Kurt Cobain’s suicide, which occurred 3 years after the release of Nevermind, was the cause of my search for characteristics within Nevermind that would help me further understand and characterize Kurt Cobain. First and foremost, I’d like to contest that based off my extended listening to what is said to be Nirvana’s best album, Rolling Stone’s ranking of Kurt Cobain at number 73 on a list of the greatest guitarists of all time, I have found to be unwarranted. There are almost no standout solos on the album, and aside from the creative melodies displayed on songs like “Polly” and “Lithium”, there is almost nothing that makes me attribute any amazing guitar talent to the front man.
Upon my viewing of “About A Son”, the documentary about Kurt Cobain, I was able to develop an idea about his characteristics and persona. His main struggle seemed to be finding a stable identity, as he was a loner and very isolated; he was an outcast in school, liked to imagine he was from another planet, and confessed to having hated so many people, that he even had to formulate justifications for why he felt he hated them. Cobain explained that all of his songs were a mixture of his sincere side, and his “sarcastic, asshole” side, going on to say the theme of all of his songs is his battle with things that piss him off. This is easy to see in Nevermind: on “In Bloom” he explains that he hates the fans that don’t get his message, while on “Polly” he focuses on rape because its one of the things that “piss him off,” as he explained in the interview. On “StayAway” he shows his hatred for society’s tendency to conform as he yells “Monkey see, monkey do.
The cover of Nevermind is very clever as a construction of a social commentary; the cover features a baby swimming towards a dollar on a fishhook, which symbolizes the importance society places on monetary items and materialistic culture. However, even before music, he never strived to be successful or obtain fame, “Success is subjective” he told one journalist. He demonstrated his carelessness for monetary success as he was homeless most of his life between high school and creating music. This idea of living by dire necessities is expressed on “Something in The Way”. His rebellious, anti-establishment animosity is very apparentin most of the documentary, he told one interviewer he hated dogs because they “were too willing to please”. Upon becoming successful, Cobain began to resent his position in the limelight and claimed that it was a lot more fun when he had been envisioning and imagining being successful, and being played on the radio.
Through my listening to Nevermind, I was able to feel how Cobain felt on most of the songs. This is because Cobain, like myself, seems like a person who just wishes the world/civilization/society wasn’t so ill-natured, and complicated. His disassociation and isolation from society appears to me as a way to cope with his realization of society’s ills and the fact that he cannot change them. The internal tension he experiences seems to be a result of his disagreement with his environment, and his resentment towards those who either: conform, can’t see the evil nature of society, or don’t care enough to exclude themselves from partaking.
The Result Of Cobain's Struggle
The documentary and Nevermind were particularly difficult for me, in that I too experience the same tension as Kurt Cobain. It was discouraging because Cobain was an advocate for a good-natured society and held a good standard of morals, and the society we exist in just did not make sense to him, and he could never feel a sense of belonging. In the end, society won, and Cobain had given up when he committed suicide. The ills that he was witnessing, as he demonstrated on the cover of Nevermind, he could not defeat, nor run away from.
“No matter how clean we live our lives, we’re never going to survive this. Too many fucking enemies, we threaten too many people…. Everyone wants to see us die” -Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain was the ultimate social critic, whose passionate confliction of good vs. evil drove Nirvana’s music, and eventually drove him to his demise. Nevermind, in my final opinion, is the perfect social commentary of America’s flawed society from the point of view of a person who experienced obsessive emotions because of the inner-conflict that his environment caused. Nevermind is a catharsis of these obsessive emotions in the spirit of rebellion. Nevermind is both sarcastic and serious, both advocating and observatory, and both good-natured and ill-willed. Hate and loneliness are expressed on almost every song, as the product of a system that rewards for treating each other badly, and the product of a people with weak virtues who conform to it.
Nevermind is a must listen. The album, however, would have been just as good, if not better, with the exclusion of “Breed” “Endless, Nameless” “Drain You” and “StayAway”. The rest of the songs are memorable, if not classics. Nirvana is versatile, and Cobain’s voice is the epitome of that. Nevermind is full of emotion and feelings as diverse as the songs. Songs, which are full of interesting melodies, and are driven by a combination loud-soft volume alternation between chorus and verse, and the alternation of emotion and mood. Innovative use of vocals, bass, and the guitar hold true to the reputation of their influence today; Nevermind has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, and for good reason.
