Remembering the Debut of Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ Video

For many, the 90s truly began with the release of Nirvana’s iconic music video, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” in 1991.

While the song itself is often credited with defining the grunge movement and propelling Nirvana to superstardom, it was the accompanying music video that truly captured the zeitgeist of the early ’90s. As we reflect on the debut of the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video, it’s essential to explore its cultural impact.

And more importantly, remember how it changed the landscape of music videos forever.

When Did the ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ Video Debut?

Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video first aired on MTV’s 120 Minutes on September 30, 1991.

Nirvana, led by the enigmatic Kurt Cobain, released “Smells Like Teen Spirit” as the lead single from their second studio album, Nevermind. The album itself was released a few days prior, on September 24th.

The song’s raw energy, dissonant guitar riffs, and Cobain’s distinctive vocals immediately struck a chord with a generation. A generation disillusioned by the excesses of the ’80s and hungry for a new musical direction.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” became an anthem for the disenchanted youth, and its popularity quickly soared.

How ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ Made It to MTV

Before joining MTV’s Music and Programming department, Amy Finnerty encountered Nirvana, the band behind her favorite album, “Bleach.” She formed a close friendship with the group. And played a crucial role in getting their iconic track, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” on the channel.

In an interview with MTV in 2011, Finnerty elaborated on the process of getting the channel to agree to play the video.

“The Smashing Pumpkins were staying at my house. And I said, ‘You guys, come by MTV, give me the keys to the apartment. And then I’ll bring you around the halls and introduce you to some people,'”, Finnerty stated. “So the Pumpkins came in 10 minutes after I had gotten my hands on that music video. And so we went into my office to watch it, and everyone thought it was incredible,” Finnerty continued.

“So I took the video and I walked around the halls at MTV and simultaneously introduced a bunch of people to the Smashing Pumpkins. And then we’d watch the video… and then we’d go to a producer’s office and I’d say, ‘These are the Smashing Pumpkins and the Gish record that just came out is so incredible. And they’re going to send us a video. Oh, and by the way, we’ve got this Nirvana video… you have to check it out.'”

The Impact of the Music Video

Many people believe that “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the Nevermind album, and even Nirvana the band would not have been as big without the success of that first video. One of those people is Nirvana’s own Dave Grohl.

In an interview with Louder in 2022, Grohl elaborated.

“The video was probably the key element in that song becoming a hit,” Grohl remarked. “People heard the song on the radio and they thought ‘This is great.’ But when kids saw the video on MTV they thought, ‘This is cool. These guys are kinda ugly and they’re tearing up their fucking high school’. And then with the video came more people and the clubs got bigger and bigger.”

The debut of the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video in 1991 marked a turning point in music history. The video encapsulated the spirit of the grunge movement and ushered in a new era of authenticity in the music industry.

Nirvana’s rebellious anthem and Samuel Bayer’s groundbreaking video challenged the norms of the time, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture that continues to resonate with audiences today. As we remember the debut of this iconic video, we celebrate not only its impact on the ’90s but also its enduring influence on the world of music and visual storytelling.