Which Single Is Better: Alive or Smells Like Teen Spirit?

dmaradona10dmaradona10 Posts: 897
edited October 2015 in The Porch
The songs that brought both bands to greatness. Which one is better?
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Which Single Is Better: Alive or Smells Like Teen Spirit? 161 votes

Alive
61%
my_waveigotid88fsu2626robbiered mosdaydayLowlightWashedrival9500AmherstJammervaggar99Force Of NatureDukeSpiritTWHoltDr. MattPJammer4lifeJason PyoungvedderiOnlyownMymindNami 99 votes
Smells Like Teen Spirit
38%
bonefall by the waysidemcgruff102-feign-reluctancemcgrawd2pjradiobootlegger10my2handscallenon2legssmarcheeSpiritual_ChaosDischordVisionmandarine65HollisBrown+TremoR_ChrisT+brolocosheckyJP33jonbond1779 62 votes
Post edited by dmaradona10 on
«13

Comments

  • tino_11tino_11 Posts: 1,923
    Alive
    Only one winner for me, one of my favourite songs ever!
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  • Abe FromanAbe Froman Posts: 5,031
    Alive
    No brainer for me on this one. And I like Nirvana but Alive is a far superior song.
  • on2legson2legs Standing in the Jersey rain… Posts: 14,379
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    I prefer Alive, but I think historically Teen Spirit is the winner.
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  • pjsteelerfanpjsteelerfan Maryland Posts: 9,883
    Alive
    on2legs said:

    I prefer Alive, but I think historically Teen Spirit is the winner.

    Agree with this, you could argue SLTS changed the course of music at the time
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  • turner78turner78 Atlanta, GA Posts: 144
    Alive
    Yeah, I agree that personally "Alive" is my favorite but "Smells Like Teen Spirit" opened the flood gates for good music in the mainstream. I was 13 when both songs came out and was listening to nothing but rap music until then. And while I like to think I would found them anyway, I'm not sure if I would have discovered Pearl Jam without Nirvana coming before them. So I'll owe Kurt Cobain that for the rest of my life.
  • SVRDhand13SVRDhand13 NYC Posts: 25,719
    Alive
    Alive, but you are asking me to compare my favorite band to a song I barely enjoy. I understand it's important to th history of music, but it's not for me. I love some other Nirvana stuff though.
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  • Pearl34JamPearl34Jam TN Posts: 1,102
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    on2legs said:

    I prefer Alive, but I think historically Teen Spirit is the winner.

    I second that. Smells Like Teen Spirit went mainstream quick and helped bring people to the grunge scene. I feel like Pearl Jam wouldn't have gotten as big as they got without Nirvana. They may have gotten big, but not where they are now. Just a personal opinion.
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  • HesCalledDyerHesCalledDyer Maryland Posts: 16,416
    Alive
    Teen Spirit was the kindling, Alive is the bonfire!
  • dmaradona10dmaradona10 Posts: 897
    edited October 2015
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    Both songs are masterpieces in my opinion. I went with Smells Like Teen Spirit because I prefer a more heavier sound. Teen Spirit is not as musically complex as Alive; but just has that dirtier sound that I like a bit better.
    Post edited by dmaradona10 on
    Las Cruces, NM Pan Am Center September 14, 1995
    Albuquerque, NM Tingley Coliseum July 7, 1998
    New York City, NY MSG May 20, 2010
    Eddie Vedder Solo Albuquerque, NM November 9, 2012
    Wrigley Field July 19, 2013
    LA Nov. 23: 24, 2013
    Denver 10-22-14
  • DarthMaeglinDarthMaeglin Toronto Posts: 2,413
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    While I truly love both tracks, there was something about Smells that (for me) got the energy of the time a bit more on-point than Alive did. Alive was a more personal song in terms of lyric (though its meaning seems to have changed over the years, lol), while Smells spoke more to the generation.
    All that said, Smells might have a slight edge for me since I caught the premiere of the video as well as an interview with the band, which made Nevermind the next album I picked up. It would be a couple months later that I'd see a (then-unknown to me) PJ open for the Chilis, and be more impressed with Even Flow and Porch, which has led to this PJ fandom that has lasted more than half my life. It's an interesting question contemplating how my fandom might have played out had Kurt not done what he did.
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  • mcgruff10mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 27,739
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    on2legs said:

    I prefer Alive, but I think historically Teen Spirit is the winner.

    Agree
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • mcgruff10mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 27,739
    Smells Like Teen Spirit

    The songs that brought both bands to greatness. Which one is better?

    I would think jeremy brought them to greatness over alive. Imo Jeremy vs teen spirit would be a closer poll.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • JB128716JB128716 Posts: 2,064
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    Smells killed Hair Metal.

    Although Alive has stood the test of time for me.

    I can't listen to Smells (or Jeremy for that matter) but I can still listen to Alive.
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  • dmaradona10dmaradona10 Posts: 897
    edited October 2015
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    mcgruff10 said:

    The songs that brought both bands to greatness. Which one is better?

