One of his ex girlfriend's spraypainted "Kurt smells like teen spirit". Well "Teen Spirit" is a deodrant. He didn't know that back then (found out after the song was released) and thought it was a good revolution slogan. Long story short, he used that title to make a joke song about a "revolution". That's all it is, a joke.
This quote basically says it all
"The entire song is made up of contradictory ideas. It's just making fun of the thought of having a revolution. But it's a nice thought." - Kurt Cobain
It's like something the Pixies would.
I mean seriously, if you read the lyrics, they're ridiculous, they have no meaning,
"A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido"
While this is correct, I fear most people posting on this site are too god damn stupid to know any better, and will still try and decipher this inherently meaningless song.
While this is correct, I fear most people posting on this site are too god damn stupid to know any better, and will still try and decipher this inherently meaningless song.
Also, much of this album was written with disgust for the band's record label at the time, because they were forcing them to release more radio-friendly content. Kurt's response was to write some gibberish that meant nothing, and to insult them at every turn.
Also, much of this album was written with disgust for the band's record label at the time, because they were forcing them to release more radio-friendly content. Kurt's response was to write some gibberish that meant nothing, and to insult them at every turn.
I disagree that this song means nothing. There's a lot of reference to social issues of the time the song was written.
The 90's was during the worst of the AIDS epidemic the lines:
"I fell stupid and contagious"
are a reference to AIDS.
Also the words "A mosquito, my libido" make sense in this context too.
A mosquito is an insect that can spread disease. In the context of AIDS, peoples libidos are what spreads it. Many other things can be pointed out, but that's just my biggest argument.
I disagree that this song means nothing. There's a lot of reference to social issues of the time the song was written.
The 90's was during the worst of the AIDS epidemic the lines:
"I fell stupid and contagious"
are a reference to AIDS.
Also the words "A mosquito, my libido" make sense in this context too.
A mosquito is an insect that can spread disease. In the context of AIDS, peoples libidos are what spreads it. Many other things can be pointed out, but that's just my biggest argument.
This song has nothing to do with AIDS, let alone the fact that you are a decade late, since the worst of the AIDS epidemic was the 80s. You should read up on things.
This song has nothing to do with AIDS, let alone the fact that you are a decade late, since the worst of the AIDS epidemic was the 80s. You should read up on things.
I always heard "a mosquito, my libido" as, the conformity of the audience is a huge turn off for him. Actually an interesting idea that it really meant that his particular contagious nihilist libido would spread to the pseudo revolutionaries demanding to be entertained. But it's a little stretch. To say it has anything to do with HIV is a real stretch.
I always heard "a mosquito, my libido" as, the conformity of the audience is a huge turn off for him. Actually an interesting idea that it really meant that his particular contagious nihilist libido would spread to the pseudo revolutionaries demanding to be entertained. But it's a little stretch. To say it has anything to do with HIV is a real stretch.
Dreamless, he couldn't possibly be making a joke since he didn't even freakin know the punchline, that Teen Spirit was a deodorant. Tons of emotion in there, dissolved a heavy dose of contempt for all the denial that had already snatched any chance he had of happiness.
I think this was a great analysis. I just came in from listening to this song, shaking my head that it was an awesome tune musically, but the lyrics made no sense. I came to song meanings to see if anyone had any good ideas about it, and your thoughts seem the most accurate. I am usually good at deriving song meaning, but this one threw me. Appreciated.
I think this was a great analysis. I just came in from listening to this song, shaking my head that it was an awesome tune musically, but the lyrics made no sense. I came to song meanings to see if anyone had any good ideas about it, and your thoughts seem the most accurate. I am usually good at deriving song meaning, but this one threw me. Appreciated.
@DreamlessNights! I heard this song for the first time at my 8th grade dance and lost my shit in '91/'92. Never had a song (or band) before this, have such an impact on my direction in life. To me it represented teenage angst. It was ok to let loose and rock out. U don't have to be a carbon copy of everyone else. Damn it's good stuff
@DreamlessNights! I heard this song for the first time at my 8th grade dance and lost my shit in '91/'92. Never had a song (or band) before this, have such an impact on my direction in life. To me it represented teenage angst. It was ok to let loose and rock out. U don't have to be a carbon copy of everyone else. Damn it's good stuff
@DreamlessNights I can't help thinking he went out with a girl who messed with him; she could have been sadistic - people like this can do a lot of damage...
