"About a Girl" gets a significant acoustic upgrade from its Sub Pop roots and soars to #1 on the Modern Rock charts in the aftermath of lead singer Kurt Cobain's suicide
I appreciate that! So much of what we love depends on when we first loved it. I discovered this version first, and Bleach came a couple of years later. It's funny how that affects things. To this day, the original song feels like the cover version.
I have the same feeling about "Man Who Sold The World." That's imprinted on my brain as the original.
It's really good, and while I can't say it's my favorite, it's pretty close to the top. I can appreciate folks like you that rank it higher, as I think there's a chunk of Nirvana fans who love their hard-hitting stuff, and another that favors their quieter, introspective side. This is the pinnacle of the latter.
I do prefer the unplugged version of “About a Girl”. They’re both good in their own way but for me the unplugged version feels like the definitive cut in my mind. “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” may be my favorite track on that whole album.
Hole, Veruca Salt, Candlebox were all so amazing. For me “Cover Me” was the better of the two tracks. I can’t remember what would’ve come next for Candlebox on the MRT chart so I’m intrigued and looking forward to the reveal.
Great piece! I've always preferred the Bleach version of About A Girl because it's one of the first songs I ever learned on guitar and while you're right that it isn't really a great song, it's got this funny retro quality to it while being a little peek at what Nirvana would become against the backdrop of everything else on the record.
I forgot about that Veruca Salt record, I had that one back in the day, there were a few really good songs in it.
Live Through This is still an incredible rock record from a band that doesn't get the credit they deserve especially with a catalog as solid as theirs is.
Falling in love with or being affected by certain songs is almost always tied up with our personal histories. I, like Kevin mentioned, have a place in my soul for the Bleach version as it was included on a mixtape I was given in 1989 that changed my life forever. That being said, the sadness and desperation I hear (and see) in the unplugged version is as important to me for different reasons.
I'm one of the people that prefers the Bleach version, but that has more to do with when I found the band than anything else.
I appreciate that! So much of what we love depends on when we first loved it. I discovered this version first, and Bleach came a couple of years later. It's funny how that affects things. To this day, the original song feels like the cover version.
I have the same feeling about "Man Who Sold The World." That's imprinted on my brain as the original.
"About a Girl" may be my favorite Nirvana song. I also prefer the "Unplugged" version.
It's really good, and while I can't say it's my favorite, it's pretty close to the top. I can appreciate folks like you that rank it higher, as I think there's a chunk of Nirvana fans who love their hard-hitting stuff, and another that favors their quieter, introspective side. This is the pinnacle of the latter.
I do prefer the unplugged version of “About a Girl”. They’re both good in their own way but for me the unplugged version feels like the definitive cut in my mind. “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” may be my favorite track on that whole album.
Hole, Veruca Salt, Candlebox were all so amazing. For me “Cover Me” was the better of the two tracks. I can’t remember what would’ve come next for Candlebox on the MRT chart so I’m intrigued and looking forward to the reveal.
Great piece! I've always preferred the Bleach version of About A Girl because it's one of the first songs I ever learned on guitar and while you're right that it isn't really a great song, it's got this funny retro quality to it while being a little peek at what Nirvana would become against the backdrop of everything else on the record.
I forgot about that Veruca Salt record, I had that one back in the day, there were a few really good songs in it.
Live Through This is still an incredible rock record from a band that doesn't get the credit they deserve especially with a catalog as solid as theirs is.
Falling in love with or being affected by certain songs is almost always tied up with our personal histories. I, like Kevin mentioned, have a place in my soul for the Bleach version as it was included on a mixtape I was given in 1989 that changed my life forever. That being said, the sadness and desperation I hear (and see) in the unplugged version is as important to me for different reasons.
Loved the article and the perspective here, Matt.