Professional musicians react to NIRVANA (SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT) 

One of the greatest songs of all time.

Imagine us, French kids in 1991 trying to decipher the words of this song... Just trying to get the lyrics was hard, we exchanged photocopies of lyrics in the school yards, and took afternoons to figure out what he meant, but we found it COOL, and this song was like a tsunami when it came out, we were jumping all over the place with the sound volume at maximum....

I have literally zero musical background or talent but watching people have a conversation about their passion is awesome to watch.

Also: You need a drummer on the panel… Two sentences about Grohl’s drumming here is a travesty.

Even an old black woman loves this one. That bass takes me into the atmosphere.

Billie, Olivia ... NIRVANA - there's nothing this group can't review and speak intelligently/elegantly about! Love this channel, thank for doing this Jack.

Are the lyrics sad though? Kurt had a great ironic sense of humor. I think this discussion missed the humor around lines like "I found it hard, was hard to find/Oh well, whatever, never mind." It's like he starts a thought, decides to rephrase it and then gives up. He's making fun of the very idea of meaning.

It's so funny watching you talk about Kurt's songwriting as he knew the musical theory. Coming from underground punk rock scene he knew so little of theory, and the lack of knowledge brought out his creativity. In that he was a genius.

Regrading the “chorus” effect on the bass. I would say it’s a classic Andy Wallace mix trick you’re hearing. Spx90 symphonic on the bass for width and movement. A lot more subtle than a chorus

"You should not underestimate the audience's ability to feel what you're feeling." So true ma'am!

My time as a guitar teacher really made me tired of this song for a while (try hearing it played by 100 different 10 year olds for two years straight...) but hearing it again with this commentary re-ignited my appreciation for it. It really is all about the feeling and they nailed it

I love this project! please keep these videos coming! You guys seem to really have fun, i'ts like i can get to feel a little of what you guys are feeling! And the way you take your time to explain some of the words you're using is very thoughtful! Thanks for the video!

I’ve enjoyed every episode so far. I think I especially like the new hits because I enjoy your reactions to hearing something for the first time. I would also love a podcast version of something like this and think it could work pretty seamlessly. Thanks, keep it up!

Another amazing thing about this entire album is how it has changed the spelling of a word. Before the late '60s, "all right" was two words and only two words. Then, Dylan and The Who changed the word to "Alright" in song titles and that's now become the way the word is spelled. Similarly, Nirvana's "Nevermind" is what most people think of as "never mind." "Nevermind" means "concern" (ex: pay that no nevermind) where "never mind" means "scratch that," "forget it," etc. When we're using websites or certain applications, we will have the option of hitting a button for OK or CANCEL and many websites have thought of clever new words to use to make the experience feel more personal like "Hell Yeah" or "Nahh." I was, very recently, on a FedEx website where I had the option to CONTINUE or NEVERMIND. The second option should have been NEVER MIND but, because of Nirvana (and English's nimbleness) the wrong word has become the right one.

I love how this feels like we are eavesdropping on you guys catching up in a bar - it's a very natural flow of conversation. Also, thank you for the info-clips - some of us need the explanations!

When I heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for the first time back in the day it just felt so right. I don't know why, but it did. Like the world had been waiting for that song. The 80s were just over, new stuff, fresh stuff was breaking onto the scene from everywhere. I was abandoning the hits of my teen years, which were much more in the Pop genre. And then Nirvana came along and crushed it all. I bought the Nevermind album and listened to it a lot. But that also concluded my journey not only into Nirvana, but also into the whole Grunge style. Somehow, I never connected to any of the other bands from that genre. Instead I got into Heavy Metal. In the 90s. Weird.

Loving this series, keep it up! Would love to hear what you all think of Silk Sonic’s new tune Skate

I LOVE your way of talking. And the little explanation-snippets are a great idea! And holy shit, your chemistry is flawless, just friends I guess, love that!

About the multitracking the vocals. There's a video of Butch Vig, the producer of Nevermind album, talking how they recorded Nirvana's In Bloom. And he said Kurt never wanted to overlay vocals, but saying "Lennon did it" always convinced him.

