About This Quiz
Nirvana was, hands-down, one of the best bands in rock and roll history. The likes of Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic stunned crowds everywhere and despite only being around for seven years, this band has cemented themselves in our memories and will live on forever. But do you remember the songs they used to sing? Better yet, do you remember the lyrics to some of their most popular songs? We're testing your knowledge today!
Nirvana was formed in 1987 and included band members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Kurt Cobain. Together, these men created hits like "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Lithium," "Dive" and "Drain You." But being a fan means so much more than knowing the names of their songs- it's also knowing the words to them. Come prove to us that you've been and still are a die-hard fan of this iconic alternative rock group. Prove that Kurt Cobain's memory still lives in your head and heart. And prove to us that if a Nirvana song was chosen for you at karaoke, that you'd absolutely kill it. Come show us that you know the words to these Nirvana songs.ÂÂ
"Smells Like Teen Spirit," which was released on September 10, 1991, was the lead single and opening track for the band's second album, Nevermind. This grunge song was the band's biggest hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, thrusting the album to the top of the charts in 1992.
"Lithium" is the fifth track off of the group's second studio album, Nevermind, which tells the story of a man who turns to religion due to his suicidal thoughts. Written by Kurt Cobain, the song was initially recorded in April 1990 but then was re-recorded between May and June the following year.
"Something in the Way" is the last song from the band's 1991 album, Nevermind. Butch Vig recorded the song in May 1991, and in 2015, was ranked at number five by the Rolling Stones on their list of 102 Nirvana Songs.
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"In Bloom" was the fourth and last single released from the band's second album, Nevermind. Written by Kurt Cobain, the song's lyrics addresses the people outside of the underground music community who became fans after the band's debut album, Bleach.
"Dive," written by Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, was the first track from the group's compilation album, Insecticide. This song was released in 1990 on the band's "Silver" single and was previously released on the 1991 compilation album, The Grunge Years.
"About a Girl" is the third song released from the band's debut album, Bleach, and the first song on the posthumous album, MTV Unplugged in New York. Kurt Cobain wrote the song about his then-girlfriend Tracy Marander, who he lived with at the time.
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"Silver" is a 1990 non-album single written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It was re-released in December 1992 on the compilation album, Insecticide. The single includes songs "Silver," "Dive," "About a Girl" and "Spank Thru."
"Drain You" is the eighth track on the band's second studio album Nevermind, released on September 24, 1991. Originally titled "Formula," the song was written by Kurt Cobain in 1990 and was first recorded in the spring of 1991.
"Heart-Shaped Box" was the first single from the group's third and final album, In Utero. Released in 1993, Kurt Cobain wrote this song in early 1992 and recorded in February 1993 at the Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.
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"Breed," originally titled "Imodium," is the fourth track on Nirvana's 1991 studio album, Nevermind. It was recorded from May to June 1991 and addresses the themes of teenage apathy and fear within the American middle class.
"Serve the Servants," written by frontman Kurt Cobain, is the first track from Nirvana's 1993 studio album, In Utero. The song was recorded in February 1993 at the Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.
"Come As You Are," released in March 1992, was the group's second single from their second studio album, Nevermind. This single was Nirvana's second UK top 10 hit, second American top 40 hit, peaked at number nine on the UK singles chart and at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" is a cover of a traditional American folk song. This song was released as an international CD bonus track from the 2002 posthumous compilation album, Nirvana. It was also featured on the 1994 compilation album, MTV Unplugged in New York.
"Dumb" is the sixth song from the band's third and final studio album, In Utero. In 2015, the song was ranked at number 20 by Rolling Stone on its list of 102 Nirvana songs. In 2011, it was listed at number six by NME's ranking of the ten best Nirvana songs.
"All Apologies" is the 12th and final track from In Utero - the band's third and final studio album. This song was the group's third number-one Modern Rock hit, peaking at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart and receiving two Grammy nominations in 1995.
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"School" is the fourth track from Nirvana's 1989 debut studio album, Bleach. The song was written by lead vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain, who described it as a representation of the Seattle grunge scene parallel to the cliques and ‘featured' groups at high school.