@DreamlessNights I can't help thinking he went out with a girl who messed with him; she could have been sadistic - people like this can do a lot of damage...
@DreamlessNights It wasn't one of his ex-girlfriends, rather, one of her friends. It was Kathleen Hannah who did it, she was friends with Tobi Vail, who was Kurt's girlfriend at the time.
@DreamlessNights It wasn't one of his ex-girlfriends, rather, one of her friends. It was Kathleen Hannah who did it, she was friends with Tobi Vail, who was Kurt's girlfriend at the time.
I was born a month before Cobain. If you think the AIDS crisis didn't impact our generation's perspective on sex, you are deeply mistaken. When I heard "With the lights out, it's less dangerous... I feel stupid and contagious," I knew instantly and exactly what he was talking about.
I was born a month before Cobain. If you think the AIDS crisis didn't impact our generation's perspective on sex, you are deeply mistaken. When I heard "With the lights out, it's less dangerous... I feel stupid and contagious," I knew instantly and exactly what he was talking about.
Of course, one can argue about the artist's intent versus the audience's interpretation. And I'm not saying Cobain did or didn't consciously put this meaning in the song. But the feeling of danger and contagion related to sex was a big part of the zeitgeist of that time (and still is to some extent). And many people, including myself, took it that way.
In a similar way, the seemingly nonsensical lyrics and the "Oh well, whatever, never mind" attitude resonated deeply with our generation. There was a sense that something was very off in the world but it was difficult to articulate - "I found it hard, was hard to find." All we know was that we had grown up in a world of optimism and, like the industrial heartland of America, it had decayed into disaffection and cynicism.
This song's a joke.
No really, it is.
One of his ex girlfriend's spraypainted "Kurt smells like teen spirit". Well "Teen Spirit" is a deodrant. He didn't know that back then (found out after the song was released) and thought it was a good revolution slogan. Long story short, he used that title to make a joke song about a "revolution". That's all it is, a joke.
This quote basically says it all "The entire song is made up of contradictory ideas. It's just making fun of the thought of having a revolution. But it's a nice thought." - Kurt Cobain
It's like something the Pixies would.
I mean seriously, if you read the lyrics, they're ridiculous, they have no meaning, "A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido"
"Oh well, whatever, never mind"
Well I'm done.
While this is correct, I fear most people posting on this site are too god damn stupid to know any better, and will still try and decipher this inherently meaningless song.
While this is correct, I fear most people posting on this site are too god damn stupid to know any better, and will still try and decipher this inherently meaningless song.
Also, much of this album was written with disgust for the band's record label at the time, because they were forcing them to release more radio-friendly content. Kurt's response was to write some gibberish that meant nothing, and to insult them at every turn.
Also, much of this album was written with disgust for the band's record label at the time, because they were forcing them to release more radio-friendly content. Kurt's response was to write some gibberish that meant nothing, and to insult them at every turn.
I disagree that this song means nothing. There's a lot of reference to social issues of the time the song was written. The 90's was during the worst of the AIDS epidemic the lines: "I fell stupid and contagious" are a reference to AIDS. Also the words "A mosquito, my libido" make sense in this context too. A mosquito is an insect that can spread disease. In the context of AIDS, peoples libidos are what spreads it. Many other things can be pointed out, but that's just my biggest argument.
I disagree that this song means nothing. There's a lot of reference to social issues of the time the song was written. The 90's was during the worst of the AIDS epidemic the lines: "I fell stupid and contagious" are a reference to AIDS. Also the words "A mosquito, my libido" make sense in this context too. A mosquito is an insect that can spread disease. In the context of AIDS, peoples libidos are what spreads it. Many other things can be pointed out, but that's just my biggest argument.
I'm pretty sure that it was the 80's but this is an opinion, not fact.
I'm pretty sure that it was the 80's but this is an opinion, not fact.
This song has nothing to do with AIDS, let alone the fact that you are a decade late, since the worst of the AIDS epidemic was the 80s. You should read up on things.
This song has nothing to do with AIDS, let alone the fact that you are a decade late, since the worst of the AIDS epidemic was the 80s. You should read up on things.
I always heard "a mosquito, my libido" as, the conformity of the audience is a huge turn off for him. Actually an interesting idea that it really meant that his particular contagious nihilist libido would spread to the pseudo revolutionaries demanding to be entertained. But it's a little stretch. To say it has anything to do with HIV is a real stretch.
