Smells Like Teen Spirit

On April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain, the enigmatic lead singer of Seattle's successful grunge-era band Nirvana, took his own life. I can't believe it was 15 years ago today because it still feels like just yesterday that my little teen self was trying to process this terrible news. I listed Nevermind as one of my favorite albums of all time in part because "Smells Like Teen Spirit" seemingly came out of nowhere to capture all my adolescent angst in one song.

Many of Cobain's lyrics seemed nonsensical or hard to decipher but there was something about the raw emotion in his voice that hit a global nerve. After only three years in the spotlight his death unleashed a shock wave that reverberates to this day.

Do you remember where you were when this news broke? How did his music affect you?

After the jump I've included some of my favorite performances by the band on MTV's Unplugged. Rocking out to Nirvana is good times, but there was something so stunning about the band's stripped down Unplugged performance, I thought it would be an appropriate way to look back. To watch, read more

So this guitar prodigy, Sungha Jung, locked himself in his room for 60 hours after a fight with his mother and learned Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." He didn't just learn it. He puts an interesting, haunting spin on it. I get in a fight with my mother? I just eat a whole bag of potato chips and drink too much scotch. I guess that's what separates mere mortals like myself from 11-year-old guitar prodigies.

Here's another sign that Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is now a classic. Not only is the baby on the cover now 17 years old, but the tune has also been covered by crooner Paul Anka (on his 2005 Rock Swings album, apparently). I defy you not to get this catchy version stuck in your head: "Nirvana. Yes, Nirvana! Come on!""

What's the difference between Generation X and Generation Y? This video might provide an answer.

Starting Monday, VH1 will be paying tribute to the eclectic music of the '90s with 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s, a countdown of hits from Nirvana to Hanson and everywhere in between. A while back, the network asked viewers to vote on their favorites from a pre-selected list of 100 songs, and this week-long special will reveal how those votes shook out.

Clocking in at No. 1: Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." U2s "One" is next, then the Backstreet Boys with "I Want It That Way" at No. 3. Whitney Houston, Madonna, Britney Spears, Sir Mix-a-Lot, TLC, REM, and Sinead O'Connor all make appearances in the top 10, making for a list that sounds a lot like the soundtrack to my junior high dances.

Looking over the list again, I am impressed that it's so comprehensive, with entries from The Cranberries, Spin Doctors, Beck, Weezer, Counting Crows, and pretty much every other artist whose music I ever tried to tape off the radio during Rick Dees' weekly top 40. But I still can't believe there's no "The Sign." How can you have a Best of the '90s list without Ace of Base? A few of the other biggies that didn't make the list — "Gangsta's Paradise," "Just a Girl," "No Rain," "Whoomp! There It Is" — at least get a mention in this set of 50 songs that barely missed the cut.

Check out the full ranking of the 100 songs and let me know: What's right — and what's just horribly wrong? You can also see the top 25 when you read more

Wait! Before you play this video close your eyes. I bet you can recite not only the lyrics but exactly what Kurt Cobain wore in this video. If you can't, Marc Jacobs certainly can. After all, this was the look that spawned his infamous "grunge collection" for Perry Ellis in 1992. Ironically, he was soon dismissed from the house — no matter, he obviously found his path. But back to Kurt. You know the look: striped shirt over long sleeve tee, dirty jeans, beat up Chucks and dirty cardigans. Oh, and don't forget the flannels! It was the anti-fashion look that made fashion history. Kurt was a singular sensation.

Finally, we can understand all the lyrics to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" — and while watching a beautifully languid video. It's been more than a month since punk legend Patti Smith released her covers album called Twelve, featuring her take on such songs as "The Boy In the Bubble" by Paul Simon, the Rolling Stones's "Gimme Shelter," Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit." But it was worth the wait for this video of Smith's "Teen Spirit" cover, which premiered today on AOL's Spinner.

Not only is the song great, but the visuals are, too. Stark and intimate, the black-and-white video calls to mind both French New Wave film and home movies. (Also: very cute cat footage.) As Smith explained to Spinner, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was one of the more difficult covers she chose to do:

"I always wanted to do a covers album, but I didn't really feel I had the range to do the kind of album I wanted to do," Smith told Spinner. "As the project evolved, a lot of the songs on the [original] list didn't make the final cut, and a lot of songs that I didn't plan on doing wound up being the ones I chose. They're all special to me for different reasons. But Nirvana was the most emotional experience."

To watch and listen, read more

Just because Nirvana's classic "Smells Like Teen Spirit" has the word "teen" in it doesn't mean teens should necessarily sing it. Especially these teens. What I love about this video is how quiet the audience is. Maybe they're in shock.