Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana: detailed analysis and meaning
Integrated em Nevermind, or second best-selling Nirvana album, to music Smells like Teen Spirit It was launched in 1991. Logo became one of a geração and one of the two most remarkable sons of the nineties, proving the band for international fame and establishing Kurt Cobain as an icon.
Great responsibility for the dissemination of grunge as a musical style, Nirvana from its voice to adolescent anguish. Using music as a way of liberation and tasting, Smells like Teen Spirit continue to conquer hearts of young people all over the world.
Music lyrics
Smells like Teen Spirit
Load up on guns
Bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's overboard, self assured
Oh no I know, a dirty wordHello, hello, hello, how low
Hello hello helloWith the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeahI'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift, I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the endHello, hello, hello, how low
Hello hello helloWith the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an Albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeahAnd I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it was hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermindHello, hello, hello, how low
Hello hello helloWith the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libidoA denial (x9)
Lyrics translation
Cheira A Teenage Spirit
Carregue suas weapons
And swallow your friends
It's fun to lose and pretend
She is understood and self-confident
Oh no, eu sei um palavrão
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
Wave wave wave
As the lights are off, it is less dangerous
Here, we are now, amuse us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here, we are now, amuse us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito
Minha libido
Sou o pior no que faço de melhor
And for this gift I feel abençoado
Our small group always exists
And there will always be até or fim
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
As the lights are off, it is less dangerous
Here, we are now, amuse us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here, we are now, amuse us
A mulatto, an albino,
Um mosquito, minha libido
E eu skeço because eu provoked
Oh sim, how much I face sorrry
It's hard to get, it's hard to get
Bem, that seja, esquece
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
As the lights are off, it is less dangerous
Here we are now, amuse us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here, we are now, amuse us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito
Minha libido
Uma negation (x9)
Analyze gives music
Despite being some of the most emblematic music of the XX century, to the lyrics of Smells like Teen Spirit continue wrapping in mystery. Composted by enigmatic verses and sung with shouts of revolt, it is not easy to understand his message.
Numa primeira análise, é from notorious logo or confused and fragmented speech, as is or lyrical subject also not exactly known or what he is saying. This sensation of difficulty of communication increases due to the irony and sarcasm that transpires in some two verses.
With a deeper and more detailed reflection, we managed to decorate various readings and interpretations Possíveis, relative to the historical and social context of the breeding, and also to the course and work of band.
Or title
Or he does not give me music and ambiguous and generates some debate. Translated, "Cheira a Espírito Adolescente", promises a gerational portrait. However, due to the sarcasm taken on a lyrical subject, it is not clear that this representation is intended to be faithful or satirical.
A species of lenda that goes around or title was confirmed, at its source of inspiration. Kathleen Hanna, bandleader punk Bikini Kill and feminist icon of the time, escreveu numa parede:
Kurt cheira a teenage spirit.
Some argue that Cobain interpreted the phrase as a metaphor, accrediting that Hanna or apontava as a voice-over of adolescent revolt. Others, including sources close to the cantor, affirm that the gostou gives a phrase by achá-la absurda. In any case, Nirvana used or rabisco da artist as reference not title of senior hit.
Some tempo depois gives music sair, uncovered or meaning of a mysterious phrase. Kathleen was referring to deodorant Teen Spirit, That she was in love with Kurt she used to be at the time. In some way, the history of how or title arose combines as theory of letter, confusing metaphorical and literal, construction and reality.
First stanza
Carregue suas weapons
And swallow your friends
It's fun to lose and pretend
She is understood and self-confident
Oh no, eu sei um palavrão
A song comes with a treat: “Carry your weapons / E swallow your friends”. These first verses function as a nickname for the letter, marking or taking from revolt compartilhada and abhorrence. Espelhando adolescent anguish, in the form of emptiness and existential tea, a phrase synthesizes the youthful tendency of "jump like fire".
Or verse and a message ganham still more força when we fear in view or North-American context not which Cobain lives and against or which he wrote and sang so many times.
