Russian reacts to NIRVANA for the FIRST time “ Smells Like Teen Spirit ” | Rock music reaction

[@naturesdopeflow]

The impact of this song cannot be overstated. It changed music forever.

[@kencopeland1347]

It definitely changed rock music forever. Not sure that it was a "good" change though. Great song either way!

[@920WASHBURN]

And sure as hell pissed of motley Crue and GNR

[@naturesdopeflow]

@@kencopeland1347 I used to really hate hair metal but, I’ve since grown to appreciate some of it. Grunge is far superior to my tastes, brooding, somber, etc.

[@naturesdopeflow]

@@920WASHBURN yep, they waved goodbye to their careers the day Nevermind came out!

[@xtldc]

@@naturesdopeflowI think both have their place - hair metal is great for when you’re in a good mood driving down the highway - but grunge definitely feels more authentic and is much more in touch with human emotions

[@Vintech64]

I saw Nirvana in concert in 1993. Best concert ever!

[@mrhanekoma86]

I love your take on the sound of “hello” and “how low”. I thought that was brilliant. Back in the day, people actually gave this band a lot of crap for some of their lyrics being too cryptic or too simple. But I never thought that. To me, Kurt wasn’t just considering the meaning of the words. He wanted the SOUND of the words to also be part of the music, and it worked like a charm. It’s not just how catchy his melodies were, his lyrics were weirdly catchy on their own. He was very clever. He was one of the best songwriters I’ve ever seen.

[@Danathema]

“A Denial” is what Kurt sings at the end. The song came out in 1991 and brought grunge (also known as The Seattle Sound) to the forefront and mainstream. Nirvana had actually been around since 1986, their first album hadn’t sold that much and Teen Spirit was a surprise smash hit as was the album it was on, Nevermind. Sometimes Kurt took his lyrics seriously and sometimes he didn’t as he was of view that melody came first. The song started life when his girlfriend (at the time) had a friend who noticed that she wore perfume called Teen Spirit. The friend spray painted “Kurt smells like teen spirit” in reference and he mistook it as a revolutionary statement and wrote the song. I would say it’s the most popular rock song ever. Sadly, Kurt committed suicide in 1994 aged 27, on the back of serious mental and physical health problems, a crippling heroin addiction, the pressures of fame and issues in his marriage. His legend has grown since then and he and Nirvana are still a huge influence on music although sadly, rock is not as popular as it used to be. Nirvana made three studio albums in their career, Bleach, Nevermind and In Utero. Kurt is survived by his daughter, Frances. Nirvana Unplugged would be good to react to (particularly Where Did You Sleep Last Night) and the other grunge bands of the Big Four of the genre which are Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. Kurt’s wife was in a band called Hole and the drummer, Dave, formed the Foo Fighters who I am not a fan of but are huge. Plenty to react to. Don’t listen to rude people, any true Nirvana fan should be happy you’re getting into them and be happy to help you understand more about the band.

[@fordhouse8b]

Close but not exactly. Kathleen Hannah, of Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and the Julie Ruin, wrote it on the wall of Kurts Bedroom with marker while they were drinking in Kurt’s room. She and her Bikini Kill bandmate Tobi Vail, who was dating Kurt at the time had seen the deodorant during a trip to a grocery store, and the name stuck in her head. Hannah is married to Ad-Rock (Adam Horowitz) of the Beastie Boys, and was one of the original riot grrrls back in the day. She also looked pretty good too. For evidence of that, check out her bopping around in the Bull in the Heather music video by Sonic Youth.

[@mztweety1374]

Do we understand it? Nope! Is it fire? Yes!😂 RIP Kurt.

[@IvanPlayyz]

The point is it doesn’t make sense, much like loser by beck

[@jimmyraye5693]

I saw this debut on MTV when I was 15 , hard to believe 31 years has passed😱

[@ozzy6668]

The drummer, Dave Grohl, later became the guitarist and lead singer of superband Foo Fighters.

[@alainmaltais5633]

This is Nirvana, they defined grunge, they are the goats of contemporary music. THIS IS NOT R&R

[@titleloanman]

“I put on the lyrics so I can understand everything perfectly.” Oh, you sweet summer child…

[@yugioht42]

This was Kurt’s major rebellion against the music industry saying “is this why I write music, for you to commercialize it” and it was a big middle finger to the the execs. It was right though. If you listen closely.

[@ksager123]

Hmmm... Maybe they did take him out..

[@dabreal82]

Funny that it was their most commercially successful song and made the label more money than anything else nirvana ever did...

