The Nirvana Song Kurt Cobain Considered a Favorite and “Better Than” Hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Several months before his death in April 1994, Kurt Cobain had a lengthy conversation with journalist David Fricke, covering everything from songwriting, fatherhood, recording Nevermind and In Utero, his love for John Lennon, and more.

During the interview, Cobain also talked about the success of Nirvana‘s Nevermind hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and his repulsion for the song. Initially, Cobain intended to write a massive pop hit with “Teen Spirit” while ripping off a band he admired. “I was trying to write the ultimate pop song,” said Cobain, who wrote the song with Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl, while the band was writing and playing in Tacoma, Washington while waiting to get signed.

“I was basically trying to rip off the Pixies,” Cobain added. “I have to admit it. When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily I should have been in that band, or at least in a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.”

Despite its explosion, Cobain grew to detest “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and would often refuse to play it live or intentionally butcher the song on stage. “Once it got into the mainstream, it was over,” said Cobain. “I’m just tired of being embarrassed by it. I’m beyond that.”

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[RELATED: Why Kurt Cobain Hated Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”]

“Drain You”

There were other Nirvana songs that Cobain believed were just as good if not better than the band’s biggest hit. “Everyone has focused on that song so much. … It’s [‘Teen Sprit’] been pounded into their brains,” said Cobain. “But I think there are so many other songs that I’ve written that are as good, if not better than that song, like ‘Drain You.’ That’s definitely as good as ‘Teen Spirit.’” 

Cobain wrote “Drain You” after breaking up with Bikini Kill’s Tobi Vail in 1990. Coincidentally, Vail once used the deodorant Teen Spirit, which inspired the Nirvana song after bandmate Kathleen Hanna wrote “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit” on his bedroom wall.

“I love the lyrics, and I never get tired of playing it,” said Cobain. “Maybe if it was as big as ‘Teen Spirit’, I wouldn’t like it as much.”

Though Cobain never divulged the meaning behind “Drain You,” it may have partially touched on his relationship and split with Vail, who allegedly said to him, “It is now my duty to completely drain you” when they broke up. At the time, Cobain was also battling an addiction to heroin, which he was using to self-medicate and ease the pain of his chronic stomach issues, which he may have been alluding to—I travel through a tube and end up in your infection … With eyes so dilated, I’ve become your pupil

One baby to another says, “I’m lucky to’ve met you”
I don’t care what you think unless it is about me
It is now my duty to completely drain you
I travel through a tube and end up in your infection

Chew your meat for you, pass it back and forth
In a passionate kiss from my mouth to yours
I like you

With eyes so dilated, I’ve become your pupil
You taught me everything without a poison apple
The water is so yellow, I’m a healthy student
Indebted and so grateful, vacuum out the fluids

Chew your meat for you, pass it back and forth
In a passionate kiss from my mouth to yours
I like you

Photo: Kurt Cobain recording in Hilversum Studios (Michel Linssen/Redferns)