FIRST TIME HEARING NIRVANA 🎵 Smells Like Teen Spirit Reaction

[@Motorhands]

This song single-handedly changed the face of music when it came out. It was more than a vibe, it was a whole culture.

[@nexspectovos]

Nirvana is still the closest any band has come to being the Beatles in terms of how much they changed the musical and cultural landscape.

[@MrBoomSkate]

@@nexspectovos with all due respect to Nirvana, one of my absolute favs... They don't even hold a candle to the Beatles. Another thing to think about is Elvis. He would be in literal terms the closest to having the same impact on music and society. Going further back, Nat King Cole (one of the all time best voices in history), Sinatra and Sammy...they were their era's changing. Most of their fan base is gone by now, so we don't hear it and it is forgotten. I only know because my grandpa would sit me down when he was alive as say (come have a listen to real music. Everything is made by people and no computers or machine.) I hated it at first, but once I got over the stubbornness of thinking what does he know, I realize it's really great for what the era wanted.

[@10lightshow]

And it was called Grunge not grudge 🤦‍♂️

[@kat19805]

Hell yeah. I was 13 when this came out. It was everywhere, and it changed the culture. This song perhaps more than any other encapsulated the feeling of growing up in that era. Epic and iconic.

[@JohnEDepth752]

@@neillscott4192 Grunge might have been popular in the Seattle area, but not outside of it. They absolutely changed the face of music at that period of time. Guns and Roses released Use your illusion literally the week before Nevermind. GNR was huge and they sold 14 million copies. Nevermind sold 30 million; which is slightly more than GNR's highest selling album Appetite for destruction. How long the era lasted doesn't matter. They busted open the door, and by doing so brought Pearl Jam, ANC, Soundgarden, etc, with them. Plus, alternative music was basically only played on MTV late at night on a show called a 120 minutes, but because Nirvana became so big, they began playing a bunch during the day, which in turn lead to more exposure for other bands. Sorry about the novella, but it can't be overstated how big Nirvana was to music at that time.

[@Krust_Acean]

This knocked michael jackson out of the number one position in the charts and redefined the sound of rock.

[@dialecticalmonist3405]

Michael Jackson faded because of the allegations of child molestation and his weird-ass nose jobs. That's what caused him to lose the spotlight. Comedy shows were making fun of him constantly and he was the butt of every joke.

[@johnphillipsjr7238]

It’s not rock. It’s shit

[@jasonw8283]

I remember that moment.

[@elfahrenheit951]

Overrated band

[@hadoken95]

@@dialecticalmonist3405 Well all that didn't happen til several years later. The OP is correct that Nirvana exploded onto the scene in 1992.

[@kungfury6410]

Its hard to explain to people that weren't around for this song to understand how big it was. Imagine whatever kind of music is popular today just disappears over night because of a new band and type of music going mainstream. Now imagine clothes, and attitudes changing with it. This song, and band literally washed away hair bands, and glam rock over night and changed the landscape of music for an entire generation.

[@andyandy2629]

They did copy the Pixies lquiet loud quiet formula though. And that is not a bad thing.

[@Usag1Yoj1mbo]

I remember it like it was yesterday brother. I was 15 when Nevermind was released and what a ride it was. Nirvana still influence me today.

[@FFM0594]

What, like when the Beatles came along?

[@FFM0594]

@@andyandy2629 I like the Pixies and would say that to call this a copy, well, just no!

[@fbg5678]

@@FFM0594 Wasn't Kurt trying to copy a Pixies song when he made the intro to Smells Like Teen Spirit?

[@sutherngirrl7590]

Most shocking thing here: That there are not one but TWO people that haven't heard this song!!🤯

[@RahimRahmat]

I know right? I couldn't BELIEVE this title!! They both don't look young enough to have been born after this song was created, but I could be dead wrong.....

[@namegoeshereorhere5020]

@@RahimRahmat Cobain died 27 years ago. They were likely at best little kids at the time and may not even have been exposed to this kind of music.

[@chaoticneutral3487]

100!

[@sutherngirrl7590]

@@namegoeshereorhere5020 27 years? Thanks, you just made me feel old af!! 😂

[@jeffcasey9911]

You win best comment

[@thatlonewolfguy2878]

This song single handedly changed music forever. Every single early 2000s band was inspired by this song, this album, this spawned an entire generation of new bands who grew up on this kinda sound

[@jameshannagan639]

To an extent yes but there were still bands that had different influences that were great like Radiohead who had very different influences than Nirvana although interestingly enough the both loved the Beatles which should be a lesson for the younger people who like to shit on the Beatles.

[@steventattersall4187]

Perfectly said my man

[@Coreadrin]

And Kurt would never have done his thing if it weren't for The Pixies...

[@jesterbons1558]

@@Coreadrin black flag

[@brettomalley8855]

I love your enthusiasm here, but not really, late 80's changed everything for alternative music, 91 was an era for many and I mean many breakthrough bands, this would not have mattered considering the English counter parts that were is full swing.

[@gladius1275]

It’s still hard for me to believe that David Grohl, the lead singer of Foo Fighters is playing drums. Nirvana was a seriously talented band.