[@stephenbrown785]

Of course he was taken out

[@brock3010]

The 3 members of Nirvana are literally godfathers of grunge music forever. A person literally cannot like grunge music without liking Nirvana. They were all over the world in 1990-1991. Seattle Washington is the capital of grunge music. Not only did Nirvana come from Seattle. Many other grunge bands came from there as well...🎵🥁🎶

[@RawOlympia]

Don't forget Olympia ~ ~

[@chitownlivingston7007]

Never heard of Neil Young huh?

[@shawnhorning2125]

This is one of those songs that gets stuck in your head easily haha love it

[@ericsnare]

I agree

[@AnimalAlmighty]

definitely

[@neldablanco1663]

Kurt was beautiful man, but troubled mind. He was a genius! The drummer formed his own band, after Kurt's suicide. Also a great band...

[@theofficialgreenkane]

By far the most important song you've reacted too. This is a Top 10 song in American history along with songs such as “Living On A Prayer, RESPECT, Billie Jean, YMCA, Hit Me Baby One More Time, Uptown Funk & Free Bird. Voted the #1 song of the 1990's. It changed rock-N-roll and started the Grunge era. As you see, it has 1+ Billion views. 🇺🇸

[@tonebone69]

Hey, i usually have snide remarks, but this is simply one of the top 10 songs of all time. A masterpiece. I performed it a few times, but his voice was so beautiful, i could never pull it off quite right. He was a miracle and we failed him. Thanks, tony

[@greggd2027]

I came of age during the glam rock era. In the late 80s glam was at its peak, and was still at the forefront into '90 and '91. Then, this music hit the scene almost overnight. The first time I heard Teen Spirit, my friend asked me "What do you think of this?" I thought - ehh, just something different. As '91 progressed on, and there were still music videos on MTV (which I watched a lot then and recorded on a vcr), I heard Nirvanna here and there but thought little of them. One particular day I first heard the band Soundgarden. The video for their song "Rusty Cage" came on. I had never heard or seen anything like it before. It was so new to me.. off the beaten path of what was considered the gold standard at the time. The music was as intense as the video. And I was blown away by Chris Cornell's vocals. In that instant I was done with glam rock. I'll never forget it. And then Nirvanna grew on me.. and then along came Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots etc

[@nathanbopp6163]

"Finally hear what they're saying" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣good luck

[@TotoHarry1000]

For me this is one of the best songs ever. Greetings from germany. ✌🏼👍🏼🤝🏼👋🏼

[@nerdthatknits]

I moved to Washington State right when grunge was happening. I was 8 years old growing up with Nirvana, The Cranberries, Smashing Pumpkins, and Pearl Jam. It was amazing.

[@matthewschneider3391]

Man.... seeing someones face when they hear "WITH THE LIGHTS OUT" for the very time is awesome

[@calmseas9263]

It was 1991. I worked at Disney World and I was in charge of the Magic Kingdom parking lot that day. We only had AM radios in our trucks. That song came on the radio anyway. We all knew it. We were workers in the Parking lot, 24 ton trams, Teamsters Union. No speed limits because it was private property. I put the sound straight up. There were about eight of us in the back and three up front and we were all singing at about 80 mph. It was fun to be that young.

[@johnrob8080]

You do great music video reactions I guess. I really do like your channel. That’s why I have stuck around.

[@johnrob3215]

Impersonating is a serious offense.

[@chrisfrench9257]

Grunge is the original subgenre of rock this falls under. Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam are also among the most popular grunge musicians of the genre. Definitely worth checking out.

Back then I remember the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Green Day, etc were categorized and marketed as Alternative Rock.

[@920WASHBURN]

It amazes me that people can learn another language with all the complexities and speak effortlessly. Kudos

[@deadaccount7520]

That basically marked a changing of an era in rock. Very biased because that was the point I was in HS. But rock and rap were both on fire at that point. Meaning if you liked both....MTV was actually worth watching.

[@markchristensen23]

It's a good thing you brought up the lyrics. Even many native English speakers couldn't understand what he was saying. Weird Al made fun of that in his parody of this song called, "Smells Like Nirvana". Weird Al even brought back a lot of the people in this video in his video, including that janitor. Definitely a classic song.

[@hrayz]

This was literally the first time I looked up the lyrics to this song. Not what I was expecting, but entertaining. The Weird Al song is what I have always just song along as ^_^

[@brianbarnett1004]

The Energy! It was 'Grunge'. Looking pretty was frowned on. Wearing clothes that you bought at a thrift shop was cool. Questioning everything was what we did in the early 90s.