Nevermind Rating: 5/5
After a week of listening to Nevermind while driving to and from school (an hour each way), my impression has greatened heavily and rapidly. The main problem I had in my initial listen was grasping and deciphering the lyrics, because of Cobain’s unique way of singing. Listening more and more has helped me to easily recognize his words; along with a little help of internet lyric searches, I was no longer constrained to just listening to the music, which was a huge relief on songs like “Territorial Pissings” and “Breed”, in which the instrumentation left me less than thrilled and very impatient.
The music itself has grown on me, the more punk-rock songs such as “StayAway” and “Lounge Act” is still not preferable, but is definitely more tolerable. I have noticed that there is a general lack of demonstration for talent on both the drums and bass (Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, respectively), and that their role seems to take more of a backseat to front-man Kurt Cobain, providing more background than solos, flares, etc. The melodies, and guitar riffs used in the songs have grown on me as well, I think that just because of Nevermind’s 1991 origins, I have likely listened to enough music that was influenced by Nirvana, and therefore have heard too much of the product of the influence, and not the influences themselves, therefore rendering them upon first listen- typical and outdated. The huge shift in moods and emotions between songs still stands out to me above all, in the documentary “About A Son”, Cobain explains in an interview with regard to his catharsis on tracks “every song feels different,” and that they all contained a “combination of every emotion”. I could definitely hear this on Nevermind: an almost confused catharsis, where each song contains a variety of feelings and expressed emotions.
Watching the documentary about Kurt Cobain, entitled “About A Son” (2006) helped me develop an identity for Cobain, and begin to
About A Son (2006)
characterize his values and persona. This in turn led to my construction of interpreted meaning as I listened to Nevermind. I found a few main themes within the album that seem to characterize Cobain; death, carelessness, rebellion and guns were all very prominent in Nevermind. I found the chorus to “Come As You Are” to be most intriguing and unfortunately ironic, as Cobain screams “And I swear that I don’t have a gun” three short years before he committed suicide with a gun of his own. One issue that Cobain was adamant about was journalist’s practice of criticizing and trying to publicize his drug use. I can see where he is coming from, because I hadn’t noticed him mention drug use on the album, and I believe personal life should remain personal.
Another common theme exhibited by Cobain in both “About A Son” and Nevermind was an extreme feeling of alienation and isolation. Cobain admitted in an interview featured in the documentary that he felt a sense of comfort when he would try and convince himself that he was truly an alien, dropped off on Earth (like many others), and adopted by his human parents. He expressed that he had a feeling of homesickness on Earth, and genuinely didn’t belong. This same sense of alienation (no pun intended) can be heard on “Something In The Way” where Cobain speaks of living isolated under a bridge, and interacting with the animals.
Overall, Nevermind has and continues to grow on me. I will continue to dissect lyrics and attempt find meaning within the album and it’s content, because I feel that Cobain’s words were not just meaninglessly thrown together, as some have said, and that there is a deeper meaning to be found. Hopefully I am not setting myself up for disappointment.
So far, Nevermind Rating: 3.5/5
“In Bloom” features the element of Nirvana I have noticed most since listening to Nevermind. That is, alternating the strength and tempo of the verse and chorus, “In Bloom” specifically consists of slow, low-powered verses, with a softer-singing Cobain. As the verse works up towards the chorus, Cobain’s volume takes off, and Dave Grohl gradually begins his onslaught on the drums. In the chorus, Grohl slams on the drums, making this one of the few tracks on Nevermind that truly exhibit his talent. The high-powered driving chorus also gradually decreases as it proceeds to the next verse, providing for a crescendo and explosion of music on the chorus that makes it well worth the wait for the 4-line verses.
The chorus of the song seems clear to me, that Cobain is calling out those who participate in the rebellious efforts along with Nirvana (listen to their music, attend their shows, sings along), but fails to really grasp the message of the band, whatever that may be. I say that the message is ambiguous because the content of the verses don’t offer much insight into the details of why these particular fans are being casted out. While “Nature is a whore” is as provocative as it is catchy, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, and this seems to be the common theme of both verses. “Spring is here again, reproductive glands” rhymes well, but if there is some subliminal meaning to this, it’s flying way over my head.
Nature Is A Whore?
