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Song · Nirvana

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana

From the album Nevermind (1991)

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana appears on 134 radio countdowns from 27 stations between 1991 and 2026. It was first released in 1991 on the album Nevermind. Its best result is #1 on The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999), and it was voted number one on 43 countdowns in total. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #1 alternative song of 1991, #1 alternative song of all time and #8 of the '90s.

134countdowns
27stations
#1best position
43#1 finishes
107top 10 finishes
1991–2026years charted

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

Hard Rock & Metal

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1991 2 KROQ Los Angeles, CA KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1991 107
1991 1 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana 91X Top 91 Songs of 1991 91
1991 1 Live 105 San Francisco, CA Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1991 105
1991 1 CFNY 102.1 The Edge Toronto, ON CFNY Top 91 Songs of 1991 91
1991 15 Studio Brussel Flanders, Belgium Studio Brussel De Eindafrekening 1991 30
1991 1 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's Festive Fifty of 1991 (the 'Phantom Fifty') 50
1992 9 CFNY 102.1 The Edge Toronto, ON CFNY Top 102 Songs of 1992 102
2020 84 CD101 Columbus, OH CD101 Top 93 Songs of 2020 93

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
– 1 CRNC 90.1 CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s 91
1991 31 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1991) 100
1991 1 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1991) 100
1992 90 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1992) 500
1992 21 Live 105 Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1992) 299
1992 18 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1992) 100
1993 8 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1993) 100
1994 2 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1994) 497
1994 4 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994) 500
1994 2 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994) 500
1994 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1994) 100
1995 4 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1995) 500
1995 2 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 300 (July 1995) 300
1995 3 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1995) 100
1996 9 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1996) 500
1996 1 Q101 Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996) 500
1996 5 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996) 498
1996 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1996) 100
1996 134 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1996) 500
1997 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1997) 100
1998 2 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1998) 100
1998 1 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1998) 100
1999 1 KROQ KROQ Top 300 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 1999) 300
1999 1 WHFS WHFS Top 500 Songs of the '90s (December 1999) 500
1999 1 91X 91X Fat 500 Songs of All-Time (July 1999) 500
1999 1 Q101 Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1017
1999 3 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 300 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 300
1999 2 WFNX WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999) 500
1999 1 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 3 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999) 500
1999 4 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
1999 1 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999) 1002
1999 1 The Buzz The Buzz Top 99 Songs of All-Time (1999) 99
1999 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1999) 150
2000 1 Y100 Y100 Top 300 Songs of the '90s (September 2000) 100
2000 4 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000) 500
2000 5 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2000 8 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's All-Time Festive Fifty (2000) 50
2000 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2000) 100
2001 3 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001) 498
2001 5 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 16 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
2001 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2001) 100
2001 1 WBRU WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001) 500
2002 4 K-Rock K-Rock Top 92 Party Songs of All-Time (2002) 92
2002 2 WFNX WFNX Top 50 Grunge Songs of All-Time (June 2002) 50
2002 1 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002) 500
2002 5 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2002) 100
2002 32 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 1 91X 91X Top 91 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 91
2003 1 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003) 500
2003 5 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 2 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2003) 100
2004 20 Q101 Q101 Top 300 Party Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 1 107.7 The End The End Original Alternative 500 (May 2004) 500
2004 6 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 2 Y100 Y100 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 2 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2004) 100
2004 53 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2004) 885
2005 1 Live 105 Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of the '90s (August 2005) 106
2005 2 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005) 500
2005 9 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 2 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2005) 100
2006 1 107.7 The End The End Top 107 Songs of the '90s (December 2006) 107
2006 2 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 1 Live 105 Live 105 500 Co-Op Countdown (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 5 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006) 499
2006 364 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006) 500
2006 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2006) 100
2007 1 KROQ KROQ Top 500 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 2007) 500
2007 9 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2007 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2007) 100
2008 1 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2008) 500
2008 7 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2008 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2008) 100
2009 1 CFNY 102.1 The Edge The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge 200
2009 2 Live 105 Live 105 Memorial 500 Song List (2009) 500
2009 7 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2009 1 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009) 200
2009 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2009) 100
2009 1 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (2009) 100
2009 541 WXPN WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009) 885
2010 4 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010) 200
2010 8 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2010 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2010) 100
2011 8 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2011 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2011) 100
2011 37 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2011) 70
2012 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2012) 100
2012 11 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 102 New Rock Songs of All-Time 102
2012 14 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 9 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2013 2 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2013) 100
2014 9 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2014 3 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2014) 100
2014 31 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014) 885
2015 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2015) 100
2016 2 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2016) 100
2017 3 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2017) 100
2018 3 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2018) 100
2018 6 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2019 5 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2019) 100
2019 32 KEXP KEXP Listeners' Favorite Songs of All Time 627
2020 8 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2020) 100
2020 61 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020
2021 1 107.7 The End The End Obligatory Top 100 Alternative Songs of All Time (2021) 100
2021 7 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2021) 100
2021 59 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2021) 1043
2022 4 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2022 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2022) 100
2022 49 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2022) 500
2022 48 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2022) 1043
2023 1 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s 893
2023 2 91X 91X Top 91 Songs of The Last 40 Years 91
2023 458 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023) 1043
2023 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2023) 100
2023 103 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2023) 500
2024 2 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2024) 500
2024 62 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2024) 1043
2024 9 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2024) 100
2024 1 KEXP The Best Opening Tracks of All Time 738
2025 11 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2025) 100
2025 8 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2025) 500
2025 39 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2025) 1043
2026 9 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2026) 500

Also listed as: Smells like teen spirit; Smells like Teen Spirit; Smells Like Teen Spirit!.

Charting alongside it in 1991

Best songs of 1991 →
  1. 2Losing My ReligionR.E.M.
  2. 3UnbelievableEMF
  3. 4Kiss Them for MeSiouxsie and the Banshees
  4. 5RushBig Audio Dynamite II
  5. 6Give It AwayRed Hot Chili Peppers
  6. 7SexualityBilly Bragg