HELLO, HELLO, HELLO, HOW LOW?

The title sounds familiar? If yes, this article is for you, Nirvana lover, if not, then there’s no better way to know about them, take a look.

BAND THIS WEEK – Nirvana

GENRE -  Alternative rock

Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting being Dave Grohl, who joined the band in 1990.there were at least five different drummers in the band before Dave Grohl. Despite releasing only three full-length studio albums in their seven-year career, Nirvana has come to be regarded as one of the most influential and important rock bands of the modern era. With chartbusters like Smells Like Teen Spirit and Come As You Are, Nirvana has been one of the all time classic rock favourites for us music lovers.

Kurt Cobain is remembered as one of the most iconic rock musicians in the history of alternative music (Happens to be one of the favourite rock musicians of the writer herself). Most of Nirvana’s songs feature themes of depression and bipolar syndromes.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 songs by Nirvana :-


10. Something in the way ( Nevermind, 1991) – 

This is the kind of song which brings tears to your eyes. Kurt’s soulful voice and the acoustic guitar touches our heart. As stated by Kurt, he wrote this about his life. His living under a bridge when he was kicked out of his house. He expresses his feelings and emotions by saying "something in the way" - he thought everything was in the way every time he tried to feel better. A live version of this song appears on the 1994 MTV Unplugged in New York album which happens to be equally popular and amazing.


9. About a Girl (Bleach, 1989) - 

Cobain penned the track for his then girlfriend, using some of their disagreements for inspiration. Though it wasn't a hit when included on 'Bleach’, 'About a Girl' got a second life when included on the band's 1994 'MTV Unplugged' collection, which happens to be better than the original version. The Guitar solo that starts from the middle of the song is what keeps this song in the 9th position.

8. Rape me (In Utero, 1993) - 

Kurt Cobain conceived "Rape Me" as a life-affirming anti-rape song. This song got a ‘Teen Spirit’ feeling but with a deeper message. A wonderful combination of outstanding melody, meaningful and deep lyrics and heavy guitar riffs that makes you feel something you can't even describe in simple words, Cobain wrote this from the perspective of a victim replying to a rapist. The title and composition of this song raised quite a few controversies but that could not stop this song from being a hit, thereby deserving a place in this list.



7. Aneurysm (From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah, 1996) - 

A bombastic intro makes the song a winner even before it has actually started. Cobain wrote the lyrics to "Aneurysm" about his ex-girlfriend, musician Tobi Vail. Cobain's lyrics  makes fun of pop conventions and drug usage. With dark vocals, it also happens to describe how the break-up devastated him. The line "Love you so much, it makes me sick”, is a reference to when Kurt would throw up just thinking about the breakup.


6. In Bloom (Nevermind, 1991) -

 The song addresses people outside the underground music community who did not understand the band's message. Like many Nirvana songs, "In Bloom" shifts back and forth between quiet verses and loud choruses. Nirvana first made a music video for "In Bloom" in 1990 which is quite famous and played on all TV music shows at that time. With great guitar riffs, chords, a catchy chorus line and heart pumping drums, this is the kind of song which will definitely make you hit the replay button.


5. All Apologies (In Utero, 1993) - 

One of Nirvana's more introspective tracks is easily one of their best. The Song was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1995, and has since been included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of "The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". Curt’s painful, drained voice is haunting. There has been much speculation about the lyrics of this song, some think it’s related to his marriage, some say that this song is sort of a suicide note and the debate continues still now BUT WAIT, that doesn’t matter, the song is a treat for the ears.


4. Lithium (Nevermind, 1991) - 

‘I love you - I'm not gonna crack, I killed you - I'm not gonna crack’ – did you sing along too? Nirvana's 'Lithium' has it all. The track begins with Cobain noodling and Grohl keeping a steady beat, but by the end it’s filled with the furious instrument-smashing glory and it's a must for the 10 Best Nirvana Songs list. Cobain stated that lyrically the song, inspired by a relative, is about a guy whose girlfriend has died and turns to religion to give him a reason to live. Lithium peaked at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and is an all time hit by them.


3. Heart Shaped Box (In Utero, 1993) -

 Great lyrics, amazing guitar and Kurt Cobain's hauntingly depressing voice at its best is in this song. Even the short but mighty guitar solo is great. Lyrically, the track offers one of the most unlikely declarations of love, with Cobain exclaiming, "I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black.", Cobain said the song was inspired by documentaries about children with cancer and so the song merges the theme of love with disease. The video for this song begins and ends with the band in a hospital setting watching an old man being administered medication through an IV drip. Nevertheless this song is for all the broken hearted people out there.



2. Come As You Are (Nevermind, 1991) - 

Yes, yes, that song with the epic Nirvana solo. When it comes to memorable riffs, Kurt Cobain's unaccompanied darkly moody intro to 'Come As You Are' is as recognizable as they come. Lyrically, the song is filled with contradictions throughout, leaving listeners with many interpretations over the years. However, Cobain said the song was about "people and what they're expected to act like". The song is is melancholic and subdued but Once the band reaches the chorus, the song reaches full volume. The video features the band in a dark room, where the appearance of falling water in front of the band distorts and blurs the band members' face. This song, undoubtedly, wins the heart of all the people who like heavier songs.



1. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nevermind, 1991) - 

The obvious choice for number one, eh? Never has a single rock song changed the face of music as instantly as Smells Like Teen Spirit one did.  The song uses a verse-chorus form to create an alternating loud and quiet dynamic which is quite remarkable. This was Nirvana's biggest hit, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100 . The lyrics to this song were often difficult for listeners to decipher, both due to the gibberish and because of Cobain's slurred, guttural singing voice. "Teen Spirit" is widely interpreted to be a teen revolution anthem, an interpretation reinforced by the song's music video. Cobain came up with the song's title when his friend Kathleen Hanna, spray painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Teen spirit was a deodorant) on his wall, Cobain interpreted the slogan as having a revolutionary meaning. Musically this song has all the things to make it great- good guitar riffs and Cobain’s amazing voice. This song can easily be stated as one of the greatest rock songs of all time.

Hey! Wait! I've got a new complaint (got the reference?) , which is,  only 10 songs are not sufficient to describe this band’s greatness, so the ‘special mention’ section for the other deserving ones.

SPECIAL MENTIONS  -

The Man Who Sold the World – With a mesmerizing guitar piece, this song is written and performed by David Bowie and covered by nirvana which became an instant hit.

Breed - With Great riffs and intro, the band developed this song during live performances in 1989 when they toured Europe. Each chorus begins and ends with the line "she said," implying that the song was meant to capture spoken dialogue, which is often overlooked.

Silver  - The song about a fussy youngster longing for his parents, ‘Sliver' is the perfect blend of melody and aggression that Nirvana built their career on.

Negative creep - The song was written by Kurt Cobain about himself, and how he claimed that he always saw himself as a negative person. The song has been described as "creepy" which works quite well with the title. Musically this song is described as grunge.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR :- 

Medha Bhattacharya is a music aficionado, a proud metalhead and an avid follower of "SHERLOCK HOLMES". She is pursuing her B.TECH from B.P.PODDAR INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT and is the music-columnist for ExPRESS Magazine. Some of her other articles are :- 

http://express5515.blogspot.in/2015/12/heavy-metal.html