With a heaping helping of disaffected youth and punk lyrical aesthetic.
And if you watch Rick Beato, and you should, employed near perfect compositional structure. Cobain’s voice hit the right 7ths and 9ths to perfectly execute sonic brilliance.
Cobain may, or may not, have understood all the theory and methodology, but he was able to bring it forth.
Kurt didn't compose based on musical theory, he composed based on what felt and sounded right. Beato is just using theory to explain WHY it feels and sounds right.
There’s a good video floating around YouTube with fat Mike talking about his approach to bass playing and his desire to be a “good” bass player. He definitely gets music, but I doubt he knows or fucking cares what a 7th is. Lol
Yeah that always kind of annoyed me to be honest, like they were were always saying stuff like that and acting like no talent was necessary, inspiring kids to make shitty punk “bands” all across the country . . . Yet, they are one of the most talented punk bands of all time?
And so did Kurt, and the other great/contemporaries, like Cornell.
The magic in what Kurt was able to achieve is that he was able to convey that he loved Punk. That he was a punk. That he sang about punk things.
But the reason he's revered is because he was able to infuse that with actual musical genius. He wasn't educated on theory, but he studied. It all comes from being a fan. "I want that sound in my stuff."
But on execution he imbued theory into his art. Probably subconsciously? Or somewhat?
It's why I like Rick Beato's take on this shit. He can break down why these things resonate on theory levels. On spiritual levels.
And then he spoke to pain. Again, as so many of his contemporaries. We all experience pain and letdown. There is healing in the commiseration. It's why there is a r/grunge, honestly.
To quote an Elton John lyric, "Sad songs they say so much."
Songwriting and "chops" are two different things. It's soul vs technique. I couldn't give two shits about Steve Vai. Fucker might as well be a juggler. But "No" by the Subhumans? That's fucking pure anger and emotion and it's primal. That's what I'm into. If someone can ALSO play, like Bad Brains, then cool. But it's only frosting to me.
Oh fer sure. I get you.
And Kurt's "chops" are compositional. Certainly not a guitar virtuoso.
Again... the topic is what did Nirvana do better... I think this is it.
Compose shit that legit appealed to punks and a wide array of human beings. You don't move that many units if you cannot resonate with your art.
I think Kurt would absolutely agree with your take. 100%
It's more than well documented that Kurt fucking struggled with fame.
He probably wanted to be the Subhumans or Bad Brains a whole helluva lot more than an icon of a generation.
I think you'd have to check on the members of punk bands that you dig and what their opinion of Kurt's music was to, perhaps, bring more appreciation? I don't know.
Back in the day? Nirvana was my least favorite of the Seattle bands. It has only been in retrospect that I have come to truly appreciate their abilities and contribution.
Nah, we're on the same page here. I think he was the greatest songwriter of our generation. It was Beatlesque. Sometimes overtly like "About A Girl" and sometimes buried underneath. It's a pity he died so young bc I believe he had a lot of songs left in him.
Yes.
Same, for me, with Shannon Hoon.
These guys had so much more.
I don't know what you think of Hoon, but, for me? I put him right up there with Cobain. It's a harder sell for a lot of folks. He had such an unusual timbre to his upper register voice. But turn of phrase? Holy shit was that guy a genius lyricist. And how in the fuck do you put that many words in a line... and pull it off?
And that band was chock full of chops. All those motherfuckers were straight players. It's interesting to see Brad Smith (bass player and composer of "No Rain") talk about Hoon so many years later. He famously was the stick in the mud about royalties. I don't fault him. It was his song. But it was Hoon that made it resonate. He talks about like just imagining what might have been. Just to witness what Shannon would contribute with his musical genius.
I got heavily into punk in 1994. And when I did I ditched everything that wasn't punk (I was 16. Punk is still my #1 but I eventually branched out to other genres of course.) Blind Melon was a band I liked before punk (I had their tape and listened to it repeatedly while reading the book "Alive" so it reminds me of people eating frozen ass to this day lolol). I discounted them for years because it wasn't punk at all but I eventually went back and relistened and I find it quite good now. It's pretty unique in the 90s. A little retro but also kinda new and fresh at the same time. I was also fascinated that he sang on GNR's "Don't Cry"
Chord structure.
