Nirvana, one of the most influential bands in the history of music, will always be known for their punk rock spirit. The band, although formed in 1987, reached its peak during the ‘90s, after they managed to make grunge and alternative music part of the decades mainstream with the release of their 1991 album, Nevermind.
The band, comprised of Kurt Cobain on vocals and guitar, Krist Novoselic on bass, and Dave Grohl on drums, had their roots in Aberdeen, Washington. Cobain also served as the band’s songwriter, handling all their lyrics and composing most of their music.
Even if you didn’t grow up in the ‘90s, you’re probably familiar with their song, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” They claim that this is one of the most iconic songs of all-time is not only made by Nirvana fans but is backed up by science as well.
In fact, according to Dr. Mick Grierson, a computer scientist and musician from the Goldsmiths University of London, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is officially the most iconic song. He examined 50 songs taken from seven different best-of lists from compilations of major music publications and looked at the features they had in common. With the help of analytical software, he examined a variety of factors such as sonic variety, chord variety, number of beats per minute, key, timbral variety, and lyrical content, factors which made these songs iconic to the public.
In an interview with The Daily Mail, Dr. Grierson explained that they looked at a different range of measures per song, comparing them for any similarities which happened less in other songs. They found that the most notable thing that the songs had in common is the fact that most of those considered to be iconic had a more dynamic and varied sound than other records. The result was the track had a more exciting feel, capturing the attention of its listeners. In the same way, the sounds used and the way they are combined also differed in every song.
According to the study, Smells Like Teen Spirit ticked off all the boxes, establishing its spot as the most iconic song of the decade. It was followed by “Imagine” by John Lennon, with U2’s “One” claiming the number three spot.