Top 10 Best Songs by Nirvana

The Big Bang of the nineties. Four chords that changed the world. It's the ultimate expression of teenage angst and apathy. Dave Grohl's drums are like sledgehammer blows. Cobain's voice goes from an indifferent mumble to a hysterical scream. It's raw, energetic and devastating. Not just a hit, but a cultural revolution that definitively buried the glitzy eighties.

That guitar riff... so simple, so watery and so recognizable. The effects pedal gives it a swimming, dreamy sound. The lyrics are an invitation: be yourself, with all your flaws. "And I swear that I don't have a gun" is a chilling line in hindsight. The song is relaxed but has a constant, underlying threat.

The textbook example of hard-soft dynamics. The verses are quiet and subdued, the chorus is an explosion of "Yeah!" It's about finding religion (or medicine) to avoid going crazy. The lyrics alternate between happiness and depression. It's an anthem for anyone struggling with mental health, but still wants to dance to it.

Dark, oppressive and complex. The guitar riff is dissonant and ominous. The lyrics are full of medical metaphors and references to his relationship with Courtney Love. The chorus explodes into a wall of sound. Cobain sings with a raw intensity that cuts through to the bone. It's a fascinating dive into a troubled mind.

A cover of David Bowie, but for many this is the definitive version. The acoustic guitar riff is hypnotic and the electric guitar sings in the background. The atmosphere is ghostly and mysterious. Cobain sings it with a weary resignation that perfectly fits the lyrics about loss of identity. The pinnacle of the Unplugged session.

A fragile song that sounds like a farewell letter. The cello in the background gives it a somber, solemn atmosphere. The lyrics are a string of apologies and resignation. "All in all is all we are." It feels like a moment of rest in the storm of Cobain's life. Beautiful, sad and meditative.

You hear the influence of The Beatles. It's a perfect pop song, but played by a rambling punk band. Written for his girlfriend at the time. The melody is sweet and the guitar is jangly. It shows that Cobain could do more than just make noise, but had a brilliant ear for harmony and structure. An early classic.

The closer of the legendary MTV Unplugged concert. An old folk traditional that Cobain takes to a frightening level. The buildup is phenomenal. In the final verse, his breath catches, he opens his eyes wide and shrieks the lungs out of his body. It's a moment of pure, unfiltered pain and one of the most powerful moments in music history.

A song that mocks fans who don't understand the lyrics but sing along anyway ("He's the one who likes all our pretty songs"). Ironically, it's one of their catchiest songs. The bass line by Krist Novoselic is heavy and groovy. The chorus is a singalong of formidable proportions. It's Nirvana at its most pop-savvy, but with a sarcastic grin.

An acoustic song that sounds deceptively innocent. The guitar is simple and the melody almost childlike. But the lyrics are chilling. It's written from the perspective of a rapist holding his victim captive. That contrast between the soft music and the gruesome story makes it uncomfortable and brilliant. A glimpse into the dark side of humanity.