[@MrSergiovc2010]

Actually it's really weird to see Dave Grohl's as a frontman because he's such an amazing drummer.

[@Matt2010]

It's actually not that weird. He does come from musically talented background on his own right from cradle to now and into future. What is also helpful, very smart and intelligent parents. His mom being a English teacher, and his father, Journalist and very keen observer. Dave once joked his father said to him, "you know this isn't going to last long, right?" To me as a drummer myself altho not anymore cause I do have bad hearing loss, Dave should be considered a professor of music, cause of how wide a range he has.

[@aintsam9952]

@@Matt2010 and Foo Fighters tragically lost their drummer this year.

[@Matt2010]

@@aintsam9952 um yea I know

[@darkgable85]

Fun fact.... Dave Grohl told Pharrell that the beginning of the drum beat he got from the Gap Band song Burn rubber

[@Frostrazor]

Brad: "Trying to figure out the lyrics" Everyone: "We're still trying to do that 30 years later" Seriously though - few songs in history of man have had as big an influence as this one right here. Prior to this song/video, mainstream rock out and on MTV portrayed videos and rock as glamourous and glitzy, rock stars were gorgeous and the sets, and extras in the video were all dolled up; songs were all party and feeling good and having fun This song flipped it on the head - it paved the way and broke the barrier to introduce the world to "grunge rock". The song was dirty, the video was grungy and dirty, the lyrics were off and different, even the cheerleaders in the video were grungy looking with tatoos etc. The music/movement changed the standards to be about broken homes, and depression/anxiety, angst and the horrors of addiction; not about parties and having fun. It shattered that 80s shiny look of America and replaced it with a more dark and depressing if a bit more honest and poignant appearance. In the end, this song stands true as a halmark of grunge music and iconic in the shift of the standard rock music being produced and consumed in America. Nirvana was The Doors of our generation. Sadly three of the four main grunge lead singers all died tragically very young (Cobain, Staley, Cornell).

[@SearlesHernandez]

Yes, don't worry about the lyrics. Feel the music ;)

[@Kreigmstr]

Thankfully we still have Dave Grohl.

[@britany3577]

You're forgetting chester.

[@chrisrichardson5641]

You forgot Richard Hoon, Andrew Wood, and Scott Weiland (I know Scott was not from WA, still big part of the era)

[@nicolashunter4131]

the dude is dumb as hell,the girl is clever

[@joebalboni1810]

Lex's interpretation is better than anything I could come up with over the last 30 years. LOL

[@mattmarcotte5476]

Well said. I always giggle when reactors say "can't wait for the lyrics..." I know them but it's been 30yr. She caught more than 99% of people.

[@ericschmidt5510]

lol yeah pretty much

[@MarkFaust]

Lex was spot on.

[@michaelfritz8725]

Its funny there was an interview one of them said one of the members had their girlfriend there and another band member could smell her deodorant and said she smelled like teen spitit

[@ConnbineHarvester]

She has form, she gets it spot on often!

[@maphezdlin]

I don't know if I can sum this up. In the early 90s most of Gen X was working too much (for me it was two jobs), lot's of us were failing college and couldn't get a date. We were promised the world which of course was a lie. We were tired, broke, alone and our car had just broken down. This along with Alanis Morissette, Nine Inch Nails and topped off with Loser by Beck summed up our emotions and anger. I have no idea what the words are to this song and don't care. It was an emotional outlet for Gen X. This is Gen X's anthem.

[@damianreid2452]

Bingo!!!

[@JoeBlow_4]

So this will make Brad go nuts, but Kurt said the lyrics mean nothing. He said he was lazy and just wrote lyrics last minute. The title of the song came after a night that Kurt and Bikini Kill lead singer Kathleen Hannah got drunk and wrote feminist graffiti all over the city. When Kurt crashed, Kathleen wrote "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit" all over the walls. She did this because Kurt was dating Bikini Kill drummer Tobi Vail and she used Teen Spirit deodorant. Kathleen was suggesting Tobi used her deodorant to mark Kurt as hers. He didn't know what it meant and took it like a teenage call to arms. About two months after the song dropped he realized what Kathleen meant and thought it funny as hell that the band's anthem was actually started over a deodorant brand.*edit* Oops, I'm too late, people already told you.

[@johnsilver8059]

Kurt liked to project an image of laziness, but he was always writing.

[@Maialeen]

@My Signin It's crazy how I can tell just how fragile and cringe you are from one sentence.

[@Paldasan]

Nirvana tapped into the growing sense of disillusionment with the materialistic excess of the 80's in a way similar to the punk movement a decade and a half earlier. But while punk was a rejection of authority grunge was a rejection of culture.

[@persephone213]

Spot on!

[@mztweety1374]

I think Kurt would really hate Seattle today

[@marciphillips8682]

I'd say I wa born in 1971 ...for me the best Era of music was the 1970's and the 1990's..I was teen in 80's loved my metal to but towards end every band and same stale love ballads..I never cared for the guys that dressed as chicks..I love Metallica and slayer Pantera ..I love going down memory lane

[@ryanmillertradingeconomics8183]

Well said

[@stephenbrown9977]

Bullseye

[@jnewmark41]

This band was The Beatles of the 90s...

