Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is the anthem of the era of nineties grunge. When you listen closely, the raw angst that made the song a hit is still very present. Cobain’s indignant croons as he repeats “Hello, hello, hello, how low” communicates the pent-up frustration that stirs inside the restless youth. An angry cadence of drums launches Cobain’s croons into crazed vocals pointed at anyone who dares to listen. The title does this song justice. It reeks of the vexed teenage attitudes that fueled the nineties grunge era. Nirvana’s ability to let modern listeners understand the “spirit of time and the place” that their music came from establishes them as a true mouthpiece of the nineties (Lomax 204). Angst is universal; therefore, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is timeless for anyone who has suffered from the great frustration of being fed up with the world. I encourage you to give it a listen and reflect on the fiery frustrations of being young.
