Top Ten Songs by Nirvana

My Favorite Band

By Jeff Gorman, published Sep 22, 2006
Published Content: 169  Total Views: 171,918  Favorited By: 37 CPs
Rating: 3.9 of 5
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?” 

Takeaways
  • Nirvana consisted of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl.
  • The band was one of the leaders of the grunge movement in the 90s.
  • Cobain killed himself on April 5, 1994
Did You Know?
The 1998 film Kurt & Courtney explored Cobain's relationship with his wife, Hole lead singer Courtney Love.
Resources
  • Nirvana discographyAll about Nirvana
Comments
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Every NIRVANA song is great, but If i had to make a top ten here it is..... ---> 10) territorial pissings... 9) molly's lips (cover)... 8) negative creep... 7) breed... 6) sliver.... 5) rape me... 4) sappy.... 3) the money will roll right in (cover)... 2) Milk it.... 1) tourettes

Posted on 07/10/2008 at 11:07:13 AM

 
all of their songs fit the topten

Posted on 07/06/2008 at 6:07:07 AM

 
all of their songs fit on topten

Posted on 07/06/2008 at 6:07:16 AM

 
This is how it goes " 1) stain 2) floyd the barber 3) polly 4) come as you are 5) radio friendly unit shifter 6) dumb 7) smells like teen spirit 8) very ape 9) lithium 10) heart shaped box, well done kurt i hope your having a rocken time in hell!

Posted on 07/02/2008 at 6:07:14 AM

 
Okay well my top ten would be: 10:Heart Shaped Box 9:All Apologies 8:School 7:On A Plain 6:Lithium 5:Man Who Sold The World 4:Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:Come As You Are 2:In Bloom 1:Rape Me I like the others ones too, but those are my favorites.

Posted on 06/19/2008 at 7:06:01 PM

 
COURTNEY LOVE IS A BITCH I AGREE WITH THEM ON THAT ONE

Posted on 06/04/2008 at 8:06:02 AM

 
i really enjoy kurts music and i think that his music is very inspirational and i enjoy it every day the list that is the top 10 is very good i also think that all of his songs are great and i would also like to say these last words before i go "COURTNEY IF YOU EVER READ THIS I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE CAUSE OF KURTS DEATH AND I HOPE YOU ARE PROUD OF WHAT DAMAGE YOU HAVE CAUSED TO GRUNGE EVERYWHERE AND I ALSO THINK YOUR A STUPID BITCH"

Posted on 06/04/2008 at 8:06:35 AM

 
where the fuck is tourettes?!

Posted on 05/23/2008 at 9:05:09 AM

 
i totally disaghree the order should b 1. Lithium 2 teen spirit 3. rape me 4. in bloom 5. heart shaped box 6. polly 7. you know youre right 8. the man who sold the world 9. come as you are 10. silver

Posted on 04/05/2008 at 11:04:11 AM

 
Good list heart shaped box should be higher. I also like in bloom

Posted on 01/27/2008 at 7:01:30 PM

 
man, where´s the man who sold the world or pennyroyal tea, or maybe verse chorus verse or you know you´re right?? i agree in the first and second spot but negative creep is much more higher than it should be! i would like heart shaped box in the third spot and in the fourth you know you´re right! thanks man!

Posted on 11/23/2007 at 10:11:00 AM

 
i want 2 nothe knownledge of grunge

Posted on 11/09/2007 at 7:11:00 AM

 
Like you list but where's pennyroyal tea, something in the way or milk it i probably put pennyroyal tea instead of negative creep and i think heart shaped box should be much higher!! Long life to the grunge!!!!

Posted on 10/09/2007 at 11:10:00 AM

 
Great list!

Posted on 10/03/2007 at 11:10:00 PM

 
What about the man who sold the world

Posted on 09/04/2007 at 9:09:00 PM

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