I always heard "a mosquito, my libido" as, the conformity of the audience is a huge turn off for him. Actually an interesting idea that it really meant that his particular contagious nihilist libido would spread to the pseudo revolutionaries demanding to be entertained. But it's a little stretch. To say it has anything to do with HIV is a real stretch.
Dreamless, he couldn't possibly be making a joke since he didn't even freakin know the punchline, that Teen Spirit was a deodorant. Tons of emotion in there, dissolved a heavy dose of contempt for all the denial that had already snatched any chance he had of happiness.
I think this was a great analysis. I just came in from listening to this song, shaking my head that it was an awesome tune musically, but the lyrics made no sense. I came to song meanings to see if anyone had any good ideas about it, and your thoughts seem the most accurate. I am usually good at deriving song meaning, but this one threw me. Appreciated.
I think this was a great analysis. I just came in from listening to this song, shaking my head that it was an awesome tune musically, but the lyrics made no sense. I came to song meanings to see if anyone had any good ideas about it, and your thoughts seem the most accurate. I am usually good at deriving song meaning, but this one threw me. Appreciated.
@DreamlessNights! I heard this song for the first time at my 8th grade dance and lost my shit in '91/'92. Never had a song (or band) before this, have such an impact on my direction in life. To me it represented teenage angst. It was ok to let loose and rock out. U don't have to be a carbon copy of everyone else. Damn it's good stuff
@DreamlessNights! I heard this song for the first time at my 8th grade dance and lost my shit in '91/'92. Never had a song (or band) before this, have such an impact on my direction in life. To me it represented teenage angst. It was ok to let loose and rock out. U don't have to be a carbon copy of everyone else. Damn it's good stuff
@DreamlessNights
@DreamlessNights
It has every meaning, it's genius and very precise.
It has every meaning, it's genius and very precise.
@DreamlessNights I can't help thinking he went out with a girl who messed with him; she could have been sadistic - people like this can do a lot of damage...
@DreamlessNights I can't help thinking he went out with a girl who messed with him; she could have been sadistic - people like this can do a lot of damage...
@DreamlessNights It wasn't one of his ex-girlfriends, rather, one of her friends. It was Kathleen Hannah who did it, she was friends with Tobi Vail, who was Kurt's girlfriend at the time.
@DreamlessNights It wasn't one of his ex-girlfriends, rather, one of her friends. It was Kathleen Hannah who did it, she was friends with Tobi Vail, who was Kurt's girlfriend at the time.
@DreamlessNights It was based off of The Pixies. He called it a Pixies rip-off.
@DreamlessNights It was based off of The Pixies. He called it a Pixies rip-off.
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@DreamlessNights That\'s hilarious, I thought it was about sex. Ahh Kurt, I love ya.
@DreamlessNights That\'s hilarious, I thought it was about sex. Ahh Kurt, I love ya.
@DreamlessNights I don't thing the meaning of the song is ridiculous, I think it's better to visit this website to realize how this song has a deep meaning. genius.com/Nirvana-smells-like-teen-spirit-lyrics
@DreamlessNights I don't thing the meaning of the song is ridiculous, I think it's better to visit this website to realize how this song has a deep meaning. genius.com/Nirvana-smells-like-teen-spirit-lyrics
I was born a month before Cobain. If you think the AIDS crisis didn't impact our generation's perspective on sex, you are deeply mistaken. When I heard "With the lights out, it's less dangerous... I feel stupid and contagious," I knew instantly and exactly what he was talking about.
I was born a month before Cobain. If you think the AIDS crisis didn't impact our generation's perspective on sex, you are deeply mistaken. When I heard "With the lights out, it's less dangerous... I feel stupid and contagious," I knew instantly and exactly what he was talking about.
Of course, one can argue about the artist's intent versus the audience's interpretation. And I'm not saying Cobain did or didn't consciously put this meaning in the song. But the feeling of danger and contagion related to sex was a big part of the zeitgeist of that time (and still is to some extent). And many people, including myself, took it that way.
In a similar way, the seemingly nonsensical lyrics and the "Oh well, whatever, never mind" attitude resonated deeply with our generation. There was a sense that something was very off in the world but it was difficult to articulate - "I found it hard, was hard to find." All we know was that we had grown up in a world of optimism and, like the industrial heartland of America, it had decayed into disaffection and cynicism.
@DreamlessNights Id like your comment but you're at 69 likes and I don't wanna ruin it XD
@DreamlessNights Id like your comment but you're at 69 likes and I don't wanna ruin it XD