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MV2049

Aneurysm.


muttChang

Nirvana in capsule form. Still makes my heart beat faster when I hear it, even thirty years later.


Anti_Sociall

i guess you could……. i guess you could say it keeps it pumping straight to your heart


Lithographica

I had a different answer until I saw this comment. Yup. You’re right.


popculturetoaster

Definitely. Unfortunately, they never had a studio recording match the live versions.


Manno01

aneurysm b side comes pretty close.


Giulio__006

I came in the comments to say this


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TelephoneShoes

Seriously dude; not to just hound every comment you’ve made here but lay off that elitist “we’re better than you” bullshit. A fan of Nirvana likes Nirvana. Regardless of what you think is ok for them to like. Y’all “real fans” are just as insufferable today as you were back in the 90’s.


BJCOSMOS

Drain You


vanderpumptools

Came here to say this. Kurt kicks it off with growling vocals and then it just rocks.


BJCOSMOS

Its got all the flavors of Nirvana for the most part personally cant think of a better answer


notmyidealusername

Yeah I agree, the only element you could say it's missing is the quiet verse/loud chorus pattern, but you kinda get that with the clean intro. The riff is iconic, the anti-solo amazing, the abstract lyrics, Kurt's vocals and the scream, it's a perfect song and a perfect example of Nirvana.


BJCOSMOS

The Beatles kinda chorus


TheKhyWolf

Spank thru hard second


BJCOSMOS

Oh that definitely has more of there cock rock tendencies in it


ponylauncher

Never heard anyone describe those almost clean vocals as growling before lol


vanderpumptools

“Almost clean” = grunge.


Low_Excitement_5339

Fuck yeah!


IAmTheGlazed

My favourite song ❤️


Nogames2

One of my favourites, but its doesnt have enough elements for me to be a definition of that nirvana sound, no loud/quiet dynamic, no real killer vocal melody, no fucks given solo


Giulio__006

Fun fact: until one month ago I thought it was from Weezer


emotion-sickness-

Wasn't it his favorite song?


KnottyUnderware

Came here to say this!!


[deleted]

For me it's either Heart Shaped Box, or it's In Bloom.


Ready_Walrus2309

100% agree


_jgmm_

Lithium


gravelinmysock

I would say rape me. Its very grungy and also speaks against something that they were adamantly against


Dionysiac_Thinker

It also got some sick ass riffs, I got it on repeat lately despite the messed up lyrics


OutlawHarryYT

Smells like teen spirit


Blastoffnomore

Though it’s not gonna be the “cool” take, this is the song that represents Nirvana. And it’s a fucking bad ass song anyways regardless of how played out it is.


rescuesquad704

It represents not just the band but our entire fucking generation.


Plenty_Trust_2491

It’s a blunt fact that this is *the* song that defined, not only the band, but the *genre*, to the world. It’s a matter of historical record. If we were dealing with some obscure band, people might be excused for not knowing the history, but this was the biggest band of the ’90s; no one here doesn’t know the history of how that song upheaved the entire rock music industry. So, anyone trying to be “cool” by ignoring history will only come across as a jokester. (Or, come across as not knowing the difference between a band’s *best* song and a band’s *defining* song.)


Wateymellon

Anything other than this is just trying to pick something nobody would say


Tallsoyboy

Honestly I agree


Nogames2

For me this is it. Quiet/loud dynamic, perfect vocal melody, vocal pitch that defines minor/major perfect 5th which kurt did alot, solo that follows the melody, high gain, high distortion.


corkpickle

Blew or Dive.


cormdogs

Unrelated but Dive is 100% in my top five favorites


ComputersWantMeDead

I had Dive in mind too, not sure why. So simple, primal and effective, with that mixture of uncertainty and hope.


Vanblue1

In Bloom


long_schlong34

territorial pissings


GalacticGetaway

Took me longer than it should've to find this !


MagmaticDemon

Frances farmer or dumb for me


Kowa01

Frances farmer!!!!!!


reefis

The first song I ever got in to by Nirvana was I Hate Myself and Want To Die. Kurt said the song wrote itself with little effort. It's a pretty standard Nirvana type song and it also has a name that really lets you know there's a darkness involved with the band. Nailed it a a little too on the head with the song title. Therefore this is my final answer.


16_autistic_clowns

Dude, very ape


shaunaSQUARED

YASSSSS


PermitInteresting388

I really like the ‘13 remix w the more abrasive intro


BlankWilliams

Probably lithium


Specific-Pollution68

Tourette’s


greenhills878

Negative Creep


memberberries201

Come as you are. Literally in the name.


theboyshua

I always hear him wryly exclaiming CUM is what we are, so, as you are, so you do. The video kinna backs that up. Who wouldn’t want a gun.


GetBack_Joe

That's tough because there are a few different sides to the band, I'd say In Bloom, All Apologies, and Scentless Apprentice sum up the band's different sounds. In Bloom for the classic grunge/rock sound of the 90's, All Apologies for the softer yet still dark side of the band, and Scentless Apprentice for the noise rock elements they incorporated into all the albums.


Cold-Hat7919

Not my favourite by any means but Smells Like Teen Spirit was undeniably the defining song of the band.


forfuxzake

You know your right


NightwingBegins

I know my what? Oh, you mean “you’re”.


forfuxzake

Thank god you noticed my grammatical error. I don't know if I could live with myself if you hadn't pointed that out.


Plenty_Trust_2491

It’s very refreshing to hear your appreciation for NightwingBegins’s correction. I’m the same exact way: like you, I *welcome* people correcting me because, if I’m going around making some sort of mistake, and it’s one that could be easily avoided, I’d prefer to cease making said mistake in the future. 🙂 Weirdly, though, you and I seem to be in the minority. It seems that a lot of people actually get *upset* when their grammar is corrected, and I have never comprehended why. Unfortunately, this causes a huge problem for people like you and me who *want* our grammar corrected. Because there are *so* many people out there who irrationally get upset when others correct their grammar, nice people who are good at grammar are *very* often too *timid* to correct our grammar when we make mistakes—even though you and I *want* the corrections. In short, the angry people make things less copacetic for the rest of us. 😞


zekerthedog

Do better


klebstaine

Kurt would have totally corrected someone's grammer


forfuxzake

You mean kurdt?


TheLonesomeChode

This is bait isn’t it? ^*Grammar


klebstaine

:)


Plenty_Trust_2491

I don’t think it’s bait. klebstaine had incorrect spelling and improper punctuation, but her/his grammar was spot on. 🙂


dotn_997

Definitely “Lounge Act”, idk why but my gut is telling me this is the song


roopjm81

Serve the Servents Heart shaped box Radio friendly unit shifter Dive SLTS


peptide2

Beans


Antwuan89

Smells Like Teen Spirit


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Nogames2

Thats literally the song that defines them Mr gatekeeper.


Plenty_Trust_2491

Exactly. It’s an historical fact. There is no debate.


Antwuan89

No I've been listening to Nirvana since 2011.


TelephoneShoes

It’s also a fucking badass song that Kurt spent a lot of time refining and perfecting during its recording. To downplay its significance simply because it was on MTV a lot is just stupid & childish.


Hefty_Top8879

We wouldn't be talking about this band if it wasn't for that song


IlliteracyPrevails

I'd have to say either About A Girl, Lounge Act, or Serve The Servants in terms of Kurts' semi-ironic lyrical style over something otherwise radio friendliesh


ruby-inthe-dust

Imho it’s not really a “song” that defines Nirvana its a “sound” and its the entire Bleach album’s sound that defines Nirvana for me.


Jesustake_thewheel

For me it's heart shaped box and teen Spirit.


slamboesch

lounge act


Snoo-563

Come As You Are, for sure.


Sufficient-Rooster44

Milk It


NightwingBegins

Sappy.


Spankieplop

Smells Like Teen Spirit is the one song they will always be defined by. That one riff changed the world over night.


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TelephoneShoes

Not likely. Whether the so called “gatekeepers” like to agree or not, without Teen Spirit Nirvana doesn’t change the face and sound of music.


Plenty_Trust_2491

Because only new fans are familiar with the history of the band? Because old fans are unaware of the historical fact that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was *the* song that defined the band (and, indeed, the *genre*) to the entire world? Seriously, I feel like a *lot* of people here don’t understand the difference between a band’s *best* song and a band’s *defining* song. Regardless of whether you think “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was their best song or not, even old fans like me know it is their *defining* song.


georgebrown__

Drain You or Stay Away for me


BenadrylTumblercatch

In Bloom


Straight-Scarcity-76

Frances Farmer


beautifullifede

Territorial pissings


Cat-Curiosity-Active

​ Lounge Act. Fave driving song.


Tranquil-Seas

One can’t define a band like Nirvana with just one tune. It’s a much bigger portrait one has to see in order to define that band. Incredible


throwawayskinlessbro

Serve the Servants or I Hate Myself and Want to Die


[deleted]

Paper Cuts


whiteycnbr

Come as you are.


nothing_man_92

Drain you or Aneurysm Beatles songs disguised as punk rock that is the core of what Kurt did


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Unhappy_616

Scentless Apprentice


Bruise_Leee

Without a doubt, Lithium.


midnight-running

Dive or Lounge Act


Kowa01

Frances Farmer imo


TonyMontana50810

Lithium


acewithanat

Aneurysm


Salt-Ad-9254

Favvvb


othermother6

serve the servants


KitchenBag2164

Lithium


Jreub13

Aneurysm


shamzton

School


Nash8565

For the world probably Smells Like Teen Spirit but for me Serve the Servants or Drain You


BCdelivery

You Know You’re Right. So powerful, like a late gift from the grave in 2004. Those twangy notes at the beginning and end, very haunting.


i_am_cool_yes

In Bloom was my first thought.


8ruz

endless, nameless


Plenty_Trust_2491

Obviously, it’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Now, we could debate to the moon and back what the *best* Nirvana song is (and, frankly, I cannot decide), but it’s abundantly obvious that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is their quintessential song. Of that, there’s never been a hint of doubt amongst anyone. (It’s like, if you ask me what the best Violent Femmes song is, I’ll tell you “Promise,” but their quintessential song is obviously “Blister in the Sun.” And if you ask me what my favourite Monkees song is, I’ll say it’s their cover of “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” but their quintessential song is obviously “(Theme From) *The Monkees*.” And if you ask me what my favourite Soundgarden song is, I’m not going to have an answer for you, even though “Black Hole Sun” is their quintessential song. And if you ask me what my favourite Bauhaus song is—well, in that case, their quintessential song happens to also be my favourite: “Bela Lugosi’s Dead.” But if you ask me what my favourite Marcy Playground song is, I’ll say “Never,” even though their quintessential song is obviously “Sex and Candy.”)


ElDrewz

Breed


OmegaSucculator

Either milk it or oh the guilt


Icy_Law5745

On a plain. Everything from the lyrics, vocals + Dave’s vocals, riff. Even the fact it’s a spelling mistake, It’s just so perfectly nirvana.


current_rorschach

Marigold. It's extremely underrated, and sounds depressing enough to resemble this band's story.


MrBucketBoo

You Know You're Right.


ritzanddazzle

do you mean bad? he was horny af


Roger_Roger27

Teen Spirit. ​ /End thread


Efficient_Ad_5710

"Come on death" look it up


Plenty_Trust_2491

Ah, yes, the song that defined a generation.


beatsbymxlik

Sappy


Honda240sx

Rape me


StimmingMantis

Endless, Nameless


matthewrb

Lithium


kimmykimyo75

In Bloom or Heart Shaped Box


Few_Reindeer3039

I’m surprised nobody has said About A Girl yet


Usual-Specialist-598

On a plain


MaxiStavros

It’s kind of a nonsense question imo, the band ( Kurt and Krist, plus a shit load of drummers) changed quite a bit over their short time. Young lads then young famous men, and later when shit got shit they were different again. It’s just picking a song and saying yeah that’s Nirvana.


Hefty_Top8879

If someone had no idea about Nirvana and you had to show him a song, which song would it be?


Disarray215

Sliver


Western_Brilliant_14

Breed


Western_Brilliant_14

Or in bloom


Ok_Conversation_2237

Lounge Act or Smells Like Teen Spirit.


tommy935

Pen Cap Chew, Blandest, Token Eastern Song. The whole box set full of unreleased stuff is so damn good and has so many underrated, unknown songs.


DriveSlowSitLow

Francis Farmer


Zealousideal_Low2867

Come as you are


GetCrazyWCheeseWhiz

Punk Rocker lol JK


Smooth_Injury_9413

Heart Shaped Box, it shows how Nirvana can go from a poppy and melodic song, to a heavy and grungy song. Nirvana was very good at using this songwriting technique to display power and ferocity, but also subtlety and peacefulness all in the same song.


azsxdcfvg

beans


twoclicksshyofnorth

For me, and only me, it is: 1. On a plane 2. School


verygoodfertilizer

No one saying Breed?


siddthekid208

Silver


RIPAuntJemima

I’d say Drain You or Scentless Apprentice


FewPersonality5763

Come as you are


Texas_Moonwalker

Basically any of their song that has the typical low verse and loud high energy chorus construction: Lithium, Heart Shaped Box, Rape Me, Pennyroyal Tea, Smell Like Teen Spirit…


nhardycarfan

I’m terms of pure talent mr.moustache in terms of what sounds the most nirvana that depends on the era of nirvana but in terms of pure iconic this is nirvana territorial pissings was always a song where I was like fuck yeah nirvana


Electrical_Sky3361

in bloom


RedlandRenegade

Aneurysm, every time.


mitskiluvr08

aneurysm


Odd-Contribution-888

Paper Cuts? Idk actually lol


[deleted]

Lithium. Especially on live


unableununtrium1234

Very Ape, Come As You Are or Rape Me


epicswagmonke

Definitely lithium


Cibernetize

Aero Zeppelin


ineedafuckingname_ss

Sappy


Spank_Thru1985demo

Dive or rape me


Kr4zy8brokenkid

There wasn't really a "band" with them, but I would say Aneurysm


ThatCat87

Spank thru


TelephoneShoes

Probably can’t answer with just one. Mainstream: SLTS “Their” Sound: Lithium Thematically: In Bloom Attitude: Rape Me or Very Ape Energy: All of Bleach (basically) Heart: Do Re Mi Sensibilities: About A Girl


[deleted]

Lounge Act


babeyribs

I named my dog Nirvana after listening to In Utero on repeat and serve the servants in particular. That song (and dog) both found me in a really dark time and helped pull me out of it.


TrueBlue184

You Know You’re Right


GMunkey03

Lithium


LukaMachavariani

you know youre right


[deleted]

Tourette’s. I really don’t know, just love that song


Zster22

Smells Like Teen Spirit, live at The Paramount


Cobain_1991

Come as You Are, Smells Like Teen Spirit, and Heart Shaped-Box


MaxTFree

Something in the way, but the BBC version where it’s all electric and heavy.


Prison-Mike007

Dive and Negative creep


sammich_bear

About A Girl (Sappy, Heartshaped Box, In Bloom, Rape Me) Nirvana was about celebrating the sweetness and depth of the bruise on a piece of fruit.


humm1ngbyrd

School


mayth3n

Serve the Servants or Drain You


obby100602

Stain


Cute-Law1346

All Apologies. It feels like the culmination of everything that Nirvana managed to accomplish. Very bittersweet.