I like “In Bloom” mostly because I too am a avid opponent of ignorance; I avoid listening to music/following bands that have messages that I don’t support, and I do not pretend to be a part of something that I do not necessarily practice myself. The opposite of these seems to be the person that the lyrics are drawing light on; those who are quick to shoot off their guns for a cause, for example, of world peace or stricter gun laws. The person Cobain describes is the ignorant poser, who sings a long- but has not a clue of the meaning to the lyrics, or what it means to be a true follower and supporter of the message of Nirvana.
“In Bloom” Rating: 2.5/5
The opening sounds for “Something In the Way” don’t exactly sound like a guitar melody that alone is worthy for song creation. However, with Kurt Cobain’s innovative and versatile voice, he is able to create a heartbreaking somber story-telling song with hardly any lyrical variation. One verse repeated twice, along with a chorus that consists of a singular line that also makes up the title, makes up the entirety of the song.
The one verse that gets repeated is so dense in meaning, associations, and insinuations that it doesn’t need to be altered or varied in order to keep a listener listening- if I may. The story of homelessness, and living under a bridge (which is supposedly how Cobain lived at one point) is the true definition of sorrow and loneliness. His loneliness is demonstrated through his self-described befriending or domesticating of wild animals; perhaps these animals are so dear to him because of the void that people have left in his life, because if he lives under a bridge he mustn’t have received much help.
The cello that plays as “Something In The Way” is sung, turns the song from oddity to elegant. While Cobain’s slow singing, which almost sounds like a whisper, is sung so smoothly that it doubles as a lead guitar and forms the dominant melody, the graceful cello contributes to the mood in a way that words can hardly describe. It turns “Something In The Way” from a song about living under a bridge, to an agent for experiencing the mood that is being described. The mood is most easily compared to a complete state of hopelessness, past the confines of desperation, and motivation to change the situation. The actual words “something in the way” may be referring to the notion that there is something in the way of being able to take action, or to try and change this hopeless state.
“Something In The Way” is an epic. Although it contains little to no variation or variety in the lyrics and sound, it has the intangible affect of being able to evoke a very emotional mood from a listener, comparable to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”. The lyrics don’t give away too much, and leave much to the imagination and much for interpretation; but the ability to present compelling, vivid and emotional imagery is what makes the lyrics amazing. This is my choice for best song on the album.
“Something In The Way” Rating: 5/5
“Polly” is one of those songs where if your not really listening to the words and understanding the theme, you would have never have guessed what the song is about when you finally discover the theme. This is one of those that with the soft acoustic strumming and minimal instrumentation, it almost sounds like a love song, or a Jack Johnson-ish let-me-reminisce-on-happy-memories-with-a-girl-type-song.
However, if you catch your grandmother nodding and clapping to this one riding in the passenger seat, you may have to pull over because you cannot stop laughing to her singing “Polly wants a cracker”. I found this amusing because before finding out the song’s real meaning, I figured it was just a song about wild, kinky sex.
"Pollly" May Sound Like A Good Sing-A-Long...
However, when I found out that it is based on a true story and rape of a 14 year-old girl who had just attended a concert, the song takes on a whole other meaning. This song seems now to me as a subtle means of speaking out against sex crimes by Nirvana.
The progression of the story turns from violent and chilling to a reason for listeners to sigh in relief. Cobain, speaking from the point of view of the kidnapper, implies torture with a blowtorch and tying the girl up using ropes. These gruesome details seem almost impossible to predict from Cobain’s innocently soft-spoken lines that begins each verse “Polly wants a cracker”. His voice sounds so good on the melody that, to me, it is the sole reason that a message like this could be recorded with such a laid-back innocent feel to it; that it sounds so innocent and sweet that it achieves the purpose of describing the shunned activities of a rapist even more effectively, rather than sounding like a strong-willed song of activism.
Still singing from the criminal’s point of view, Cobain implies that (with help from details of the story which “Polly” is based) that the girl escapes because the rapist takes her for a ride, letting his “guard down”. Within the lyrics, the twisted psychology of the kidnapper/rapist is revealed with lines like “I want some help, to help myself” and “She asks me to untie her, a chase would be nice for a few”.
Musically, I love the structure and the sounding of the verses- with the simple acoustic guitar and Kurt Cobain’s soft drawl. However, the melody of the chorus doesn’t necessarily fit right for me, it almost sounds out of place, because of the way the lines are said and the changes in the chords on the acoustic guitar. My favorite part of the song is at 1:50 where the chorus ends, and all of a sudden, a bass-line in the same melody as the acoustic guitar appears in the midst of silence and leads to “Polly says her back hurts”. This might even be my favorite moment for the entirety of Nevermind.
