There is a good chance that rock music would not be the same today without the huge influence of Nirvana in the 90’s. Everyone knows the intro to “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and their music ushered in a new era of music that was more raw and edgier than the rock music that dominated the scene in the 80’s. It was some-thing new and much needed at the time and the trio of Kurt Cobain (guitar and vocals), Dave Grohl (drums) and Krist Novoselic (bass) has been immortalised in the rock and roll hall of fame for their efforts.
Cobain’s death in 1994 signalled an untimely end for the band that could have brought music fans so much more. Ultimately, we are left with a legacy of amazing songs. Here is my top 5:
5. In Bloom
The band’s 1991 album, Nevermind put the band into the mainstream and this was one of the songs from that legendary album that starts off the countdown. The song typifies the grunge rock style that Nirvana perfected with hard hitting guitar riffs and drums contrasted with quiet verses driven by Cobain’s wailing vocals and Novoselic’s deep bass notes. The song gathers momentum in the pre-chorus before Grohl’s snare drum explosion takes the song into overdrive. The chorus of “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 when I say” focuses on supposed fans who claim to know the band but only know their popular songs.

4. Smells Like Teen Spirit
If you have not heard this song, you either have a huge distaste for rock music or have been living under a rock for the past 25 years. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is the quintessential song of the 90s and one of the all-time rock and roll hits that garnered massive mainstream popularity. It is the intro that draws the listener into the song, with the clean guitar riff followed by massive distortion and drums. Every guitar player has played this riff at least once in his or her life. The most interesting part of the song is its strange and sometimes incomprehensible lyrics as well as the way in which Cobain sings them. The song also has a guitar solo as well as great slower and faster parts which make this song an all-time classic. It was, however, not a personal favourite of the band and somewhat overplayed at times, hence the reason for it sitting at number four on this list.

3. Heart Shaped Box

This song from the band’s third and final full-length album, In Utero, is one of their greatest songs Z not only because of the fantastic melody of the song but the poetic lyrics as well. Cobain delivers a great performance on the vocals, especially in the chorus where he sings from the top of his lungs “Hey! Wait! I’ve got a new complaint, forever in debt to your priceless advice.” The song speaks strongly of relationships and bonds that are formed especially Cobain’s marriage to Courtney Love. This song has also been covered numerous times, most notably by the band, Seether. The quiet-loud dynamic is also very apparent in this song.

2. Lithium

“I’m so happy, cause today I found my friends…they’re in my head. I’m so ugly, but that’s okay, ‘cause so are you,” is how this gem of a song starts out. Cobain sings these words as only he can, complemented with a catchy clean guitar riff before it explodes in the chorus with a signature “Yeaaah” from the lead singer. The whole band makes this song the masterpiece that it is, and it was also one of the band’s favourite songs to play live. Cobain said the song is about a man who, after the death of his girlfriend, turns to religion to keep him from committing suicide. This showcases Cobain’s lyrical depth and the various topics he wrote about.

1. Come As You Are
The eerie and dark intro guitar makes this song the number one song that it is. The fantastic drums, full-blooded bass notes and variations found in the lyrics and melody make this a one-of-a-kind song. The intro lyrics “Come as you are, as you were as I want you to be,” has been quoted and referenced in various songs and popular culture since. The variety and both critical and mainstream appeal of the song put it into first place in my book. It also featured a cool music video.