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Nirvana: smells like a very ape heart shaped box in bloom

Chris Federici

Issue date: 4/17/07 Section: Life & Leisure
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In the early 90s, rock music was heading absolutely nowhere. With the exception of Metallica and Pearl Jam, the genre of rock music appeared as if it was coming to an unfortunate end. Guitar Gods such as Jimi Hendrix and Jerry Garcia must have been turning over in their graves, ashamed of what was being called rock music at the time. Then one day, Nirvana was formed and rock music was reborn.

Hailing from the northwest city of Aberdeen, WA. Nirvana was composed of Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and mastermind behind the band's much needed unique sound, Kurt Cobain. Amongst rock music fans, Cobain is also considered a God, but not until his unfortunate suicide (or what appeared to be) was his genius fully appreciated.

Nevertheless I remember first time I saw Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video on MTV (yes, for all you freshmen out there, MTV did in fact play music videos at one time) and ever since it has left a lasting impression. It wasn't until later in my years that I would fully understand what Cobain was actually talking about in the song, but at the time it didn't matter. All that mattered was that it was a fist-pumping, head rocking song, which I would jump around my room to jamming out on the air guitar all the while pretending that I was Cobain.

As the years went by Cobain and Nirvana met their unfortunate fate. But it wasn't until my years in high school did I realize that not only did Nirvana's music stimulate the rock genre, but their lyrics played a significant role as well. After all, a band is only as good as the lyrics that they write and in Nirvana's case, Cobain's real genius was in his songwriting ability.

Even though his inspirations came from many drugs and other substances which he experienced with, and would eventually lead to his suicide, there is no doubt about the fact that Cobain was a poet. In "Heart-Shaped Box," one of their many singles, Cobain sings:



"Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet

Cut myself on angel's hair and baby's breath

Broken hymen of your highness I'm left black

Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back."



In this song it becomes clear of just how good of a song writer Cobain really was. His line about cutting himself on angle's hair and baby's breath happens to be one of my all time favorite lines simply for the fact that his usage of imagery seems so simple, yet he makes it so complex.

Still, after all these years that Nirvana has been gone, I sometimes wonder how much better they could have become and how much more in depth and creative lyrics Cobain could have come up with. Cobain's death, at the age of 27, put him alongside what is known in rock music as the "Forever 27 Club." He joins Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison. All of which died at the young age of 27 but will forever be remembered in rock and roll history.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11

mark d

posted 4/17/07 @ 6:12 PM EST

Right on. Nirvana is the greatest rock band of the past 25 yrs

B

posted 4/18/07 @ 2:33 PM EST

Cobain is great, but i believe Kurt stood so tall cause he was on the shoulders of a great man, Dave Grohl.

Jason

posted 4/20/07 @ 5:28 PM EST

Great article, it was awesome seeing this in the paper. In Utero really was the pinnacle of Nirvana's musical ouput and an almost fitting end. Where would they be now? Probably broken up a long time ago if you agree with the many Nirvana "researchers". (Continued…)

Margot

posted 11/01/07 @ 4:54 PM EST

Um, just to clarify...as far as I remember, Pearl Jam came a bit after Nirvana. Moreover, Jerry Garcia couldn't have turned in his grave because he didn't die until after Cobain did (in 1995, I think it was). (Continued…)

zip

posted 4/13/08 @ 11:21 PM EST

nirvana rulezzzzz

EvilTwin666

posted 4/16/08 @ 11:39 AM EST

Dead at 27, like all of the greatest.

http://wakeup.to/themeaningoflife

Corey

posted 5/16/08 @ 1:32 AM EST

ok, good article except for some little comments.

1) us freshman new there were videos on MTV at one point, were not stupid.

2) "songs are only as good as the lyrics" is complete bullshit. (Continued…)

Michael

posted 11/18/08 @ 4:27 AM EST

First off Chris I want to say that I respect your opinon, I may not agree w/EVERYTHING you've said but I respect your thoughts and do agree with some of what you've got to say. (Continued…)

Michael

posted 11/18/08 @ 4:28 AM EST

First off Chris I want to say that I respect your opinon, I may not agree w/EVERYTHING you've said but I respect your thoughts and do agree with some of what you've got to say. (Continued…)

aaron

posted 3/10/09 @ 3:45 AM EST

This article starts out dumb and stays that way. Metallica and Pearl Jam? Come ON. Bands like The Jesus & Mary Chain and The Pixies were around long before and paved the way for Nirvana. (Continued…)

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