[@chrisb2609]

This is what started Grunge and killed the hair bands of the 80"s.

[@albertgein3082]

Tell the.melvins that

[@SightUnveiled]

Truth Chris

[@albertgein3082]

@@ahronlong9846 minuteman, dead milkmen, violent fems

[@Gwenhwyfar7]

I heard Nirvana long before Melvins or any other band.Nirvana didn't start the genre, but they perfected it and made it big. I was 13 when I first heard Nirvana, the same year Kurt died.

[@SkribbalOfficial]

Hair metal killed itself. Poison, Kick Tracy, Ratt... ick. It was oversaturated, just like grunge was after Nirvana. As far as real metal, Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica ALL thrived and sold millions of records in the 90s.

[@bayareathrasher666]

This song was the death blow to all the big hair bubblegum “metal” bands..

[@LordEriolTolkien]

most of whic deserved it by that time... there's only so many 12 minute guitar solos the world needs

[@andreajackson2925]

@@LordEriolTolkien 🤣

[@joefwarren]

I was 18 when this came out. When Kurt takes that 1st leap into the chorus, that was generation X exploding onto the scene in 1991

[@mollyhall2954]

I was older, but when I heard that first leap (love the way you put that) I thought "This guy loves The Beatles but has put his own dark view point and dark sounding music over that infectious music, somehow, and I Love this." Later on I read that Cobain had always loved The Beatles and Queen.

[@desertrose0601]

Yep. This is Gen X in a song. That’s a great way of putting it.

[@wrongbeach35]

This song and album single handedly smashed the door open and changed “popular” music and culture massively for more than a decade. Many bands’ careers ended overnight when this hit the airwaves.

[@northrose4344]

It can’t be overstated how influential this song was. I can’t understand how you’ve never heard it!

[@slydawwg]

No one ever said they were music/ knowledgeable.

[@Rico_Ryan]

Of course they’ve heard it before 😂… they have to say that to pull in the views

[@LSD123.]

I actually feel insulted they have never heard this song. wtf?

[@krisdoggett483]

They were probably born around the time this came out. It has been 30yrs ago now since this song was new. So it's not that surprising, really.

[@darthkek1953]

@@Rico_Ryan exactly... but might be the first time they've put in headphone work to listen to the entire thing rather than TV/radio background.

[@nancywilson107]

I was in my early 40’s when this came out and was so tired of the big hair rock groups it was a breath of fresh air (laughing) and living in Seattle was soon surrounded by the grunge sound and loved it! Now in my mid 70’s still love the sound.

[@frigginjerk]

You were there for the hair metal era? Am I wrong, or did it really take about three seconds to get tired of that?

[@jinjerjunkie]

Brad: Trying to make out the lyrics. Me: ooooohhhhh nooooo!!!!

[@mztweety1374]

Hell, I just found out the inspiration for ‘1999’

[@xMASSxDx187x]

Interviewer: "what does this song (and lyrics) mean?" Kurt Cobain: "whatever you want it to mean"

[@klaptongroovemaster]

The lyrics not making sense just adds to the "Yeah, whatever, FUCK YOU" message of the song.

[@imkool51391]

@@klaptongroovemaster oh well whatever nevermind

[@klaptongroovemaster]

@@imkool51391 Insert "I see what you did there" meme here.

[@klaptongroovemaster]

@Phantom Freeze "Oh well whatever nevermind" are lyrics from the song that also support the idea that Cobain really didn't care if the lyrics made sense.

[@andrewjoyner4133]

The title of the song was based of an actual incident. His girlfriend at the time wrote on a wall 'Kurt smells like teen spirit' referring to a deodorant. He interpreted as a revolutionary slogan being unaware of the deodorant at the time.

[@danielh5980]

Its literally one of the most impactful songs in history, spawned a whole new culture and sound for rock

[@tl-hfit3408]

This is the song of a whole generation!!!

[@GibsonFender]

She got it. I really liked her interpretation, and I’ve been a fan since that song came out. A massive massive fan. But I liked her interpretation and it’s much better than most journalists talk.

[@tombeckett7567]

She says she wasn't sure if she was lovin it but if you watch her face, she was 'Lovin 'it

[@crash0733]

Yep...♥️🤘

[@Habeev07]

THERES A REASON THIS WAS VOTED THE 5TH GREATEST SONG EVER! ACCORDING TO THE ROLLING STONES LAST VOTE FOR TOP-500 SONG OF ALL-TIME. THE ANGST WAS BUILDING. Im 34 and when I was really young I remember being at a pool and right there laying on the cement like 10 feet from the edge of the pool this CD cover with the baby swimming after the dollar bill was laying on the ground... That image is burned in my brain. Kinda one of my first music memories.

[@AHewett]

i have always been obsessed with kurt's voice. i often try to describe 'it' to friends and have never been able to put it as great as lex did with, "...has some sand on it." brilliant. ❤

[@detrockcity3]

Teen Spirit was a deodorant. And you nailed the interpretation, Lex.