The discussion about lyrics making rational sense vs the melodic and compositional delivery brought the Blues Traveler song Hook to mind. The lyrics make sense, I suppose, but the delivery renders them so insignificant that most people who “love that song” have likely never really heard the words. I fell firmly into that camp until I saw Emma Stone lip syncing it on Jimmy Fallon and was so impressed that I felt compelled to look up the lyrics. I felt SO duped.

I was born in 1950. Nirvana was unable to get my attention in the '90s ....and still doesn't. But I watched and enjoyed every second of this show.

Teen spirit connected with the deep inner loser in me . A heroin addict when I first heard them . When I finally got clean I had to avoid Nirvana cuz it triggered me . Still clean and I can listen to them now .

To me this song makes perfect sense of that contradictory, complicated, self-deprecating and soaked in loneliness feelings of a teenage period of life. Genius how he could capture that emotions into words

I was surprised you did not talk about the production. The “bouncing” sound of the drum is so unreal and tremendously effective.

Love how you guys talk about scales and music theory for what Cobain just did naturally.

You guys put into words so many feelings I had around songwriting and lyric writing that I hadn't been able to verbalise. 3 episodes in and I love this series.

I think Lauren nailed it at 10:12 . Nirvana's lyrics to me always felt like another instrument in the band. Not just his voice sound, but the actual shapes of the words fit into the song in a way that goes beyond literal meaning.

These discussions are great- It's like Rick Beato suddenly suffered from D.I.D. & we're listening in to the chat he's having with himselves!! LOL I'd *love* to see what a group of musicians like this make of Jinjer's recent single "Vortex".... I'm so bored with folks gawping at Tatiana's vocals while the band is doing complex-proggy-yet-somehow-without-losing-groove *wonders* I know this is extremely unlikely, but hey, if you don't ask, you don't get! :)

Ach, this one was sooooo good. Everyone did a great discussion of the music, and then Lauren just nailed it with her take on the power of emotion in lyrics, and the whole panel just seemed to sigh with satisfaction, along with all the rest of us watching: yeah, that's totally it. SO GOOD! Jacob Collier please!

I can't even express how perfectly this matches what I'm looking for in content. To the point that if you had an alt channel with extended cuts, I'd be lapping up every second. Keep them coming!

This is awesome!! Ideal music reaction commentary. Y’all should check out Lana del rey she was heavily inspired by Nirvana (especially on her record Ultraviolence) and made her own style

"and I forget just why I taste. Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile." "Taste" is heroin slang. It means "shoot smack." Doing heroin is "getting a taste." Hunting for heroin is "looking for a taste." That slang is hidden in many songs. When Perry Farrell says "She takes a swing but she can't hit," "taking a swing" is a junkie trying to find a vein good enough to shoot into. Successfully finding a vein is "hitting." That line refers to Jane, a frustrated junkie, whose medicine is all fixed up but she cannot find a vain to put it into. That Cobain line is still great because it's such a succinct way of expressing the frustrations associated with being a maintenance junkie -- someone dealing with all the hassles of drug addiction who isn't even getting high anymore; they're simply using to not get sick.

They would play this song at school dances and the entire gym would become a mosh pit. Everyone I knew grew their hair out and started playing guitar. If you were of a certain age when this song came out it changed you permanently. Great discussion!

This has the potential to be one of my favorite channels in all of youtube. Good insight, production and chemistry between the great personalities. Keep it up, guys! and thank you

I can't believe you guys haven't talked about how the first and three chords of the riff are actually SUS chords! Kurt uses his pinky to barre the 4th on the F and Ab. You can hear it better on the intro when the distortion isn't on yet. That's one the most magical things to me on this composition!

DJ Quik and Toni, Tony, Tone did an interpolated production of THIS song on "Let's Get Down". Thereby proving that Kurt and his composition transcended.

So great! Interested in breaking down 1612 by Vulfpeck? Maybe a little Bohemian Rhapsody?

