Kurt
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"He's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he don't know what it means
Don't know what it means"
-In Bloom by Nirvana
It was ten years ago today that Kurt Cobain ended his life and became yet another rock star whose star burnt out too quickly.
In 1991, I was by no means a grunger, but I can distinctly remember the first time I had heard Nirvana. Like many in my generation, my introduction to Nirvana came via MTV's Top 10 Videos television show. I remember the VJ saying that there was this new band with a new sound that were getting ready to make it big. As I watched the video, I remember being blown away by just how new and fresh this sound was.
Even at the young age of 14, I remember thinking that the glam rock "thing" was officially over with Nirvana's acsendency. Looking back on Nirvana's career now with adult eyes, it's not hard to see just how much Nirvana changed the face of music. Gone were the Motley Crues and the Poisons of the world, here were bands like Nirvanas, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, and Soundgarden. In a music history context, what Nirvana did in the early nineties is very similar to what the Beatles did in the early sixties, and what groups like Run DMC, NWA, and the Beastie Boys did in the late 80's. They pioneered a new sound that completely did away with anything before that date. They were all clear markers of a new approach with music. Bands of that time would be judged by their standards of excellence, and would also be seen as existing "pre" or "post" the emergence of that band.
It's a shame that Kurt Cobain felt the need to end his own life. I think that he had a lot of great music left in him. At this point, I'm getting kinda sick of the self-martyred rock star syndrome where these uber talented musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain throw their talent and their lives down the drain. Sure they're legends now, but they would have been legends regardless.
Kurt Cobain's music and the music of Nirvana will always live on because it still feels fresh. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is 10 times better after 12 years of airplay than most crap that poses for music these days. But it's a shame that he wasn't around long enough to give us more of that great music.
matt out
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he don't know what it means
Don't know what it means"
-In Bloom by Nirvana
It was ten years ago today that Kurt Cobain ended his life and became yet another rock star whose star burnt out too quickly.
In 1991, I was by no means a grunger, but I can distinctly remember the first time I had heard Nirvana. Like many in my generation, my introduction to Nirvana came via MTV's Top 10 Videos television show. I remember the VJ saying that there was this new band with a new sound that were getting ready to make it big. As I watched the video, I remember being blown away by just how new and fresh this sound was.
Even at the young age of 14, I remember thinking that the glam rock "thing" was officially over with Nirvana's acsendency. Looking back on Nirvana's career now with adult eyes, it's not hard to see just how much Nirvana changed the face of music. Gone were the Motley Crues and the Poisons of the world, here were bands like Nirvanas, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, and Soundgarden. In a music history context, what Nirvana did in the early nineties is very similar to what the Beatles did in the early sixties, and what groups like Run DMC, NWA, and the Beastie Boys did in the late 80's. They pioneered a new sound that completely did away with anything before that date. They were all clear markers of a new approach with music. Bands of that time would be judged by their standards of excellence, and would also be seen as existing "pre" or "post" the emergence of that band.
It's a shame that Kurt Cobain felt the need to end his own life. I think that he had a lot of great music left in him. At this point, I'm getting kinda sick of the self-martyred rock star syndrome where these uber talented musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain throw their talent and their lives down the drain. Sure they're legends now, but they would have been legends regardless.
Kurt Cobain's music and the music of Nirvana will always live on because it still feels fresh. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is 10 times better after 12 years of airplay than most crap that poses for music these days. But it's a shame that he wasn't around long enough to give us more of that great music.
matt out
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