Smells Like Teen Spirit, by Nirvana: analysis and meaning of the song
Included in the album Nevermind, Nirvana's best-selling album, the song Smells Like Teen Spirit ('It smells like a teenage spirit' would be its translation into Spanish) was released in 1991. It soon became the anthem of a generation and one of the most influential songs of the 1990s, propelling the band to international fame and making Kurt Cobain an icon.
Lead person in charge of the disclosure of the grunge As a musical style, Nirvana gave voice to adolescent angst by using music as a form of liberation and catharsis. Thus, Smells Like Teen Spirit continues to this day conquering young hearts around the world.
Lyrics of the song Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
I
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 wordPRE-REFRAIN
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello hello hello
REFRAIN
With 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, yeah
II
I'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 end
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello hello hello
REFRAIN
III
And 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, nevermind
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello hello hello
REFRAIN
A denial (x9)
Translation of the lyrics Smell like Teen Spirit
I
Load your weapons
And bring your friends
It's fun to lose and pretend
She is bored and self-confident
Oh no I know a dirty swear word
BRIDGE
Hello hello hello how low
Hello Hello hello
CHORUS
With the lights off it's less dangerous
Here we are now, it amuses us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, it amuses us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito
My libido
II
I'm the worst at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group always existed
And he will always exist until the end
Hello, hello, hello, how low ...
Hello Hello hello
CHORUS
III
And I forget why I try
Oh yeah I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it was hard to find
Well, whatever, it doesn't matter
Hello hello hello how low
Hello Hello hello
CHORUS
A denial (x9)
Song analysis
Despite being one of the most emblematic songs of the 20th century, the lyrics of Smells Like Teen Spirit remains a mystery. Its enigmatic verses and the way of interpreting it do not facilitate the understanding of its message.
In a first analysis, the speech seems confused and fragmented, as if the subject does not know exactly what he is trying to express. The difficulty increases due to the tone of irony and sarcasm of some passages.
By making a deeper and more detailed review, it is possible to reveal several possible interpretations, related to the socio-historical context of the creation and the history of the band.
Qualification
The name of the song is ambiguous and has generated a lot of debate. Translated, the song "Smells like a teenage spirit" or "Smells like a young spirit" promises a generational portrait. However, it is not clear whether that representation is faithful or satirical.
The source of inspiration for the title became something of a legend and was apparently confirmed. Kathleen Hanna, leader of the punk band Bikini Kill and feminist icon of the time, wrote on the wall one day: “Kurt smells like teenage spirit” (Kurt smells like teen spirit).
Some argue that Kurt Cobain interpreted the phrase as a metaphor, believing that Hanna was pointing to him as a spokesman for a teenage rebellion. Sources close to the singer, on the other hand, affirm that he had liked the phrase because he considered it absurd. The truth is that Nirvana used the artist's idea.
Some time after the song was released, they discovered the meaning of the mysterious phrase. Kathleen was referring to the Teen Spirit deodorant that Kurt's girlfriend used. Somehow, the story of the title has something in common with the lyrics: it confuses the metaphorical with the direct.
First stanza
Load your weapons
And bring your friends
It's fun to lose and pretend
She is bored and self-confident
Oh no I know a dirty swear word
The song begins with an invitation: "Load your weapons / And bring your friends." These first verses function as the key to the lyrics, determining the tone of rebellion and boredom shared. Recognizing adolescent anguish, in the form of emptiness and existential boredom, the phrase expresses the youthful tendency to "play with fire."
The verse gains even more force in the face of the North American context in which Cobain lived and against which he spoke out so many times. In the United States the law allows the carrying of weapons and in some states this is practically incentivized, so it is not surprising that a segment of youth come together to shoot, hunt, etc.
This relationship between fun and violence, embodied in American culture, is present throughout the song. Suffering and defeat itself become a game: "It's fun to lose and pretend." Here the tone of sarcasm is visible and, perhaps, the pleasure of self-destruction: the idea that you like what hurts.
For the subject, that generation was "bored and self-confident", believing in itself but not knowing what to do with his life.
Although there is no evidence, some interpretations suggest that by saying "she", Kurt was referring to the then girlfriend, Tobi Vail. The stormy relationship of the two, characterized more by political and philosophical conversations than by romance, is referred to in other compositions of the band.
The last verse, somewhat humorous, shows the end of an innocence that would have remained from the childhood of the now corrupted subject: "oh, no, I know a dirty expletive".
Bridge
Hello hello hello how low
Hello Hello hello
The bridge is a play on words. Kurt repeats "hello" until it becomes "how low" (which can be translated as "how low" or "how low would it go"). These verses, apparently so simple and absurd, in addition to having different interpretations, imply a derogatory tone.
One possible interpretation is that it is a critique of futile social relationships and contentless conversations. Another interpretation suggests that critics are targeting the music industry, ridiculing easy, repetitive choruses that have reached top-seller.
Thinking back to Kurt's biography, it is possible that he was also referring to his state of mind. His depression, which culminated in suicide, is documented in his songs and in his various writings. Some Nirvana fans think Cobain was sad and lonely.