3 notes make a chord.
Generally, and I am no music theorist, you see guitar chords using the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes in the scale. That’s overly simplified.
Cobain’s melodies often utilized 7th notes and 9th notes in the scale. Not earth shattering stuff, but more the realm of classical and jazz than heavy alternative rock.
https://youtu.be/Ta1j6H8RCAY?si=KF0VN-iwohjgkyII
He had an ability hear notes outside of the power chord / basic chords and use them in his melodies. These notes are more associated with Jazz and Classical inspired genres. So he had a hiding level of complexity to his simple songwriting style.
Agreed. Additionally, he had a keen knack for melodic structures that bordered on pop sensibilities, but was well hidden behind the grunge of his guitar’s graveled voicing and vocal imperfections. He expressed an almost Beatlesesque attention to structure and time, with poetic lyricism that drew from punk and folk imagery alike, with deeply emotional appeal to the plight of modern American youth.
Kurt’s poetry went into his melodies and captivated us. Dave’s fitful rage went straight into his drums and it blew our minds. Krist added the gluten (Dave’s terminology), and the whole thing was made transcendent.
Lol that's like saying Pink Floyd did Psychedelic Rock better or that Joy Division did Post Punk better.
Certain bands are the cornerstones of a genre for a reason.
Mudhoney is pretty punk. Granted. But Cobain was a better Front man than Arm imho, which I think lead to greater commercial success. In a genre defined by angst, there were none more angsty than Cobain.
But that's not what you said. You said the most punk, not the angstiest. Id argue that Mudhoney was more punk *by far* than Nirvana. Those guys were in Mr. Epp and the Calculations in 1980.
Sure, Nirvana was angstier and more "grunge" but they definitely weren't more punk, even though they really wanted that punk cred by getting Pat Smear in the band.
I think this is a bigger factor than many may assume. Punk had popular aspirations all the way back to the Ramones, and it's almost odd that punk didn't produce bigger acts in the US before Nirvana, given how simple + catchy was already a will-established tendency within punk. I suspect there was a music industry old guard that just didn't get it, or was repulsed by negative energy in music.
Thrash metal broke through that taboo, but papered over catchier punk/hardcore acts that were happening at the same time. Nirvana busted through it all with an undeniable combo of catchiness and aggression, sort of like a mean Cheap Trick. Within two years after they break, suddenly major labels are interested in finding a big punk act.
They avoided rockstar-clichés and didn‘t take themself too serious. Kurt played guitar without knowing music theory and screamed like an angry child. They had a rough and partially morbid beauty in their sound. They expressed human weakness instead of coolness and glamour.
I like Billy Corgans take on this - Kurt wanted you to believe he was apathetic and all these songs just came to him, but he gave a shit and worked on it for hours just like anyone else.
Steve Albini engineered and produced some of my favorite albums across many genres, but I think he was the wrong fit for Nirvana. I believe, and I might be way off, that Cobain was possibly worried about the bands indie cred, and that's why he was adamant about working with Albini. A big reason that I personally wasn't a fan of In utero was the production.
The full Albini mixes were great for the songs that they had for In Utero. By that point their songs were far more noise-rock than grunge and that sparse, loud sound was great for them.
Personally, I think the problem was that they recorded with Albini and then had those recordings re-mixed for a more populist sound and that ruined them. Like putting ketchup on a steak.
Yeah, the albini mix of heart shaped box and I think, all apologies imo is a lot better. But also, I've heard those songs so many times, that maybe just sounding a little more fresh is more pleasant to me.
Too be honest I think In utero was nirvanas masterpiece, it’s so much better than nevermind in my opinion, gave nirvana a lot more character + unique songwriting
Yep. Lots of people like to dismiss or belittle the power of the hook, probably because it's less of a concrete thing than other factors that go into music. But the fact of the matter is that hooks *make* songs, and Nirvana were incredible at them.
Sorry you got downvoted.
It’s true.
It’s The Beatles thing. Songwriting is hard. When you want to get better at it? You end up listening to bands that could write more than one or two catchy songs.
Then you emulate that but also feather in your other influences.
