1991 Rock Anthem Ranked Best Song of the '90s

Nirvana's 1991 classic "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was ranked No. 1 song of the '90s by Rolling Stone.

The ranking should come as a surprise to absolutely no one. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" didn't just turn Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, and Krist Novaselic into overnight superstars — it defined an entire generation.

Kurt Cobain Became the Voice of Generation X

"I just remember feeling as though it was this inescapable presence in my life," New Yorker writer Hua Hsu told NPR, referring to the song's encapsulation of Generation X's apathy and disillusion. Media continued to capture this spirit as the decade went on, with movies like Ben Stiller's Reality Bites and MTV's hit animated series Daria and Beavis and Butt-Head.

"Like millions of kids my age, this is the first thing that felt like it was mine," Hsu continued. "As a teenager, I think you're really trying to figure out your place in the world. This song in particular felt so ambivalent about its own success."

The smashing success of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" marked the fall of '80s punk and glam rock, and the rise of grunge. The upbeat, overly flashy rock of the Reagan years was out. '90s rock was slower, lower, even a little sadder. Bands with similar sounds like Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, and Courtney Love's Hole became hugely popular, and Cobain's signature look — shaggy hair, ripped jeans, oversized flannels and cardigans — set fashion trends for the rest of the decade.

Kurt Cobain Didn't Want to be Famous

Despite his status as the face and voice of his generation, Cobain never set out to be a superstar. Even at the height of Nirvana's fame, Cobain was reluctant to play massive arena shows, instead preferring more intimate clubs and venues.

"He wanted to make records and have an audience. He just wanted to do it on his terms, like his punk heroes," Dana Spiotta, writer of the book Kurt Cobain: The Last Interview wrote in Pitchfork. "Nirvana thought they could stay true to their vision while getting the advantages of a major label ... but Nirvana instantly became world-wide superstars selling millions of records, which was hard to reconcile with punk-rock bona fides."