Gay4Grunge: My Top 20 Nirvana Songs

Nirvana is a perfect example of how less is more. The band really only recorded for about 5 years between 1989-1994 and in that time, they released three studio albums, a rarities compilation, an Unplugged performance that would get released on CD after Kurt died, and a smattering of random B-sides & uncollected rarities. This limited discography has played in Nirvana's favor over the years for multiple reasons. The first being that Nirvana never had a chance to get old or do a complete stylist change up for their music. Fans never had to deal with subpar albums or strange stylistic detours the way fans of long running bands usually have to. For new fans it's also not too intimidating to dive into Nirvana's music, because you don't have to wade through 15 albums worth of material. Also like the Beatles, Nirvana's music was not only great, but it also captures a very specific time and place in the history of pop music, which means it will always be held as the gold standard of that era, while transcending that era at the same time. 

For most new fans Nevermind should be your first stop. That album is most people's proper introduction to the group and that's because it's Nirvana's biggest commercial success with most of their biggest hits. After that most people go forward to 1993's In Utero, the group's second biggest album and the one that has the rest of their big studio hits. After that if you want more and start digging into the early material from Bleach and Incesticide you're pretty much already a diehard Nirvana fan by that point. Nirvana fandom can happen fast as a result and it explains why this band keeps picking up more and more new fans every single year. 

Still, it's not like Nirvana's catalogue is all solid gold though. Besides Nevermind, their other albums all have songs that can be pretty uncommercial and uncompromising and can test the patience of many first-time listeners. I will say for myself I find that their 1989 debut Bleach starts off really strong, but slowly devolves into faceless sludge with not much melody. Incesticide meanwhile has some absolute gems, but also has some absolute garbage as well. As far as I'm concerned Beeswax, Hairspray Queen and Mexican Seafood are three of the worst songs in all of Grunge. Then there's In Utero, which has the fan ready hits in Heart-Shaped Box and All Apologies, but also has some of the most abrasive and challenging music to ever appear on a #1 album. Tracks like Scentless Apprentice, Milk It and especially Tourette’s are not for the faint of heart. You can't really play those songs in public settings unless you're around other Nirvana fans. 

The thing is though that these songs don't detract from Nirvana's overall discography or their legacy for that matter. If anything, it helps Nirvana feel even more relatable and human since not everything they did was perfect, just most of it was. The list I put together reflects my own taste and journey with Nirvana. If I was still in high school or college parts of this list would look different. I appreciated the harsher moments on In Utero back then, but as I get older I find myself listening to songs like Mike It and Scentless Apprentice less and less. My list emphasizes the more approachable and poppier side of the band for the most part, but I did make sure to try and touch on all their albums from 1989-1994. I've got all the hits, but I've also got some deep cuts too that I love that maybe more casual Nirvana fans have never heard of before, especially the ones that I have never heard on the radio. While I don't think of my list as definitive, I do think this list is able to capture why so many people love this band and it's because their best songs are not only great but absolutely timeless. Let's dive in shall we.

20. Something in the Way (1991)

The creepy closing track off Nevermind has seen a huge resurgence this year thanks to it basically being the theme song to the new Batman movie. 31 years after it was initially released, Something in the Way became a top 10 Alternative Rock hit after it saw a massive increase in streams following the release of The Batman. Along with Polly, this is one of the only real stripped-down ballads on Nevermind and like Polly it's one of the more haunting songs Nirvana has ever done. Some say the song is about the time Kurt lived under a bridge though many believe that story to be false. Either way the atmosphere of this song is so strong that it doesn't really matter what it means. Something In the Way can be applicable to any creepy situation, which is probably why it's used in a super dark Batman movie. 

19. Sappy (1993)

Sappy is one of the great lost Nirvana tracks. It's a song that appeared early on in their career and would become a concert staple for years, but it was never included on any of Nirvana's official albums between 1989-1994. Sappy, which was also originally called Verse Chorus Verse, would eventually appear on an AIDS benefit compilation album entitled No Alternative in 1993. Years later it would appear on the Nirvana box set With the Lights Out and the 20th Anniversary edition of In Utero. Despite its somewhat erratic album appearances Sappy has remained a fan favorite, because of just how darn catchy it is. Sappy showcases Kurt's gift for melody in a very simple and direct way much like About a Girl. For those who love Kurt's Beatlesque sense of melody, Sappy is a must listen. 

18. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle (1993)

Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle is certainly one of the longer song’s titles in the Grunge canon, though Pearl Jam's Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town definitely gives it a run for its money. This song was based on a real-life person by the name of Frances Farmer, who was an actress who struggled with mental health and was institutionalized many times throughout her life where she also claimed she was systematically abused. It's easy to see why Kurt would be drawn to her story as he had his own struggles and he also sympathized more with women than men in general. Plus, she was a Seattle native. In this song Kurt warns that Frances Farmer will return to exact revenge on her abusers when he sings: 

"She'll come back as fire

To burn all the liars
Leave a blanket of ash on the ground"

When I went to the women's March in January of 2017, I remember seeing so many great protest signs, but my favorite sign was from the women who quoted those exact lyrics. I of course had to take a picture of it. 

17. You Know You're Right (2002)

The final song Nirvana ever recorded eventually became mythic when it sat in the vaults for 8 years. The closest we ever heard it was during Hole's Unplugged in 1995, but Courtney Love mis-heard the lyrics and thought it was called You Got No Right. Of course, it was the legal battle between Courtney Love and surviving Nirvana band members, Kirst Novoselic & Dave Grohl, that kept You Know You're Right in the vaults for 8 long years and it wasn't until the release of Nirvana's 2002 Greatest Hits that You Know You're Right saw the light of day. It's important to remember that there was a lot of hype with the release of this song, which proved just how much people still loved Nirvana. The song would go on to top the Alternative Rock Chart and receive heavy rotation on MTV despite how much MTV was cutting back on playing music videos by that point. In an era where watered down second wave Post Grunge bands and Nirvana clones were clogging up most airplay on rock radio it was jarring (in a good way) to hear the real authentic article again. The raw emotion that came out of Kurt on this song could make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It was a reminder to the endearing power this band has always had and always will. 

16. Serve the Servants (1993)

As the opening track to In Utero, Serve the Servant has one of the most iconic opening lines in all of pop music history when Kurt sings:

"Teenage angst has paid off well

Now I'm bored and old"

Already Kurt was weary of wearing the Grunge crown and being a spokesman for Generation X. Rock stardom turned out to not be all it's cracked up to be and In Utero was Kurt's response to that. Kurt also got a lot more personal on this album discussing his family and coming from a broken home:

"That legendary divorce is such a bore

As my bones grew they did hurt
They hurt really bad
I tried hard to have a father
But instead I had a dad"

Even if Kurt was bitter (or maybe because he was bitter) his knack for clever lyrics and witty wordplay had not dissipated in between Nevermind and In Utero. Serve the Servants is an anti-anthem anthem and that's pretty much the Nirvana brand summed up. 

15. Aneurysm (1992)

For many this is one of Nirvana's greatest songs, which is why many fans were disappointed that it didn't show up on their 2002 greatest hits. Aneurysm initially appeared at the end of Incesticide, where its greatness stood out even more due to the fact that it came after a block of songs that rank as Nirvana's worst such as Hairspray Queen, Beeswax & Mexican Seafood. Honestly if Aneurysm didn't end Incesticide, I would probably not like that album as much. Aneurysm was a live staple for years and the energy and excitement it created live could rival that of Smells Like Teen Spirit, which is why a live version of the song was released as a single off Nirvana's 1996 posthumous live album Live from the Muddy Banks of Wishkah. Some people even prefer the live version over the studio version since the song feels even more explosive live. 

14. Dive (1992)

From the closing track of Incesticide to its opening track, Dive starts that album with a bang. I love that dirty opening bass that is then crashed into by the muddy guitars. Early Nirvana was pretty dirty sounding, hence the description of Grunge, but there were still hooks to be found when inspiration hit. This is another fan favorite that I've experienced live thanks to this great Nirvana cover band that I've seen at least 3 times live here in Washington DC. They opened one of their shows with Dive and it reminded me of just how much I like this song. It's easy to misunderstand the chorus when Kurt's songs "Dive Dive Dive Dive In Me" with Die Die Die Die in Me. Due to Kurt's suicide there's always a temptation to read Nirvana lyrics as being shrouded in death. Still no matter what lyrics you think you're hearing it doesn't take away from how memorable this song truly is. 

