The Top 10 Grunge Songs of All Time
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What are the top 10 grunge songs of all time? This question has been debated by music fans for years. There are a lot of great grunge songs out there, but which ones are the best?
In this blog post, we’ll countdown the top 10 grunge songs of all time. We’ll also discuss what makes these songs so great and why they’re considered to be classics in the grunge genre.
Grunge Basics
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States in the late 1980s and became highly popular in the early 1990s. The grunge sound is characterized by heavy guitar distortion, fuzzy guitars, and a “loose” and “sludgy” rhythm. Grunge songs are often about topics such as alienation, apathy, and relationship problems. If you’re new to grunge, or just looking for some good grunge songs to listen to, this list is for you.
Defining grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Grunge music is characterized by its distressed,dirty sound and themes of disaffection and apathy. Power chords are often played with a heavily distortion pedal giving the music a grungy sound.
Make sure to check out our top 10 grunge songs of all time!
The grunge sound
Grunge was a rock music genre and subculture that emerged during the mid-1980s in the Pacific Northwest U.S. state of Washington, particularly in Seattle. It was characterized by raw and emotional vocals, highly distorted guitars, unlimited distortion, and heavy bass guitar muddy-sounding drums, and textures. Grunge was also noted for a generally negative approach to the mainstream music industry, with many grunge musicians independently releasing their material through small record labels.
The grunge sound has been described as “a dirty guitar sound that emphasized simplicity and power”. Grunge songs are often about topics such as apathy, alienation, anxiety, depression, insecurity, and suicide. Kurt Cobain has been commonly identified as the spokesperson of the generation because of his confrontation with the establishment and his suicide in 1994.
The grunge look
Grunge fashion is characterized by a relaxed, often layers look, with plaid shirts, torn jeans, and cardigans. It grew out of the underground punk rock and hardcore punk scene of the 1980s in Washington state—particularly in Seattle. Influenced by independent and punk rock bands such as Sonic Youth and Mudhoney, grunge artists started to come to mainstream attention in the early 1990s.
The style was popularized by the leading American grunge band Nirvana, whose frontman Kurt Cobain became an iconic figure for the grunge fashion trend. Cobain was often photographed wearing cardigans, plaid shirts, and ripped jeans. The style was also popularized by other popular grunge bands such as Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains. Many fashion designers have been inspired by grunge fashion over the years.
The Top 10 Grunge Songs of All Time
The grunge era was a time when music was raw, honest, and full of angst. It was a time when bands didn’t care about being polished or perfect, they just wanted to make music that came from the heart. If you’re a fan of grunge, then you’ll love this list of the top 10 grunge songs of all time.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a song by American rock band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band’s second album, Nevermind (1991), released on DGC Records. The unexpected success of the song propelled Nevermind to the top of several international music charts at the start of 1992, as well as bringing attention to the Seattle grunge scene. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was Nirvana’s biggest hit, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and position two on both Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts.
Themusic video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was directed by Samuel Bayer and aired on MTV’s late-night alternative music show 120 Minutes on January 10, 1992. In the years since its release, the video has been cited as a catalyst for the Alternative Nation movement of the 1990s. In October 2011, NME placed it at number seven in its list of “150 Best Videos of All Time”.
“Come as You Are” – Nirvana
“Come as You Are” is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by frontman Kurt Cobain. It is the opening track and lead single from the group’s second album, Nevermind (1991), released on DGC Records. The song was ranked number 45 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Despite Cobain’s distaste for true grunge music, the song has been described as grunge.
Nirvana recorded “Come as You Are” in December 1990 with producer Butch Vig at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California. The band wrote the song in two weeks while preparing for their first European tour. Bassist Krist Novoselic elaborated that the song was influenced by Mudhoney’s “Touch Me I’m Sick”. According to Vig, Nirvana gave him “carte blanche”, allowing him to choose which songs would be included on Nevermind and how to record them.
The single was released on February 11, 1992 without input from DGC Records president Al Cafaro; Geffen executives had expected a ballad to be released as the lead single. The label did not approve of the choice, but after the massive success ofNevermind, Cafaro was forced to eat his words. In Australia and New Zealand, it peaked at number 24 and 23 respectively; while in Ireland and the United Kingdom, it reached number nine and six respectively its highest position internationally. In 2006, Pitchfork Media ranked it number 31 on their list of “The 200 Greatest Songs of the ’90s”, one of only seven Nirvana songs to make that list.”Come as You Are” has sold more than 1 million copies in each country.”
