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Cover of Nevermind by Nirvana
Cover: Nevermind

Song · Nirvana

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana

From the album Nevermind (1991)

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana appears on 231 radio countdowns from 65 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 58 countdowns in total. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #1 alternative song of 1991, #1 alternative song of all time and #10 of the '90s.

231countdowns
65stations
#1best position
58#1 finishes
148top 10 finishes
1991–2026years charted

Watch

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video)

Video from YouTube (NirvanaVEVO). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" kicks off Nirvana's Nevermind and was the first single pulled from it in 1991, and it's the sound of Kurt Cobain trying, by his own account, to write the ultimate pop song. He lifted the Pixies' quiet-loud trick to do it: a verse coiled tight around a mumble, then a chorus that detonates like a pep rally gone wrong, with Dave Grohl pounding and Krist Novoselic's bass holding the floor down.

Butch Vig produced it with the band and Andy Wallace mixed it, and every part is built for the radio without sanding off the snarl. The title came from something Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill wrote about Cobain and a deodorant; he took it as a revolutionary slogan, and a generation of bored kids took the song as their anthem. The video, a high school pep rally that ends in chaos, went into heavy rotation on MTV and won 2 MTV Video Music Awards.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

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 1 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's Festive Fifty of 1991 (the 'Phantom Fifty') 50
1991 15 Studio Brussel Flanders, Belgium Studio Brussel De Eindafrekening 1991 30
1992 9 CFNY 102.1 The Edge Toronto, ON CFNY Top 102 Songs of 1992 102
1997 81 97.1 The Eagle Dallas-Fort Worth, TX KEGL The Eagle's Top 97 Songs of 1997 97
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
1994 30 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1994) 1000
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
1995 13 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1995) 1000
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 9 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1996) 1000
1996 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1996) 100
1996 134 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1996) 500
1997 642 102.3 WBAB WBAB Top 1,023 Rock and Roll Songs of All Time (1997) 1023
1997 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1997) 100
1998 14 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1998) 1000
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 12 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1999) 998
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 1 DC101 DC101 Top 101 Rock Songs of the 90s 101
2000 4 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000) 500
2000 5 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2000 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2000) 100
2000 8 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's All-Time Festive Fifty (2000) 50
2000 1 The Edge KEDJ Countdown 2000 (106 songs) 106
2000 1 103.3 The Edge 103.3 The Edge Top 103 New Rock Songs of the Millennium 103
2001 3 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001) 498
2001 5 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 57 WFPK WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time 2000
2001 1 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2001) 100
2001 79 KISW KISW Top 99 Rock Songs (2001) 99
2001 16 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
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 2 KISW KISW Top 999 of All Time (2002) 999
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
2004 1 WBCN WBCN Grunge Top 104 (2004) 104
2005 1 Live 105 Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of the '90s (August 2005) 106
2005 1 96.5 The Buzz 96.5 The Buzz Top 96 of the 90s 96
2005 2 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005) 500
2005 9 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 99 The Edge KEDJ Top 103 on Independent Radio 103
2005 1 99X 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005) 1000
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 19 WTMD WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time 897
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 25 WYEP WYEP 913 Essential Songs 913
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
2010 61 97.9 The Loop The Loop USO Rock 'N' Roll 500 (2010) 500
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 14 WYEP WYEP Top 500 Songs Countdown 500
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 19 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Grand Jam 1000 (2013) 1000
2013 19 KBPI KBPI Top 200 Songs of All Time 200
2013 444 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR CT 500 (2013) 500
2013 2 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2013) 100
2014 9 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2014 7 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2014) 500
2014 12 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX 1K Countdown (2014) 1000
2014 31 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014) 885
2014 10 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 400 (2014) 400
2014 3 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2014) 100
2015 7 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2015) 500
2015 15 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Classic Rock Countdown (2015) 1007
2015 13 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2015) 499
2015 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2015) 100
2016 2 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2016) 100
2016 13 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Countdown for 2016 1007
2016 17 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2016) 500
2016 59 102.9 The Whale 102.9 The Whale Hartford 500 (2016) 500
2016 139 103.5 The Fox The Fox Memorial Day 500 (2016) 299
2017 3 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2017) 100
2017 33 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2017) 500
2017 3 97.9 The Loop 97.9 The Loop Top 540 Countdown (2017) 540
2018 3 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2018) 100
2018 6 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2018 8 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2018) 500
2019 4 X96 X96's Top 100 Songs of the 90's 100
2019 5 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2019) 500
2019 334 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2019) 500
2019 4 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2019) 499
2019 5 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2019) 100
2019 5 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2019) 500
2019 32 KEXP KEXP Listeners' Favorite Songs of All Time 627
2019 112 102.5 KZOK KZOK Top 1025 of 2019 1025
2019 109 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2019) 500
2019 6 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2019) 500
2020 1 DC101 Top DC101 of the 90's 101
2020 34 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2020) 1025
2020 126 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2020) 500
2020 98 Q105.7 Q105.7 Memorial Day 500 (2020) 499
2020 61 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020
2020 194 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2020) 500
2020 1 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2020) 420
2020 8 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2020) 100
2020 19 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2020) 500
2020 1 DC101 The DC101 Top 500 500
2021 1 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s 908
2021 1 107.7 The End The End Obligatory Top 100 Alternative Songs of All Time (2021) 100
2021 59 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2021) 1043
2021 122 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2021) 500
2021 4 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2021) 500
2021 123 WYEP WYEP 2021 Labor Day Countdown 168
2021 3 KISW KISW 25 Biggest Rock Songs From The Past 50 Years 25
2021 1 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2021) 420
2021 7 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2021) 100
2021 21 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2021) 500
2022 1 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s 900
2022 49 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2022) 500
2022 7 101X 101X 500 (2022) 498
2022 7 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2022) 1025
2022 48 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2022) 1043
2022 48 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 57 97.1 The River River 500 (2022) 500
2022 4 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2022 1 X96 X96 Top 500 Alternative Songs of All Time 500
2022 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2022) 100
2022 2 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2022) 420
2022 17 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 104 94.1 KRNA KRNA Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
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 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2023) 100
2023 20 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 3 ALT 104.5 ALT 104.5 Top 104 of ALT Time 104
2023 103 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2023) 500
2023 121 WYEP WYEP Countdown to Fall 2023 1229
2023 458 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023) 1043
2023 12 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 104 101.5 WPDH WPDH Top 1015 (2023) 1015
2023 99 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 15 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2023) 500
2023 10 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time 909
2023 100 97.1 The Drive 97.1 The Drive Memorial Day Weekend Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 27 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 1 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2023) 420
2024 9 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2024) 100
2024 9 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 3 WYEP WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years 1049
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 10 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 37 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2024) 500
2024 2 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2024) 400
2024 31 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2024) 498
2024 1 KEXP The Best Opening Tracks of All Time 738
2025 1 WFPK WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s 500
2025 31 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2025) 498
2025 11 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2025) 100
2025 3 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
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
2025 78 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2025) 500
2025 3 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2025) 400
2025 69 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 800 Mood Booster Songs 800
2026 14 101X 101X 500 (2026) 500
2026 24 WYEP WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time 1180
2026 3 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2026) 500
2026 9 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2026) 500
2026 81 100.7 KSLX KSLX Arizona 500 (2026) 500
2026 53 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2026) 500

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

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
  5. 6Give It AwayRed Hot Chili Peppers
  6. 7SexualityBilly Bragg

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