Posted on 06/10/2003 5:14:42 PM PDT by Drew68
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.
Related Links:
• 100 Greatest Songs (VH1)
Interesting that I find myself more and more listening to jazz and swing music over the last five to ten years. It's the only stuff that isn't totally predictable and has a complex fresh sound. With music these days you have to look back to see forward.
Teen Spirit is a very angry song, although it isn't clear from the somewhat opaque lyrics exactly what was pissing the singer off. "A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido," isn't exactly anthem material, but the guitar work was glorious and the timing perfect. But I get a clue from "with the lights out, not so dangerous, here we are now, entertain us" - Kurt's singing about his audience and he doesn't like them all that much. Point taken, and driven home by about twenty repetitions of "Denial!" over the power chords at the end.
"Smells like Teen Spirit," BTW, appears nowhere in the lyrics. Supposedly it was a graffito painted by one of Cobain's ex-girlfriends, alluding to her "marking" of him with her eponymous deodorant. Strange bunch, actually, I know some of this crowd, and they sure do make it interesting in the Seattle clubs. But some are very disturbed, and none more so than Kurt Cobain. RIP.
I have no problem with a Nirvana song being named best of the past 25 years however. Though I would have picked a better song. There are at least a dozen and a half Nirvana songs that blow "Teen Spirit" away. I have nostalgic feeling towards Nirvana. I was 30 years old when they hit big and they were the last rock band I really liked. Since then, I've been more into country and oldies. I don't like much about the rock scene today. Some good stuff but it's too hit and miss to bother listening to a rock radio station. Besides, they play too much of that angry rock/rap hybrid crap.
The grunge days were fun. Hopefully I will see another rock revoluton before I get too old to care. But for now, I'll have to sate my rock appetite on the Led Zeppelin DVD/CDs that just came out.
Aside from the importance of Nirvana, what does playing 'interesting' leads have to do anything? It's not the prime criterium for quality in rock music, and can really detract from it, at times.
When you consider all of the music over the past 25 years...(since 1978) I don't that even Nirvana makes the top 100. imo
After Nevermind in 1991, nothing was ever quite the same, for better and for worse. That album alone was the single greatest factor in bringing punk, post-punk and 'indie' rock immediately and unmistakably into mainstream American music culture.
That, and Kobain's song writing, melodic sense and Grohl's drumming created a touchstone for both the end of one era and the beginning of another.
Nirvana was a good band, but Soundgarden or Alice in Chains have a much broader body of work, even Foo Fighters is a better band than Nirvana.
IMHO
NFP
(Sob!) No one listens to head music anymore...but maybe me and thee...
And Mom?
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