Smells Like Teen Spirit

Song Meaning and Background of Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

Widespread praise from critics greeted it, and it was called a "anthem for apathetic kids" of Generation X. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is still hailed as one of the greatest songs of all time by listeners and critics, despite the fact that Nirvana became unhappy with the mainstream and commercial attention the song brought to them.

Kurt Cobian said the song was in the style of the Pixies, a band he appreciated:

‘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.’

The basic guitar riff and the chorus vocal melody were all that remained of the song when Cobain showed it to his fellow musicians. According to Cobain, the riff was "clichéd," like a Boston or Richard Berry song "Louie Louie." It was called "ridiculous" by bassist Krist Novoselic, to which Cobain ordered the band to perform it for an hour and a half. When Novoselic eventually started playing it slower, drummer Dave Grohl was inspired to construct the drum rhythm, drawing inspiration from disco performers such as The Gap Band. It is therefore the only song on Nevermind to have writing credit given to all three band members.

The line "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit," which was scrawled on Kurt Cobain's wall by his friend Kathleen Hanna, vocalist of the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill, is the source of the term. Hanna was saying that Cobain had the same scent as Teen Spirit deodorant, which she and his then-girlfriend Tobi Vail had found at the grocery shop. Cobain claimed that because they had been talking about anarchism and punk rock, he had not heard of the deodorant until months after the song's debut and had mistaken it for a revolutionary catchphrase.

The band recorded the basic track in three takes, and used the second take. Cobain recorded only three vocal takes; according to Vig, "I was lucky to ever get Kurt to do four takes."

Lyrics of Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

Load up on guns, bring your friends

It's fun to lose and to pretend

She's over-bored and self-assured

Oh no, I know a dirty word

Hello, hello, hello, how low

Hello, hello, hello, how low

Hello, hello, hello, how low

Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous

Here we are now, entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious

Here we are now, entertain us

A mulatto, an albino

A mosquito, my libido

Yeah, hey, yay

I'm worse at what I do best

And for this gift, I feel blessed

Our little group has always been

And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, how low

Hello, hello, hello, how low

Hello, hello, hello, how low

Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous

Here we are now, entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious

Here we are now, entertain us

A mulatto, an albino

A mosquito, my libido

Yeah, hey, yay

And I forget just why I taste

Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile

I found it hard, it's hard to find

Oh well, whatever, never mind

Hello, hello, hello, how low

Hello, hello, hello, how low

Hello, hello, hello, how low

Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous

Here we are now, entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious

Here we are now, entertain us

A mulatto, an albino

A mosquito, my libido

A denial, a denial

A denial, a denial

A denial, a denial

A denial, a denial

A denial