[@monicajean37]

Yep! his girlfriend at the time I think her name was tobi? She was in the band bikini kill. She wore teen spirit deodorant &wrote on a wall that "KURT SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT" 😆

[@beckshanson5882]

How d'yu have to edit two sentences.....😅. Sorry. I'm just being a bitch now. My apologies. X

[@beckshanson5882]

@@monicajean37 Fr? I wanna know more about that. He had the most gorgeous eyes......Mmmmmm.

[@athmaid]

Oooh, being from Germany I didn't know that, thanks for the info!

[@susiestone5644]

It was a deodorant aimed at teens with the too perfect teens in the commercials. go watch the commercial video.

[@RayJay37]

The drummer of this group eventually started his own group. The Foo Fighters.

[@nickwest932]

They smell like teen spirit too.

[@CynicalGear]

I always think of the butterfly affect that Kurt Cobain’s death caused, in the making of the foo Fighters. Would the Foo Fighters ever exist. And some of their great songs we may never of heard. But then again what great songs Nirvana would have put out that we will never hear.

[@RayJay37]

@@CynicalGear It's crazy that we're talking about this. My final to Treatment Theories of Addiction is tomorrow and the final is what treatment theory would we have used for Kurt Cobain. I'm going with Cognitive behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.

[@robdaniel3211]

Foo Fighters was great when it was just Dave’s project. It was still decent when he added a few guys playing with him, it’s atrocious these days with like 10 band members.

[@RayJay37]

@@robdaniel3211 Didn't he take the bassist with him when he started Foo Fighters?

[@travisgreene3509]

Lex nailed this. I feel like Brad connects more with songs that are a little more heady lyrically where Lex is better with connecting with the vibe of songs and sometimes gets a better feel for more abstract concepts.

[@linzzyy]

this band and style of music literally changed everything for me ... I miss the early 1990s

[@gixicoN]

yup

[@theb3654]

It was a good time for music I miss those days when music still had some edge too it.

[@stonedphilosopherza4915]

Formation years… this ramped up my teenage angst 1000% when I fell for Nirvana… goodness…

[@davidseamal]

We all do. Not only the music, life so easier then

[@jessisanchez8150]

Grunge Rock had a lot of their singers pass before their time. Rest in Peace Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, Scott Weiland, and Chris Cornell

[@epicMicrowavve]

My favorite band of all time. Rest In Peace Kurt ❤️

[@aneurysmjunkyard]

Me to❤❤

[@jen.g.]

“It’s so....rustic.” Some might even call it grungy. 😊 Definitely need some Alice In Chains now!

[@treverdentalmann9977]

MTV unplugged!!!!

[@DeliberateContrarian]

They might as well get punched straight in the face and do "Them Bones".

[@pleutron]

Listening to Nirvana makes you immediately think to jump to Alice In Chains?? Alice In Chains is a whole other feel than Nirvana. Different styles, but that is just my opinion. But then again, there wasn't many like Nirvana. There were some trying to copy and many others doing similar things with the way their melodies were formed.

[@Given119]

That's EXACTLY what was going through my mind too!

[@jen.g.]

@@pleutron Seattle grunge, so...yeah. It’s a pretty obvious parallel to make, along with Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. It doesn’t mean the music sounds the same. Also, Alice In Chains is one of my favorite bands. Why wouldn’t I suggest them?

[@Robert-op7oc]

Arguably one of the most listened to rock songs of my life.

[@braxtonagee412]

This song, like a lot of other Nirvana songs is actually extremely melodically sophisticated. Kurt had a gift for pulling incredible musical depth out of what sounds apparently simple. Anyone interested, check out Rick Beato, he's a musician and producer who breaks this song down piece by piece and explains the complicated musical theory it involves and how Kurt seemed to intuitively grasp these things without actually knowing theory. It's really cool.

[@ryanphillips4700]

I discovered Rick when I was trying to figure out why I loved Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind. Lol . When i saw "What makes this song great", I knew I was in the right place.

[@lolasuder8724]

That's the Beatles influence

[@darrindybas6025]

Cobains voice is perfectly imperfect.

[@fonzcorp]

Kurt Cobain lived with addiction and chronic pain for most of his life. His voice and lyrics truly bring out that pain. Another good vid guys.

[@treetopjones737]

And he took his own life.

[@darthkek1953]

Kurt Cobain needed some Wes Watson in his life.

[@droptuned83]

Him and 80% of the population of planet earth.

[@shaunphillips6160]

Staley empowered it better.

[@mijreed]

The fun part about Nirvana is that they never wrote direct lyrics. Only very abstract where it was up to the listener to interpret their own meaning. That's what made them so great. How abstract they were.

[@papacarl2002]

Really REALLY enjoy how you two bring open minds and hearts to every reaction - and you spend the time at the end to dig deep and really share how the song made you feel and what it made you think about. Mental health /mental illness can be tough for so many people, especially adolescents - I haven’t stopped and truly listened to the lyrics in years and now I can’t stop thinking about the multilayered meanings of “contagious”

[@robertwood6462]

This song is a feeling, it was a moment in time. Nothing sounded like this when it dropped. After this song all eyes were on Seattle. Like a nuke that blew up Soundgarden,Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Skrraming Trees, and it all started with this song. ...and maby the SNL performance. You guys are great! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@00_Ryan_00]

But first, there was Jane's Addiction.

