Top Ten Songs by Nirvana

The grunge era has been over for 10 years, but I could still listen to Nirvana every day of the week. It’s the only band I love enough to compose a decent top ten list. Put on a flannel shirt, fire up your Sony Walkman, and here we go. 

10 - Dive is on the live disc From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah, but its best version is on the first track on the band's disc of B-sides. In many ways, it is similar to “Blew” in that it kicks off the album with big dose of grungy bass guitar. Cobain seesaws from a Beatles-like voice to his regular voice on the verses.  Sample lyric: "Everyone speaks German."

9 - School is one of the best songs on “Wishkah.” Cobain’s voice goes soaring off into crazy-land as he wails “you’re in that school again!” This song features some of the best rhythm guitar on a Nirvana song. Sample lyric: “Just my luck: no recess.” 

8 - Heart-Shaped Box is the biggest hit and best song on In Utero. The live version on Wishkah is almost identical to the studio version, but that’s not a bad thing. Although Nirvana had tasted artistic and commercial success, its follow-up hit song didn’t sell out in any way. Sample lyric: “Throw down your umbilical noose, so I can come right back.” 

7 - Lithium is easily the funniest Nirvana song ever. Cobain’s self-deprecation is on full display, but he invites everyone to the pity party, saying “I’m so ugly; that’s OK, ‘cause so are you.” The bass guitar provides a good segue from the “Yeaaaaah Yeah” chorus to the lithum-addled verses. Sample lyric: “Today I found my friends They’re in my head.” 

6 - Blew is the first song on the group’s first album, Bleach. The bass line gets the song going before the guitars kick in. This song establishes what Nirvana is all about with its moody tone and energetic guitars and vocals. Sample lyric: “Is there another word that rhymes with shame?”