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By Dee Lockett
119. That's the number of songs Nirvana recorded before Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994 and the remaining members disbanded the group for good. Yet for some reason when it comes to creating mash-ups fans only have one Nirvana song in mind and that, of course, is the genre-defining "Smells Like Teen Spirit." On YouTube there are over 30 pages of mash-ups using this grunge anthem. Some are cheap attempts at making Nirvana and Rick Astley work together while others are more clever mixes of both old and modern songs with the early '90s classic. Here are just a few of the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" mash-ups that don't suck.
2. Nirvana vs. Dizzee Rascal
Done by: Dizzee Rascal
Songs used: Dizzee Rascal - "Stand Up Tall"
You could almost call this a live sampling rather than a mash-up as Dizzee Rascal spits lyrics from his song "Stand Up Tall" over "Smells Like Teen Spirit" during Later...with Jools Holland. What makes this mash-up so perfect is it only further proves why rap and rock belong together. From Run DMC and Aerosmith to Jay Z and Linkin Park whenever rappers rhyme at a pace that suits the instrumental, it not only accentuates their lyrics but also greatly improves the quality of their live show. Next step: a "Smells Like Teen Spirit" rap cover.
3. Nirvana vs. The Notorious B.I.G.
Done by: DJ Chamburz
Songs used:Â The Notorious B.I.G. - "Nasty Boy"
Remember what I said about rap-rock crossovers? Well, quadruple that idea for this mash-up. Hearing Biggie rap over "Smells Like Teen Spirit" somehow manages to make a track about his sexual escapades sound even edgier. The original track sees Biggie rapping over a more R&B-favoring beat produced by Diddy and Stevie J, so to hear the song flipped on its head with a rock instrumental shows a different side to The Notorious B.I.G. and further solidifies his versatility as an MC. Just add this one to the list of Notorious B.I.G. mash-ups that don't suck, too.
4. Nirvana vs. Dead Or Alive
Done by: FAROFF
Songs used: Dead or Alive - "Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"
The thing about mash-ups is sometimes they work because of predictable song choices. Other times, they really work and are completely out of left field. Take Nirvana and '80s British band Dead Or Alive, for example. Though an unlikely pairing, the way Dead Or Alive's vocals and lyrics from the "Spin Me Round" chorus match the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" chorus is just uncanny. And it's equally creepy how well Cobain's voice fits over such a cheesy cowbell-based beat.
5. Nirvana vs. Blur vs. The White Stripes
Done by: Everyone (but we're using Underwater Robot's version)
Songs used: Blur - "Song 2" and The White Stripes - "Seven Nation Army"
Traditionally, the go-to songs to mesh with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" have been Blur's "Song 2" and The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army." Frankly, "Song 2" sounds identical to "Smells Like Teen Spirit," and whether that was intentional or not, it makes for a pretty sweet combination. "Seven Nation Army's" bass line then fits seamlessly into the mix. By the mash-up's end, you're not even sure which song is which anymore. The best part about this particualr version is it doesn't just blend the instrumentals, but also splices up the vocals to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Song 2" making it a true Frankenstien mash-up.
6. Nirvana vs. Michael Jackson
Done by: Bruno Mars
Songs used: Michael Jackson - "Billie Jean"
It's unclear where the idea to mix "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with "Billie Jean" originated, but it's brilliant. There are dozens of takes on this mash-up online, most using Michael Jackson's vocals, but one of the better interpretations comes from Bruno Mars. The next Super Bowl halftime performer started doing this cover around three years ago on tour, laying his smooth voice over the Nirvana track and tacking on The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" at the end. He usually does the performance with an electric guitar, but for an appearance on Kidd Kradick in the Morning, he instead used an acoustic guitar. And it perfectly complements his falsetto.
7. Nirvana vs. Martin Garrix
Done by: Bingo Players
Songs used: Martin Garrix - "Animals"
There are several versions of this mix floating around on YouTube, but those are all remakes. The original occurred at EDC Las Vegas earlier this year during Bingo Players' set in which the Dutch duo took one of the year's biggest EDM tracks—also by a fellow Dutch producer—and combined it with a Nirvana classic. The electricity of each song blended together in this setting created the perfect moment for the crowd to erupt. The mash-up went viral, prompting the duo to drop it once again at Ultra Europe in Croatia.
8. Nirvana vs. Europe
Done by: Wax Audio
Songs used: Europe - "The Final Countdown"
A mash-up like this shouldn't even make sense and yet as Kurt Cobain's voice singing "Hello, hello, hello, how low?" echoes while "The Final Countdown's" introductory horns build, something just clicks. The two songs come from opposite ends of the music spectrum but create a unique blend of sounds when married. Probably the mash-up's biggest accomplishment is successfully removing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from the grunge era and transposing it to a decade earlier when stadium rock songs and a tongue-in-cheek sound were on trend.
9. Nirvana vs. The Smashing Pumpkins
Done by: Unforgettable Sound
Songs used: The Smashing Pumpkins - "Bullet with Butterfly Wings"
Both Kurt Cobain and Billy Corgan carry that gritty aura of the early '90s, and this mix plays on the two singers' aesthetic commonality. It interchanges their vocals, switching between Cobain singing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Corgan singing "Bullet with Butterfly Wings." The tone is immediately set by the mash-up's opener which sees Corgan declare, "Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage" and that in-your-face callousness doesn't let up.
