Released in September of 1991 by the Seattle-born band Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is likely the biggest and most important song from the grunge era. The track came out around 15 years before YouTube and the music video still has well over a billion views. Impressive stuff.
Written by Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain, the term “smells like teen spirit,” actually originated by Bikini Kill frontwoman Kathleen Hanna, who was friends with Cobain before he became the face of American music. Rumor has it, one day, on a lark, Hanna wrote on Cobain’s bedroom wall, “Kurt smells like teen spirit.” At the time, “teen spirit” was the name of deodorant.
Videos by American Songwriter
Cobain liked the phrase so much, he applied it to his most important song. The rest is history. Here, we share three of our favorite versions of the famed “anthem of apathy,” including the one performed by Cobain and Nirvana from the band’s album Nevermind.
Miley Cyrus
Richard Cheese
Nirvana
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These 1970s parody songs beat all the "real" music on the charts. They blurred the lines between fake song and true hit. -
AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 01: Photo of AC DC and Angus YOUNG and AC/DC and Mark EVANS and Bon SCOTT; Mark Evans, Angus Young (playing Gibson SG guitar), Bon Scott – performing live onstage, c.1975/1976 (Photo by Bob King/Redferns) -
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Don Gibson Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 2 — Pictured: Musical guest Boz Scaggs performs on September 25, 1976 — Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank -
Barry Manilow in concert at the Bottom Line, NYC during Barry Manilow Achive Images – 1975 in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage) -
(Original Caption) Charlie Daniels (3rd from left), the entertainer who dedicated his last album to "gun-rotting whiskey and hellatious fights" says he will not play gentle music just to please "damn Yankees drinking martinis" 1/20 at Jimmy Carter's inaugural reception. Daniels said he plans to play the same brand of foot-stomping Southern music he and his band have always produced. They are (from left), Charlie Hayward, Tom Crain, Daniels, Joel Digregorio, Don Murray and Fred Edwards.