With an undercover theme that is as powerful as it is unexpected, and sweet-sounding melody, “Polly” is a delight to listen to, and demonstrates an alternate way to draw light upon an ever-important problem.
“Polly” Rating: 4/5
The guitar/bass line riff on “Come As You Are” is clever and entrancing, reminiscent of Metallica’s riff on “Enter Sandman”. Cymbals crash loudly and continuously after the chorus on the way to a fantastic guitar solo that takes the melody of the verses. The cymbals give an added effect of excitement for the chorus, as the verse is rather slow paced and un-changing. As with many other songs on Nevermind, the instrumentation is not what carries the song along, as it is rather simple and not composed of many layers. Cobain’s structure of the verses and the way he extends certain syllables (“As I waaaaant you to be”) really makes the song. Instead of listeners being dependent on chord changes, or a mind-blowing drum solo, Cobain’s style of singing gives the song that intangible value of not getting skipped about ¾ of the way through.
Come As You Are” is the most interesting song on Nevermind because of the concept I believe it is speaking on. My theory is that “Come As You Are” is really a false invitation, describing a front for a hidden motivation. Initial lines appear to be unconditional invitations to entrust in the speaker, then the following lines rebut those statements and imply a secret agenda of the speaker in befriending.
“Take your time, Hurry up, The choice is yours, Don’t be late”
Statements made first seem to designed to make the speaker come off as easy-going and in your best interest, then the second line contradicts the former and reveals that the speaker may have an invested interest. I believe “Come As You Are” while sounding like a peaceful ballad about being all-accepting and judgment-free, is really a social commentary about the tendency of people to seek out people’s trust on a false premise, for self-benefit. The words “And I swear” when reiterating the speaker’s trustworthiness and ensuring he/she is not armed, is a good metaphor for the great lengths people will go to in order to secure another’s trust while motivated by
Cobain's Hometown Of Aberdeen, WA
self-interest. People swear and promise, they will be as persuasive as possible to convince another that they can be trusted, only to take advantage of the believer’s vulnerability.
“Come As You Are” to me teaches a great lesson about today’s world and a general rule in life: “keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”. It is evident that this song is about the role of the befriender who stabs you in the back, and can be a good lesson to those who find themselves more gullible and trusting than others. Not to mention “Come As You Are” is one of the tracks easiest on the ears on Nevermind.
“Come As You Are” Rating: 4/5
I’ve always thought of Rolling Stone’s 9th best song of all time, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” as the undeniably most confusing song of all time. “Load up on guns and briiiiing your frieeeends” Cobain groans in the opening lines. The buzzy, raw timbre of his groaning not only matches the melody perfectly, but also confuses the listener as to what emotion is truly being expressed here. Just as the spoken words in “Smells Like Teen Spirit” have always been subject to a barbershop debate, the ambiguous lyrics provide for an ambiguous message of the well-known anthem.
I have a personal connection to the song because I remember watching the music video at a very young age, Cobain rocking out head down, with his Freddy Kruger -like striped shirt on, will always be burned into my memories.
Kruger-Esque?
“Here we are now, entertain us” to me is one of the greatest lines in rock history. Many critics contest that Cobain’s lyrical ability was successful because of it’s ambiguity, and because it was so senseless, that it was placed on a pedestal. Now although Cobain did affirm that lyrics are the last part of Nirvana’s musical process, I still disagree completely with the argument that there is no real message, subliminal or outright.
The song to me captures the essence of the bored and rebellious American youth. I believe that the song is about the mixed feelings of the average modern American adolescent, fearless and eager to question authority and the reasoning for the American value system we all submit to. “Load up your guns and bring your friends” is an example of the youth’s desire to cause chaos, and contest authority, drawing on the very common feelings of the American youth to unite and trust in friends as opposed to family. This idea is once again referenced in the line “Our little group has always been, and always will until the end”.