[@SUBSZO]

I love this channel so much and nirvana is my favorite band like for real you need to react to more

[@Eddie53172]

React to his acoustic version of “Where did you sleep last night?” One of the most powerful performances you’ll ever hear 💯 👂 👀

[@wheelz8240]

Thank you Irina. I love that you prefer music from my generation.

[@latwin5777]

Love the fact that you like Nirvana. Kurt cobain has got to be one of the best 🖤

[@richardbarton6146]

Irina, what you are listening too is "Grunge music" coming out of Seattle, washington during the 90's.. Nirvana was very popular group.

[@ditherdather]

Everybody remembers hearing about it. It completely blew me away.

[@mr.garfieldman9797]

This is one of the best rock songs of all time.

[@chrisfrench9257]

What type of music do you like?

[@megavideopowermegavideopow8657]

A Mulatto is a half black and half white person in America

[@ArmyIsDead]

One interpretation about the "hello, hello, how low?" line that I read years ago was about the general mood of young people from that generation. A youth who did not feel identified with the artistic, musical, clothing or life philosophy trends of the time, and who saw a bleak future ahead-the children from broken families and a whooping rise in divorces who felt alienated from what the mass media portrayed. That is why the "Hello, how low are you today?" between them :)

[@tashrif46]

90s. What a decade for music. Green Day, Oasis, Radiohead, etc were such great bands during this time.

[@Cristianfabris4787]

So many beautiful memories with this masterpiece.

[@JackW467]

Guy with the Mop = the School Janitor .. I haven't seen you in a year .. your hair is fantastic, 12 inches longer 😲 . I'm happy to see you again.

[@ericsnare]

I have always really liked this song. I'm glad you enjoyed it too!

[@Hockeyguycarl]

Grohl and cobain would have been an amazing duo 😢

[@ericsnare]

@@Hockeyguycarl Yeah they would've been pretty good!

[@thomasminnick229]

Great band as well...they have many great songs..

[@ReesesPieces634]

old guy with mop is the high school janitor... how genius is that?

[@billofalltrades2633]

Grunge rock! A great sound! What a great band, they have many good songs!

[@zunbake3]

The last great Rock Frontman! RIP!

[@idkwhoknows8142]

This song changed everything in music from glam rock to the grunge period. Early nineties. Was NIRVANA, PEARL JAM, SOUNDGARDEN AND ALICE in CHAINS.

[@isaiahleza3299]

Yo they do say "hello" and "how low" I'm glad I'm not the only one that hears that lol 😄

[@1972myc]

Now you got to watch Weird Al's parody "Smells like Nirvana"

[@V7avalon]

🎸🥳 let us entertain you.. yeah

[@flibber123]

I think this was the last time rock music had something this big happen. Offhand I can't think of anything else that got anywhere near this big in the 2000s, and rock has been pretty much dead for the last 10 years or so. It's crazy to think about, but we might not ever see a rock band dominate like this again.

[@yrankin1]

This song kicked us upside down out of the 80s and into 90s grunge.

[@texasrattlesnake31637]

Boo-Yah! Nirvana! The ultimate Rebel song from Kurt - so awesome that you reacted to this one Irina!

[@beachem1]

Solid reaction. Appreciate you struggle with the complex lyrics. Remember your English is a thousand times better than our Russian. Cheers from VA USA.

[@shaneptc23]

I had a black lab that loved Doctor Who. My parrot loves a many tunes

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

"Teen Spirit" was a type of perfumed body-spray popular in the early '90s. The title of the song, I always guessed, was referring to a girl, or type of girl, who was devoted to popular fashions.

[@Styxswimmer]

Nirvana was a watershed moment in music. Cobain is a legend.

[@chrisfrench9257]

Since we're on Nirvana, why not do a few more of their songs before moving along? You Know You're Right was release after his death. It's a great song. Something In The Way is slow and chill but has a lot of feeling to it. Come As You Are, Lithium, Heart-shaped Box, All Apologies... honestly you can't go wrong with anything from the Inutero and Nevermind albums.

[@rastiga9196]

Amen, you don't have to like a genre to like their music. Maybe it is because they became popular in my 6th-grade year but I will always have a special place in my heart for Nirvana. Teen angst on full display as well as super adult themes even though they themselves were not aiming for that in some instances, it was all about melody to Kurt.