I watched this vid several times now and so much about this stands out to me. The song is so powerful. The team's reactions and understanding highlight all of the small moments in the song that echo with us today. And, as a Gen X'er, it feels so good (and right) to see a group of Gen X'ers sit around, turn on Teen Spirit 30 years later, and still be affected by that song. Dave Grohl, take us to the chorus.

I believe Dave Grohl has talked about his drumming in this song being disco influenced.

I wish these could be like 90 minutes long...

it was 1991. i went to the record store to buy the new Nevermind album. i asked the middle aged seller to pop the cassette into his stereo system to 'test' the sound. he put it on full volume. and was immediately blown away by the opening riff and epic drumming. he was like, wtf did i just listened to? haha

Hungry for stories? Mine is really embarrassing but oh well. Had moved back to Olympia in 90 from NYc, corporate legal editing on Wall St. Moved into the woods in a little dome. A friend came by one night and forced me to go to a party she said 'was important'. I think it was out on Delphi Road, it was dark, country roads with high trees. I was really sensitive at the time, sort of introverted. When we got there, the music was deafening in this house, never even made it from the kitchen to the living room where they were playing. All I could think was, the poor birds trying to sleep! I slipped outside and went down the long drive to the swinging gate, cars were parked along the side of the narrow road all over, but no one was outside. I leaned up against the fence and just took in the air, the stars, the beauty of the night. At some point the music mercifully stopped. Not long after this guy came bounding out of the house alone, he was all ecstatic. He sat on the swinging gate, lit up a smoke, and talked about how great it was to play, he was just so excited. I will be forever grateful for that moment, and that I just smiled, happy for him. I wish I could recall more of the conversation, it was just natural banter on a perfect night. ~ Yes, it was Kurt Cobain right after signing with a label, just playing a big party with the rest of the band (who I never saw, as I never made it to that vibrating room past the kitchen). And here they are, this monumental pivot in history. This song, my God.

I love the quick explanations of music concepts, it helps us learn/reinforce our own musical vocabulary. Keep up the great work!

Please pick apart some music for musicians. I would love you guys to take on "Snarky Puppy - What about me (We like it here)", or upcoming/indie female artists like "Sierra Ferrell - Bells of Every Chapel [ft. Billy Strings]".

The pixies we're ground breaking but I don't think anyone can take going loud and then going soft as a creditable thing. Jazz does it alot and blues does it even more. It's like rock coming back home to its roots.teen spirit Is really bluesy actually in its sound dynamic.

This song has a massive energy. I remember when I first heard it I was like “who are these guys???”. We should also congratulate Butch Vig, he did an amazing job putting those “bad boys” together…

Kurt, himself, in an interveiw said he wrote lyrics just moment before recording or even playing shows. First one of these series I have seen. Really liked it. Great job.

Me, a disgruntled 19 year old cooking at Applebees, & this song comes on the radio & just blows me away. I was like wtf is this. I know it was 91, but it felt like the kickoff to the 90's. Much needed with the staleness that was permeating the airwaves at that time.

That was Kurt, He was cunningly acting to subvert expectations, while desperately trying to meet them!

Haha no one has ever said that, "Kurt wrote lyrics right before he went on stage." That's ridiculous. What was said was he often wrote or finished lyrics right before he recorded them in the studio. ..which really isn't that odd. And is probably pretty common.

Teen Spirit isnt even close to being Nirvana's best track. I wish you'd gone off the frequently beaten track a little more. Having said that, this is still a killer analysis!

Kurt didnt know anything about Jazz music or music theory as im sure you know. Kurts vocal and the production makes it great. If someone else sung it, it wouldnt have been great. Simillar to how wonderwall, without Liams vocal it wouldnt have become a hit. When Noel sings it its dead.

