My context is somewhat different than Shawn's, being that have 7 years or so on her, but not much different. Beyond what Nirvana meant solely on their own terms, which was a consolidation of so much of the indie/college radio world of the '80s (along with some metal/grunge), was how they also crystalized the very independent world that they sprang from. It's not just the major label deals some bands got that they never would have had, pre-Nirvana. It was the effect that I think they had on the small networks that now support emo and punk bands. I'm not saying that they are solely responsible for any of this. However, they were a catalyst who did create a niche for outsiders, in a good way. I learned of his death (along w/Dale Gardner and Kevin Hunt) after we got back to my apt. after seeing the White Sox on Opening Day. Mike Bennett Record reviews and more at http://fufkin.com >From: shawn campbell >Reply-To: audities@smoe.org >To: audities@smoe.org >Subject: Re: Cobain + 10 >Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 18:40:20 -0700 (PDT) > > >It's so weird for me to think about the fact that it >has been a whole decade... > >Just some musings... > >I think, in many ways, it's hard to explain what it >was like with Nirvana without finding oneself squarely >in clicheland (perhaps similar to writing about >Beatlemania). It really DID seem like they changed >everything. It really DID seem like they marked a >turning point. I mean, I was in the midst of it - 20 >years old, in college, seeing lots of shows, doing >college radio. One day, it seemed like all that was >on mainstream radio was teenpop, adult contemporary >dreck, and cheeseball metal (sound familiar?), then >the next day -- BLAM! EVERYTHING was different. > >All of a sudden, people wanted music to mean something >again. All of a sudden, it was a desirable thing to >have a social conscience in your music (and in your >life). All of a sudden, your rock stars seemed a >little less like rock stars, and a little more >like...you. It was like the promise that your parents >had always whispered in your ear, that someday the >shiny, pretty, popular, athletic crowd would want to >be just like YOU. That the weird kids, the outcasts, >the rebels, even the nerds would someday show everyone >else how it was done. And after the plastic, preppie >1980s, how we needed that! > >I don't only remember where I was when I heard about >Kurt's death (in bed, after having done an overnight >airshift, then pissed off about why my boss at the >radio station was calling me at 11 AM when he knew I'd >only been asleep for a few hours, then..."oh."), I >remember where I was the first time I heard "Smells >Like Teen Spirit." I had heard ABOUT the song before >I heard it, and I kept missing it (oh, the internet is >wonderful, and how did we live without it, and all, >but it really kind of destroyed that type of >anticipation, didn't it?). Then one night, I was in >the car with some friends on our way out for some >pizza. Just as my friend was turning off the >ignition, I heard the opening chords come on the >radio, and instantly I just KNEW. Because it really, >really didn't sound like anything else out there at >the time. I remember asking them, "Is this Nirvana?" >and they said indeed it was. > >The funny thing is, I never ferociously loved the band >(although I thought their singles were great), and I >passed up several chances to see them. But I loved a >lot of what they were about, what they represented. >In their messed-up, Gen X way, they seemed to >represent something as close as I could get to the >things I admired about the 60s. > >I don't know if it would've changed anything if Kurt >hadn't killed himself. I don't know if music would be >better today, or if everything would be just the same >as it is, with Nirvana either broken up or becoming >increasingly irrelevant, as has been the case with >Pearl Jam. But I do know that, for a few moments >there in the early 90s, it really did seem like there >was endless possibility, like the good guys were >taking over, like...(insert your own cliche here). >For whatever reason, Nirvana's music spoke to people, >and they made a difference, and they'll be remembered >with strong emotion (as proven in this post, I hope). >And in a pretty disposable age, that's saying >something. > >R.I.P. Kurt Cobain. I miss you. > >--Shawn > >__________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway >http://promotions.yahoo.com/design_giveaway/ _________________________________________________________________ Persistent heartburn? Check out Digestive Health & Wellness for information and advice. http://gerd.msn.com/default.asp