Smells Like Teen Spirit

About this song

Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was the lead single from the band's second studio album and major label debut, Nevermind, released in September 1991. The song's success brought the band huge popularity, and Kurt Cobain eventually grew tired of it and dropped it from live sets as often as he could. It was one of the last tracks written and recorded for the album, and the final version is the second of three takes, and it ranked #9 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

What it's about

The title came from a phrase Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill spray-painted on a wall, which Kurt Cobain took for the song's name. Producer Butch Vig said Cobain felt the phrase was stupid and meant nothing much, though it was later revealed Hanna was referring to a deodorant brand worn by Tobi Vail.

Fun facts

• Samples “Wild Thing by The Troggs” and “Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) by The Gap Band”.
• Sampled in 67 other songs, like “Smells Like A Fool by David0Mario”.
• Covered 84 times, including “Smells Like Teen Spirit by Bleach (Tribute Band)”.
• Written by Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl.
• Produced by Butch Vig.