Rarely in history has a band with such a short tenure had so much influence on today’s rock music. Exploding from the Seattle grunge scene, Nirvana forever changed the music landscape. And, over the past several decades they’ve inspired an array of music artists like Weezer, Lana Del Rey and Kid Cudi.
Their impact has been so great, it’s easy to forget how little music they recorded. With just over 100 songs to their credit, we are looking at some of the best Nirvana songs of all time.
“About a Girl” – Bleach (1989)
“About a Girl” was written in 1988, reportedly after Kurt Cobain spent an afternoon repeatedly listening to Meet the Beatles!. The song is about the singer’s then-girlfriend Tracy Marander, and went on to become the lead single on the band’s 1994 MTV Unplugged live album.
The Unplugged performances is also listed as one of our top live rock performances of all time.
“Senseless Apprentice” – In Utero (1993)
Based on one of Cobain’s favorite books, The Story Of A Murderer, “Scentless Apprentice” overflows with strange inspiration. This is the only track on In Utero on which every member gets a writing credit, and Dave’s fingerprints are all over it. The tortured tone of Kurt’s closing ‘GO AWAAAY!’ lingers just as long as any nightmare imagery. The final live performance of “Scentless Apprentice” was at Nirvana’s second-to-last show, at Hala Tivoli in Ljubljana, Slovenia on n February 27, 1994.
“All Apologies” – In Utero (1993)
“All Apologies” was the second and final In Utero single, and Nirvana’s final single before the suicide of songwriter Kurt Cobain four months later. Cobain had commented that the song represented the “peaceful, happy comfort” he wanted for wife Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean. His epic MTV Unplugged version song had the lyrics slightly changed from ‘all in all is all we are’ changed to ‘all alone is all we are’ foreshadowing his end to anyone that caught it. This emotional song deserves to be on the list of the best Nirvana songs of all time.
“Something’s In the Way” – Nevermind (1991)
Rumors around the origins of closing track to Nevermind have swirled for a long time. Many claim that it chronicles a period of Kurt’s life spent homeless, while the singer himself told Azerrad that it was an imagined “fantasy” where “I was living under the bridge and I was dying of A.I.D.S.” Cobain had difficulty pulling the band together to record this song, so he eventually recorded it lying on his back, strumming an out-of-tune acoustic on the studio floor. In August 2020, the song appeared in the first trailer for the 2022 film, The Batman.
“Aneurysm” – Incesticide (1992)
This fan-favorite song first appeared as a B-side on the band’s breakthrough “Smells Like Teen Spirit” single in September 1991. A second studio version was released on the rarities compilation, Incesticide, in December 1992. Caught between his failing romance with Bikini Kill drummer Tobi Vail (‘love you so much it makes me sick’) and his new relationship with heroin (‘come on over and shoot the shit’, ‘she keeps it pumpin’ straight to my heart’), the song walks that fine line between sorrow and ecstasy.
“You Know You’re Right” – Nirvana (2002)
This is the last song recorded before Cobain’s death. Soon after his death, Courtney Love performed the song during Hole’s MTV Unplugged concert; however, Cobain’s recording didn’t come out until 2002’s self-titled greatest hits collection. It was the band’s fifth song to reach number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it remained for four consecutive weeks, the longest of any Nirvana song.
“Come As You Are” – Nevermind (1991)
Repurposing the riff from Killing Joke’s song “Eighties” (a debt repaid when drummer Dave Grohl jumped aboard for the Londoners’ 2003 self-titled LP), “Come As You Are” was the second single released off of Nevermind. Cobain recorded his guitar solo in two takes, as well as three takes of vocals, of which the first was used. The origin of the song’s title is unclear, but it has been speculated that it may have been named after a motto used by the Morck Hotel in Cobain’s hometown. The Morck was one of many places Cobain stayed in after leaving home for a time while he was seventeen years old.
“Lithium” – Nevermind (1991)
Named after a drug often used to treat bipolar disorder, “Lithium” is the third single of the Nevermind album. Cobain brilliantly mimics the highs and lows of the disorder with the way he transitions from slow and quiet verses to a thunderous, fast-paced chorus. It’s said that the vocals for the song’s verses were recorded in only two takes, with the second take being used as the master vocal track. According to Nielsen Music’s year-end report for 2019, “Lithium” was the tenth most-played song of the decade on mainstream rock radio.
“Sliver” – Incesticide (1992)
Featured on the compilation album, Incesticide, “Sliver,” was conceived during a practice with Mudhoney drummer Dan Peters. It is the ultimate grunge song with Cobain’s throat-splitting chorus accompanying a hard-hitting bass and thunderous drums. Following its release in December 1992, the song was sent to radio and reached number 19 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. Rivers Cuomo, of the American alternative rock band Weezer, has named “Sliver” as the song that made the biggest impact on his life in his early 20s.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nevermind (1991)
“I was trying to write the ultimate pop song,” Cobain told Rolling Stone of this larger-than-life Pixies homage. And it’s hard to argue against the result. Arguably, no other track in the history of rock has had the instant, landscape-changing effect of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. The song became part of a counterculture movement and the song’s ubiquity hounded Cobain for the rest of his career. Cobain hated the song, but it deserves to be listed as one of the best Nirvana songs of all time.
“In Bloom” – Nevermind (1991)
“In Bloom” was the fourth and final single of their Nevermind album. David Grohl’s drum playing dominates this masterpiece from start to finish. And Cobain anchors that muscle to one of most fragrant pop hook, pointing the finger at fans who don’t dig deep enough into their tunes: “He’s the one who likes all our pretty songs / And he likes to sing along, and he likes to shoot his gun / But he don’t know what it means.” The music video, directed by Kevin Kerslake parodies 1960s’ variety shows and went on to win Best Alternative Video at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.
“Heart-Shaped Box” – In Utero (1993)
Released as the first single off of their third album, “Heart-Shaped Box” had a lot to prove. And it didn’t disappoint. It offered an unsettling view into Cobain’s mind allowing the listening to experience his vulnerability. The song’s title came from a heart-shaped box Courtney Love had given Cobain when first dating – the song touches on themes like obsession, torment, and a fixation on the fleeting beauty and inevitable decay of life.The single reached Top 10 in several countries, as well as Best Alternative Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.
There you have it – the best Nirvana songs of all time. One can only imagine what this list would have looked like if Cobain’s life wasn’t cut short.
