Why Nirvana Hated Their Own Breakout Hit #grunge #nirvana

Smells Like Teen Spirit launched Nirvana into global superstardom — but it’s also the song the band eventually grew to hate. Kurt Cobain wrote it as a joke, a parody of formulaic punk–pop anthems. He never expected it to become the anthem of a generation. When it exploded on MTV, Cobain felt the song no longer belonged to him — it belonged to the mainstream machine Nirvana despised. The band quickly became uncomfortable with how Teen Spirit overshadowed their deeper, more personal work. Cobain called it “too commercial,” while Krist Novoselic admitted they were tired of playing it live. What started as a sarcastic riff turned into the defining sound of the 1990s — and a burden the band never escaped. This short reveals why Nirvana hated their own biggest hit, how it clashed with their values, and why the band felt trapped by the very song that made them icons. #nirvana #kurtcobain #grunge #classicrock #rocknroll #rockandroll #rock #rockmusic