Nirvana paved the way for the Grunge era. RIP Kurt Cobain! Your music transcends the Grunge era!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😇😇😇😇😇😇😇🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁👍👍

Nirvana suggestions for another episode: "About a Girl," "Something in the Way" and "Heart-Shaped Box." "About a Girl" is probably Kurt Cobain at his most Beatle-esque. "Something in the Way" shows the gentler side of his work. I love the harmonies and use of lyrical imagery in "Heart-Shaped Box." Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular

Kurt mentions "dorian mode" in several interviews, even if he is mostly joking about it. This together with his very intricate melodies makes me think he actually had some more music theory than he would talk about (since it wasn't punk). Even if it might have been just from guitar magazines and figuering stuff out himself.

Y'all must live somewhere with no humidity if you've never heard someone screaming about mosquitos.

Dave Grojl just said he stole the drum licks from disco and 80s R and B, Gap Band, ECT...

at 8:10 that stuff is quite clever. If you start that lick other way around, it is almost the same than police and ambulance sirens melody. In here it is there but it is not, such a way that its hard to notice but it definetly brings up some emergency vibes and tension.

You gotta do Beck! Not Loser, do something off like Sea Change or Midnite Vultures !!!

CHorus on many parts? I say doubling parts. Bright bass? I say bright mastering, listen to the 30th anniv remaster, dark and dynamic, just like the mix and production was meant.

REACT TO FAOUZIA. HER STRIPPED MUSIC IS SO GOOD AND SHE IS SO UNQUE. YOU WILL NKT REGRET IT. I FEEL LIKE HER BEST SONG IS "YOU DONT EVEN KNOW ME" REACT TO THAT ONE FIRST!!! YOU WONT REGRET IT.

PLEASE do a reaction to Lingus by Snarky Puppy so that we can finally close that trend

I just need to listen to you guys talking about Thrice!!!

Actually there is a little bit of chorus on the bass in the album mix. That's an Andy Wallace mixing technique, not Krist Novoselic's typical tone. However, the chorus effect on Kurt's guitar is his EH Small Clone, and was a part of his rig in 1991-92. So there is a lot of chorus on the album mix!

Refusing to resolve the melody is what makes it. That and Dave's drum beat. Thanks for the react!

after all this breakdown of this song...kurt would say...it just sounded good to me

That rumor about him writing his lyrics right before he went on stage pretty much came from him. He said in several different interviews something similar to doing things like that.

I think it's the only song I can name where I remember the exact spot I was sitting when I first heard it.

Andy Wallace (mixer engineer) added a stereo chorus on the bass, using the Yamaha SPX90 (“Symphonic” chorus preset), to help it cut through the mix.

Apex drumming: Dave Grohl on that Queens of the Stone Age concept album, 'Songs for the Deaf' ; and the drumming on Gojira's 'The Art of Death'. INSANE.

I’m so obsessed with your music and I can’t believe I could only find this channel after 3 uploads

It's an awful mess of noise, a shockingly bad record, one of the worst songs of all time.

Wow, I’ve never noticed that double time 5-1 in the pre-chorus, EVER!! I’ve only heard it 6000 times.

For me, the thing that makes it is the... I guess I'm going to call it the scratch noise between the chords. That little abrasive, percussive element just makes it work and without that the song wouldn't be anywhere near as interesting (to me at least)

Bass player dude has a Rick Nielsen vibe happening.

You couldn’t walk down the street without hearing this pouring out of every bar and restaurant when this came out back in the day. It was a total phenomenon, the likes of which haven’t been seen before or since. This was pre internet, pre cellphone days c. 1992. People were moving to Seattle in droves to be a part of the scene. There was a vibe in the air you could feel it. Miss those times for sure. Great analysis

In my first band, my co writer was a classically trained musician that could play multiple instruments.Being an uneducated novice who literally invented tunings and lacked rudimentary formal skills, I constantly asked him how everything from time signatures to chord structures worked, but he was adamant in not teaching me.He insisted that my ignorance was why he played with me, because I came up with fresh and impossible ideas. When I heard Nirvana, I heard material similar to my own attempts; they weren't the first, but I found it hard to beleive that people seemed to appreciate it,- finally.NFN, my first influences were the Beatles and Johnny Cash; then I discovered the Stooges and the Pixies.

