Nirvana Song Called Best of Past 25 Years

SF4-EVER · Jun 11, 2003, 04:37 AM

LINK to story.

BY CHRISTY LEMIRE, AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK - Here they are now, entertaining us — or at least entertaining VH1, which named Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" the greatest song of the past quarter-century. The Seattle band's groundbreaking grunge anthem is No. 1 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years."

The whole countdown will air over five nights, starting at 10 p.m. EDT Monday on the video music channel. The series will feature clips of videos and performances by the artists along with interviews from musicians and celebrities discussing why the songs matter.

Of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan said: "That was really a breakthrough for a great scene that had been going on for a long time up in Seattle. And it was kind of another victory, I think, for a misunderstood music, you know. The dam broke when 'Teen Spirit' came out."

While no one performer or group dominated the countdown, which was chosen by a panel of VH1 executives, several had two songs featured.

Michael Jackson had the second-highest song, "Billie Jean," and was at No. 40 with "Beat It." Eminem reached No. 4 with "Lose Yourself," while his "My Name Is" was No. 85. Madonna's "Like a Virgin" was No. 10 and her "Ray of Light" was No. 100.

Rounding out the top 10 were "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses, "One" by U2, "Walk This Way" by Run-D.M.C., "When Doves Cry" by Prince, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston and "Every Breath You Take" by The Police.

In May 2001, VH1 picked the 100 greatest videos of all time; Jackson's "Thriller," a 17-minute mini-movie, was No. 1, but it didn't even make the list this time.

Mona_J · Jun 11, 2003, 01:01 PM

What? I don't think it's that good.
My friend, who is a huge Nirvana-fan, said, that she doesn't like Smells Like Teen Spirit, because it's so overplayed and overrated.

ChrisG134 · Jun 11, 2003, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By Magill:
I'm sorry, but yeah, 'Teen Spirit' is a crankin' song..the best of the past 25 years?!? C'MON! Couldn't they come up with something better than that?

No way, that's a Great song!It is one the best Rock songs ever!I can't think of anything better.

Hari Krishna · Jun 11, 2003, 01:43 PM

All right, as much as I love Nirvana and their music, it's not the best song in a quarter-century. I mean, a song about angst and depression is the best? Why not a song about peace or had a profound impact on our society, something that everyone knows.

Magill · Jun 11, 2003, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By ChrisG134:
<blockquote>Quote:<hr />Originally Posted By Magill:
I'm sorry, but yeah, 'Teen Spirit' is a crankin' song..the best of the past 25 years?!? C'MON! Couldn't they come up with something better than that?

No way, that's a Great song! It is one the best Rock songs ever!I can't think of anything better.<hr /></blockquote>And if I was still a metalhead, I'd probably agree. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] I do like the song, but it is overplayed, especially here in So-CA. I can think of better songs. But really. These are the same guys who ranked the Beatles at #25 (or whatever it was) on the "100 Sexiest Artist" list. What the heck do they know?

Rellevart · Jun 11, 2003, 01:53 PM

Depends on the age range you're talking about too. I know that Nirvana had a HUGE impact on my friends who are 10-15 years younger than I am and virtually NO impact on people my age. I bet not more than one or two of my friends who are my age could even sing one line of it. Oh well, at least it's a better choice than "Sweet Child O Mine" (BLECH!!!!!) or "I-E-I-E-I Will Always Love Youuuuuuuuuuuuuu" (double BLECH!).

ringo_rama · Jun 11, 2003, 03:20 PM

So how old are you Rellevart? Just want to see if your theory is correct. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

ImaginePeace78 · Jun 11, 2003, 03:50 PM

Yes, Nirvana had an impact in music, but the best? Not a chance! Yeah, a lot of people in my age range really like the song (when it came out--almost ten years ago now), but I didn't really care for it.
-Kristi

IWantToTellYou · Jun 11, 2003, 05:42 PM

This was my exact expression when I read this:

[img]graemlins/images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Puh-leeease! Nirvana? "Smells Like Teen Spirit"? Is that they best they could come up with? 25 years of music, and the best song out of all of those 25 years is "Smells Like Teen Spirit"? Good grief...What is this world coming to?!?

SF4-EVER · Jun 11, 2003, 08:15 PM

Personally, I prefer Weird Al's "Smells Like Nirvana."