The chorus of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a masterpiece. As much of a challenge it is to decipher the chorus, the eventual discovery adds depth to the song, as meaning is not given outright, but in certain lines- one word examples. “I feel stupid and contagious” is a testament to kid’s tendency to unite on ideas, and polarize their opinions, just for the sake of having a cause and identity. “A mulatto, an albino” is a question of society’s everlasting desire to be judgmental on all of it’s members, especially those who stand out, such as mulatto’s and those of mixed race. Nirvana’s origins in Seattle could explain why they are so eager to push for acceptance of people. Seattle has always been a stronghold for the counter-culture and a symbol for an outgoing American lifestyle.
Nirvana's Roots Lie Near Seattle
The following two lines, “a mosquito, my libido” to me show the flaws in the rebellious American youth. A mosquito is symbolic for being annoyed, and as American’s, our patience and tolerance for others is never our strong suit. “My libido!” just as the mosquito reference did, is an admission of flaws by the same entity who is questioning authority and American values. I think that by including his sex drive in the chorus, it is a statement that admits to hypocrisy, but strategically. By admitting that even those who point the fingers still pursue deviancy, it is a social commentary on American society, which features indecency everywhere, programming us to partake in sexual fanaticism. “Sex sells” is the number one phrase in marketing, and for good reason.
Overall “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is undoubtedly a classic. With an intro that will make any party get excited to scream along, a melody that is catchy enough for everybody-and-their-mothers to recite, solid instrumentation, and a gem of a performance from Kurt Cobain, Rolling Stone was not far off putting it in their top ten. If upon digging for the lyrics and therefore losing the “incomprehensible” argument, a listener remains a critic, they must have missed the message because it is truly the rebellious anthem of the American Youth
“Smells like Teen Spirit” Rating: 5/5
| Load up on guns and Bring your friends It’s fun to lose And to pretend She’s over bored And self assured Oh no, I know A dirty word hello, how low? With the lights out it’s less dangerous I’m worse at what I do best hello, how low? With the lights out it’s less dangerous And I forget hello, how low? With the lights out it’s less dangerous |
On my first initial listen to Nevermind, I immediately understood why even if the genre is not your favorite, and the lyrics don’t appeal, the overwhelming amount of catharsis on every song explains why Nevermind is a classic. Each song brings about a highly volatile mood that is subject to change at any point in the song: volume levels come and go, vocals turn from raw screams to almost a low groan in sudden instances. Listening once straight through only gave me one definite concensus about the album, and that is the sheer amount of varying obsessive emotions contained (and unleashed) on every song.
I began to listen while sitting at my desk, I was pleasantly surprised when the forever-memorable guitar chords for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” came through my headphones. This song, listened to in any venue, at any time, I feel has the ability to bring anyone who knows it back in time to some place years ago when you first heard it. The song is pure magic, one of the most prolific anthems in U.S history for good reason. “In Bloom” and “Come as You Are” are both songs I have heard before, but not in the context of the album’s entirety. Both songs are relatively mellow in comparison to the rest of Nevermind. The lyrics are also the easiest to determine in these two songs, following the almost-indistinguishable words of the first track. The content, or at least the content I could grab a hold of on “In Bloom” seems to be a warning shot to fans who don’t exactly embody what ever it is that Nirvana is about. But then, “Come as You Are” comes along and suddenly Cobain appears to be Mother Theresa, in a only-god-can-judge-you type vibe. It’s peculiar and hypocritical that these tracks are next to each other at 2 and 3. In addition, both songs have serious sing-a-long value, which probably explains why I have heard them before.
The mood and tempo changes drastically on “Breed”, this is the first instance of Nirvana’s punk/grunge classification. The lyrics are difficult to make out, but the bass line is prominent and distinct, If I played this in my car too loud, the rearview mirror would surely be rattling. Vocals from Cobain ring out at top-of-the-lungs extremes, immediately contrasting the beginning of the album and showing an unexpected versatility. “Territorial Pissings” joins “Breed” in the unappealing category of intense, yet boring. They both feature an up-tempo, punk-ish sound, with loud drums and a lot of head-banging potential; however, both vary minimally and leave little to the imagination. The only thing that saves the two snoozers is an innovative guitar solo on “Breed” that increases gradually in volume, and a distorted sounding guitar on “Territorial Pissings” that had me guessing how many guitars were actually being played. The drums on each of these songs, played by David Grohl, fit each of the songs perfectly and continuously drives them, longer than I would’ve liked- I might add.
