MUS 1600 "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
What were the most common words to describe the countermovements?
Alternative, or indie
What were unique about the lyrics in grunge rock?
Bleak lyrics depicting anxiety, apathy, depression, cynicism about the future
What instruments did grunge rock use?
Electric guitar with timbre altered through heavy electric distortion
What generation was the lyrics of grunge rock related to?
Generation X
What is a style of alternative rock?
Grunge rock
When did grunge rock become the best known type of alternative rock?
In the 1990s
Who fronted Nirvana?
Kurt Cobain
When did grunge rock originate as a regional style?
Mid 1990s
Who recorded "Smells Like Teen Spirit"?
Nirvana
Who wrote "Smells Like Teen Spirit"?
Nirvana
What was "Alternative" music claim to be linked to?
outsider status authentic, anti commercialism
Grunge is a style of alternative rock from
pacific NW, especially Seattle
What did grunge rock draw from?
punk rock heavy metal/hard rock
How did Kurt Cobain die?
struggled with depression, heroin addiction; committed suicide in 1994 at age 27
What album brought national attention to grunge?
"Nevermind"(1991) by Nirvana
Grunge Rock
(1990s) - A style of alternative rock from Pacific Nothwest, especially Seattle - Draws from Punk rock and heavy metal/hard rock - Originated in mid 1990s as a regional style, but becomes best known type of alternative rock in the 1990s - Use of electric guitar with timbre altered through heavy electric distortion - Intense, anguished style of singing/screaming - Bleak lyrics: anxiety, apathy, depression, cynicism about the future (linked by media to Generation X)
"Smells Like Teen Spirit"
- Blends intensity and timbres of hardcore punk with elements of conventional pop songwriting - verse chorus form - clear melody (even if screamed) - Verses are quiet; chorus loud - Video reflects alternative vision: a subversive version of a high school pep rally - Lyrics: sense of unease, helplessness, dissatisfaction; "I feel stupid and contagious, here we are now entertain us" - Distrust of consumer culture, entertainment industry - Popular success upset Nirvana's identity of themselves as outsiders - Began provoking fans, trying to shock new followers
"Alternative Music" and the 1990's
- Countermovements (like early punk rock, and progressive country) continued to grow in 1980s and 1990s - "Alternative" (and "indie") became most common work to describe countermovements - Nearly every genre of popular music has had an "alt-version" since the 1990s - Sometimes linked to outsider status, claims to be authentically, anti commercialism
Nirvana
- Grunge bands from Washington State fronted by Kurt Cobain - Second album "Nevermind"(1991), broke into mainstream, drew national attention to grunge - Only three full length albums from 1987-1994, but influential on other bands
Generation X
- Label attached to Americans born between mid 1960s and mid 1980s - Stereotype: distrustful of authority, apathetic about the future, anxious and unmotivated (slackers) - generation X become associated with grunge music in media; due to lyrics, intentionally sloppy clothing - Generation X was the focus of movies, independent and mainstream, in 1990s
Commercialism in music: Some rhetorical questions
- What should drive musicians: the money or art? - What is "authenticity"? What is "selling out"?
When was "Smells Like Teen Spirit" recorded?
1991
What was the stereotype of generation X?
distrustful of authority, apathetic about the future, anxious, and unmotivated, slackers