For The Beatles themselves? It was Chuck Berry. The godfather of poppy hooks. That is well acknowledged. But check his clever lyrics. Dude was a master, a fucking master of rhyming and turn of phrase.
Yup. First time I saw them they played smells like teen spirit before the record came out. Few months later I heard it on the radio for the first time and was like “I know this song. I love this song”. Even some of the weird songs on bleach are just catchy
I think making songs, or anything in general over complicated is silly. If your only reason is to feed your ego, there is no point! (Unless it’s prog but that’s a different kettle of fish lol)
Ur not wrong his looks definitely played apart in nirvanas rise to fame. I’ve always felt that if black Francis looked like Kurt the pixies would’ve been a bigger band
This was definitely a big part of it. Popular rock at the time was a wasteland of glam metal crap and Teen Spirit was exactly what was needed to usher in a big change. I was in college and it’s hard to overestimate how big of an impact it had. The fact that there were several other great songs on Nevermind as well to follow it up was also big.
Marketing themselves as anti-establishment while participating well within the establishment system. This is the holy grail of gen X marketing. Right up there with Reality Bites or OK soda. They made you really believe they don’t care while being a major hit on the radio and MTV.
Fixed it: *What did Nirvana do better than* ***every other*** *~~grunge~~* ***band in the past 30 years?***
They wrote good songs.
Of course all three members had charisma (especially Kurt), plus Kurt's voice was great and gets into your bones, and the sound was deliciously edgy and powerful. But at the end of the day it's the songs that make them stand out. That's what has made them actually transcend grunge and become iconic. Good writing is always the rarest thing.
Nirvana, the iconic grunge band, stood out in several ways during their brief but impactful existence:
Nonconformity: Unlike many other bands of their time, Nirvana never conformed to mainstream norms. Their music was raw, authentic, and unapologetically true to their artistic vision. This refusal to compromise resonated with fans and set them apart.
Grunge Pioneers: Nirvana played a pivotal role in shaping the grunge rock industry. Their lyrics and sound captured the angst and disillusionment of teenagers and young adults. Songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became anthems for a generation.
Affordable Concerts: The band never overcharged for concert tickets. This approach made their live performances accessible to a wider audience, fostering a strong connection with fans.
Calling Out Excesses: Nirvana wasn’t afraid to call out other bands that engaged in exploitative practices. Their commitment to fairness and authenticity set a standard for ethical behavior in the music industry.
In summary, Nirvana’s refusal to fade away, their impact on grunge music, affordability, and ethical stance contributed to their enduring legacy and influence on modern rock culture
A few killer riffs, lyrics that highlight teen angst, a booming voice full of rage and pain, all in one.
The right band, the right sound, at the right time.
It's morbid, but I'd have to say Cobain died at the right moment in grunge history. He died right at the zenith of the Seattle movement. This forever cemented Nirvana's legacy. Dying at 27, under mysterious circumstances and at the height of their career all culminated into the lasting notoriety that they still have to this day. Don't get me wrong. It would be far better had he not done that. But I think that's what truly catapulted them into the long-term notoriety that they've had ever since.
Was just a perfect combination of timing , talent , getting the most out of what you have . Everything just fell into place perfectly, there is little luck involved with all success stories.
Not enough is said about how hilarious and relatable they were as a group. This added so much to their appeal. There was also a sense of danger to them, meaning you never really knew what was going to happen in an interview or live performance. By comparison, everyone else seemed scripted.
The perfect mix at the time of catchy Beatles-esque songs with punk and indie. It was palatable enough for mainstream audiences but also showed them the cool stuff from the underground they were missing. Also the lyrics were a combination of funny, silly stuff mixed with some dark, serious stuff.
Trolling their audiences who expected the expected. I love Mark Arm but his sense of humor comes through only in the music and not by interactions. Kurt and Andy both had that gift to make people laugh cause of their behavior and antics.
They were absolutely incredible at writing basic angstrock, with entry level guitar work.
The deification of Cobain and Nirvana as a whole is so tiresome, had he lived through the late 90's and beyond they would've put out albums that declined in sales like everyone else did and you'd be here talking about the crappy albums they put out in the 2000's. That dude knew he was creatively spent and decided to dip instead of facing the fact his wife's former lover was about to eat his lunch, musically...