[@Dom213]

People keep saying this changed music and what would come next. This song literally changed the world and the culture. There still hasn’t been anything like this since.

[@charlesbrown9535]

Facts!

[@trippieleaks2631]

Music has always been a passion of mine I play piano and guitar but want to learn drums and ukulele I record in my room and create intros to some of my favorite songs as well as beats and original songs

[@TheGTOAnimal]

The best part about this song is it got rid of hair metal over night. Thank you Nirvana for being the soundtrack of my youth.

[@timstarkes173]

Hair rock. Haha. Doesn't deserve to be called metal.

[@desertrose0601]

😂 Haha. True that.

[@StarsDie88]

Honestly I just think this song, and a lot of Nirvana's songs were just depressive musings. Coming from someone that has had depression before, his lyrics were basically just a jumbled interpretation of what it feels like to be depressed -- put into words. They don't always make sense or follow a strict line of thought, because in many ways that is the experience of having depression.

[@clancykeegan]

Well said 👏

[@DeliberateContrarian]

I thought a lot of his lyrics were just aesthetic. It was more about how the word sounded in the music than what the word really meant. I could be wrong.

[@DoSe420]

This was most of 90s rock music

[@starseedwarrior9240]

He’s pretty much said as much himself. I guess the words aren’t as important as much as the place they’re coming from but at the same time he seemed like he could talk more about the meaning but felt annoyed or didn’t want to explain himself and leaves it up to interpretation.

[@sonnybarry]

If by depression you mean heroin use, then I agree 100%

[@richardgonzales4815]

The song that defined My Generation! I Love it! Once again : Lex has interpreted it most accurately . As an awkward 15 year old kid, I truly needed this song to put into words exactly how I was feeling .

[@xaviergutierrez4382]

When you say this song is a vibe, you can't imagine the impact this song, and band had in its short run.

[@ashg2336]

"I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it. When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band-or at least a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard".

[@bostonvair]

I would love to see more reactions to Pixies songs!

[@jal051]

That's basically all grunge bands in a nutshell. They all were kids listening to indie music, and Pixies were a revolution in the scene.

[@brian95240]

Kurt's musical statement was a huge middle finger to the popular Hair Metal saturation of that decade. When he did play leads, they weren't as technical, yet still musical. It was no longer popular to play like shred heroes and songs became easier for the youth to play at home. Bands began using odd tunings to stand apart and music was more about fun than how amazing you were at guitar. This very song was what changed rock forever. No one had ever heard anything as raw and high energy. They came in at the perfect time.

[@johnnyyjohnnyy]

When "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and the album "NEVERMIND" came out, in 1991, everything in the world music became "before" or "after" NIRVANA. It was immediately understood that it would mark a generation, but today it's not surprising that it has become a milestone in world music. And I was there, as a teenager in those fabulous years! 🤟🎸 Cheers from Italy! 🇮🇹🍕🍝☕️💚🤍❤️

[@juliusfucik4011]

Love to you my Italian brother. Greets from Austria!

[@johnnyyjohnnyy]

@@juliusfucik4011 hi there neighbor! I love your beautiful country! 😊

[@8cylinderstolife737]

Now you MUST go Nirvanas Acoustic cover of “where did you sleep last night”. It is an EPIC take on a great song and Kurt is literally in perfect form. It’s the last major concert prior to his death. Worth its weight in Gold. There’s a part in the song that I have always believed he snapped inside and you could see it in his eyes. But that’s my take. I was a HUGE fan of Kurt and the band. Like Huge. If you don’t know, the drummer of Nirvana is none other than Dave Grohl, who is the lead of the band Foo Fighters. They have TONS of hits and will be inducted into the hall of fame. So he will have two bands inducted when that happens. If you want to do a first video of the Foo Fighters, do The Pretender.

[@basseon]

That moment is him taking his breath and being so focused in what he was doing (singing his heart out). I feel like it's a pure, unadulterated look of him 100% into the performance. People look weird randomly when you film them or take picture of them while doing things like working. You can believe what you want, but that's weird to think he snapped at that specific moment. It seems like you really want to believe that.

[@8cylinderstolife737]

@@basseon being I was following him intensely since the Bleach days, and he was one of my favorite artists, then it’s his last concert where he went on a serious downward spiral AND he was very stuffed up during the performance, I think it’s when his mind snapped. I was a professional photographer for years so i know all about people and their faces, but this was very different from my perspective. You also get to believe what you like… lol.

[@basseon]

@@8cylinderstolife737 For someone who snapped, he sure hid it extremely well in the following minutes, signing autographes nonchalantly, just being himself. You're the one doing the extraordinary claim, the burden is on you. You're the one who's obsessed by an artist and want to see things and believe in an extreme conclusion that you've drawn up, based on 1 second of recording where someone looks at a camera at the most intense part of a performance, taking his breath before the last emotional delivery. I'm not believing in anything, I'm not adding anything to what we see, you are. And you're making up a psychiatry notion that someone can snapp, whatever that means, in a split second while performing, and just keep doing what he does like nothing happened.

[@deepcreep98]

@@basseon Jeez man, chill out.

