Kurt Cobain: The John Lennon of his Generation?
Thanks to “moose” whose blog can be seen here I have decided to give my point of view on this question. It’s a question that could really spark a great debate; there are those who see Kurt Cobain as a deity and those who see him as just another fool in the music business. I am a huge Nirvana fan, and growing up they were my favorite band for a good ten years or so, from when I first started listening to music (about the age of 8) to until freshmen year of high school I loved Nirvana. My love for them never really diminished, I just caught on to different types of music. The problem with Cobain is I feel he receives more positive attention than he deserves. His music was incredible to say the least but they are often regarded as one of the best bands of all time, and considering they had only put out four albums it’s hard to really say whether they were or not one of the greatest. One gripe I have with Nirvana in regards to the media is the amount of attention their album “Nevermind” gets. You wouldn’t even know that Nirvana had put out another album the way they focus on it, and none of the others are ever mentioned. The irony of it all is that the media calls them one of the best although they really only give them credit for one solid album. The best album Nirvana put out was easily “In Utero” for its raw and heavy sound. Guitar World actually had a huge article on why “In Utero” was better than “Nevermind” and I was ecstatic when I saw it. Finally someone gave the great album justice.Well now I’m going on quite a tangent and need to get back to the question. It is really difficult to compare anyone to John Lennon because he is just a legend, the impact he made on the world is ridiculously enormous. The gatherings on each anniversary of his death are just mind boggling. I’ve visited his anniversary of his death and birthday and both had ENORMOUS turnouts. Kurt Cobain’s anniversary doesn’t quite receive the same attention and in twenty or so years I think he will be forgotten unfortunately.
The question is though, was he a John Lennon of his generation and I would have to say yes he was. Kurt Cobain inspired a generation of teen angst and really started a movement. Not only did he inspire the mindset of his fans but he started a whole grunge rock style of flannel shirts and ripped jeans. His fans would die for him and when he died his fans felt like they lost all hope. This may just be rumors but when he had “committed suicide,” suicide hotlines were swamped with teenagers calling in needing help. I put quotations around committed suicide because I honestly feel he did not commit suicide and that Courtney Love was in on it, but that just might be my denial. Cobain is a legend and made some incredible music, and as Neil Young said “It’s better to burn out than it is to rust” and that’s just what Cobain did. It most definitely helps that he died while Nirvana was in its prime because that only escalated the amount that he was worshiped. I realize what I wrote was all over the place but I was just typing what came to mind and really didn’t have any order to it. Any questions or comments because this is an excellent question, THANK YOU MOOSE!
posted by Jeff at 12:36 AM
9 Comments:
I was almost 14 when Kurt died.
My thoughts on Kurt Cobain . . .
Well, in comparison to John Lennon, I think Kurt is the prototypical "grunge dude" just as John Lennon was the prototypical "peace-and-love hippie." Both had controversial marriages to strong, much hated and misunderstood women.
I think the biggest difference between the two, other than musically, is that people are forever discovering and admiring The Beatles, while Nirvana really only seems to appeal to those who liked and grew up with Nirvana and grunge music.
I really don't have too many answers about Kurt as a musician because I was a teenager when he died. I can't really look at him objectively because the day of his death is so strong in my mind, as is "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I guess I'm all over the place too, but my final thought is that Cobain and Lennon were two great musicians, loved by some, hated by others, but not truly understood by anyone.
Same here, I got my first Nirvana cd right before he died. I remember hearing it all over the news and although I was really young I remember it like it was yesterday. He's a man of many mysteries, I've read a few of his biographies and all I can say about him is that nobody was able to understand him, nobody was quite sure what was going on with him.
Great post and comments! I have nothing to add except that I loved John and didn't "know" Kurt as well.
I think one major difference is that John loved life, and obviously Kurt didn't.
