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15 Years Later: Remembering Kurt Cobain

BuzzSugar — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:30:44 -0700

On April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain, the enigmatic lead singer of Seattle's successful grunge-era band Nirvana, took his own life. I can't believe it was 15 years ago today because it still feels like just yesterday that my little teen self was trying to process this terrible news. I listed Nevermind as one of my favorite albums of all time in part because "Smells Like Teen Spirit" seemingly came out of nowhere to capture all my adolescent angst in one song.

Many of Cobain's lyrics seemed nonsensical or hard to decipher but there was something about the raw emotion in his voice that hit a global nerve. After only three years in the spotlight his death unleashed a shock wave that reverberates to this day.

Do you remember where you were when this news broke? How did his music affect you?

After the jump I've included some of my favorite performances by the band on MTV's Unplugged. Rocking out to Nirvana is good times, but there was something so stunning about the band's stripped down Unplugged performance, I thought it would be an appropriate way to look back. To watch, read more.

"All Apologies":

Nirvana - New Music - More Music Videos

"The Man Who Sold the World":

Nirvana - New Music - More Music Videos

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Buzz In: What Should Be Your State's Rock Song?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:30:52 -0700

In charming civic-type news, The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" has been nominated for official Oklahoma rock song, apparently the token indie rock entry in a list that includes the likes of Elvis Presley and, well, Oklahoma. As Pitchfork writes:

"Oklahoma already has an official state song ("Oklahoma," from the musical, natch), a state folk song, and a state country-and-western tune. What they don't have just yet is an official state rock'n'roll song. And that is where you come in."

The state legislature has ordered Oklahomans to vote here before Nov. 15 - though as far as I can tell, anyone can vote, 'cause the computer has no way of knowing whether or not you're an Oklahoman - for whichever rock song you like.

This is a pretty fun idea, so I think we should start thinking of the official rock songs for the rest of the 49 states! For example, it seems to me Washington should probably at least nominate "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana as one of theirs (it seems the Evergreen State only has a state folk song). Maybe something from my 50 Songs for 50 States challenge could get you started.

What do you think? What other songs would you nominate for which states?

Source and Source

EW Picks the Best 25 Indie Rock Albums - Do You Agree?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:30:52 -0700

Ah, top 25 lists. I know some people hate to list music in this way because it's so hard (I know this first hand) to compare albums and favorite songs much less pick favorites. A wise first step for any list maker is to narrow the field by genre, which is what EW recently did to choose the best indie albums from each year, from 1984 up until the present.

They also gave themselves some rules for which albums are eligible, including defining "independent" as "the bands had to have been signed to an independent label for the given album" (so, Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirt doesn't count because that album was released on Geffen Records) and they have to be bands, not individual artists, which is why you won't see Elliott Smith or Sufjan Stevens in there.

Here are the picks for the past five years:

2008: Radiohead, In Rainbows
2007: Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
2006: The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America
2005: Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
2004: Arcade Fire, Funeral

I have a nit to pick with their 2006 choice and probably would have chosen Band of Horses, Everything All the Time for the best of that year. What do you think? Anyone missing? To see the rest of the list, read more.

2003: The White Stripes, Elephant
2002: Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights
2001: The Shins, Oh, Inverted World
2000: Yo La Tengo, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
1999: Sleater-Kinney, The Hot Rock
1998: Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1997: Modest Mouse, Lonesome Crowded West
1996: Belle and Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister
1995: Archers of Loaf, Vee Vee
1994: Guided By Voices, Bee Thousand
1993: Built to Spill, Ultimate Alternative Wavers
1992: Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted
1991: My Bloody Valentine, Loveless
1990: Fugazi, Repeater
1989: The Pixies, Doolittle
1988: Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation
1987: Dinosour Jr., You're Living All Over Me
1986: R.E.M., Life's Rich Pageant
1985: The Smiths, Meat Is Murder
1984: The Replacements, Let It Be

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Kurt Cobain Toy: Love It or Hate It?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:30:00 -0800

Bella recently stumbled across this Kurt Cobain toy from National Entertainment Collectibles. The $23 figure is based on Nirvana's appearance on MTV's Unplugged and shows Cobain in jeans and a gray sweater, hunched over his guitar.

I'm not sure how to feel about this, so I'm turning to you: Is the Kurt toy a sweet tribute to a musical icon - or is it a tacky way to capitalize on Cobain's death?