[@tee_pat]

if you want to sit down and enjoy a whole album of Nirvana, it's hard to go wrong. But the have one called Incesticide that's very underappreciated and has a lot of great songs on it.

[@clintkaster6269]

Seattle in the 1980's (the time and place I grew up in) was a decaying and depressed city. At one point the local newspaper ran a headline saying "Would The Last Person To Leave Seattle Please Turn Out The Lights" and it wasn't far from the truth. There was a circuit of grimy basement clubs where all of us 15- and 16-yr olds could go and drop acid or drink beer and get up on stage and try to impress our friends with how ridiculous we could be. Very few bands came from the outside world and there was no MTV or internet or even much television. Seattle had three TV stations and they stopped broadcasting at night. There was NOTHING to do except hang out and get high. Around 1985 the city got tired of us rebellious kids and passed a law that shut down all the clubs we could go to which forced us all into house parties and basements until the cops would get called and chase us around the neighborhoods. The music that came out of Seattle in the 90's was a direct result of the economic depression and decay and repression of those times. I don't go back to Seattle much since the tech-bros took it over. There's a lot of money and glitz but it's not very REAL anymore.

[@aresee8208]

Nirvana - like a lot of music, actually - has to be understood and appreciated within the context of its time and place. Too many people don't try to do that. (I've always tried to, which is why, I think, I am able to appreciate pretty much any type of music from any era.) Anyway, Nirvana touched a lot of people - mostly young people, of course - at the time. I saw them live in late 1993 at American University in Washongton, DC. At 34 years old, I was one of the oldest in the audience.

[@marioarias9942]

This rock song by Nirvana changed music history it ended the superficial 80’s music and blew that style away into another direction. Truly an epic song .

[@JirkaHeyduk]

Love your reaction. Little trivia: "Teen spirit" was name of fragnance or deodorant and once a girl said to Kurt (the singer, RIP) that he smells like teen spirit. So I Heard...

[@joeb4142]

This song started a rock revolution.

[@dynjarren8355]

Cobain was a Talented Malcontent which is a Strange Combination. He never got past it. But he left behind powerful music including great Ballads as well. I recommend you hear Nirvana Unplugged which is like their Swan Song. A beautiful Acoustic album and show! My weird mind? You’re funny! And honest! I like that! Good Reactions! 👏🏻😊

[@jriik6057]

Nirvana était vraiment une révolution à l'époque car nous entendions les mêmes choses à la radio depuis + de 10 ans qui ne corrrespondaient plus du tout aux attentes et aux sensibilités de la jeunesse.

[@jriik6057]

Et Nirvana était totalement différent et authentique dans le son...un batteur, un bassiste, un guitariste et /ou chanteur... Cela à donné envie de créer des groupes musicaux localement...

[@PatrioticTexan1776]

I remember when this album came out in 91. If you had the album and listened to this back then you were cool lol. I miss the 90s RIP Kurt🙏🏻

[@davidduval5566]

I grew up watching listening to that music

[@jtcash2005]

The girl with a red "A" is a reference to a novel "The Scarlet Letter". A woman had a child without a husband and was forced to wear a red "A" to say to everyone she was an adultress.

[@Mrvwcc11]

It was off their Album Never Mind in September 24th 1991.

[@popapup1]

I know you won't but I would love to see your Reaction to Russian girl by Albatross ?

[@davidduval5566]

I use to watch that on MTV when I was a kid think was 1991

[@13Maria.Cortez13]

Her dog is so precious! 😘😍 Is it a she or a he? 😊🤗💕💞

[@johnlivingstonjr2473]

This song and impact changed a generation!

[@MRbreakthroughx]

good catch with the "how low"! 2:42

[@maxsimon8301]

Great song. Thank you

[@andrewlopez4349]

This song came since 1993, it hits billion viewers in this music video now the last lyrics he said " a denial" 9 times, when I play this I enjoy it alot sadly he died since 1994 in Seattle, Washington from suicide, he left the note it was sad, so now I've seen people wearing band t shirt alot in public they sell in Hot Topic. P.s. you look cute

[@tupac1971ever]

One of the best bands ever.

[@jazznik2]

I'm sure you already know about her but Origa is an excellent Russian popular singer. I'm familiar w her thru the songs she collaborated on w Yoko Kanno for the anime "Ghost in the Shell" ("Inner Universe" and "Rise"). You could do a video reviewing those. I also heard her do an excellent version of "Polyushka Pole", which I'm sure you know is kind of a patriotic Russian military song. I'm not sure how appropriate it would be to review this song in these times but she did a stirring but lovely version of it.

