Smells Like Nirvana
Parody of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by "Weird Al" Yankovic.
The cover art can be obtained from Scotti Brothers Records. · via Wikipedia: Smells Like Nirvana · Fair use
"Smells Like Nirvana" is a song written and performed by American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released as the lead single from his album Off the Deep End in April 1992. It parodies Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and was created during a three-year career low for Yankovic following the financial failure of his film UHF. The song pokes fun at Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain's unintelligible lyrics in the original song.
- Artist
- "Weird Al" Yankovic
- Release date
- April 1992
- Album
- Off the Deep End
- Genre
- Parody
- Chart peak
- Number 35 on Billboard Hot 100
Lore & Background
Prior to writing "Smells Like Nirvana", Yankovic's career suffered from the poor financial performance of his 1989 film UHF. He considered parodying a Michael Jackson song but was refused permission. As Nirvana's popularity rose with their album Nevermind, Yankovic decided to parody "Smells Like Teen Spirit", focusing on the incomprehensibility of the lyrics. After difficulty contacting the band, Yankovic called Cobain while Nirvana was on the set of Saturday Night Live, and Cobain quickly gave permission.
The song was recorded around January 27, 1992, at Santa Monica Sound Records. Recording took three to four days, and the band matched the fluctuating tempos of the original. Yankovic sang for eight to 12 hours a day, causing vocal strain; for the garbled verse, he placed cookies in his mouth. The musical interlude features gargling water, kazoos, and a tuba played by Tommy Johnson.
The music video, directed by Yankovic's manager Jay Levey, is a near shot-for-shot parody of the original Nirvana video, using the same set, many of the same actors, and the same Culver City sound stage. It includes actor Dick Van Patten and professional skateboarder Tony Hawk as an extra. Drummer Jon Schwartz attempted to recreate Dave Grohl's headbanging, leaving him with a stiff neck.
Reader's Guide
"Smells Like Nirvana" helped re-energize Yankovic's career after a three-year low. It was met with critical praise and became one of his most successful singles, reaching number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks. Dave Grohl of Nirvana said the parody enabled them to recognize their success. The song's video was nominated for a 1992 MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video. The parody captured the quickly-rising popularity of grunge and Nirvana's success, and its straightforward musical composition marked a change from Yankovic's usual recording process. The song remains a notable example of Yankovic's ability to parody contemporary hits while revitalizing his own career.
Did You Know?
- Yankovic called Kurt Cobain while Nirvana was on the set of Saturday Night Live to get permission for the parody.
- For the garbled verse, Yankovic placed several cookies in his mouth to achieve the effect.
- The music video was shot on the same Culver City sound stage as Nirvana's original video.
- Dave Grohl said the parody enabled Nirvana to recognize the success they had achieved.
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