[@robbob5302]

This is the band, the album, and the song, that spearheaded the whole Grunge movement of the 90s. History on the making.

[@b3rger825]

Now you have to watch Weird Al's parody "Smells Like Nirvana" in which he makes fun of the fact that nobody knows what they're saying. It's pure gold! Lol

[@mightyreborn8071]

Was thinking the same thing. Weird Al is always a must.

[@marshanall8632]

Would love to see that.

[@Sorin_TheDarkOne]

Hell yes! Moo

[@markgump1547]

Only 3 minutes into watching and I had to pause it to see if anyone recommended this! YES! PLEASE do it!

[@fredbeard8867]

100% the best time to react to Weird Al for the first time while this is still fresh in their minds!

[@plabaa1889]

This song was a national anthem for a whole generation...💥

[@michaelferguson9943]

i find it hard to believe these two people have never heard this song until this time.

[@beriandavies2111]

It was 30 years ago today (24th) that Nevermind was released, from which this track is taken. What I only learnt for myself a few days back, is that Nirvana were a hit here in the UK before they made it in the USA. They were playing to packed houses, then going back to the US, playing for 50, maybe 100 people. I never knew. 👍👏👏👏

[@love-vy1ry]

Same story like Jimi Hendrix.

[@ronaldmacmillan7839]

Seattle was exploding in talent at the time. Bands knew each other and Nirvana stepped out exposure wise. Swing by someone else's show - "here we are now, entertain us!"

[@danielnewstead7527]

Cobain famously said in almost every interview that what he intended the lyrics to be about doesn’t matter, he’s more interested in hearing everybody else’s individual interpretation of them. Because that’s how he viewed art. So he would more than likely have loved watching you guys thinking about it all and discussing the song. 😊✌️

[@auckalukaum]

Don Henley has said similar things about Hotel California, the meaning of which is still being litigated to this day.

[@desertrose0601]

Teen Spirit was a very popular teen deodorant brand in the 90’s. I believe that’s what they’re referring to. Also, not knowing the lyrics has become something of a meme. Nobody knows what they were saying. 😂 But it’s still one of the greatest songs of all time. Idk. It’s just awesome. One of the coolest songs from my youth. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@lechatvenere]

It is, indeed a reference to that brand: "The title derives from a phrase written on Cobain's wall by his friend Kathleen Hanna, singer of the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill: "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit."[11][12] Hanna meant that Cobain smelled like the deodorant Teen Spirit, which she and Tobi Vail, his then-girlfriend, had discovered during a trip to the grocery store.[13] Cobain said that he was unaware of the deodorant until months after the single was released, and had interpreted it as a revolutionary slogan, as they had been discussing anarchism and punk rock.[14]"

[@KaBeeM]

Yo Lex really feels here way through music, knows how to put abstract lyrics and ideas and articulates them clearly. Like on an intelectual level as well as an emotional one. beautiful to see here take these songs apart I've known for decades and haven't conciously thought about since my own teen years.

[@ryanb5841]

Kurts music is less about lyrics and more about the emotion. True hero of the 90's. Gave us the gift of grunge music.

[@carenhelms8518]

When Nirvana hit the airwaves is when grunge really took off. They were responsible for most of what happened in youth culture in the 90s, really. Nirvana is a gateway drug!

[@pyrocore]

This song literally changed the music world. It helped bring Grunge to the masses and forever altered how music, bands, and musicians were portrayed and received in media. While Nirvana didn't invent the Grunge sound they did open people ears to it. Dirty, grimy, raw, and real.

[@PaulRodriguez9]

I mean, not necessarily. People already knew about Soundgarden and AIC. SG had already been signed to a major label. AIC was out touring with Megadeth and Slayer. "Grunge" had already been spreading. Nirvana just had luck with radio

[@pyrocore]

@@PaulRodriguez9 no they didn't. and that's the point. Grunge was underground, there was no radio play, no coverage at all. they were all local bands with limited reach. Nirvana LITERALLY CREATED THE HYPE THAT CAUSED GRUNGE TO EXPLODE and hit the mainstream. Seriously, read a fkn book about the history of rock and dont comment on sh*t you dont understand. ok.

[@ChrisSmith-bz1gl]

Teen spirit was a deodorant for teen girls.

[@joshuastigall2838]

Someone once wrote Kurt smells like Teen Spirit, referencing the previously mentioned deodorant. It means nothing and is a inside reference to something else that meant nothing. Which in itself IS the meaning of the title.

[@tukkerintensity5575]

@@joshuastigall2838 Not just someone. Kathleen Hanna from the band Bikini Kill.

[@chilesuicmez]

@@tukkerintensity5575 so just someone in his book.

[@gunhedd5375]

I always took it as a stick in the eye of corporate America and their ability to sell absolute nonsense. In this case a “teen” deodorant.

[@Homenuggets]

Teen Spirit, Tribe perfume, and Aqua Net were my essentials as an 80's teen.