Magill · Jun 11, 2003, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By SF4-EVER:
Personally, I prefer Weird Al's "Smells Like Nirvana."

[img]graemlins/laugh2.gif[/img]

HeyBeatle · Jun 11, 2003, 11:09 PM

I never understand those countdowns. I don't think you can judge the last 25 years because the last ten have yet to show exactly what their long term impact is.

Magill · Jun 11, 2003, 11:23 PM

I'm sorry, but yeah, 'Teen Spirit' is a crankin' song..the best of the past 25 years?!? C'MON! Couldn't they come up with something better than that?

ringo_rama · Jun 11, 2003, 11:49 PM

I agree with them, it's an influential song and Nirvana rules, so it does deserve the top spot.

Did you really think any of the Beatles' solo work would make it (besides Lennon at 72)?

Rellevart · Jun 12, 2003, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted By ringo_rama:
So how old are you Rellevart? Just want to see if your theory is correct. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

A woman never reveals.... [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

No, seriously, I'm 40-ish. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

HMVNipper · Jun 12, 2003, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted By ringo_rama:

Did you really think any of the Beatles' solo work would make it (besides Lennon at 72)?

No, actually, I didn't...and of ALL the solo songs they could have chosen, THAT one wouldn't be my top pick in any case.

That said, I can't stand Nirvana at all anyway, and I'm with Rell when she says it didn't make much of an impact on people our age. (Rell and I are in the same general age area.) But I also admit that I don't like very much of the music of the past 25 years anyway...give me the oldies anytime! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

leonardobeat · Jun 12, 2003, 07:45 AM

I like Nirvana...

Spirit is a good song, powerfull and awesome and I love that chorus: "Hello hello hello how low..."

However that's not the best song of the band, from a personal point of view I think that song has to be "Come as you are" or "On a plain".

I really couldn't say if Nirvana made the best song of the past 25 years because there are a lot of good songs written mostly by One Hit Wonders but I'm sure that Kurt's band is the best one after The Beatles.

People say that Nirvana is overrated and overplayed. Ok, no one denies that but aren't the Stones and even The Beatles overrated and overplayed too?

You could say "Hey cmon, Beatles are Beatles, there's no comparation" Agreed too but I don't understand people anyways, when you tell them about the best bands after The Beatles they always look for an excuse to disqualify.
If those bands are overrated they ignore them.
If those bands were an influence they inmediatly say that the Beatles were a bigger influence,
If those bands did drugs or suicide they invoke to the holy spirit to reject them like
cowardly rats without force to stand their pains.

I wonder if The Beatles never did drugs and adultery (John and George, oh yes, even the one who sang Hari Krishna) when they were the biggest influence in the world.

So I think that makes no sense when people talk bad things about a band of a musician if they don't base their comments on musical terms.

[size="1"][ Jun 12, 2003, 08:49 AM: Message Edited By: leonardobeat ][/size]

ChrisG134 · Jun 12, 2003, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By Magill:
<blockquote>Quote:<hr />Originally Posted By ChrisG134:
<blockquote>Quote:<hr />Originally Posted By Magill:
I'm sorry, but yeah, 'Teen Spirit' is a crankin' song..the best of the past 25 years?!? C'MON! Couldn't they come up with something better than that?

No way, that's a Great song! It is one the best Rock songs ever!I can't think of anything better.<hr /></blockquote>And if I was still a metalhead, I'd probably agree. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] I do like the song, but it is overplayed, especially here in So-CA. I can think of better songs. But really. These are the same guys who ranked the Beatles at #25 (or whatever it was) on the "100 Sexiest Artist" list. What the heck do they know?<hr /></blockquote>These are also the same people who ranked The Beatles the best rock artists and they also had the #1 ranked rock album of all time and they also had 4 of the top 10 albums of all time.So they can't be that bad.

ringo_rama · Jun 12, 2003, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By SF4-EVER:
Personally, I prefer Weird Al's "Smells Like Nirvana."

Actually, I have to agree. The lyrics are better, at least.

And Rellevart, I'm in the 20-25 years younger range then...

Clark Kent · Jun 13, 2003, 02:49 AM

Nirvana mean absolutely nothing to me.