“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. It was released as the lead single from their second album, “Nevermind,” in 1991. The song became a commercial and critical success and is considered one of the most iconic songs of the 1990s and of the grunge movement. The meaning of the lyrics of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” has been subject to interpretation, but generally, it is seen as a reflection of the disillusionment and disaffection of the youth of the time. The phrase “smells like teen spirit” is thought to be a reference to deodorant marketed for teenagers, and it is used to suggest a sense of rebellion or rejection of mainstream culture.
The song’s lyrics have been interpreted as a commentary on the state of the music industry, the apathy and disaffection of the youth, and the search for identity and purpose. The lyrics touch on themes of alienation, rebellion and nonconformity, with lines like “Here we are now, entertain us” and “I feel stupid and contagious” conveying a sense of detachment and frustration.
The song’s success helped to popularize the grunge movement and bring alternative rock into the mainstream. The music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which featured a performance by the band in a dimly-lit gymnasium, also helped to establish the song as a cultural touchstone. The song has been covered by many other artist and continues to be a popular song.
In addition to its commercial success and impact on the music industry, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” has also had a significant cultural impact. The song’s themes of alienation and rebellion resonated with many young people and helped to define a generation. The song’s lyrics, particularly the line “Here we are now, entertain us,” have been interpreted as a commentary on the MTV generation’s desire for constant stimulation and entertainment.
The song’s influence can also be seen in other areas of popular culture, such as film and television, with references to the song appearing in various movies and TV shows. The song is widely considered one of the greatest songs of all time and has also been listed in many publications’ “best songs” lists.
Overall, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a defining song of the 90’s and a cultural touchstone that resonated with the youth of the time and continues to be relevant today. It is a song that speaks to the alienation, disaffection and the search for identity and purpose of a generation.
In addition to its cultural impact, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” has also had a significant musical impact. The song is widely considered to be a key work in the development of the grunge genre, which emerged in the Pacific Northwest of the United States in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The song’s combination of heavy guitar riffs, driving drums, and Kurt Cobain’s anguished vocals helped to establish the sound and attitude of grunge, which would go on to influence a wide range of other bands and genres.
The song’s success also helped to bring alternative rock into the mainstream and paved the way for other bands in the genre to achieve mainstream success. The song’s raw energy and emotional intensity also helped to break down boundaries between different musical genres and paved the way for a more diverse and eclectic musical landscape.
In conclusion, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a song that has had a significant impact on both the music industry and popular culture. It is a cultural touchstone that resonated with the youth of the time, and continues to be relevant today. It is a defining song of the 90’s, which helped to establish the grunge genre, and brought alternative rock into the mainstream and continues to be an iconic song that is widely considered one of the greatest songs of all time.
It is worth mentioning that even though the song was a commercial success, Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and songwriter of Nirvana, had mixed feelings about the song’s commercial success and the impact it had on the band. He often expressed his dislike for the song, calling it “a big commercial song” and feeling uncomfortable with the fact that it became an anthem for a generation. He also said that the song’s lyrics were meant to be “anti-anthemic” and that it was written as a sarcastic take on the commercialization of rock music.
Despite Cobain’s discomfort with the song, it remains one of Nirvana’s most popular songs and has become an enduring classic. The song has been covered by many other artists and bands and has been used in movies, TV shows, and commercials.
In summary, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a song that has had a significant impact on both the music industry and popular culture, it was a commercial and critical success, but its songwriter, Kurt Cobain had mixed feelings about it. Nevertheless, the song remains an enduring classic that continues to be relevant today.
The history of creation «Smells Like Teen Spirit» by Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” was written by Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and songwriter of Nirvana. The song was written in the summer of 1990 and was first recorded in April 1991. The song was produced by Butch Vig, who helped to give the song its raw and powerful sound.
The song was written in the context of the emerging grunge scene in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Cobain was inspired by the energy and attitude of the bands that were emerging from that scene, and he wanted to write a song that would capture that spirit. The title of the song, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” was a phrase that Cobain’s friend Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill, had scrawled on his wall. The phrase was meant to be a reference to deodorant marketed for teenagers, and it was used to suggest a sense of rebellion or rejection of mainstream culture.