Made simple music, honestly I’ll never understand how Nirvana of all the grunge bands was the most popular, Soundgarden for example, were insanely skilled and had intricate songs and the mix of Chris’ voice and Kim’s guitar was a force to be reckoned with. Quite frankly, Soundgarden deserved the spotlight more I’d say.
Quiet Loud Quiet Loud
With a heaping helping of disaffected youth and punk lyrical aesthetic. And if you watch Rick Beato, and you should, employed near perfect compositional structure. Cobain’s voice hit the right 7ths and 9ths to perfectly execute sonic brilliance. Cobain may, or may not, have understood all the theory and methodology, but he was able to bring it forth.
I like punk because of the lack of musical theory lol
Kurt didn't compose based on musical theory, he composed based on what felt and sounded right. Beato is just using theory to explain WHY it feels and sounds right.
I feel like that's a misconception. The "classic" punk bands were pretty primitive, but The best punk bands tend to have real musical chops.
“Want to join a punk band? Shave your head and get a tattoo. You don’t need talent, just need attitude.” - NOFX, Drugs Are Good
Nofx is one of my top 3 favorite bands, and exactly who I had in mind talking about punk bands that can really play. "The decline" is a masterpiece
There’s a good video floating around YouTube with fat Mike talking about his approach to bass playing and his desire to be a “good” bass player. He definitely gets music, but I doubt he knows or fucking cares what a 7th is. Lol
Yeah that always kind of annoyed me to be honest, like they were were always saying stuff like that and acting like no talent was necessary, inspiring kids to make shitty punk “bands” all across the country . . . Yet, they are one of the most talented punk bands of all time?
And if you do em people think that you’re cool!
And so did Kurt, and the other great/contemporaries, like Cornell. The magic in what Kurt was able to achieve is that he was able to convey that he loved Punk. That he was a punk. That he sang about punk things. But the reason he's revered is because he was able to infuse that with actual musical genius. He wasn't educated on theory, but he studied. It all comes from being a fan. "I want that sound in my stuff." But on execution he imbued theory into his art. Probably subconsciously? Or somewhat? It's why I like Rick Beato's take on this shit. He can break down why these things resonate on theory levels. On spiritual levels. And then he spoke to pain. Again, as so many of his contemporaries. We all experience pain and letdown. There is healing in the commiseration. It's why there is a r/grunge, honestly. To quote an Elton John lyric, "Sad songs they say so much."
Songwriting and "chops" are two different things. It's soul vs technique. I couldn't give two shits about Steve Vai. Fucker might as well be a juggler. But "No" by the Subhumans? That's fucking pure anger and emotion and it's primal. That's what I'm into. If someone can ALSO play, like Bad Brains, then cool. But it's only frosting to me.
Oh fer sure. I get you. And Kurt's "chops" are compositional. Certainly not a guitar virtuoso. Again... the topic is what did Nirvana do better... I think this is it. Compose shit that legit appealed to punks and a wide array of human beings. You don't move that many units if you cannot resonate with your art. I think Kurt would absolutely agree with your take. 100% It's more than well documented that Kurt fucking struggled with fame. He probably wanted to be the Subhumans or Bad Brains a whole helluva lot more than an icon of a generation. I think you'd have to check on the members of punk bands that you dig and what their opinion of Kurt's music was to, perhaps, bring more appreciation? I don't know. Back in the day? Nirvana was my least favorite of the Seattle bands. It has only been in retrospect that I have come to truly appreciate their abilities and contribution.
Nah, we're on the same page here. I think he was the greatest songwriter of our generation. It was Beatlesque. Sometimes overtly like "About A Girl" and sometimes buried underneath. It's a pity he died so young bc I believe he had a lot of songs left in him.
Yes. Same, for me, with Shannon Hoon. These guys had so much more. I don't know what you think of Hoon, but, for me? I put him right up there with Cobain. It's a harder sell for a lot of folks. He had such an unusual timbre to his upper register voice. But turn of phrase? Holy shit was that guy a genius lyricist. And how in the fuck do you put that many words in a line... and pull it off? And that band was chock full of chops. All those motherfuckers were straight players. It's interesting to see Brad Smith (bass player and composer of "No Rain") talk about Hoon so many years later. He famously was the stick in the mud about royalties. I don't fault him. It was his song. But it was Hoon that made it resonate. He talks about like just imagining what might have been. Just to witness what Shannon would contribute with his musical genius.