13. Lithium (1991)

We've now reached the first of the 4 iconic singles off Nevermind. All 4 of these singles reshaped modern rock and continued to be played constantly on rock radio. That said, I definitely prefer the other 3 singles more, which is why Lithium is the lowest. Still, this is an instantly recognizable song that features Nirvana doing the quiet to loud formula of Grunge perfectly. The song is also popular enough to be the name of Sirius/XM's radio station that is dedicated to all things Grunge and 90s Alternative. Even if you don't think you know this song based on the title of it, give it a listen because I'm positive you will recognize it immediately.

12. Been a Son (2002)

Now I want to be clear about which version of Been a Son I'm including here, because it's not the version that was originally found on Incesticide, but the version that appeared on Nirvana's 2002 Greatest Hits. For me the Greatest Hits version is the superior version. The song just sounds fuller and more rocking on the Greatest Hits version. Lyrically though the song is the same and it sees Kurt taking potshots at the patriarchy and his own broken home. In the song Kurt sings from the point of view of a father who is disappointed in his daughter mostly because he wanted a son instead. So, no matter what she does she will be blamed for everything as a result. Kurt establishes this at the start of the song when he sings:

"She should've stayed away from friends

She should've had more time to spend
She should've died when she was born
She should've worn the crown of thorns

She should have been a son"

Kurt was one of the earliest rockers (who was also white, straight and male) to attack the patriarchy, especially in the ways that it abuses & mistreats women. Kurt believed women were actually superior to men and songs like Been a Son show how much disdain he has for men who treat women like trash. 

11. Turnaround (1992)

This Devo cover showed up on Incesticide and it seems to be a Nirvana song that nobody ever talks about, but it's one of my favorite Nirvana songs and it's definitely my favorite song from Incesticide period. To get to the point this song slaps. It's a rare Nirvana song that is honestly danceable and it's fun as hell mostly because it feels like Kurt is having a lot of fun too. I have included this song on a lot of mixes & playlists I've made over the years and it remains one of my favorite hidden gems for Grunge. 

10. On a Plain (1991)

For younger listeners you might not understand what's happening at the start of On a Plain so let me explain. What Nirvana is trying to do in the intro is mimic when a CD would get scratched and it would start skipping in your CD player as a result. CD scratches were honestly the bane of my existence in middle school and high school, especially before I had a job and I couldn't easily replace my damaged CDs. I remember listening to On a Plain for the first time and thinking that the CD was somehow already damaged before realizing that it was intentional. It's probably one of the few instances of something off Nevermind sounding very dated now. Luckily the song itself is wonderful and it's one of the catchiest songs on Nevermind. Nirvana would end up performing it at their legendary Unplugged performance where they gave it a different feel in that stripped down setting. 

9. Where Did You Sleep Last Night? (1994)

Nirvana's Unplugged performance is the kind of thing that's always looked upon with hushed reverence. Nirvana's Unplugged showcased a different dimension to their sound while hinting at where they might have gone next if Kurt hadn't killed himself. Of course, we all know that Kurt did kill himself and that gave the Unplugged performance an extra level of resonance afterwards as people viewed it as a final example of Kurt's genius that also foreshadowed his own demise. One of the most revealing aspects of Nirvana's Unplugged were the 6 cover songs that helped explain and deepen our understanding of Kurt's influences as a songwriter. This included a cover of David's Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World, which became a posthumous hit after the Unplugged performance was released as an album in late 1994. Then there are the three Meat Puppets covers, which helped boost The Meat Puppets profile and led to them having an actual MTV and rock radio hit with 1994's Backwater. 

But for me the best cover and THE highlight of the entire Unplugged performance was a cover of an old blues song by Leadbelly entitled In the Pines, but given a new name here with Where Did You Sleep Last Night? As the song that closed out Nirvana's Unplugged, I view Where Did You Sleep Last Night as the emotional climax of the show where Kurt truly loses himself in the moment towards the end of the song.  The way he emotes during the song, but especially at the end when his voice cracks, gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. Moments like this are a strong reminder of why Kurt Cobain is such an iconic figure and why so many people were able to connect with him back then as well as today. Almost 30 years later, Where Did You Sleep Last Night still sounds chilling. 