[@KarloAras.83]

This song is something else!

[@obryan240]

Hello from Seattle. This came out when I was in the 9th grade and now it's on the classic rock station. Damn I feel old.

[@1976chrisc]

The anthem for Gen X

[@Mrvwcc11]

Montana makes a lot of noises doesn’t he? 😂 cute boy. Love dogs. PS. Love your Russian hat 🧢 it’s looks very cute on you.

[@gcs9268]

YOUR DOGS BREATHING OML😭😂😂😂

[@RussianReactionReviews]

I knoww 😂 I can’t send him away, he’s too attached

[@eemanuel4655]

Nice! Texas Flood live at the El Macombo... Stevie Rye Vaughan... Yeah!

[@alittleaccurate3080]

“I got the lyrics” LOL

[@michaelhatchard8864]

Their music is classed as grunge, they basically changed music at the time. The lyrics rhyme with each other, like a lot of poetry does. In the day this song would pack the dance floor. Unfortunately Kurt(lead singer passed away), the drummer went on to form the band the Foo Fighters

[@fan-i-am]

"The world is a vampire"- Bullet with Butterfly Wings by Smashing Pumpkins is the next anthemic song of angsty youth in the 90s that has the same vibe as this!

[@joelpayne1193]

This Rock music is cool to listen but it was sad when Kurt who play his axe have killed himself. His music is never be forgotten.

[@DeElSendero]

"Maybe if I lived there it would be different for me" Most assuredly, Irina, it would be different for you! Don't Russians ever feel "stupid and contagious"? Spend a little time here and you'll get it! Hey Irina great reaction!! So fascinating to see what non-Americans think of this stuff. Really great and much appreciated. And Nirvana is one of the all time great American rock bands.

[@Posit_Zero_Blue]

I feel sorry for kids of today because they will never know how this felt to hear your whole world changing in an instant.

[@Georgian1717]

This song is part of American society in the 90s and it became commercial. It was in cars, stores, on someone boom box , it was everywhere . This song is still being listened to and is part of a generation and will continue into the future. People all over the world know this song. You seem genuinely at a loss. If you don’t know or like rock & roll than it’s hard to imagine how your brain processes music. It probably disturbed you or confused you.

[@johnshinkle4219]

Your reactions are very cool. I love Nirvana, and I like to see Russian reactions to Seattle music. It's kinda different and weird a first, but I promise you it gets better the more that you listen. And your dog is adorable.

[@adenauerlemos7926]

Even Americans need subtitles in this song. I was 16 when this song came out. great days.

[@TheJoshuaPimentel]

First thing you must know is that back in the early 90s, Teen Spirit was a brand of deodorant that was marketed to kids going through puberty or about to go through it.

[@gunhedd5375]

Glad I found your comment. Yes. It is a statement about the banality and crass commercialism of , I guess, our capitalist system. (Special deodorant? Was that a real demographic research concern? No. It was not. Unfortunately that aspect of this song got lost. But that was its intent.) Still a cool piece of music.

[@pubuapubua]

I was watching these guys live in detroit around 1992. I had just bought a pair of vans and everyone was stomping on everyone's shoes so they could throw them at the band. I negotiated the mosh pit okay but I had to tear my new shoes back from ppl multiple times. I think this was at the Filmore? Anyway; there are amazing musicians everywhere. Try Steely Dan or Pink Floyd. Or Heart!..

[@elischultes6587]

You should listen to the parody god Weird Al Yankovich cover this. Smells like Nirvana. Most of the time artists are honored to be covered. Many in the day don’t consider they made it till they got covered. Michael Jackson was possibly Al’s favorite. And MJ returned the favor with technical help and I think props. Rick James sent his band as backup players

[@laska_nata]

I like this

[@ciko15]

Definitely recomended some of the U2 greatest song .. “one” or “I am still havent found what I am looking for” ❤

[@willchittom2690]

the first rock was early as the 50's made by a man named Elvis Presley, it really didn't become widespread popular until the 80s, and had other types of rock formed in the 90s and 2000s

[@chrisfrench9257]

Oh, you should reconsider your dislike of rock music by the way! There are so many subgenres of rock to choose from that vary tremendously. I believe alternative rock would be right up your alley. The Offspring is my favorite punk rock band. Check out the song Gone Away and The Kids Aren't Alright. Why Don't You Get A Job is pretty entertaining as well, honestly they have so many great songs.