Chorus
With the lights off it's less dangerous
Here we are now, it amuses us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, it amuses us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito
My libido
The beginning of the chorus confirms a danger suggested from the beginning. "With the lights off" you cannot see and that carries a false sense of comfort or security.
The verse illustrates a common thought among young people: the idea that if we are not aware of danger, it cannot attack us. This apology for unconsciousness takes on a sarcastic tone, although it can also be seen as a confession by the subject who is afraid to see reality.
The following verses can also be understood as someone's desperate confession or as a satire of society.
"Here we are now, it amuses us," he points out to an alienated youth who grew up in front of television and who prefers entertainment to information.
By declaring himself "stupid and contagious", the subject shows that this spirit of misinformation is collective as well as transmitted or encouraged by others.
The phrase can also be considered as an outlet for Cobain, who was afraid of infecting other people with his depression and did not know how to relate to fame and the public.
Some readings at the end suggest binary oppositions: "albino" as the opposite of "mulatto" and "mosquito", opposite of "libido", for being small.
Other interpretations suggest a possible list of images of what was outside the norm or that bothered society. A third perspective argues that it is a play on words, accentuating only the sound and not the meaning of the words.
Second stanza
I'm the worst at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group always existed
And he will always exist until the end
Here the identity between the subject and the composer Kurt Cobain seems to be consolidated, who lived for music but felt inferior to his idols. He admits that he is neither genius nor particularly talented. Although he claims that he feels "blessed" to be one of them, ironically this song eternalized Cobain as one of the biggest names in the world. rock.
The following lines could be a reference to the band itself, which was together before fame and would stay together when the success ended.
However, it can also be assumed that the verses refer to the socially excluded youth who congregate. Nirvana's claim is that these individuals are not going to change to fit into society. It makes sense if you think of punk culture itself, born out of the hand of the marginalized, survivor of fashion and marketing.
Third stanza
And I forget why I try
Oh yeah I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it was hard to find
Well, whatever, it doesn't matter
It is a fragmented and confused speech, as if the subject were speaking alone. The subject could be referring to his experience with drugs, which make him laugh and momentarily take him away from reality.
Kurt Cobain mentions heroin use in his songs and in his diaries and refers to it as something that brought him suffering despite instant pleasure. Another possible interpretation is that it refers to his relationship with music or with other people.
The verse "Well, whatever, forget it" acts as an interruption of the speech itself, as if the listener could not understand the message. This underscores his loneliness and inability to clearly express what he feels.
Final verse
A denial... (x9)
The third stanza could be understood as an apology for bohemian life, a means of escaping from problems. However, the final verse of the song that is repeated nine times contradicts this idea. Yes, you can play with danger, you can enjoy your own suffering, but this is only a denial of your own reality.
Behind all the youthful enthusiasm that Smells Like Teen Spirit transmits, pain, anguish, anger and the need for social transformation are evident.
Meaning of the song
Smells Like Teen Spirit became the most emblematic and representative song of the grunge, a subgenus of rock alternative that emerged in Seattle in the late 1980s. This genre was the channel to express rebellion, social alienation and the desire for liberation.
Due to its cryptic content, it is not easy to determine its meaning for sure. The theme can be understood, simultaneously, as a hymn of a generation and against a generation.
The song seems to sum up the inner conflicts of an "adolescent spirit": meaning and absurdity, faith and cynicism, enthusiasm and boredom.
Emphasizing the anger of youth, Nirvana gave voice to the dissatisfaction of the so-called generation X before society, resounding the desire for rebellion.
Despite all the ambitions for change, these young people remained alienated, inert, in denial. Or, in the words of Kurt Cobain: “The apathy of my generation. I am mad at her. I'm mad at my own apathy, too... "
Kurt Cobain: singer and lyricist of Nirvana
Kurt Donald Cobain was born in Aberdeen on February 20, 1967. His childhood was difficult, marked by poverty and the divorce of his parents. In his youth the rebellious spirit was born and Kurt dedicated himself to music and design.
In 1987 Cobain formed the band Nirvana with Krist Novoselic. Two years later they released their debut album, bleach. Nirvana had multiple members, and featured multiple drummers until 1990, when Dave Grohl joined the group.
In 1991 came Nevermind, the album that causes the band's stratospheric success. Kurt, who was shy and suffered from depression and chemical dependency, couldn't deal with the sudden fame. He did not expect to be anyone's idol or hero and, on the contrary, he believed that the messages of his songs were not understood by the public.
Smells Like Teen Spirit was the theme that launched the band to stardom, but Cobain didn't like it and several times he refused to play it.
Kurt explained his song in a very simple way, as if he wanted to undo the myth: “I was trying to write the best pop song. He was basically trying to copy the Pixies. I have to admit it".
On February 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain committed suicide with a shotgun shot to the head, leaving an entire generation in mourning. His words and his songs remain in time.
Check out the original video at this link:
(Text translated by Andrea Imaginario).