[@josephtrask9342]

Lex so gets it. She would've fit right in. Song of a complete generation

[@tharshope8203]

for full appreciation-- listen to Weird Al's version of this song.... actually, I suggest Weird Al as a treasure trove of reaction possibilities [ really loved seeing Lex's reaction / appreciation]

[@arnthorla]

Finally you dipped your toes into the world of grunge rock. I feel that the album Bleach is more raw than the more popular Nevermind, the later In Utero is more grotesque and perhaps more "artistic". I personally suggest you pick some song from Bleach, as a intro into the rawness of Nirvana. Other bands to suggest would perhaps be Smashing pumpkins, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and many more.

[@tammymartin7017]

Ooh some Smashing Pumpkins would be cool! Love Alice in Chains too. Some Stone Temple Pilots would be awesome too.

[@timish71]

Bleach was bad ass!! Probably my favorite out of the 4.

[@robutubemacarthur]

Sound garden!

[@djC653]

Gimme back my alcohol

[@stevenwilliams1805]

'Insecticidex was the only album that I couldn't get into. Loved Nirvana so of course I bought that one to, and listened to, a lot, then one day it just clicked.

[@rodwilson6648]

If you grew up in the 80's on a diet of synthesiser pop and glam hair bands this completely changed the direction of rock music. Suddenly, the alternative was popular.

[@mari_stela]

This brought tears in my eyes.. I missed Kurt Cobain 😭.. The king of Grunge IMO.. Love you guys for reacting to this..I'll be coming back for more of Nirvana 💙💙💙

[@OGMrWayne]

After all these years, we still miss Kurt. But, fun fact: The lead singer of the Foo Fighters is playing drums, Dave Grohl

[@matthewodonoghue4123]

I remember hearing this for the 1st time. We grew up in a small town in qld and only had the abc and the local radio station. So rage was pretty much our only avenue for new music. I think I was in grade 11 and home for the holidays and we went away to the big city (the gold coast) and we were excited to put on Triple M the big city radio station! Driving along the esplanade at Main beach and Smells like teen spirit came on. I reached through to the fron of the car and turned it up, at the end of the song me an my brother turned to each other and just stared wide eyed and drop jawed at each other and were like, what did we just hear? My little bro managed to scrounge up a cassette tape of bleach once we got home and it changed our lives musically.

[@soulabear9146]

I think that was EVERY Teenager, that was use to the same "Top of Pops - Top 40" music at the time... "What the F**k did I just hear??? Who the F**k is this?!?!?" was Me and Brothers reaction too👍😂 Maybe without the "F**k" though 😂✌

[@lordweldatron.9955]

Wow ,love nirvana, they blew everything out the water when they hit the scene. I recommend " faith no more" another cool band ahead of their time. Cheers.

[@Hamsalad-Sammie]

The Mike Patton wormhole is awesome, Faith, Bungle, Tomahawk, and the 12 other bands. The voice is amazing.

[@lordweldatron.9955]

@@Hamsalad-Sammie totally agree, Mike Patton's voice is unbelievably good, angel dust is still one of my favourite albums.

[@ThisAintBentonville]

This is the most important song of the 90s. Changed everything in rock.

[@johngoad]

I was 22 when that came out, living in Seattle, already artists were flocking there... cheap rents, and a homemade scene made by all of us "slackers" (that is what Boomers called GenX), you might not have been a rockstar but you might have done other things' album covers, t-shirts, maybe worked at a printer that made show posters... or walked around with paste to hang them... there were literally over 500 bands in this city... it was so fun. This song here let the popular world in our secret and blew it up to 11... Soon your friends are on MTV and it's the best.

[@bodograbowski2002]

R.I.P Kurt Cobain. The World lost a Genius.

[@sparkleclover]

I loved Lex's interpretation! This is the kind of song where you really have to dig to interpret the meaning but I think hers was really good and makes a lot of sense.

[@brwoolery]

This song taps into the nerve of teenage angst, bringing intense passion, that you really only understand when you are young and trying to make sense of life.

[@marchamill8530]

I like Lex’s breakdown. Its a classic tune but like mostly no one cares about the words. Great reaction. 🔥

[@user-vc5rp7nf8f]

just wait till they try to deconstruct the lyrics to pearl jam's yellow ledbetter

[@Roadstar1602]

If you guys are really new to Nirvana, there's a whole catalog that needs to be explored. Truly special band.

[@jsghetler]

One of the most important rock singles of all time.

[@williamburke1882]

Luv these guys. Lex is Lex but I love Brads interpretations, facial expressions and his laugh is fullhearted and honest. Well worth the price of admission.

[@patronsaintofswitchbladefi2944]

THE most influential band of the last 40 years easy . Thank you Kurt RIP

[@olijadu]

she did an awesome job breaking down the meaning of this song. Kurt was a genius.

[@scanau1]

Classic! Brings me back! 👍 Should check out "MAN IN THE BOX" by Alice in Chains when you get a chance!

[@Frostrazor]

i'm on board with that - though Rooster IMO is a better song. :-) Both are great. Those two plus Love Hate Love make up my top three by AiC.

[@Acidnoralkaline2]

Down in a hole is 1 of my favorites

[@alondor8157]

"That song was artsy". You're in for a wild ride. All their songs are art, and metaphors. Hard to wrap your brain around some of them. But good choice of band to listen too. Nirvana were legends in the 90's. And really popularized grunge music to mainstream audience. I LOVE grunge rock. If you wanna hear more in the genre I definitely recommend Pearl Jam. I recommend all song by them, but I think you'd like; Black -live, Jeremy, and Even flow. Thanks, love you guys!