Source

VH1 Counts Down the 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s

BuzzSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:30:15 -0800

Starting Monday, VH1 will be paying tribute to the eclectic music of the '90s with 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s, a countdown of hits from Nirvana to Hanson and everywhere in between. A while back, the network asked viewers to vote on their favorites from a pre-selected list of 100 songs, and this week-long special will reveal how those votes shook out.

Clocking in at No. 1: Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." U2s "One" is next, then the Backstreet Boys with "I Want It That Way" at No. 3. Whitney Houston, Madonna, Britney Spears, Sir Mix-a-Lot, TLC, REM, and Sinead O'Connor all make appearances in the top 10, making for a list that sounds a lot like the soundtrack to my junior high dances.

Looking over the list again, I am impressed that it's so comprehensive, with entries from The Cranberries, Spin Doctors, Beck, Weezer, Counting Crows, and pretty much every other artist whose music I ever tried to tape off the radio during Rick Dees' weekly top 40. But I still can't believe there's no "The Sign." How can you have a Best of the '90s list without Ace of Base? A few of the other biggies that didn't make the list - "Gangsta's Paradise," "Just a Girl," "No Rain," "Whoomp! There It Is" - at least get a mention in this set of 50 songs that barely missed the cut.

Check out the full ranking of the 100 songs and let me know: What's right - and what's just horribly wrong? You can also see the top 25 when you read more.

1. Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
2. U2 "One"
3. Backstreet Boys "I Want It That Way"
4. Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You"
5. Madonna "Vogue"
6. Sir Mix-A-Lot "Baby Got Back"
7. Britney Spears "... Baby One More Time"
8. TLC "Waterfalls"
9. R.E.M. "Losing My Religion"
10. Sinead O'Connor "Nothing Compares 2 U"
11. Pearl Jam "Jeremy"
12. Alanis Morissette "You Oughta Know"
13. Dr. Dre (featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg) "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang"
14. Mariah Carey "Vision of Love"
15. Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge"
16. MC Hammer "U Can't Touch This"
17. Destiny's Child "Say My Name"
18. Metallica "Enter Sandman"
19. Beastie Boys "Sabotage"
20. Hanson "MMMBop"
21. Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On"
22. Beck "Loser"
23. Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue "Whatta Man"
24. House of Pain "Jump Around"
25. Soundgarden "Black Hole Sun"

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:30:00 -0800

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue.

Hairspray
Watching John Travolta in the padded suit and dressed like a woman never does seem quite natural, but despite this, Hairspray is one of my favorite movies from the summer season. Based on the stage musical (which was based on John Waters' 1988 film), Hairspray tells the story of the endearing Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky), a curvacious Baltimore teen who wants nothing more than to dance on The Corny Collins Show. Once she makes her way on the show, however, she starts tackling even bigger problems, from racial tensions to weight issues - all while belting out songs and beaming her bright smile. Check out my full review of the movie and my interview with Nikki Blonsky and director Adam Shankman.

Two more new DVDs if you read more

Nirvana Unplugged in New York
This title is not yet available on Netflix, but it is available for purchase. As this is one of my November must-haves, I am thrilled that the DVDs of Nirvana's acoustic MTV show are finally being released. It's only been 14 years, after all. In addition to the MTV concert, the DVD includes four tracks from the band's soundcheck, two unaired songs they performed, and previously unreleased behind-the-scenes footage.

Rescue Dawn
Director Werner Herzog was so fascinated with the story of Dieter Dengler he told it twice: first with his documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly and then this year with his feature film Rescue Dawn starring Christian Bale. Dieter was a German-born American pilot who escaped from a Laotian POW camp in 1965. As a Vietnam War-era saga, Rescue Dawn follows the soldier from his first mission, when he survives a plane crash only to be tortured and starved by Laotian soldiers before fleeing into the even more superhuman hardships of the jungle. It's a phenomenal story, artfully told.

BuzzSugar's Must-Haves for November

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Welcome to BuzzSugar's monthly must-haves, where I show off a handful of the things I'm most looking forward to watching, buying, renting and reading. As the air gets chillier and we start to ease into the hectic holiday season, I'll be curling up with the following goodies.

