Smelled Like a Dud; Worked Like a Charm by Andrew McQuinn :: July 27, 2005

Continued...

The core strength of Smells Like Teen Spirit seems to be the creation of new archetypes for youth who were disenchanted with their choices for entertainment and who were anxious about their prospects for future happiness. The new archetype rock star wore whatever clothes he had hanging in his closet before he was "signed," wasn't afraid to sing about disappointment, and embraced performing with slurred, moaning, droning vocals and determined but sloppy guitar riffs. Owning the album allowed for a kinship with others who embraced the new style. Fans of the band were those who were into a new scene that was being built just for them. The Gen-Xers had a theme song. As mentioned previously, the man who wrote the song didn't intend for his words to be embraced with such a level of popularity. The fact that Cobain resented popularity made his song all the more appealing. He was a reluctant hero. Those are often the best kind. It's difficult for bold, authoritative leaders to garner universal praise while they're in their position of authority. It's quite normal for youth to rebel against such assertive leaders. Thus, there was a natural attraction to Cobain. His words: "whatever, nevermind," might as well have been a mumbled vote of no confidence for all of the season's luminaries. Embracing Smells Like Teen Spirit offered a sort of transcendence-not to a carefree Utopia, rather to a new realm that was decidedly different from what all predecessors had known. That was the point.

I now love Smells Like Teen Spirit. The passing of years has faded the vivid threat. I no longer dislike Kurt Cobain for killing glam rock. I now consider the song a piece of history. It's part of the catalog of music that emerged during my lifetime. It's cool and noteworthy, and it had a major effect on a large number of people. I don't think I can identify the scent of Teen Spirit, but I think Nirvana gave us all a whiff of how a bit of rhetoric and some catchy musical hooks can create success in the music business. The song became a phenomenon because its unique features made it uncharacteristic for the times, and because of timing itself. 90s glam rock had run its course-there were no more ripples on the surface of the pond. Smells Like Teen Spirit shattered the glassy stillness like a cement block hurled from the edge. Rock artists who thought of themselves as symbols of subversion learned that their own musical creations could be subverted. Rock is forever on alert.

End notes: An electrician discovered Kurt Cobain's lifeless body on April 8, 1994. The death certificate lists the cause as "self-inflicted gunshot wound." Fans have differing views on the actual causes of the death. Some believe the death was a suicide caused by depression and drugs. Some believe Cobain was the victim of conspiracy. Others think he selfishly wanted to turn his memory into legend. Thoughts on the subject may be found at the following Web sites:

http://www.sshep.com/kurtnew.htm
http://www.justiceforkurt.com/
http://www.indefenceofkurtcobain.com/unnamed.html
http://www.elevenmagazine.com/special/nirvana_1.html

Many interesting facts about Smells Like Teen Spirit, including the origin of the song's title may be found by visiting this site: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.lasso?id=416

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