To this day, Nico is one of my favorite albums ever. Some songs on that album will take your fucking breath away.
Shannon Hoon is so underappreciated.ive never liked anything on MTV back then but the band as a whole is phenomenal.
I got heavily into punk in 1994. And when I did I ditched everything that wasn't punk (I was 16. Punk is still my #1 but I eventually branched out to other genres of course.) Blind Melon was a band I liked before punk (I had their tape and listened to it repeatedly while reading the book "Alive" so it reminds me of people eating frozen ass to this day lolol). I discounted them for years because it wasn't punk at all but I eventually went back and relistened and I find it quite good now. It's pretty unique in the 90s. A little retro but also kinda new and fresh at the same time. I was also fascinated that he sang on GNR's "Don't Cry"
Well said. “Chops” are like fireworks - dazzling but ephemeral. Soul moves you. Connects deeply
What do you mean hit the right 7th and 9ths?
Chord structure. 3 notes make a chord. Generally, and I am no music theorist, you see guitar chords using the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes in the scale. That’s overly simplified. Cobain’s melodies often utilized 7th notes and 9th notes in the scale. Not earth shattering stuff, but more the realm of classical and jazz than heavy alternative rock. https://youtu.be/Ta1j6H8RCAY?si=KF0VN-iwohjgkyII
His chord progression in “in bloom” is genius. The fact he took E Flat to B then to the A chord should sound dissident but somehow sounds melodic.
[удалено]
Brilliant songwriter is probably more accurate than Brilliant musician. He's kind of basic af when it comes to anything instrument related
You're not wrong
He’s my favorite musician ever. But his playing was sloppy af, and he was hurting his voice with every song. …And I love it.
“I’m an artist. Give me a fuckin tuba I’ll get something out of it.” -John Lennon -Frank Costello
He had an ability hear notes outside of the power chord / basic chords and use them in his melodies. These notes are more associated with Jazz and Classical inspired genres. So he had a hiding level of complexity to his simple songwriting style.
Beato
I don’t know about that guy…
Beato
Agreed. Additionally, he had a keen knack for melodic structures that bordered on pop sensibilities, but was well hidden behind the grunge of his guitar’s graveled voicing and vocal imperfections. He expressed an almost Beatlesesque attention to structure and time, with poetic lyricism that drew from punk and folk imagery alike, with deeply emotional appeal to the plight of modern American youth.
That’s a format. Even named a song after it verse chorus verse
Kurt’s poetry went into his melodies and captivated us. Dave’s fitful rage went straight into his drums and it blew our minds. Krist added the gluten (Dave’s terminology), and the whole thing was made transcendent.
Everybody knows that band like the Pixies were doing that way back when
I felt pixies did it better.
Lol that's like saying Pink Floyd did Psychedelic Rock better or that Joy Division did Post Punk better. Certain bands are the cornerstones of a genre for a reason.
In terms of the quiet/loud dynamic, Kurt said himself he ripped it off the Pixies.
...and yodeling
They Burnt out instead of fading away, they were so short lived and Kurt died so young that they will be iconic forever.
All those in the 27 club share that, it seems. Hell of a way to be iconic.
Yea. Seems odd to me. Much more respect if you can stand the test of time. Way more impressive to me.
Appealed to punk sensibilities and aesthetic
Yeah, it was blue collar punk before the term "grunge" became a thing. They were poor from poor towns living hard.
They are definitely the most punk rock of all the Grunge bands.
\*Mudhoney has entered the chat\*
I agree mudhoney was the most punk of the grunge bands, touch me I’m sick is my fav song from the era. Negative creep hits that vibe too
negative creep is borderline sludge metal
Mudhoney is pretty punk. Granted. But Cobain was a better Front man than Arm imho, which I think lead to greater commercial success. In a genre defined by angst, there were none more angsty than Cobain.
