Oh boy… I can’t imagine why my picture’s leading off this post…
Welcome to a very cold, but DRY Wednesday! It’s alright that there’s no rain today to make me madder than a wet hen, because I can work myself up into a lather by going off on another popular song that I find to be fucking annoying instead! We’re up to #3 in my Top 30 Iconic Songs I Can’t Stand countdown, so this one’s going to be a real piece of shit! Well, it is for me… your mileage may vary. And in fact, for a few of you, I know it will….
#3. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
If you’ve listened (or tolerated) enough of my music posts over the years, you know how much I absolutely love the music of the 1980’s. I grew up with it, I listened to it on the radio, I watched the videos on MTV. It was a huge part of my childhood, and the great songs of that time always take me back to those wonderful days of having to put up with four baby sisters. Today’s featured song on the countdown stuck a giant, grungy knife right in the middle of my beloved era’s music in late 1991, and radio just hasn’t been the same since. But that’s not the only reason I hate Nirvana and their magnum opus. They both suck enough on their own merits (or demerits)…
It’s the age old tale of a song that nobody thought was going to be anything big until it not only became big, it became YUGE. The anthem of a generation (That would be Gen X, I’d embarrassingly add), they say. Alternative bands that only had a platform on college radio station before suddenly found access to the mainstream thanks to Kurt Cobain and his boys making Seattle’s grunge sound a thing. You can hear a little of Nirvana’s influence in almost every “rock” song of the 90’s, and it’s why the decade’s music is far and away the worst of my lifetime…
The Mount Rushmore of Shittiness.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which yes, accidentally derives its title from the deodorant of the same name, is considered to be one of the most important and influential songs in rock history. Thankfully, one of those influential factors that somewhat salvages its existence is the amount of great cover versions its produced. Tori Amos’ take was the first one I discovered, and I don’t think I’d like it if it didn’t sound like she was secretly mocking how stupid the song actually is. But when it comes to turning Nirvana’s assterpiece into a fun and comical sideshow, you gotta love 60’s sensation Paul Anka making a swing song out of “Teen Spirit!”
Come as you were.
And let’s not forget that we got this, by one of the true legends of pop music, out of the deal…
Almost every grunge band of the early 90’s except Nirvana has something I admit to at least kinda liking. But the trio that started it all has an entire catalogue full of Seattle sludge as far as I’m concerned. “Come As You Are” is even worse than this song is, and don’t even get me started on “Lithium.” Sorry Kurt. You may have made my sister cry when you said your final “Nevermind,” but your music has made my ears cry and bleed for over two decades, and likely forever more…
Keep on hating on me, man! Merby’s gonna kick the shit out of you…
Come back next week as I reveal my second most hated iconic song… and it’s a real sacred cow.
Evil Squirrel's Nest 
You’re right…this is a good candidate for #3. Didn’t get the whole grunge scene. Guess plaid flannel and ripped jeans just weren’t my thing. Then again neither are ear bleeds.
The music just sounds horrible… though not as horrible as whatever that Limp Bizkit shit was that followed in its footsteps. There is an entire genre of “rock” now that sounds like nothing but apes pounding on drum sets and singers who all sound like a pissed off Cookie Monster…
I’m with you I’m with you I’m with you… that’s something I CAN NOT STAND. apart from that awful roots howling by a. merton… that so so darned… urrks…
I tried to explain grunge music to my child who was born in 1999. She didn’t get it. I still don’t get it. Good choice for over played music. Now of course I’m going to have an ear worm all day of “Come As You Are.” That said – thank goodness for Weird Al. He takes a bad song and makes it better.
Now I’m trying to predict what #2 and #1 will be. But seriously ES, I’m pretty sure I already know what #1 is.
#1 won’t be a very big surprise to anyone who’s paid attention to my music posts… I’ve bitched about it numerous times before. #2 I think will be a surprise because it’s not pop… just iconic, and I think also one that many of my followers will agree with me on (Unless I”m wrong!)
ody N biskit….we dunno…..de FSG iz az old az de invent oh de wheel…. N we haz had ta listen
ta lotz oh her mewsic; incloodin grunge….we likez nirvana… and mite knot download ther songs…
…but mite de next day…. ?? we iz on de fence with thiz one ~~~~~ !! ☺☺♥♥
There hasn’t been much disagreeing with me on these songs lately, so somebody has to stick up for them. And I really hope there are people out there who still like Nirvana given how often I have to listen to them on the radio!
I always liked this one, although grunge isn’t something that I listen to very often, especially now that Seattle’s New Rock turned into another country station. It was only good in small doses anyway. When I do get in the mood to hear Smells Like Teen Spirit, I play the misheard lyrics version on YouTube. By the time the end rolls around and the screen says “I’m a nightgown. I’m a nightgown. I’m a nightgown.” I’m usually laughing so hard I’m crying.
LOL! Why do the songs that sound like gibberish end up the most popular? Louie Louie, Blinded By The Light, Anything by Ozzy, and this one. Maybe it’s just too much fun to make up your own lyrics to them. If only I didn’t hate Nirvana’s music so much to bother trying to come up with funny lyrics for this song…
I’m pretty sure the entire grunge genre can be summed up in one word: heroine.
Oh shoot, I meant heroin.
This is your music on drugs. Any questions?
I almost made a terrible joke of a reply involving needles, but then I remembered that large parts of the US are experiencing a heroin epidemic. So it would’ve been in very poor taste…
Damn, this was a harsh read. I have tears in my eyes, man! Tears!
I obviously disagree with you and as Kurt said up there, I’m planning a trip to your humble nest to kick some fuzzy squirrel ASS.
I went a bit easier than I normally would have on this one since I didn’t want to piss you off too much. I can only stand so much ass kicking before I start crying like a little girl…
Aw. I won’t really kick your ass, I’ll just take a big poo in your fridge…
He always sounded to me like he was trying to sing with a mouth full of shit.
I’m sure whatever he had a mouthful of wasn’t legal…
I am not a huge fan of loud music, and I hated the 90s and their music. But I have a soft spot for this song – because it is the only one of Nirvana I can identify. Oh, and I like the guitars.
Sorry, but I always liked this song, and most all of Nirvana’s songs.
YUP. Missed that one, too. It may stop raining here before tomorrow’s opening day. What are the odds?
The moment I saw which song it was I couldn’t wait to hit “play!” Great song and another great choice… wait a minute, this is your Wednesday hate song.
How come you always get Mondays and Wednesdays mixed up?
Buy a calendar, Mr Squirrel.
It snowed last night, once the wind stopped stripping the bark off the trees. It totally freaked out my red squirrel (or it was having a psychotic episode). Wish I had recorded it! Anyway, musically, without slop, there wouldn’t be fodder for artists like Weird Al to make his posies of puns pop! 😉
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It’s not that bad, but I am looking forward to seeing what your number on choice is going to be. Subscribed!