Smells Like Teen Spirit (Song)

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band's second album, *Nevermind* (1991), released on DGC Records. The unexpected success of the song propelled *Nevermind* to the top of several albums charts at the start of 1992, an event often marked as the point when grunge entered the mainstream. It was Nirvana's biggest hit, charting high on music industry charts around the world in 1991 and 1992; and was number one the charts in Belgium, France, New Zealand and Spain. It was met with wide critical acclaim, and described as an "anthem for apathetic kids" of Generation X. Although Nirvana grew uncomfortable with the mainstream and commercial attention the song brought to them, listeners and critics continue to praise "Smells Like Teen Spirit" as one of the greatest songs of all time.

The music video for the song is based on the concept of a high school pep rally which ends in chaos and riot, inspired by Jonathan Kaplan's 1979 film *Over the Edge* and the Ramones' film *Rock 'n' Roll High School*. It won two MTV Video Music Awards, and was in heavy rotation on music television. In subsequent years Amy Finnerty, formerly of MTV's programming department, claimed the video "changed the entire look of MTV" by giving the channel "a whole new generation to sell to". In 2000, the *Guinness World Records* named "Smells Like Teen Spirit" the "Most Played Video" on MTV Europe.

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. In 2001, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) ranked the song at number 80 on their Songs of the Century list. In 2002, *NME* ranked the song the number two on its list of "100 Greatest Singles of All Time", while *Kerrang!* ranked it at number one on its list of the "100 Greatest Singles of All Time". In 2021, *Rolling Stone* ranked "Smells Like Teen Spirit" fifth on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2017, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

## Lyrics

* Load up on guns, bring your friends
* It's fun to lose and to pretend
* She's over bored and self assured
* Oh no, I know a dirty word
* Hello, hello, hello, how low
* Hello, hello, hello, how low
* Hello, hello, hello, how low
* Hello, hello, hello
* 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, hey
* Yay
* 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, how low
* Hello, hello, hello, how low
* Hello, hello, hello
* 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, hey
* Yay
* And I forget just why I taste
* Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
* I found it hard, was hard to find
* Oh well, whatever, never mind
* Hello, hello, hello, how low
* Hello, hello, hello, how low
* Hello, hello, hello, how low
* Hello, hello, hello
* 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
* A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
* A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial