The 30 Best Nirvana Songs, from Bleach to MTV Unplugged

What is Nirvana's most famous song?

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is Nirvana's most famous song and their biggest hit, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992 and turning alternative rock into the mainstream. "Come as You Are", "Heart-Shaped Box", "Lithium" and "All Apologies" are their other signature songs.

Nirvana's biggest songs

1. "Smells Like Teen Spirit", 1991: the song that launched the grunge era.
2. "Come as You Are", 1992: a murky, hypnotic riff and their second hit from Nevermind.
3. "Heart-Shaped Box", 1993: the dark, heavy lead single from In Utero, a top five hit in the UK.
4. "Lithium", 1992: a song that swings from calm verses to a screaming chorus.
5. "In Bloom", 1992: a catchy song mocking fans who sing along without listening.
6. "All Apologies", 1993: the gentle, haunting closer of In Utero.
7. "About a Girl", 1989: a Beatles-influenced pop song from Bleach that became a hit on MTV Unplugged.
8. "The Man Who Sold the World", 1994: their acoustic cover of the David Bowie song.
9. "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", 1994: the haunting Lead Belly song that closed their Unplugged set.
10. "Pennyroyal Tea", 1994: a quiet-loud song from In Utero.

Songs from Bleach (1989)

Their debut, recorded for Seattle's Sub Pop label for a few hundred dollars, is heavy, raw and sludgy.

11. "Love Buzz", 1988: their first single, a cover of the Dutch band Shocking Blue.
12. "Negative Creep", 1989: a furious, screamed fan favorite.
13. "School", 1989: a short, pounding song about the Seattle scene.
14. "Blew", 1989: the grinding opener of the album.

Songs from Nevermind (1991)

Nevermind, produced by Butch Vig and released on September 24, 1991, knocked Michael Jackson's Dangerous off the top of the Billboard 200 in January 1992 and became one of the best-selling rock albums of all time.

15. "Breed", 1991: a frantic, high-speed rocker.
16. "Polly", 1991: a quiet acoustic song about a real crime, told from the attacker's point of view.
17. "Drain You", 1991: a song Cobain called one of his favorites.
18. "Lounge Act", 1991: a bass-driven song with a raging final verse.
19. "On a Plain", 1991: a melodic, catchy deep cut.
20. "Something in the Way", 1991: a hushed, haunting closer.
21. "Stay Away", 1991: a fast, aggressive punk song.

Songs from Incesticide (1992)

22. "Sliver", 1990: a catchy song about a child left at his grandparents' house.
23. "Aneurysm", 1991: a B-side that became a live favorite.
24. "Dive", 1990: a heavy, swaggering early track.
25. "Molly's Lips", 1991: a cover of the Scottish band The Vaselines.

Songs from In Utero (1993) and Unplugged

26. "Dumb", 1993: a gentle song with cello.
27. "Serve the Servants", 1993: the opening track, about fame and family.
28. "Scentless Apprentice", 1993: one of their heaviest songs, written with Grohl and Novoselic.
29. "Lake of Fire", 1994: a Meat Puppets cover from MTV Unplugged in New York.
30. "You Know You're Right", 2002: the last song the band recorded, released eight years later.

Who were Nirvana?

Nirvana formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987, when singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain teamed up with bassist Krist Novoselic. After several drummers, including Chad Channing on Bleach, Dave Grohl joined in 1990, completing the lineup that recorded Nevermind. Their sound combined punk energy, heavy riffs and Cobain's gift for pop melody, and their success opened the door for a wave of Seattle bands. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

The story behind Smells Like Teen Spirit

The title came from a line Kathleen Hanna of the band Bikini Kill spray-painted on Cobain's wall, "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit". She meant the deodorant his girlfriend wore; Cobain did not know the brand and took it as a revolutionary slogan. Cobain said he was trying to write the ultimate pop song in the style of the Pixies, with quiet verses and an explosive chorus. Its video, set in a school gym with cheerleaders, went into heavy rotation on MTV, and the song became the anthem of a generation.

The stories behind Come as You Are and Heart-Shaped Box

"Come as You Are" was the second single from Nevermind, and the band hesitated to release it because its murky guitar riff resembled "Eighties" by the British band Killing Joke. It became a hit anyway, and in 2005 Cobain's hometown of Aberdeen added "Come as You Are" to its welcome sign. "Heart-Shaped Box", the lead single from In Utero, came with a vivid, surreal video directed by Anton Corbijn that won an MTV Video Music Award, and it showed a darker, heavier band than the one that made Nevermind.

MTV Unplugged in New York

Recorded on November 18, 1993, and released in 1994 after Cobain's death, MTV Unplugged in New York showed a quiet side of the band. Instead of the hits, Cobain chose deep cuts and covers of songs by David Bowie, Lead Belly, The Vaselines and the Meat Puppets, who joined them on stage. The album won a Grammy and is considered one of the greatest live albums ever made.

Kurt Cobain and the end of Nirvana

Kurt Cobain struggled with chronic stomach pain, depression and heroin addiction, and he died by suicide in April 1994 at the age of 27. Nirvana ended with him. Dave Grohl went on to form the Foo Fighters, and Grohl and Novoselic have reunited for occasional performances, including their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 in the US to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. See also our songs about depression.

Nirvana albums in order

• Bleach (1989): the raw, heavy Sub Pop debut.
• Nevermind (1991): the breakthrough that changed rock music.
• Incesticide (1992): a collection of B-sides, demos and rarities.
• In Utero (1993): an abrasive, honest record produced by Steve Albini.
• MTV Unplugged in New York (1994): the acoustic live album.

If you are new to the band, start with Nevermind, then listen to MTV Unplugged in New York for the other side of Cobain's songwriting.

Nirvana songs for a road trip or a workout

For a workout, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Breed", "Negative Creep" and "Stay Away" are pure adrenaline. For a long drive, "Come as You Are", "In Bloom", "Lithium" and "On a Plain" are perfect singalongs. For more 90s rock, see our Smashing Pumpkins songs and Soundgarden songs.

Nirvana songs for a memorial

For a memorial for a Nirvana fan, "All Apologies", "Something in the Way" and the Unplugged version of "About a Girl" are gentle choices, and "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" is a haunting tribute. For more, see our memorial service songs.

A song as honest as Nirvana

Nirvana's best songs are raw, honest and personal. A personalized song can be just as personal for someone you love: their name, your shared memories and the moments that made them who they are. It makes a great birthday or anniversary gift for a 90s rock fan.

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