I am only 14 and i wish i was 14 when he had this happen because i really wish i could give all my love and gratitude to the band but it is all kept inside because there is'nt anyone to say how i feel to except the live kurt and that will never happen and probably never would've happened but if i could do anything no matter what i would want to just talk to kurt for hours upon hours upon hours and ect... but i really think he speaks to people well he speaks to me a great deal and i cant stress that enough peace and love to a great great guy Kurt Cobain
p.s i'm anonymous hope kurt will stay in our hearts forever
to compare these two is simple and razor thin. In strict comparison John did so much more and can be universal. You can listen to Plastic Ono Band and see Nirvana 20yrs before nevermind. The thing is that you can only really compare early 70s Lennon to all of Kurts work. Kurt never wrote I wanna hold your hand, I am the Walrus, or Darling Boy(beautiful boy). This isn't putting Kurt down, its saying that Lennon dealt on several different levels and scopes of music then Kurts.
if you disect experimental Lennon, solo work and nevermind and in utero there is alot to draw comparisons too, thats about it.
Kurdt Cobain and John lennon can be oompared in many ways.
Both were really strange and controversial they could move masses of people in a really simple way we could they´re music was really strange and different from many other and attracted millions of people to hear it.
One difference could be that john lennon has been a legend more time than kurdt has been.My opinion is that both were excelent musicians in any ways and that any other musician or band or whatever can make the tipe of music they did.Kurdt and John are both my idols y appreciate them in many ways i would like to meet them or even talk to them but I know that is impossible since both are dead. Im 14 years old and I was 1 when Kurdt died i would enjoyed enormously to see him in a concert because I think Nirvana made the best concerts ever. I hope that Kurdt and John will last forever in our hearts and we countinue hearing their music.
Give peace a chance-Lennon
Teenage angs has payed off well-Kurdt Cobain
John Lennon and Kurt Cobain are two of the biggest idols in my life and I agree with the passage said: Kurt Cobain didn't commit suicide. I know that listening to a song backwards and finding utterly strange words is completely idiotic, but one of Kurt's songs really scared me the most. My friend, Emely, has this machine that can play a song backwards. So we're listening to random Nirvana songs backwards and we got to the song "Rape Me". One of the verses said something like, "My wife, she's a killer. My wife, she's outrageous." or something. And the part at the end said over and over, "I hate you." I dunno if that was meant to be put in there or I'm just halucinating, but that really scared me.
I think John & Kurt were similar mainly in their music. They both defined their generations. I mean, if you were back in the 60s-early 80s, NO ONE, and I do mean, NO ONE, has not ever heard of John Lennon. Same goes for Kurt. You could walk into a school back in the late 80s-early 90s and hear people and students talking about Nirvana.
I was also crushed both times when I heard they were both dead. My mum gave me a tape of John Lennon and it was "Imagine". I listened to it and that's what got me into John Lennon. Then, I told my mum, "When I grow up, I wanna meet John Lennon." (I was about 6 or 7 at the time) And my mum said, "Sorry, Rose. He's dead." That left me seriously depressed for like, 2 days. Then, a year later, my mum gave me a Nirvana CD for my birthday. (It was Nevermind) I listened to many of the songs, and I searched up the singer, which was Kurt Cobain. I was so excited and I told my mum that I wanted to meet Kurt Cobain when I grow up. She said, "Sorry, but he's dead too."
Either way, they're both the best and always will be.
I found the comment asserting that "people are constantly discovering the Beatles, but Nirvana is only really liked by people who grew up with them" the most ignorant, most ludicrous thing I've read in quite some time. Everyday, on websites like YouTube, iTunes, and just about anywhere else--record stores included--kids who weren't even born until long after Kurt died and the band had disolved, are still drawn to the minimalistic genius of Cobain's sensibility; and this will continue for all time. Why? Because just like the Beatles, the songs Kurt wrote stand up to the test of time. They aren't "hip" or cheeky, they don't conform to any specific historical trends. Although influenced by innumerable bands and artists, his songs are radically original in their fusion of punk rock alienation and the ethos of perfect pop. Nirvana did first what every band struggles--albeit unsuccessfully, to do today: to remain relevant in the face of constant change. The Beatles, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana...ALL of these bands wrote music that eventually transcended the confines of "rock & roll" and achieved a status more akin to high art; their very existence altering the culture forever. 100 years from now, kids and twenty-somethings will still be uncovering Nirvana records, still become mezmerized by the truth in Nevermind, In Utero and the live performances, and will still be influenced by Kurt's songwriting; his perennial talent evident in a genius that was as sweet and tough, as divine and chic, as human and real as anything in our world.
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