I knew some of this stuff, but not that. But that seems ... problematic.

Cobain's lyrics were pretty famously difficult to understand. I had no clue what most of the lyrics to Smells Like Teen Spirit were until like 20 years after I first heard it when I was 10. Weird Al's parody of the song directly jabs at this, which a whole verse being:

"It's so unintelligible
I just can't get it through my skull
It's hard to bargle nawdle zouss???
With all these marbles in my mouth"


Considering all of that, if you're listening to "Polly" or "Rape Me" but only hearing half of the words, is it any surprise that people might not fully grasp the message? Might even interpret the songs as being pro instead of anti?

I love Nirvana. I agree with the intended messages of their music (at least, to the extent that I understand them). But any time that a band thinks that they don't want fans who don't agree with their "message", I tend to think it is just pointless.

Lots of bands take very clear political / ethical stances in their music. I can like the music without being fully on board with those messages. Even if I'm utterly opposed to them. I can like Rage Against the Machine without fighting the system. I can like System of a Down without being ... psycho? You might be a registered Republican who likes NOFX, or a registered Democrat who likes Kid Rock or Brooks and Dunn.

Basically, if I like what you're doing musically I don't give two shits about what your message is. The extent to which it might make me like you more or less is very negligible.

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Smells Like Teen Spirit, eh? Multi-level troll achievement unlocked!

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When they jammed it out on stage, I doubt it was as succinct as radio / record version. But a lot of great songs tend to be written(or should I say discovered) in this kind of instant form, all of a sudden something just clicks, and it just feels natural, it's almost a subconscious processes. Especially if you've been jamming with people for a while, then you're all on the same wavelength, or same drugs as I'm sure anyone from the 60s will tell you.

Many bands most popular songs start off as a joke, such as Nirvana's Smells Like Teens Spirit, or Primus' Shakehands with Beef. Which is why you get a lot of one hit wonders. They've had their light bulb moments, but nobody really knows how it happens, so it can't be reproduced. (not to say that Nirvana or Primus are one hit wonders by any means).

I see parallels with song writing and inventing or engineering. A lot of the greatest inventions were eureka moments while most of the others were just plain old hard work by dedicated engineers. But it's usually the eureka moments that change the course of history.

HDD and Floppy Music: Nirvana - Smell Like Teen Spirit has been added as a related post - related requested by Mordhaus.

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Totally reminds me of the Weird Al cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit and the "...with all these marbles in my mouth" line.

And I mean that in a good way!

Love covers, love Nirvana, love Smells Like Teen Spirit... Loved this! Thanks for the sift!

I watched this until they started butchering Smells Like Teen Spirit.

>> ^videosiftbannedme:

The moves that cheerleader makes at 2:05....mmmm-mmmm. Can't get enough.


Funny that you mention them:

8. The cheerleaders in the "Teen Spirit" video were recruited from an LA strip joint. Nirvana really wanted their friend in the band L7 for the part. They were overruled. (Bonus fact: Dave was dating L7's Jennifer Finch at the time.)

9. The janitor was the actual janitor from director Sam Bayer's apartment complex in Venice Beach.

10. Kurt was worried "Teen Spirit" sounded too much like a Pixies song. He was also worried it had too much of the same feeling as Boston's "More Than a Feeling."

11. Nevermind's original recording budget was $65,000. They ended up spending twice that.

http://www.alancross.ca/a-journal-of-musical-things/2011/9/24/20-things-about-nirvanas-nevermind-on-its-20th-anniversary.html

Tags for this video have been changed from 'Humppa, smells, like, teen, spirit, Elakelaiset, finland' to 'Humppa, smells, like, teen, spirit, Elakelaiset, finland, nirvana' - edited by DerHasisttot

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Not a bad cover - but Kurt is spinning in his grave. I've always wondered about the title - what does "Smells Like Teen Spirit" mean? I suspect that Miley Cyrus smells like teen spirit.

Edit: via Wikipedia:

Cobain came up with the song's title when his friend Kathleen Hanna, at the time the lead singer of the Riot Grrrl punk band Bikini Kill, spray painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" on his wall. Since they had been discussing anarchism, punk rock, and similar topics, Cobain interpreted the slogan as having a revolutionary meaning. What Hanna actually meant, however, was that Cobain smelled like the deodorant Teen Spirit, which his then-girlfriend Tobi Vail wore.