As the United States has allowed and practically encouraging the use of firearms in some regions, it was common for a youth segment to unite to shoot, hunt, etc.
This relationship between diversity and violence, part of the American culture, continues to be present throughout the composition. O own sauce and defeat are transformed into a jump: “It's fun to lose and pretend”. Here arises um tom of sarcasm and, perhaps, or prazer da autodestruição: the idea that we like what we do wrong.
All those people were "understood and self-confident", accrediting me if I know even more or that they are doing their own life. Embora there are no evidences, some interpretations affirmed that by saying “ela”, Kurt was referring to the lover of the time, Tobi Vail.
A disturbed relationship of two, set more than political and philosophical conversations than romance, and referred to in other band compositions.
Or last verse. jocular. dita or end of an innocence that was subtracted from infância, suggesting that the lyrical subject is, in some way, corrupted: “oh não, eu sei um palavrão”.
Pré-refrão
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
Olá, olá, olá, what a baixaria
Wave wave wave
O pré-refrão consists of a number of words. Jumping with assonância, Kurt repeats “hello” (“olá”) até will transform into “how low” (which can be translated as “que baixo” or “que baixaria”). These verses, apparently so simple and absurd, can be interpreted in several different ways, all of which imply a depreciating measure.
A number of readings are possible about what it is about a criticism of social relations and the conversations are content. Outre that criticism is directed at the music industry itself, ridiculing the simple and repetitive refrões that we reach. tops of bandages.
As a biographer reading, it is also possible that Kurt is faking about his state of mind. Or his depressive mental picture, which culminated in not suicide, is documenting his music and his various writings. Some of Nirvana's faiths argue that these verses might suggest that, despite all the social interactions, Cobain remained sad and lonely.
Refrão
As the lights are off, it is less dangerous
Here we are now, amuse us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here, we are now, amuse us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito
Minha libido
O começo do refrão confirms the existence of a perigo that is being suggested from the beginning of the music. "Com as the lights are off" we cannot see what is happening and we can create a false sense of comfort or security.
O verse illustrates a common thought, mainly among young people: to the idea that we are not aware of each other, we are not going to attack. This apology for unconsciousness arises in a sarcastic way, but may also be understood as a confiscation of a little subject, who is afraid of seeing reality.
In the same way, the following verses can be read as the despair of someone who confesses or a satire of someone who tries to criticize society about whom and for whom he sings.
"Here we are now, it amuses us" seems to bet on the alienation of a youth that grows in front of TV and prefers entertainment than information.
By declaring itself "stupid and contagious", or subject it indicates that this spirit of misinformation and collective, appears to be cultivated and transmitted or enraged by other hairs.
A phrase can also be seen as a challenge to Cobain, which would have meant infecting other people with his depression and did not know how to relate to fame and the public.
At the end of the phrase, it is also not easy to understand, generating various hypotheses. Some readings suggest pairs of contrasts: "albino" would be the opposite of "mulatto" for not melanin, "mosquito" or the opposite of "libido" for being small.
Outras interpretações apontam a possível list of images given that this was for the norm or that made the company uncomfortable. A third perspective defends that it is a question of a word game, attacking just a or som and não ao meaning two vowels.
Second stanza
Sou o pior no que faço de melhor
And for this gift I feel abençoado
Our small group always exists
And there will always be até or fim
Here it seems to consolidate the relationship between the lyrical subject and the author of the lyrics. Kurt loved music and lived as a function of the more he felt inferior to the idols that he grew up listening to. By declaring himself "o pior" not that fazia "de melhor", he admits that I am not particularly talented.
Embora affirmed that he felt "abençoado" for being more um, not to be ironic to note that this was a song that eternalized Cobain as one of the two best names in world rock.
The final verses of this stanza are also open to various readings. Na linha do que foi dito acima, we could be a reference to our own band, which was united before it becomes famous and would remain together when or if it ends.