The song’s lyrics, which touch on themes of alienation, rebellion, and nonconformity, were written by Cobain in a stream of consciousness style, with many of the lyrics being improvised on the spot. The song’s raw and powerful sound was achieved through a combination of heavy guitar riffs, driving drums, and Cobain’s anguished vocals.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” was released as the lead single from Nirvana’s second album, “Nevermind,” in September 1991. The song was a commercial and critical success, and it helped to establish Nirvana as one of the leading bands of the grunge movement and bring alternative rock into the mainstream. The song continues to be an enduring classic and one of Nirvana’s most popular songs.
The meaning of the lyrics «Smells Like Teen Spirit» by Nirvana
The lyrics of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” have been subject to much interpretation, but generally, they are seen as a reflection of the disillusionment and disaffection of the youth of the time. The lyrics of the song are written in a stream-of-consciousness style, with many of the lines being improvised on the spot. Here is a breakdown of the lyrics:
Verse 1: “Load up on guns, bring your friends It’s fun to lose and to pretend She’s over bored and self-assured Oh no, I know a dirty word”
The lyrics of the first verse convey a sense of rebellion and nonconformity. The line “Load up on guns, bring your friends” could be interpreted as a call to arms or a call to stand up against authority. The line “It’s fun to lose and to pretend” could be interpreted as a commentary on the apathy and disaffection of the youth. The line “She’s over bored and self-assured” could be interpreted as a commentary on the detachment and apathy of young people.
Chorus: “Here we are now, entertain us I feel stupid and contagious Here we are now, entertain us A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido”
The chorus of the song is one of the most widely discussed parts of the lyrics. The line “Here we are now, entertain us” is thought to be a commentary on the MTV generation’s desire for constant stimulation and entertainment. The line “I feel stupid and contagious” conveys a sense of detachment and frustration. The last line of the chorus “A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido” is thought to be a reference to the alienation and disaffection of the youth.
Verse 2: “Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello, how low Hello, hello, hello With the lights out, it’s less dangerous Here we are now, entertain us I feel stupid and contagious Here we are now, entertain us A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido”
The second verse repeats the chorus, but with the line “With the lights out, it’s less dangerous” which could be interpreted as a reference to the alienation and detachment of the youth.
Bridge: “A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial”
The bridge of the song repeats the phrase “A denial, a denial” which could be interpreted as a commentary on the rejection of mainstream culture and the apathy and disaffection of the youth.
Overall, the lyrics of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” are open to interpretation, but generally, they are seen as a reflection of the disillusionment and disaffection of the youth of the time. They touch on themes of alienation, rebellion, and nonconformity, with lines like “Here we are now, entertain us” and “I feel stupid and contagious” conveying a sense of detachment and frustration.
Here are some interesting facts about “Smells Like Teen Spirit”:
- The song was written in the summer of 1990, but it was not recorded until April 1991.
- The title of the song, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” was a phrase that Kurt Cobain’s friend Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill, had scrawled on his wall. The phrase was meant to be a reference to deodorant marketed for teenagers, and it was used to suggest a sense of rebellion or rejection of mainstream culture.
- The song was produced by Butch Vig, who helped to give the song its raw and powerful sound.
- The song was released as the lead single from Nirvana’s second album, “Nevermind,” in September 1991. The song was a commercial and critical success, and it helped to establish Nirvana as one of the leading bands of the grunge movement and bring alternative rock into the mainstream.
- The song was a huge commercial success, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and it was also a hit in many other countries around the world.
- The song’s music video, which featured a performance by the band in a dimly-lit gymnasium, also helped to establish the song as a cultural touchstone.
- The song’s success helped to popularize the grunge movement and bring alternative rock into the mainstream.
- The song has been covered by many other artists and bands and has been used in movies, TV shows, and commercials.
- The song was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”
- The song has been listed in many publications’ “best songs” lists, and is widely considered one of the greatest songs of all time.
- Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and songwriter of Nirvana, had mixed feelings about the song’s commercial success and the impact it had on the band. He often expressed his dislike for the song, calling it “a big commercial song” and feeling uncomfortable with the fact that it became an anthem for a generation.