Holy music nerd deep dive. Maybe this series could be used as supplemental material at the School of Rock.

The 'God he's good " i feel that hard every time I listen to anything Kurt did! He was magical!

oh my God..... Do you really think that Kurt Cobain ever muttered the Phrygian.. Fuck No !

Imagine being a kid in Sri Lanka in the 90s. We'd grown up on 80s pop ballads and those early technopop songs played on radio and TV, all state-owned. And when the first private radio stations started playing, the play lists didn't change. And then suddenly, when you least expect it, someone played Smells Like Teen Spirit. The song caught my entire generation unawares, because most of us really had no reference point for guitar-driven, angry-ish vocals except maybe the occasional GnR. In what seemed like an immediate reaction to the song, the first rock bands playing original angry rock music started popping up. Coincidence? I don't think. SLTS literally forced my generation to be like 'fuck it, I am a start a band.' Even now, all 38 years old, and having a hopefully more experienced ear that is exposed to all sorts of music, that song transports me back to that point when my ears weren't really exposed to a lot of music. I can't speak for the rest of y'all but in Sri Lanka, Nirvana was Prometheus, and SLTS was the gift of fire. I love that y'all paid tribute to his obvious musical instincts, even if the skills aren't polished as a properly taught musician who knew their theory. I know a few musicians who dismiss Nirvana as unsophisticated and while there is some truth to that, Cobain was a master songwriter. Nevermind was great but anyone who doubts Cobain's range as a songwriter hasn't heard In Utero. I think Rolling Stone once called 'Heart Shaped Box' as the kind of song that the Stone Temple Pilots wouldn't be able to write with detailed instructions. Harsh? Sure. Hilarious? Also yes. Loved this discussion. I only wish you spent a little longer talking about Grohl's drumming. In an elemental song like this, it needed elemental drumming. And Mr Grohl threw the kitchensink at it. Those drums propel the song into the stratosphere.

u need to do cherub rock smashing pumpkins

As someone who doesn't know music theory or generally anything about it, and as someone who enjoys eating, the analogy about the beans, rice, cheese and tortilla really worked for me haha

Green & Gold - Lianne La Havas. Would be sweet! 🙂

I love how they are playing their instruments on this one. So great. They're talking about modes! Lol nice

You’re right. The Melody is killer. Played slowly on piano and it’s damn near haunting.

This song and album changed my life….4 yrs after he died, I discovered Nirvana.

I totally enjoyed it. keep doing vintage song reactions please

There is chorus on the bass. Andy Wallace added a little chorusing effect from a Yamaha SPX-90. He used it on a lot of his mix's. Kurt didn't want to multitrack his vocals. So Butch Vig had to gently persuade him by saying Lennon used to double his vocals. Then Kurt would agree. Interesting you didn't mention the intro speeds up. Something I didn't notice until the other day. Great band, great music and huge hole left behind after Kurt's death. Great video keep up the good work guys.

Y'all keep doing your thing! This is SO FAR beyond just a "reaction."

Snarky Puppy, We like it here…

"Dave Grohl, take us to the chorus..." **Most iconic 90s rock drum fill into most iconic 90s rock chorus commence**

pls react to zhavia's EP !!

Nice to hear you break down an older track. Appreciated the discussion about different types of lyricism, hadn't really payed much attention to the lyrics when listening to the track before this but it's cool to see how he breaks the rhyming pattern and how words can convey meaning even through the way they sound when you say them. Would love to see you dig into some music from twenty one pilots in the future

This song is about the frustration of nobody hearing you or more importantly your song

A masterpiece. A wounded traumatized childhood on display.

This was amazing! Please do more of Nirvana.

man i am LOVING this series!!!

This reminds me; would love to see you pick apart Pixies songs!

i would LOVE some Bjork here, i feel like her work has so much that can be discussed... any of her biggest songs like Human Behavior, Pagan Poetry, Venus as a Boy, Army of Me