Contudo, we can also presume that the verses refer to the existence of a group of young people who are always socially excluded. Nirvana deixaria, then, to promise: those individuals will not move to join the company, they will continue to always exist on the margins.
This vision seems to gain strength when we think not of our own culture punk that were born more than two marginalized, survived fashion and commercialization and continued firm at the present time.
Third stanza
E eu skeço because eu provoked
Oh sim, how much I face sorrry
It's hard to get, it's hard to get
Bem, that seja, esquece
As a fragmented and confused discourse, as I know or be a little subject, you are failing sozinho, rambling, at the last stanza it can be about various topics. We can understand that here is what the little subject proves that or face to são as drugs, that or momentarily gives reality.
Or Kurt Cobain's use of heroin and referred to his music in his daily life, as something that brought him a great treat, but also an instant prazer. In return, perhaps we could say the same about his relationship with him with music or with other people.
As the verse "Bem, que seja, esquece", or subject interrupts or who was failing, it is not explained, as the interlocutor does not understand or what he wanted to say. Assim é sublinhada to his solidão and incapable of expressing clearly what he feels.
Final verse
Uma negation
A third stanza could be read as an apology for bohemian life in a way to escape two problems. Not so, or the final verse of the song, shouted nine times by Cobain, see that this idea contradicts. Sim, we can jump like perigo, we can eat our own sauce, but we are just denying the reality of two feelings.
For behind everything or youthful enthusiasm that Smells like Teen Spirit It transmits, it is also notorious to both the anguish, the revolt and the headquarters of social transformation.
Meaning of music
Smells like Teen Spirit became more iconic and representative music grunge, sub-genre of alternative rock that emerged in Seattle, did not end two years 80. Also, it expresses many feelings of its own in the musical style, such as revolt, social alienation and desire for freedom.
Due to its cryptic content, it is not easy to understand its meaning. Ao longo do tempo, so many interpretations emerged for the lyrics of the song. Or theme can be understood, simultaneously, as um hino de e contra uma geração.
Showing or sense and or absurdity, faith or cynicism, or enthusiasm and or tea, music seems to sum up the inner conflicts of a "adolescent spirit."
Emphasizing the youth's own motivation, Nirvana gives voice to the dissatisfaction of the X Generation pertaining to the nuclear layers of the society, fazendo ecoar or desire of revolution.
Also, we can interpret the song as a defiance and a critique of Cobain à geração da which he fazia part e que o tomou, against his vontade, as a voice-over. Despite all the ambitions to move, these young people remained alienated, inert, in denial. Ou, the words of Kurt Cobain:
A apatia da minha geração. You are mad at her. You are angry with my own apathy, too ...
Kurt Cobain: singer and lyricist of Nirvana
Kurt Donald Cobain was born in Aberdeen, February 20, 1967. He had a difficult childhood, marked by poverty and divided two countries. Nessa epoch, born or seu spirit of rebellion and Kurt began to dedicate himself to music in the year.
In 1987 he formed a band Nirvana with Krist Novoselic, releasing his first album., Bleach, twelve years frompois. Nirvana went through various formations, counting with the participation of some drummers in 1990, when Dave Grohl joined the group.
Em 1991 saiu Nevermind, or disk that I saw cementing or stratospheric succession of the band. Kurt, who was shy and suffered from various problems such as depression and chemical dependence, did not suffer from sudden fame. I do not have or wish to be an idol or hero of anybody, he accredits that the messages of his music were not understood by the public.
Smells like Teen Spirit It was a song that he released to the band for the star and, for isso, Cobain did not gostava from the time he refused to play the shows.
Despite all the interpretations that can be made to the song, he explained to his creation of very simple ways, how he wanted to unravel or myth:
He was tempting to write to my pop music. I was basically trying to copy the Pixies. I have to admit isso.
On February 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain committed suicide with a shot of a spike in his head, leaving a geração inteira in mourning. As your words and as your music, not so, it's timeless.
Conheça also
- Alive Music by Pearl Jam
- Music Let It Be two The Beatles