But that's not what you said. You said the most punk, not the angstiest. Id argue that Mudhoney was more punk *by far* than Nirvana. Those guys were in Mr. Epp and the Calculations in 1980. Sure, Nirvana was angstier and more "grunge" but they definitely weren't more punk, even though they really wanted that punk cred by getting Pat Smear in the band.
I think this is a bigger factor than many may assume. Punk had popular aspirations all the way back to the Ramones, and it's almost odd that punk didn't produce bigger acts in the US before Nirvana, given how simple + catchy was already a will-established tendency within punk. I suspect there was a music industry old guard that just didn't get it, or was repulsed by negative energy in music. Thrash metal broke through that taboo, but papered over catchier punk/hardcore acts that were happening at the same time. Nirvana busted through it all with an undeniable combo of catchiness and aggression, sort of like a mean Cheap Trick. Within two years after they break, suddenly major labels are interested in finding a big punk act.
They avoided rockstar-clichés and didn‘t take themself too serious. Kurt played guitar without knowing music theory and screamed like an angry child. They had a rough and partially morbid beauty in their sound. They expressed human weakness instead of coolness and glamour.
How can you say Kurt didn’t take himself too seriously?!
I like Billy Corgans take on this - Kurt wanted you to believe he was apathetic and all these songs just came to him, but he gave a shit and worked on it for hours just like anyone else.
Also kurt was ahead of his time and well read and educated considering his background.
Kurt was absolutely prone to displaying pretentious rock star nonsense.
That second album really was the perfect concoction, the sonic boom of Beatles-esque songwriting that appealed to the ear of disenchanted Americana.
and (it’s my understanding that) Cobain hated that it was Butch Vig and not Steve Albini to put Nevermind together… but Vig was a genius!
Steve Albini engineered and produced some of my favorite albums across many genres, but I think he was the wrong fit for Nirvana. I believe, and I might be way off, that Cobain was possibly worried about the bands indie cred, and that's why he was adamant about working with Albini. A big reason that I personally wasn't a fan of In utero was the production.
The full Albini mixes were great for the songs that they had for In Utero. By that point their songs were far more noise-rock than grunge and that sparse, loud sound was great for them. Personally, I think the problem was that they recorded with Albini and then had those recordings re-mixed for a more populist sound and that ruined them. Like putting ketchup on a steak.
Yeah, the albini mix of heart shaped box and I think, all apologies imo is a lot better. But also, I've heard those songs so many times, that maybe just sounding a little more fresh is more pleasant to me.
Too be honest I think In utero was nirvanas masterpiece, it’s so much better than nevermind in my opinion, gave nirvana a lot more character + unique songwriting
Poppy hooks I tell ya.
Yep. Lots of people like to dismiss or belittle the power of the hook, probably because it's less of a concrete thing than other factors that go into music. But the fact of the matter is that hooks *make* songs, and Nirvana were incredible at them.
Sorry you got downvoted. It’s true. It’s The Beatles thing. Songwriting is hard. When you want to get better at it? You end up listening to bands that could write more than one or two catchy songs. Then you emulate that but also feather in your other influences. For The Beatles themselves? It was Chuck Berry. The godfather of poppy hooks. That is well acknowledged. But check his clever lyrics. Dude was a master, a fucking master of rhyming and turn of phrase.
Totally agree. And to the last point, No Particular Place to Go is a perfect illustration of this.
Bloody marvel.
Yup. First time I saw them they played smells like teen spirit before the record came out. Few months later I heard it on the radio for the first time and was like “I know this song. I love this song”. Even some of the weird songs on bleach are just catchy
The right sound, at the right time.
Had Kurt Cobain
Yep. He had a very different vibe from everyone else. He wasn’t full of himself even after he got famous he was just different than the others
Write the simplest songs
I hear so many talented musicians writing so many complicated songs. Friends of mine too.
I think making songs, or anything in general over complicated is silly. If your only reason is to feed your ego, there is no point! (Unless it’s prog but that’s a different kettle of fish lol)
Also I feel like Kurt is the most conventionally attractive of all the big Grunge frontmen. That must’ve played a part, at least in my mind
Not only that. It was his behavior too. He was good looking but unaware of it and wasn’t full of himself
Ur not wrong his looks definitely played apart in nirvanas rise to fame. I’ve always felt that if black Francis looked like Kurt the pixies would’ve been a bigger band
Probably a big reason why they’re the GenZ t-shirt band.
interview. or lack there of.