[@Kari_B61ex]

I was a 28-year-old married woman with a child when I first heard Nirvana 'About a Girl' - and it was like a smack across the head, wake up! My daughter used to grunge with me at aged 2, and she still does today.

[@pit4life03]

Who else got goosebumps when he started singing..... R.i.p Legend 💯

[@kevinkastle612]

I LOVE how analytical you are and how amazingly ethical your girl is...

[@dvo1245]

Nirvana killed the corny poppy hair metal scene & changed everything on mainstream media platforms, radio, MTV, style, everything!!! It was like a bomb went off & everyone walked towards the blast instead of running away... One of the greatest sways in Music History!!!!! When u guys dig in deeper to their other songs, it only gets better, enjoy...

[@tabb5818]

Lex’s analysis is what I’ve always thought too. And the song has such a frustrated tone to it. The best music written is therapeutic to the writer, Cobain was a genius for sure.

[@brettlovett2760]

Lex had the best interpretation of this song that I've ever heard!!

[@freddiehearn5066]

IT's about the differences in genrations,for example our parents had to entertain themself,but todays generation are being entertain,as well as being a wild and free spirit,trying to fit in today's world

[@_EvilKam]

1992. I was 14 years old when I heard this song. Nirvana became my favorite band. Cobain instantly became my favorite singer. My mental world changed in one song. I never felt like any of my (few) friends had the same resonance with the band.

[@jlouis4407]

I was 13 I listened to the rest of the album on a tape my buddy had at school who was a fan and it was too hardcore for me but I got into it a couple yearsvlater

[@Luscombag]

I remember the hype MTV had leading up to the "World Premiere" of this Music Video. I think I was 14, I came running in the house just in time to watch the first airing of the video... It was the last thing I can remember a media company pushing that lived up to the hype.

[@kenrizzo1962]

Andddddd BOOM grunge music was on the map by one of the greatest song writers ever who passed way too early….. R.I.P

[@andreamsha]

I was a touring musician in the 90's. Before these guys bands like Loverboy ruled the airwaves. The moment this song hit the radio they crushed that entire era. We got to open for them when they were touring Europe and the band they had opening for thems guitar player broke his hand and they requested we take over for the last 8 shows of the tour. Went from playing 2000 seat halls to stadiums! Amazing and the guys couldn't have been nicer!!!!

[@FCWS-g7c]

😮

[@joshmontgomery5358]

Love all the comments I've read. As a late Gen Xer grunge was a huge part of my life. Nirvana helped making that happen. Thanks mid 90's!

[@desertrose0601]

Yep same. I was about 12 when this came out. Such a game changer song.

[@julissaceballos91]

I was 13 and this blew my mind and made me love alternative so much more! This song had all the angst, confusing feelings and the depression and isolation I felt at the time, even when I was surrounded by so many friends. It was also a wonderful time figuring out who i was. It was an amazing song and time in my life I can smile about now that I'm 43. You were spot on!! Thank you for listening to it and taking me back to the Lil rebel I used to be ( still kinda am 😉😁).

[@gregoryrobb2604]

This song was definitely a turning point in the history of rock music..launched some great bands..Pearl Jam ,Alice in chains, Soundgarden ect.ect.

[@michelerainey4167]

Soundgarden had been out and released 2 EPs in 1987 and 1988 with a label in Seattle and Nirvana released their first album in 1989. Yes Nirvana helped put grunge on the map, with Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam, and many others. All of those bands came out at almost the exact same time. It was like I went to bed listening to hair metal and got up the next day and all the music was grunge. I love Nirvana, but Chris Cornell was musical genius!

[@gregoryrobb2604]

@@michelerainey4167 Chris Cornell was my favorite.Sucks he is gone.

[@Corn_Pone_Flicks]

Everyone remembers those bands and forgets about Mudhoney, who were way grungier. Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were basically just 70s rock and not especially noisy at all.

[@michelerainey4167]

@@gregoryrobb2604 he was an amazing singer/songwriter and his voice was so good. He is definitely missed!

[@ronweber666]

This song has energy popping out everywhere. Great song, great sound. The Seattle sound. Grunge.

[@josephmonte8009]

Who would've guessed??? Brad downplaying another great song n band of it's time. Priceless n comical. Soul brother with no rhythm? Brad was never a teenager with or without spirit.

[@rustyforceps1012]

I remember seeing the cover of this album plastered all over the window of my local music shop, and went in and bought it. I was 12. Changed my life and taste in music instantly. It was exactly what I needed.

[@DantesVoid]

When Lex felt Kurt screamin "a denial" I felt that too

[@airgordo4]

I watched somebody else listen to this for the first time a couple weeks ago and since then I keep getting more video suggestions just like this one.. I don’t know that I’ve seen a more universally liked song at first listen. Crazy.

[@calebpool8535]

First time i heard nirvana is when i was maybe 8 or 9. I found the CD Nevermind under the bathroom sink. I figured my brother left it there. I popped it into a CD player and took a dump and listened.