6. April 2019 By Walter Price 0

With the lights out, Three-Way: NIRVANA – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

NIRVANA – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nevermind, 1991) is available @ iTunes.

Back in the fabled year of 1991, you were all over the sonic map. One minute you were jammin’ EMF and Crowded House, then the next minute you could be seen rockin’ tunes from Mötley Crüe and Poison. But I don’t judge, you were young and free to do what you want. But everything was about to change. A band, that seemingly came out of nowhere, introduced (to the masses) a punk metal concoction that stirred your soul. And still does.

The band, Nirvana, released a song called “Smells Like Teen Spirit that had everyone just as baffled as they were intrigued. Vocalist Kurt Cobain’s garbled and slurred delivery exemplified burbling angst we all had at the time. (And probably still do) But, to be honest, there isn’t nary a soul who hasn’t heard this game-changing track and the album, Nevermind, it came from. A song and album that made it okay to be mad at the status quo.

“Kurt really despised the mainstream. That’s what ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ was all about: The mass mentality of conformity.” – Krist Novoselic

And, naturally, this song’s powers have been tested in a gazillion covers or homages…if you will. I’ve heard a ton of them over the years and thought it a great idea to share three of my favorite odes to one of the best rock songs of any generation. In no particular order, below, check out these contagious versions from Tori Amos, Patti Smith, and Robert Glasper Experiment.