3 Facts You May Not Know About Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’

On September 24, 1991, Nirvana released their major label debut, Nevermind. Released through DGC Records, the label didn’t initially expect the album to perform as well as it did. It was the first to feature Dave Grohl on drums, creating the iconic trio the band was known for. The band found underground success with their debut, Bleach, in 1989. Bleach is still the most successful release through Sub Pop Records, and it set the band on track to the fame they received with Nevermind. The album pushed grunge into the mainstream and gave the 1990s an identity. Here are 3 facts you may not know about Nirvana’s iconic album, Nevermind.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” Was a Reference to Deodorant

The album’s first single release is a large part of why the album blew up. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was released on September 10, 1991, and peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached No. 1 on the Alternative Airplay chart and peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles chart. Nirvana’s highest-charting hit wasn’t about rebellious teenagers, as many assumed upon release. The origin of the song comes from Bikini Kill’s frontwoman Kathleen Hanna, who spray-painted “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit” on Cobain’s wall. This was a reference to women’s deodorant, which was worn by Cobain’s then-girlfriend Tobi Vail.

Kurt Cobain didn’t catch the reference, instead assuming it was a phrase for rebellion. As a teenager, Cobain was obsessed with the 1979 film Over The Edge. It was a film about bored and neglected teenagers holding their parents and teachers hostage, inciting a riot around the town. Cobain drew inspiration from the film for the lyrical content and the music video for the track. Ultimately, the song was a reference to deodorant but took on a whole new meaning.

The John Lennon Trick on Kurt Cobain’s Vocals

Initially, Kurt Cobain was hesitant to double-track his vocals. He felt it would sound too fake, and he refused. Producer Butch Vig convinced Kurt Cobain of the technique, citing John Lennon’s use of double tracking. Cobain admired Lennon, so this effectively convinced him. This vocal double-tracking technique helped create the album’s signature sound and gave the songs the thickness they needed. Ultimately, Cobain had many qualms about Vig’s production on Nevermind. But it was Vig’s production that gave the album proper airplay on the radio and fueled the album’s popularity. The double-tracking technique was effective, allowing Kurt’s vocals to cut through heavy, distorted guitar. On the album’s softest song, “Something In The Way”, the double-tracking technique gave the song’s chorus a Beatles-like effect.

“In Bloom” Was About the Band’s Frustration With Their Own Fans

“In Bloom” was the fourth and final single released from Nevermind. Initially, many listeners missed the point of the track. Cobain wrote the song about their own fanbase, who liked the band’s loud and aggressive sound but missed the message of the band. Nirvana was considered ahead of its time when it came to social issues. The band carried messages of feminism and anti-homophobia that went right over the majority of their fans’ heads at the time. “In Bloom” serves as a call-out, along with the music video released. In the music video, the band wears dresses and parodies 1960s variety shows. This brilliantly mocked their macho and sometimes aggressive fanbase at the time.

It was around this time that Kurt Cobain famously stated, “I’m not gay, although I wish I were, just to piss off the homophobes.” Cobain was decades ahead of his time in saying this, paired with the release of “In Bloom”.