The Nirvana song Kurt Cobain wrote when he wanted a “hit record”
By the time the 1980s rolled around, mainstream rock in America had devolved from grassroots songwriting into pyrotechnics, stage outfits, and hairspray. With big budgets and even bigger egos, mainstream rock outfits of the time rarely spoke to the increasingly disenfranchised youth of the Ronald Reagan era. Hence, a grassroots movement emerged from Seattle, built upon a punk and DIY ethos: it was the dawn of grunge, and the scene’s favourite son, Kurt Cobain, was captivated by its power.
Particularly during those early grunge years, with the emergence of groups like Melvins and, later, Mudhoney, the scene acted in staunch defiance of the rock mainstream. Inspired by hardcore punk and a slacker enegy, grunge outfits were speaking directly to their audiences, with honesty and, in many cases, anger. When Kurt Cobain formed Nirvana with Krist Novoselic in 1987, their sound and ethos was very much in keeping with the rest of the grunge scene.
Cobain’s songwriting quality was evident from the get-go with Nirvana, but their sound was far from the polished sounds of hit records like Nevermind. Early releases like Bleach and the collection of B-sides and rarities later released as Incesticide reflected the sounds of grassroots grunge and Cobain’s deep knowledge of punk history. However, there eventually came a time during which the songwriter moved away from that abrasive sound, searching for something with a little more universal appeal.
A popular perception of the songwriter is that he despised the mainstream with every ounce of his being. While there is likely some truth in this, reflected particularly by his disenfranchisement with the band when they began to gain worldwide popularity and acclaim, he certainly did not want to repeat the commercial flop of Bleach. Despite being a strong grunge record, Nirvana’s debut received little to no recognition outside the scene, and Cobain wanted his message to be heard far and wide.
This transformation from cult heroes of grunge to global rockstars happened during the production of their second album, Nevermind. Producer Butch Vig was well-positioned to witness this metamorphosis. “They were pretty scruffy and grungy when they showed up,” he once recalled. “They had been driving in the Sub Pop van… so they had been playing shows, and by the time they got into the studio, they were in dire need of a shower and a hot meal.”
Eventually, Nirvana were bought out of their contract with legendary independent label Sub Pop, signing for Geffen Records for their sophomore album. Seemingly, the impact of having a major label onboard changed Cobain’s attitude towards songwriting and recording. “Before they came in, they rehearsed every day for six months, like ten hours a day,” Vig said of the Nevermind sessions.
“Kurt, contrary to the slacker attitude, wanted to have a hit record,” Vig continued. “He wanted to make a really good-sounding album.”
Hit records existed in direct opposition to the DIY ethos of the grunge scene, but Cobain was aware of how far his message would reach if Nirvana garnered mainstream attention. One of the very first tracks he wrote and recorded with this new aim in mind was ‘Come As You Are’, an undeniable standout from Nevermind.
Seemingly, the plan worked out for the band. ‘Come As You Are’ became a top-ten hit in the UK and broke into the top 40 in the US singles chart. That success channelled itself into the album release, too, which became one of the most iconic records of the 1990s, cementing Nirvana’s place in the history of the rock mainstream. Maybe hit singles aren’t so bad after all.
