Editing Smells Like Teen Spirit (section)

==Writing and recording==
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" was one of several songs written following Nirvana's first recording sessions with producer [[Butch Vig]] in 1990. Lead singer and guitarist [[Kurt Cobain]] began writing it a few weeks before recording their second album, ''[[Nevermind]]'', in 1991.<ref>Azerrad, p. 175.</ref> He said it was an attempt to write a song in the style of the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]], a band he admired:

{{Blockquote|I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it. When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band—or at least a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.<ref name="pixies">{{cite magazine|last=Fricke|first=David|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kurt-cobain-the-rolling-stone-interview-19940127|title=Kurt Cobain, The Rolling Stone Interview: Success Doesn't Suck|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=January 27, 1994}}</ref>}}

When Cobain presented the song to his bandmates, it comprised just the main [[guitar riff]] and the chorus vocal melody.<ref name="az176">Azerrad, p. 176.</ref><ref name="rsslts">"Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit". ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. December 7, 2000.</ref> Cobain said the riff was "clichéd", similar to a riff by [[Boston (band)|Boston]] or the [[Richard Berry (musician)|Richard Berry]] song "[[Louie Louie]]".<ref name="pixies"/> Bassist [[Krist Novoselic]] dismissed it as "ridiculous"; in response, Cobain made the band play it for an hour and a half.<ref name="pixies"/> Eventually, Novoselic began playing it more slowly, inspiring drummer [[Dave Grohl]] to create the drum beat,<ref name="requiem">Cross, Charles. "Requiem for a Dream". ''[[Guitar World]]''. October 2001.</ref> which drew from disco artists such as [[the Gap Band]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=You Won't Believe Which Funky Drummers Dave Grohl Was 'Ripping Off' on Nirvana's 'Nevermind'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9595601/dave-grohl-nirvana-influence-disco-drums-pharrell/|access-date=July 1, 2021|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}</ref> As a result, it is the only song on ''Nevermind'' to credit all three band members as writers.<ref name="CRA - Nevermind65">Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 65.</ref>

The title derives from a phrase written on Cobain's wall by his friend [[Kathleen Hanna]], singer of the [[riot grrrl]] band [[Bikini Kill]]: "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit."<ref name=":0">{{cite web|author=Terry|title=The Story Behind Smells Like Teen Spirit|url=https://www.upvenue.com/article/1467-the-story-behind-smells-like-teen-spirit.html|website=UpVenue|access-date=January 20, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Our Hit Parade – Kathleen Hanna – Smells Like Teen Spirit – Rebel Girl – 12-15-2010|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWO4JnP2T40|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/xWO4JnP2T40|archive-date=November 14, 2021|url-status=live|website=YouTube|access-date=January 20, 2016|date=December 17, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Hanna meant that Cobain smelled like the deodorant [[Teen Spirit (deodorant)|Teen Spirit]], which she and [[Tobi Vail]], his then-girlfriend, had discovered during a trip to the grocery store.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/kathleen-hanna-on-how-she-named-smells-like-teen-spirit/10269194|title=Kathleen Hanna on how she named 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'|date=September 23, 2016|website=ABC.net}}</ref> Cobain said that he was unaware of the deodorant until months after the single was released, and had interpreted it as a revolutionary slogan, as they had been discussing [[anarchism]] and [[punk rock]].<ref name="Azerrad21112">Azerrad, pp. 211–12.</ref>

Prior to the album recording, the band sent Vig demos for songs including "Teen Spirit". While the sound was distorted due to the band playing at a high volume, Vig felt it had promise.<ref>Azerrad, p. 167.</ref> Vig and the band recorded "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at [[Sound City Studios]] in the [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] neighborhood of [[Van Nuys]] in May{{nbsp}}1991.<ref>Cross, Charles. "The Stories Behind the Songs". ''Rolling Stone''. November 14, 2002.</ref> Vig suggested changes to the arrangement, including moving a guitar ad lib to the chorus and shortening the chorus.<ref>di Perna, Alan. "The Making of ''Nevermind''". ''Guitar World''. Fall 1996.</ref> The band recorded the basic track in three takes, and used the second take.<ref name="rsslts"/> Vig corrected some timing errors created by Cobain switching between his guitar effects pedals. Cobain recorded only three vocal takes; according to Vig, "I was lucky to ever get Kurt to do four takes."<ref name="CRA - Nevermind67">Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 67.</ref>