8. Drain You (1991)

Kind of an unofficial single off Nevermind, Drain You garnered solid rock radio airplay and remained a staple of Nirvana's live sets until Kurt died. By the end of 1992 you were less likely to hear Smells Like Teen Spirit live, but you were pretty much guaranteed to hear Drain You. Like most of the songs off Nevermind, Drain You is very melodic with the song opening with its main hook right off the bat. Drain You also benefits greatly Butch Vig's production. I have not spoken too much about Butch Vig yet, mostly because I will be discussing him more when I get to his band Garbage, but his work here elevates the song, especially during its bridge. The bridge to Drain You is interesting, because it's not really a guitar solo at all it's more different guitar notes bouncing back and forth and its Butch's production that makes this bridge as memorable as it is. 

7. Blew (1989)

Nirvana's 1989 debut album Bleach was recorded for only 600 dollars and honestly you can hear that. This is Nirvana at their most raw, sludgy and murky, but definitely not at their most melodic. There are a few exceptions to this and those exceptions are all pretty front loaded at the start of the album. About a Girl usually gets most of the kudos, and I'll get to that in a second, but for now I want to talk about the album opener Blew, which is one of my very favorite Nirvana songs. In some ways the opening bass to this song reminds me of Dive, but once the song really gets going it goes in its own direction. When I first listened to Bleach, I only knew About a Girl and of all the other songs on the album Blew was far and away the song that grabbed me the most and it still does. One of my favorite parts is the guitar solo during the bridge, which showed off Kurt's unique style as a guitar player that would come more into focus on Nevermind. 

6. About a Girl (1989)

For most this is the undisputed highlight of Bleach. While I love Blew just as much, I can't deny that About a Girl showcases Kurt's melodic gifts more than any other song off of Bleach. In fact, Butch Vig said the only song he liked off of Bleach was About a Girl and it's because of that song alone that he decided to produce Nirvana's follow-up. Kurt's love for The Beatles truly shines brightest here and it's no surprise that the song became a posthumous #1 alternative rock hit in 1994 when the Unplugged version of About a Girl was released as a single. I'll admit that Bleach is one of those albums that whenever I try to listen to it, I'm fully invested at the start but by the end my interest starts to drift and I can't wait for it to end. Of Nirvana's three full length studio albums, Bleach is most definitely my least favorite, but About a Girl and Blew have been in heavy rotation for me for two solid decades now. 

5. Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991)

So, I've talked a little about Butch Vig, but I have not talked about Dave Grohl yet so let's talk about Dave shall we. Nirvana's original drummer was Chad Channing, who did the drumming for the band's debut album Bleach and I will say this, whenever I listen to Bleach I never think about or notice the drumming on that album and there's a reason for that. Chad isn't the most interesting of drummers and Kurt knew this, which is why he fired Chad eventually. Once Dave Grohl joined the band though Nirvana truly became the band we all know and love today. Dave's powerhouse drummer fuels so many of Nevermind's greatest moments including Smells Like Teen Spirit. People always talk about that opening riff as the most iconic moment of 90s music and they are not wrong, but what truly launches Smells Like Teen Spirit to greatness is when Dave's drumming enters the song. Dave's drumming is so crucial to helping Smells Like Teen Spirit hit as hard as it possibly can and reaffirms why he is one of the most iconic drummers in rock history. Sometimes it's easy to refer to Nirvana and Kurt Cobain as one in the same (I'm guilty of it myself), but when you really start to listen to the songs more deeply you realize what a great band Nirvana was and how important each of its 3 members were. There's not much else to say about Smells Like Teen Spirit that hasn't already been said, but maybe next time you take a listen you can notice what's going on in the background of Kurt and you'll hear why Nirvana as a whole was one of the greatest bands of their era. 