To find out why these seven things are at the top of my list, just read more

Waitress - I so loved this romantic comedy written and directed by the late Adrienne Shelly, I've been anxiously awaiting the DVD release so I can watch it anytime I please. Keri Russell plays a pie-making waitress who becomes pregnant by her abusive husband - and is none-too-pleased about that. With the help of her two girlfriends and a sexy gynecologist, she gets through the pregnancy and learns the meaning of true love. Waitress is out on DVD November 27.
The Brit Box - Fans of the Smiths, The Cure, The Sundays, or numerous other Brit pop bands will be salivating over this four-disc collection of hits, courtesy of Rhino. The set traces the rise of Cool Britannia, from early pace-setters like the Jesus and Mary Chain to superstars like Pulp and Oasis. Plus, the four discs and extensive book come packaged in an adorable box shaped like the classic UK phone booth. Check it out when it hits stores November 20.
Gilmore Girls - Season Seven - Coming out November 13, this 6-disc set is an absolute must-have for any die-hard Gilmore Girls fan! Relive the final season with Rory, Lorelei, Luke, Sookie, Lane and the rest of the Stars Hollow gang.
Listening Is an Act of Love - Four years ago, Story Corps started a national project to record oral histories - of your grandmother, your mother, even the stranger down the street. The group installed recording studios around the country to collect stories, and many of the recordings have since aired on public radio. This book, which will be released November 8, collects excerpts from some of the 10,000 stories recorded since the project began.
Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis - According to Billboard, Warner Bros. is releasing a 1-CD/2-DVD package that encapsulates the Live Earth concerts held last July. Proceeds from the CD/DVD will benefit the Alliance for Climate Protection. You can see a whole track list for the CD/DVD set here.
Nirvana: Unplugged in New York - Can you believe it's taken this long for Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance to be released on DVD? The disc will be released November 20, nearly 14 years from when Nirvana originally did the show. The DVD features four tracks from the band's soundcheck, two unaired songs they performed, and previously unreleased behind-the-scenes footage.
Hairspray - This summer's super fun song-and-dance extravaganza will hit the shelves (when else?) November 20.

James McAvoy to Play Kurt Cobain?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:30:00 -0700

When first I heard of this project to turn the Kurt Cobain biography Heavier Than Heaven into a biopic at the urging of Courtney Love, it was in conjunction with Ewan McGregor's name as the actor who might be taking on the role of the Nirvana frontman. Recently the project acquired a production company, so it's definitely happening. But McGregor's name is nowhere to be found.

Instead, there are reports that James McAvoy might be the man who plays the troubled Cobain, a suggestion that I find bizarre. I love McAvoy as an actor and I think he's adorable, but to play Kurt Cobain? He'd make a very elfin grunge rocker, in my opinion.

What do you think about this news? Should McAvoy be cast? Should Ewan McGregor be cast? Should anyone be playing Kurt Cobain in the first place?

McAvoy photo source

"Cold Case" Starts Season with All-Nirvana Episode

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:31:12 -0700

I've never been a big fan of "Cold Case" on CBS, but I do think the show uses music in a cool, unique way. Last year, the show set one entire episode to a soundtrack of Bob Dylan tunes, and this year, the show's season premiere will use Nirvana songs as the background.

It's fitting, given that the case the show's detectives will be re-opening is a murder that took place in 1994. The story of the episode, which airs Sept. 23, focuses on two teenagers who have been convicted of the murder of three 10-year-old boys, despite evidence that shows the real killer could still be at large. "Nirvana's music not only evokes the era when this case's killings took place but brings a starkness and poetry to the story that deeply enhances it," the show's executive producer, Veena Sud, said in a CBS press release.

The eight featured songs include all the major hits of Nirvana's career: "All Apologies," "Stay Away," "If You Must," "Lithium," "Drain You," "Heart Shaped Box," "Something in the Way" and "Come as You Are" (though I'm not sure if that's the order in which they'll appear in the episode). With this, Nirvana joins Dylan, Johnny Cash, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Tim McGraw and U2 as artists whose music has been showcased in full episodes of "Cold Case."

Photo courtesy of CBS

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 08:00:00 -0700

If you could recast "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" with new actors, who would you pick?
Can you believe the baby on the cover of Nirvana's album Nevermind turned 16 years old this week? Neither can I.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a pretty darn good movie, though I have some issues with it, too. Regardless of what I think those little wizards made box office magic this week.
I have a lot of questions for the next season of "Lost," but I whittled them down to 5 of my most major ones.
Check out the teaser trailer for the Get Smart movie starring Steve Carell, and while you're at it, watch the ridiculous trailer for Alec Baldwin's shameful little secret.
Are you watching the new USA series "Burn Notice"?
This Smashing Pumpkins cover of "Landslide" is very much worth a listen.
At least 6 of John Krasinski's facial expressions have been named. Which ones are missing from this list?