“Heart-Shaped Box” – Nirvana
Released as the first single from In Utero, “Heart-Shaped Box” was one of the last songs written for the album. Cobain has said that the song was about a woman’s vagina, and that the inspiration for the title came from a heart-shaped box given to him by then girlfriend Courtney Love. The music video, directed by Anton Corbijn, features medical footage and images of dolls, and was deemed too disturbing for MTV.
“In Bloom” – Nirvana
Nirvana’s “In Bloom” is one of the most iconic grunge songs of all time. It was the second single off of their album Nevermind, and it quickly became a hit. The song is about how people can be fake and two-faced, and it’s a perfect representation of the grunge aesthetic. Nirvana was a hugely influential band, and “In Bloom” is one of their best songs.
“Lithium” – Nirvana
Nirvana’s “Lithium” is one of the most well-known grunge songs of all time. It was released as a single in 1992, and it quickly became a radio staple. The song is about a character who is struggling with mental illness, and it resonates with many people who have faced similar challenges. “Lithium” is a powerful song that Nirvana performed with passion and conviction. It is one of the band’s most enduring tracks, and it remains a favorite of grunge fans to this day.
“Drain You” – Nirvana
“Drain You” is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the seventh track on their second album, Nevermind, released in September 1991.
The song was released as the third single from Nevermind in December 1991 in the United Kingdom, reaching number 32 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 14 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart. In January 1992, it was released as the band’s fifth single in Australia, reaching number 16 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
“Drain You” was written by Cobain in 1990. The song is characterized by its heavy use of dynamics and quiet verses followed by loud choruses. The verses are built around a repeating guitar riff while the chorus features a more melodic guitar line with Cobain singing “drain you of your all your support”. The lyrics are written from the perspective of Cobain’s fictional lover who is being drained of their life energy.
The song has been interpreted as being about heroin addiction and Cobain’s battle with addiction at the time. In a 1992 interview with Guitar World, Cobain said that the song was about “how people can suck the life out of you.” He also said that he did not write the lyrics specifically about heroin, but that they could be interpreted that way.
“Polly” – Nirvana
“Polly” is a song by American rock band Nirvana. It is the ninth track on their second album, Nevermind (1991), and was released as the album’s fifth and final single in early 1992. Written by Kurt Cobain, “Polly” is told from the perspective of a abductor asking his captive to escape with him.
The song was inspired by the kidnapping and rape of teenager Kathryn Lorenz in Tacoma, Washington in 1987. Lorenz was held captive for 19 days before she escaped. Cobain had read about the crime in a newspaper and was deeply affected by it. He began writing “Polly” soon after, but it took him several years to finish. The song was first recorded in 1990 and went through several revisions before Nirvana recorded it for Nevermind.
“Polly” received positive reviews from music critics. In 2012, NME ranked it number 169 on their list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
“About a Girl” – Nirvana
Nirvana was one of the most influential grunge bands of all time, and “About a Girl” is one of their most iconic songs. The song is simple, yet powerful, and it perfectly encapsulates the grunge aesthetic. The song is about a girl who is in a relationship with a guy who doesn’t treat her very well. However, she still loves him despite his flaws. This song resonated with many people in the grunge community because it accurately depicted the often harsh realities of relationships.
“Sliver” – Nirvana
“Sliver” is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. It was released as the first single from their second album, Nevermind, in September 1991. Written by vocalist/guitarist Kurt Cobain, the song is about a young boy’s family going through a divorce.
The single peaked at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The song was included on Nirvana’s best-selling album, Nevermind (1991).
“All Apologies” – Nirvana
Nirvana was one of the most influential grunge bands of all time and “All Apologies” is one of their most popular songs. The song was written by lead singer Kurt Cobain and was released as a single in 1994. “All Apologies” is a sad and introspective song that deals with the struggles of relationships and addiction. The song became a symbol of the grunge movement and Nirvana’s impact on popular culture.