"Love Buzz" is a 1988 cover of the Dutch rock band Shocking Blue's song of the same name. The song was released in November 1988 and was featured on the band's debut album, Bleach.
"Scentless Apprentice" is the second track of the group's third and final studio album In Utero. The song was written by Kurt Cobain, drummer Dave Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic with lyrics based on a 1985 novel entitled Perfume, by German writer Patrick Süskind.
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"Pennyroyal Tea" is the ninth track from the group's third album which was due to be released as the third single, but was recalled following Kurt Cobain's death. The song peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart after being re-released in April 2014.
"Molly's Lips" is Nirvana's cover version of Scottish alternative rock band The Vaseline's song of the same name. This song was released in January 1991 and is the second live track from the vinyl-only, split single which included "Candy" by The Fluids.
"Been a Son" is the third track released on the side two of Nirvana's 1989 EP, Blew. The song was later re-recorded in November 1991, and released on December 14 & 15 1992, for the band's compilation album, Insecticide.
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"Negative Creep," released in June 1989, is the seventh song from the band's debut studio album, Bleach. This song was written by Kurt Cobain in 1988 and recorded by Jack Endino at Reciprocal Recording between December 1988 and January 1989.
"Lake of Fire" is a cover version of American alternative rock band Meat Puppets' song of the same name. This song was performed by Nirvana for their MTV Unplugged appearance in 1993 and later released on their live album, MTV Unplugged in New York.
"You Know You're Right" is the first track on the band's 2002 self-titled compilation album, and one of the very last songs to be made by the group before Kurt Cobain's death. In 2011, this song was ranked by NME at number two on their list of the ten best Nirvana songs.
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"On a Plain" is the 11th song on Nevermind, the band's second studio album. Kurt Cobain revealed in a 1993 interview that the song was about "classic alienation" and that the lyrics were taken from "pieces of poetry thrown together."
Blew is the first song on the band's 1989 EP of the same name which was first released as the second single from their debut studio album, Bleach. Blew is one of the only songs from the Bleach era that remained on the group's live setlist throughout their performance history.
"Territorial Pissings" is the seventh track from the band's second studio album, Nevermind. Written by Kurt Cobain and Chet Powers, this song was performed by Nirvana on their first "Saturday Night Live" appearance, after which they destroyed their instruments.
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"Polly," titled initially "Hitchhiker" and later "Cracker," is the sixth song from the group's second album, Nevermind. The song dates back to at least 1988 and was written by Kurt Cobain about the kidnapping and rape of a 14-year-old girl in August 1987.
"Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam" is a Nirvana cover version of Scottish alternative band The Vaseline's song. The song was recorded on 18 November 1993 and released on their 1994 album, MTV Unplugged in New York.
"The Money Will Roll Right In" is a 1992 song which talks about the money and power accumulated after becoming a rock star and moving to Hollywood. On August 30, 1992, a live version was recorded at the Reading Festival and later on released on the 2009 Live At Reading album.
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"Aneurysm" is a grunge song which was initially released as a B-side to Nirvana's 1991 single "Smells Like Teen Spirit." It was later released in December 1992 on the band's compilation album Insecticide and in 1996, on their live album, From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah.
"Stain" is the third track from Nirvana's 1992 compilation album, Insecticide, which included B-sides, outtakes, demos, covers, and radio broadcast recordings. This song was initially released in 1989 on the band's EP, Blew.
"Floyd the Barber" is the second track from Nirvana's debut studio album, Bleach. Written by Kurt Cobain, he used the innocent setting of "The Andy Griffith Show" to make a philosophical point about how people during that era whitewashed their '50s upbringing to the point of denying real social issues of the time.
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"Stay Away," initially named "Pay to Play," is the tenth song from the second studio album, Nevermind. This song was written by Kurt Cobain in protest of clubs charging bands to let them play inside.
"Sappy" is a song written by Kurt Cobain which was initially released in October 1993, as a hidden track on an AIDS-benefit album, No Alternative. The song has also been featured on other albums including With the Lights Out, Sliver: The Best of the Box, Nevermind (deluxe) and In Utero (deluxe).