“Lithium” was one of my favorites, combining a driving chorus of one word “yeah,” and a slow melodic verse structure, that demonstrates Cobain’s rusty vocals and inner-conflict. The one line I caught made the song worth listening for me “I’m so ugly, It’s ok, so are you”. “Polly” is another softly-played melody, sounding acoustic. The lyrics were unexpectedly vulgar however, as I did not realize that Polly was a girl at first.
The second half of Nevermind is where things begin to get complicated and confusing. I had no clue what to think of “Drain You” because, aside from the timbre of Cobain’s voice, which almost doubles as a lead melody, the other elements of the song sounds like an average combination of the rest of the songs I’ve heard so far. “Lounge Act” follows with a joint melody played by the Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic’s guitars, which overall is rather boring. Cobain’s vocals carry this song, changing completely from singing to screaming what seems to be the same lines from verse 1 and 2. The way he lays his lyrics out over the melody shows true talent and ingenuity.
“StayAway” joins “Endless, Nameless” as the two songs that leave me dumbfounded on this album, as to “why did they ruin it with this garbage?” The word “weird” does not do the two of these songs justice. “StayAway” seems to be comprised of a talking Cobain and a screaming Cobain, in a call-and-response structure that leads to the ear-shattering shouting of “Stay Away!” “Endless, Nameless” sounds like the soundtrack to an endless mass-murder scene in a horror movie, plain and simple. This song is pure chaos, reminiscent of the random sounds produced by Igor Stravinsky in his “Rite of Spring” that caused the audience in Paris to riot in the venue. If I were to leave my worst enemy on an island with a one-song cd, it would be “Endless, Nameless” undoubtedly.
“On a Plain” was downright lack-luster, and apparently my brain didn’t bother putting any instance of it into my memory bank. From what I do recall, it sounded like the perfect example of an average rock song. The instrumentation was beyond boring, hopefully upon reading the lyrics, something can be salvaged from track number 11. “Something In The Way” was my favorite song on Nevermind, the slow-somber story telling was a great change of pace. The drums don’t come in for a minute, adding to the heartbreaking, yet elegant tone of the verses. The cello or violin that plays behind Cobain’s attesting that indeed, something is in the way, gives the song an amazing depth, and gives it an epic characteristic.
My overall first impression of Nevermind is a feeling of unexpected surprise, because, while I can understand why it called one of the greatest albums of all time, songs like “Endless, Nameless” “StayAway” and “Territorial Pissings” make me question it’s consistency. While the album as a whole, shows a wide variety of sounds, moods and styles, there are a few snoozers on the track list. There are definitely a few great songs on the album, but the lyrics on them are hard to distinguish and even when they were easily recognizable, some were just as difficult to decipher. To it’s benefit, the album demonstrates a wide and deep variety of textures and emotions. The instrumentation was appropriate on most songs, and even great on a few, with creative bass lines and spotless drum patterns. However, upon first listen, it seems that Cobain’s vocals truly drive the music, even on “Something In The Way” where he repeatedly sings the same line, it only drew me farther in, and did not bore. From raw groans on “Come As You Are” and “Lithium” to demonstrations of top-of-the-lungs ability on “Lounge Act” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Cobain’s versatility and talent are on full display. Given, this is only the first listen, and every song will require a look-up of the lyrics because of Cobain’s vocal style.
Nevermind
Out of the list of albums I had to choose from, Nevermind, Nirvana’s second album released in 1991 caught my eye. I had throughout my life heard about Nirvana’s music, whether it be how great it was, how unique it was, or how simply groundbreaking it was to the classification of American music genres. However, the only songs I had ever listened to were “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Like every other teenager living elsewhere than under a boulder) and “Come As You Are” (thank you Guitar Hero). I was stricken with indecision while trying to choose either Nevermind or Led Zeppelin’s IV, however the allure of discovering the sources of intrigue surrounding Kurt Cobain (and the life and times of) were too irresistible. I find myself particularly eager to learn and listen to artists of struggle. And from what I know from pop culture and general knowledge, the suicidal front man was full of it.
My expectation of Nevermind is to be painted a portrait of struggle by Cobain, with the highly explosive sound of punk/grunge rock providing the medium for his outcries. As a celebrity who committed suicide at the height of his fame, and three years after the release of Nevermind, I expect and hope to discover some insight as to the battle he was going through, and through the deciphering of lyrics and interviews, I hope to come up with an idea of what Cobain was going through in the spotlight. I don’t expect to be blown away with displays of musical talent, because from what I’ve listened to, I don’t see any specific ability that the band members of Nirvana possess that other good bands do not. However, upon finding out that it was ranked 17th in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, I feel as though Nevermind was so highly regarded because of it’s innovation and influence. I predict that instead of hearing music that blows me away, I will hear the cause of a teen phenomena and the start of a movement, like Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP did for teens of my generation.
