Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit at school concert

Nirvana’s hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, was released as a music video on September 24, 1991, providing a graphic symbol of ‘grunge’ for a growing fan base around the world. The concept of the video, a school concert that unleashes an expression of anarchy, was inspired by the 1979 movie, Over The Edge. The Jonathan Kaplan-directed movie, featuring Matt Dillon, tells the story of rebellious neglected teenagers in New Grenada, a planned community in the desert.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” was filmed on a soundstage in Culver City, set in a prep rally in a high school gym. The band perform to students sitting on bleachers and cheer leaders in black dresses with the circle-A anarchy symbol. A high school janitor rocks along to the music while students become more and more energetic in their moshing. The video finishes with students wrecking the set and instruments, a cleaner tidying up the mess, and someone standing in the gym with a dunce’s hat on his head. Click on the image below to play the video.

Smells Like Teen Spirit Credits

The track was written by Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl and produced by Butch Vig and included on the album, “Never Mind”.

Filming was directed by Samuel Bayer, a graduate of New York City’s School of Visual Arts (1987), who chose to light, photograph and operate camera for the video.

The first edit by Samuel Bayer didn’t go down well with the band. Kurt arranged for a re-edit before the video appeared on television screens. See an early edition of Smells Like Teen Spirit here. Click on the image below to play the video.

Samuel Bayer is currently signed with film production HSI.

Lyrics for Smells Like Teen Spirit

Load up on guns
Bring your friends
It’s fun to lose and to pretend
She’s overbored and self-assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word

Chorus-
Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello ,hello

With the Lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now entertain us
A mullato an albino
A mosquito my libido
yay

Verse 2-
I’m worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Chorus-
Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, hello

With the Lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now entertain us
A mullato an albino
A mosquito my libido
yay

Bridge-

Verse 3-
And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard it’s hard to find
Oh well whatever nevermind

Chorus-

Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, hello

With the Lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now entertain us
A mullato an albino
A mosquito my libido
A denial