4. All Apologies (1993)

As the closing track to Nirvana's final studio album, All Apologies feels like Kurt's impossibly sad goodbye to the world. The fact that it was also Nirvana's last big hit before Kurt died just reinforces All Apologies as Kurt's last will & testament. Despite how sad it is, All Apologies possesses one of Nirvana's sweetest melodies, which is why it went to #1 on the Alternative Rock chart. That was part of Kurt's tricky balancing act, where he was able to sing about really dark and depressing topics, but wrapped them up in these beautiful melodies so that they would go down much easier. The part that always gets me about this song is the ending where Kurt just keeps singing "All alone is all we are." That sense of loneliness Kurt is conveying feels so real and so raw that it's no surprise this song connected with lots of people including myself. In high school I felt completely isolated from my peers, because I was still in the closet.  Sometimes I felt I would end up being alone forever, which is something lots of people think about queer or not. I think that's a key to Nirvana's mass appeal. Kurt is able to convey very specific emotions he's going through that end up resonating with listeners because it feels so universal at the same time. All Apologies has not lost any of its luster over the years, if anything it becomes more and more resonant as the years drag on. It truly is one of the greatest final bows in pop music history. 

3. Come as You Are (1991)

We talked a little bit about Dave with Smells Like Teen Spirit so let's talk about Kirst Novoselic here. The thing that jumps out first when listening to Come as You Are is that bassline. That bass is every bit as great as the opening riff to Smells Like Teen Spirit and just as nearly famous too. Krist Novoselic in a lot of ways was Kurt's right-hand man as he had been with Nirvana since the beginning and was there till the end as well. You'll notice in interviews that Krist is the most talkative of the bunch and Dave is the least talkative and most shy, which is funny now because of Dave's persona with The Foo Fighters, which is completely different. Krist also stood out because of just how tall he was. Along with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, they were the tallest dudes in Alternative Rock. Come As You Are is one of Nirvana's more immersive songs, which sounds like you are being surrounded by water, which the music video captured perfectly as well. Come As You Are is definitely a mood and I'm always in the mood to hear it. 

2. Heart-Shaped Box (1993)

Heart-Shaped Box was the first single off 1993's In Utero and to say it was highly anticipated is an understatement. The song was an instant hit as it became yet another Alternative Rock chart topper for Nirvana and the music video would go on to be the band's third straight win for best Alternative music video at the VMAS. I'm just going to say it right now: I LOVE this song! Heart-Shaped Box has an alluring dark atmosphere to it that sucks me in every time I hear it. From that opening riff to the last bit of feedback squall at the end, Heart-Shaped Box has my full attention every single time it comes on. Heart-Shaped Box also feels like you're getting a peek behind the curtain of Kurt and Courtney's relationship and boy does it sound dysfunctional, but it makes for great drama. Kurt thrived on high drama and Heart-Shaped Box feels like the peak of that while also being the peak of Nirvana's use of the quiet to loud Grunge formula as well. Every time I listen to this song it just keeps getting better and better in my opinion to the point that I thought about making this my #1 Nirvana song. Still, I adore this song and I don't think I'll ever grow tired of it. 

1. In Bloom (1991)

The 4th and final single off Nevermind also happens to be my favorite, because it's probably the most melodic song they've ever done. The guitars sound like Black Sabbath, but the melodies sound like the Beatles and it's this combination that makes In Bloom work so well. It's a heavy song but damn is it catchy. You also get great performances from all three band members here. First off you have Krist delivering one of his best and catchiest bass lines ever. Then you've got Dave's drumming, which is some of his best and really helps propel the song forward especially when it's transitioning from the verses to the chorus. Finally Kurt Cobain delivers his best ever guitar solo ever in my opinion, which makes the song even better. Everyone is firing on all cylinders here and it's in service to one of the best pop melodies the group ever came up with. Even friends and family of mine who didn't love Nirvana at first warmed up to this song eventually because it's too damn catchy to resist. 

The music video meanwhile is by far Nirvana's funniest as they replicate the Beatles on Ed Sullivan in black and white, while girls are screaming hysterically. The band members look very nerdy at first, but later on they are all wearing dresses, which once again shows how Nirvana wasn't afraid to mess with gender roles when they felt like it. The comedy on display here seems like it's a prelude to the many funny music videos Dave Grohl would do with The Foo Fighters later on. I also want to say that Weezer's entire aesthetic seems to be based on In Bloom and its music video. The Buddy Holly music video a few years later seems to be mining very similar territory found here.