The song previously hit one billion streams in 2019
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video has topped two billion views on YouTube. The clip, uploaded on the platform in 2009, previously hit one billion views in late 2019.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” opened Nirvana’s break-through release Nevermind which hit No. 1 around the world, selling more than 30 million copies worldwide.
The song is widely credited with bringing grunge music into the mainstream and, effectively ending the dominance of 80s rock. The song’s raw energy, angst-ridden lyrics, and dynamic shifts from quiet, melodic verses to loud, distorted choruses resonated deeply with young people, particularly Generation X. It became an anthem for a generation feeling disaffected and misunderstood.
Interestingly, the title comes from a phrase written by Kathleen Hanna, singer of the band Bikini Kill, who wrote “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit” on Cobain’s wall. She was referring to the deodorant brand “Teen Spirit,” but Cobain initially misinterpreted it as a revolutionary slogan.
While rooted in punk and hard rock, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (and Nirvana’s music in general) showcased a unique blend of pop sensibility with raw, distorted guitars, unconventional song structures, and Kurt Cobain’s distinctive vocal style.
Beyond its musical success, the song and its iconic music video had a profound cultural impact, influencing fashion, attitudes, and the overall direction of popular music in the 1990s and beyond.