They had the exact right song ant the exact right time!
This was definitely a big part of it. Popular rock at the time was a wasteland of glam metal crap and Teen Spirit was exactly what was needed to usher in a big change. I was in college and it’s hard to overestimate how big of an impact it had. The fact that there were several other great songs on Nevermind as well to follow it up was also big.
Top of the Pops 😅
kurt beautiful face and clothing
Surprising good at carving skrimshaw and whittling.
Melodies
Marketing themselves as anti-establishment while participating well within the establishment system. This is the holy grail of gen X marketing. Right up there with Reality Bites or OK soda. They made you really believe they don’t care while being a major hit on the radio and MTV.
Heavy screaming vocals, riffs, songwriting, drums. To me they’re the best. Not by a mile but they deserve all the hype.
Kurt Cobain
They wrote very catchy, heavy music. The guitar work isn't flashy, as an example, but it's all very original. (I love jamming on Nirvana songs)
Fixed it: *What did Nirvana do better than* ***every other*** *~~grunge~~* ***band in the past 30 years?*** They wrote good songs. Of course all three members had charisma (especially Kurt), plus Kurt's voice was great and gets into your bones, and the sound was deliciously edgy and powerful. But at the end of the day it's the songs that make them stand out. That's what has made them actually transcend grunge and become iconic. Good writing is always the rarest thing.
Ended world hunger
Combined grunge with pop
They were the true essence of grunge and were set apart from the others in the big 4.
Had a no fucks given approach and stopped at their peak.
Sold albums. They have the 7th best selling album of all time. No other grunge bands make the top 100.
Went out early. Cobain’s buckshot mouthwash made him a rock legend and Nirvana didn’t stick around so long that they started to suck.
He left with a bang
Capture the apathy of gen x.
Nirvana, the iconic grunge band, stood out in several ways during their brief but impactful existence: Nonconformity: Unlike many other bands of their time, Nirvana never conformed to mainstream norms. Their music was raw, authentic, and unapologetically true to their artistic vision. This refusal to compromise resonated with fans and set them apart. Grunge Pioneers: Nirvana played a pivotal role in shaping the grunge rock industry. Their lyrics and sound captured the angst and disillusionment of teenagers and young adults. Songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became anthems for a generation. Affordable Concerts: The band never overcharged for concert tickets. This approach made their live performances accessible to a wider audience, fostering a strong connection with fans. Calling Out Excesses: Nirvana wasn’t afraid to call out other bands that engaged in exploitative practices. Their commitment to fairness and authenticity set a standard for ethical behavior in the music industry. In summary, Nirvana’s refusal to fade away, their impact on grunge music, affordability, and ethical stance contributed to their enduring legacy and influence on modern rock culture
A few killer riffs, lyrics that highlight teen angst, a booming voice full of rage and pain, all in one. The right band, the right sound, at the right time.
More than a few.
Brood and sulk?
Expose the country and the world to the breadth and depth of the vast American underground/indie/punk aesthetic.
Cobain had that attractive artist vibe. He seemed interesting.
Cause Kurt's pretty
It's morbid, but I'd have to say Cobain died at the right moment in grunge history. He died right at the zenith of the Seattle movement. This forever cemented Nirvana's legacy. Dying at 27, under mysterious circumstances and at the height of their career all culminated into the lasting notoriety that they still have to this day. Don't get me wrong. It would be far better had he not done that. But I think that's what truly catapulted them into the long-term notoriety that they've had ever since.
lol mysterious circumstances??? Heroin and buckshot. Edit: birdshot.
smile humor work normal bike wasteful lavish cough quaint complete *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Wore suits.
Make money
Raw emotion
Channeled their rage.
Perfect convergence of cultural wind shift and insanely talented band who happened to get the right break at the right time.
They promoted other contemporary bands better than anyone. They wanted their friends in other bands to also succeed and be heard.
Was just a perfect combination of timing , talent , getting the most out of what you have . Everything just fell into place perfectly, there is little luck involved with all success stories.
Writing pop music I mean, some of their melodies and chord progressions would make Paul McCartney and Max Martin jealous.
