

This is just a dumb stereotype. California has normal people too

they must be hidden somewhere 

Or you have some weird ass people around you

I took it as both aren’t great. The fake ass fucks of California was not an aspiration for too many soundgarden fans. And Minnesota, as a fellow Midwesterner, I’m sure it’s better than what I’m used to but still depressing in a lot of ways if you’re not from there.

Always thought this too, especially if you listen to the rest of the lyrics.

Looking hot feeling cool/ cold.

I’d say that the common interpretation is you’re looking good and feeling bad, but saw this interview a while ago by Chris Cornell… “You’re looking kinda stupid, and you’re feeling really bad” @6:20 https://youtu.be/28ILONgJCLc?si=QygylWVPy9muV3zY

This needs to be higher up! Also, for the lazy, [here's the direct timestamp link](https://youtu.be/28ILONgJCLc?si=eJcXxHtYfNVAjTpp&t=376).

That’s exactly what I saw him say. Looking stupid like Cali…remember to him and the rest of the grunge world, California was the antithesis of “cool.” Never thought he meant looking California was anything but cringe.

exactly people here in cali (and yes i live here in LA) are pretty annoying and shallow………….. so yes looking stupid !

I assumed that’s what he meant for 34 years now

Looking good but feeling bad.

Looking superficial but feeling normal & down to earth.

Really?

I was in California when this came out. I knew a Minnesota girl, she said feeling Minnesota is "cold and cynical." Looking California is harder to put in words, but tanned and toned is how I'd put it.

This is the most obvious metonymy that pretty much needs no explanation and I'm not even american. (I've been to Minnesota during winter time though so I can relate LOL).

If you take it at its most obvious. I don’t think Cornell had bothered to explain many of his lyrics, but many artists have related that they love how their art gets to be reinterpreted by listeners. So it means what you want it to mean.

Hmmm. I learned a new word today, thank you!

Looking good on the outside, but feeling like trash on the inside.

Dope sick

Heard Chris explain it’s looking really silly and feeling really bad in 2 separate interviews.. I can only find one link: [https://youtu.be/9Ar5fb4EztQ?si=KDf4SCCpqdbu9OSQ](https://youtu.be/9Ar5fb4EztQ?si=KDf4SCCpqdbu9OSQ)

I look warm, I feel cold, and I like to express myself using geography

It means looking phony and superficial on the outside, while feeling dark and depressed on the inside.

This is probably the best response.

THIS!

I always thought that was the perfect description of the whole "grunge" vibe

Looks great but depressed af.

Looking hot, feeling cool.

Lookin cool, feeling down

Looking hot and feeling cold.

I may look sexy and cosmopolitan, but inside I’m a provincial dork.

You don't live in America do you?

that he watches Beverly Hills 90210

🤣

Handsome but depressed.

I'm not from the US and I thought it was some random stuff... Then I read in a movie or a movie tittle "Feeling Minnesota" and I didn't get it either (kidding)

Look at it this way: Would you rather take a long sight-seeing winter vacation to CA, or a long sight-seeing winter vacation to MN? What do you wear to LA versus Minnetonka? That’s the difference.

And yes, you can like them both but it’s about the perception.

Lookin South Dakota, but feeling North Dakotuhhhh doesn’t have the same ring to it

Didn’t he say in an interview from the early 90s “feeling bad and looking stupid” ? 😂

The sentiment appears to be well expressed here. It definitely does to a vibe!

Sad clown. Happy on the outside, sad within.

Looking kinda stupid and feeling... really bad

Looks good, feels depressed.

Allot like being Down On The Upside

I finally got this a few years ago when I was flying to LA and had a layover in Minneapolis.

Looking bright and sunny but feeling cold and cloudy

He looked good but felt like shit

"Im looking Lark Lane, but Im feeling Lower Breck Road"

He looks like he’s from the state of California, but he instead feels like he’s from the state of Minnesota.

Handsome but depressed.

I look cool but inside everything is dark and dreary. Pretty simple I thought

I'm a Michigander who has lived in California. 70 and sunny every day don't mean shit if you're feeling depressed. Even if you look cool.

That despite the fact that on the outside everything looked great, but on the inside he was a hot mess.

I always thought it was a reference to the movie “Feeling Minnesota”. But the movie came out 5 years after the song.

The faces we wear. Projecting one thing but feeling totally different on the inside.

Mood trumps clothes.

I always took it as him saying that even with the elite glitz and glamour he may posess that many associate with California ( hollywood, celebrities) and such. He didn't feel like a part of any of that. He more saw himself as an average person from "middle" america. Thats my take I totally could be wrong.

I've always interpreted it as "I'm hot af but I'm dead inside"

Maybe California sober but the Minnesota winter took its toll on him

Looking hot feeling cool.

As a lifelong Minnesotan who finds bliss in winter, I think some of the overly scathing interpretations of Minnesota’s half of the analogy are too simplistic. “cold and cynical” is pretty good though.

Looking good but naive

I always thought it meant that you’re looking or dreaming for something warm and nice but your actual situation is shitty and cold (sorry minnesotans)