Songs of My Life #42 - Nirvana - Lithium - 1991

Nirvana touched everyone when they first forced their way onto the scene. That's not to say that everyone liked them, or thought they were talented, or thought their music was worth listening to. But everyone was aware of them, and it was probably the first time since Michael Jackson's burgeoning solo career that an artists had done that, worldwide, to the whole population.

They were the anointed frontrunners of what became known as the Seattle scene, and whether you consider Kurt Cobain a genius or as someone who tapped his own distorted and tortured personality to write his songs, they were unique. While the world went made for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" it was "Lithium" that was my favourite from the album Nevermind. I loved the bass line, the quiet into the over-the-top raucousness, and Dave Grohl's hair. It was the song that tied the rest together for me.

I thought about half of Nirvana's songs were worthy of multiple and constant listening, and the other half fairly average fair. When Cobain moved on it was probably a good thing for his music, as Nirvana's legacy will remain untarnished. It also allowed Grohl to start Foo Fighters, which has become a far greater band than Nirvana ever could have.