Another reason why I decided to choose Nevermind was because what I have heard about the beliefs of Kurt Cobain. In Kendrick Lamar’s song HiiPower while speaking about the ills of American society and government says:
“Frightening, so fucking frightening
Enough to drive a man insane, a woman insane
The reason Lauryn Hill don’t sing, or Kurt Cobain
loaded that clip and then said “Bang!”, the drama it bring
is crazy, product of the late 80’s”
As a self-proclaimed critic of society, the U.S. and mankind in general, I’m very interested in the views of those who struggle to exist in a society they don’t necessarily support. Cobain appears to me as a person I could not only support, but hopefully learn from as well. As a highly scrutinized and prominent figure in pop-culture I would like to find out the beliefs of Cobain and hopefully hear it in his music. To get a better understanding on the links between the American system, Cobain, Nirvana’s music and the influence of Nirvana, I will be watching a documentary made in 2006 about Cobain called “About A Son” after my initial listen to the album.
“The Insider” was, to me, a story about the ever-extended power and reign of the American dollar and the power of big business. I am writing this blog with my mind still blown into a million little pieces by the revealing at the end of the film that it was a true story, and that it’s characters Dr. Wigand and Lowell Bergman actually displayed the heroism and strength that was featured in the film.
As the story of the film progressed, I tried to identify the actual point that Prof. Dunphy was making in assigning it’s viewing. At first it seemed it was about the power of the media, with 60 Minutes and Mr. Bergman protecting Dr. Wigand against death threats and a confidentiality agreement.
Then, when the Mississippi litigation began and the Kentucky “gag order” was put into place, I thought (without realizing the movie was two and a half hours long) that lobbying by the tobacco companies had control, even over the very people we confide in the most for protection and honor, the Federal Government. Yet, Mr. Wigand dealt with a shady FBI who, as it seemed, had been influenced by Brown & Williamson, and also had been issued a restraining order by his home state of Kentucky to stop testifying. Then comes the deposition, and all seems well again, I could let out a breath of relief as Mississippi and the D.A had not faltered to the influence.
I finally saw the message in this film when it had been revealed to Bergman that CBS was pulling the interview because of pressure from corporate, pending a Westinghouse merger. When Mike Wallace and the rest of the CBS News team goes against Bergman, and the resulting phone call to Dr. Wigand was made, the realization came upon me that this was an extension of Prof. Dunphy’s most important lesson- the dangers and consequences of a severely conglomerated media in the United States. Even the most trusted news source in the nation, the same one my Uncle (who is a die hard NFL fan) will curse the TV out for when Sunday 4:00 games run late, had succumb to the pressure of losing money because of a giant media corporation. Bergman directly addresses this when he tells CBS News President that he knows he will profit directly from the merger with Westinghouse.
Bergman is the hero of this story, and while he couldn’t protect Dr. Wigand’s personal life, his financial interest, or his married life, in the end of the story he helps him gain peace of mind that the means justified the end. By defaming 60 Minutes in their hiding of the truth, Bergman eventually got the full story out in the New York Times, and in the process accomplished two very important things: he debunked the sources used to assassinate Dr. Wigand’s character, and got the Wigand interview aired on 60 Minutes- in their attempt to regain credibility. Bergman, a true man of integrity can’t even bare to continue his employment for CBS, or 60 Minutes because of the scandal, and tells his friend Mike Wallace goodbye.
This was an amazing movie in revealing the inner workings of the protection and strong-arm tactics of big business in the U.S. In the process, Dr. Wigand, who would be one of the first whistle blowers in a Fortune 500 company, goes from being a producer of poison to a cultivator of minds as a schoolteacher. Instead of using his amazing talents to destroy lives, he helps build them. Big tobacco companies lose $250 bil in the process, but the foundational elements (or faults) that allow big business to rule over media, and the government still exist: lobbying, and the condensing of U.S. media outlets. Until we fix one or both of these problems, in my opinion at least, integrity and righteousness will always succumb to the influences of the almighty dollar.
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