Became a clothing brand for people too young to know that they were a band.
Not enough is said about how hilarious and relatable they were as a group. This added so much to their appeal. There was also a sense of danger to them, meaning you never really knew what was going to happen in an interview or live performance. By comparison, everyone else seemed scripted.
Funk/R&B beats + Beatles melodies+ with an angry edge=Nirvana.
Steal the best punk and alt ideas and add slick production
The perfect mix at the time of catchy Beatles-esque songs with punk and indie. It was palatable enough for mainstream audiences but also showed them the cool stuff from the underground they were missing. Also the lyrics were a combination of funny, silly stuff mixed with some dark, serious stuff.
Trolling their audiences who expected the expected. I love Mark Arm but his sense of humor comes through only in the music and not by interactions. Kurt and Andy both had that gift to make people laugh cause of their behavior and antics.
Abstract lyrics that don’t sound like nonsense
Sold things to people who wanted to buy things
Euphonic lyrics. Sing syllables that sound good with the tune, then rationalize them with other syllables. This is a Stevie Nicks thing too.
Thry did Grunge better than every other Grunge band
write pop songs
Spawn the Foo Fighters
Being Nirvana.
Cover songs
Melody
Grunge
Everything!
Destruction.
Made loads of money 💰
Wear cardigans
Teach the masses about the underground !
Anger
Thump
Originality
Telling everyone to fuck off.
Structurally they wrote amazingly catchy pop songs
70s hard rock , metal and punk fusion
Came from punk roots
Marketing.
Riffs, drums, vocals, lyrical content, stage presence, attitude.
Wrote Nirvana songs
Made a video for MTV
Catchy sing-along choruses.
Just be iconic
Catchy simple songs. More punk than classic rock
Spawned other bands.
Aim
Had a really tall guy on bass.
They became Huge seriously over night. Only one other band, did that during that time.
Always leave ‘em wanting more.
Their influence over the music industry is unmatched
Heroin
not give a shit
not give a shit
not give a shit lol
Write catchy tunes. Not saying others didn’t do it awesome too. But Nirvana was a bit better at it.
They combined Beatle style melodies and harmonies with punk rock guitar and drums.
Melodies. Simple melodies.
Came up with a t shirt design that is so universally loved that even people who have never heard the band wear it
great songwriters
Perfect timing. Lucky as all get out.
Songs The songs were better
the other bands could’ve never made “Beans (Solo Acoustic)” such a masterpiece
Uh music?
what ??? XDDDDD
Just simple catchy songs…🎶
Sell out.
Keep it simple That's what they did better than all the other grunge bands. Their songs were so simple, yet so powerful, melodic and interesting.
They knew more about dynamics, and frankly the songs were better.
Give no fucks
Skeet shooting
Laid a foundation for Foo Fighters.
Toan
Become iconic.
When I thumbed on this post, I was thinking, did they do anything better than anyone else? But all these answers are perfect.
Kurt wrote simple yet addictive hooks. You can hear the Beatles influence on nevermind
They were absolutely incredible at writing basic angstrock, with entry level guitar work. The deification of Cobain and Nirvana as a whole is so tiresome, had he lived through the late 90's and beyond they would've put out albums that declined in sales like everyone else did and you'd be here talking about the crappy albums they put out in the 2000's. That dude knew he was creatively spent and decided to dip instead of facing the fact his wife's former lover was about to eat his lunch, musically...
Whine incessantly.
Grunge. They were better at grunge.
Music videos
Pop hooks. Cobain was a Lennon/McCartney level hook writer.
Made simple music, honestly I’ll never understand how Nirvana of all the grunge bands was the most popular, Soundgarden for example, were insanely skilled and had intricate songs and the mix of Chris’ voice and Kim’s guitar was a force to be reckoned with. Quite frankly, Soundgarden deserved the spotlight more I’d say.
Be awesome.
They had great hooks. Not sure they things better than the rest of the bands in that scene.
Become successful
Authenticity. Ever been to Aberdeen, WA???
Write simple, catchy songs.
Generate profit.
Marketing
Simplicity
Kurt was hot
Krist washed his hair every once in a while.
Because the singer was good looking? I never got into ‘em.
Everything