    I would think jeremy brought them to greatness over alive. Imo Jeremy vs teen spirit would be a closer poll.
    Yeah, I choose Alive because it was the first single off Ten and SMLTS was first single off Nevermind and both were successful.

    Las Cruces, NM Pan Am Center September 14, 1995
    Albuquerque, NM Tingley Coliseum July 7, 1998
    New York City, NY MSG May 20, 2010
    Eddie Vedder Solo Albuquerque, NM November 9, 2012
    Wrigley Field July 19, 2013
    LA Nov. 23: 24, 2013
    Denver 10-22-14
  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 35,808
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    I can't compare apples to oranges. they both hold equal, yet different, significance for me.

    that being said, thinking back, SMTS gave me a "holy fuck" moment, like I was witnessing history and knowing it. Alive is a fabulous rock song.
    Darwinspeed, all. 

    Cheers,

    HFD




  • mcgruff10mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 27,739
    Smells Like Teen Spirit

    mcgruff10 said:

    The songs that brought both bands to greatness. Which one is better?

    I would think jeremy brought them to greatness over alive. Imo Jeremy vs teen spirit would be a closer poll.
    Yeah, I choose Alive because it was the first single off Ten and SMLTS was first single off Nevermind and both were successful.

    Got yA. I used to be a huge nirvana fan but I just can't listen to them anymore. It s amazing how bands just don't stand the test of time. It s kind of like some beers; in high school we d drink 40s of olde English and st ides.... Now you couldn't pay me to drink them lol
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,345
    Alive
    Obviously "Smells Like Teen Spirit" has the bigger cultural impact. It really isn't close in that regard. However, I can't listen to that song anymore (heard it too way too much over the years) where as I am always up for "Alive."

    ...and you can still hear it at a PJ concert near you in 2015 (or 2016). Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Nirvana tune.
  • rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,345
    Alive

    Teen Spirit was the kindling, Alive is the bonfire!

    Nice one.
  • rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,345
    Alive

    That being said, thinking back, SMTS gave me a "holy fuck" moment, like I was witnessing history and knowing it.

    True..very true.

  • rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,345
    Alive
    mcgruff10 said:

    The songs that brought both bands to greatness. Which one is better?

    I would think jeremy brought them to greatness over alive. Imo Jeremy vs teen spirit would be a closer poll.
    Both were definitely lauded for their promo videos, that's for sure.
  • rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,345
    Alive
    I'll stop posting...great thread, I guess.
  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 35,808
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    rummy said:

    That being said, thinking back, SMTS gave me a "holy fuck" moment, like I was witnessing history and knowing it.

    True..very true.

    I recall being in my buddy's basement when we were all watching MuchMusic's Power Hour and it came on. All of us stopped. All of us literally had blank looks on our faces.

    I don't remember the first time hearing Alive. SMTS was one of those "you remember where you were when..." type moments.

    Darwinspeed, all. 

    Cheers,

    HFD




  • rummyrummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,345
    edited October 2015
    Alive

    rummy said:

    That being said, thinking back, SMTS gave me a "holy fuck" moment, like I was witnessing history and knowing it.

    True..very true.

    I recall being in my buddy's basement when we were all watching MuchMusic's Power Hour and it came on. All of us stopped. All of us literally had blank looks on our faces.

    I don't remember the first time hearing Alive. SMTS was one of those "you remember where you were when..." type moments.

    I remember being in my last year of high school watching a sexy female classmate of my rocking out to SLTS. I can rarely listen to that song without thinking of her.

    Ah, memories.

    I still like Alive better.
  • BF89905BF89905 Posts: 1,335
    Alive
    Alive..... and it's not even close. Like many others I had the Nevermind album, but I'll admit it was more out of it being one of those 'it' albums. I haven't played a Nirvana album in 20 years, and I skip the songs when they come across Lithium on XM Radio.... His voice doesn't work for me. To each their own
  • EB218946EB218946 Posts: 3,809
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    smells like teen spirit was a revolutionary joint when it came out. Such a better song than alive. Dont get me wrong PJ is my band and always will be but Nirvana was gritty and dirty. That song blew me away when it first came out.
  • Go BeaversGo Beavers Posts: 8,587
    I always liked Alive better from the get go, since I like singers who can sing a melody. This post made me think of when both songs were in big rotation on MTV. I can still picture the room and everyone staring at the SLTS video and how it just had a different feel than all the previous music. Hearing Ed sing the Alive chorus can still take me back to 1991 and I can feel like I'm there. The five disc changer had Ten, Nevermind, Temple of the Dog, Badmotorfinger, and Gish in constant rotation. That was a fun year of college.
  • ldent42ldent42 NYC Posts: 7,859
    Alive
    Just my own personal preference, I like alive more than SLTS. I would have to agree that SLTS has a greater historical significance. As far as nirvana singles go, I'd prefer come as you are. G
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  • HollisBrownHollisBrown Posts: 4,311
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    on2legs said:

    I prefer Alive, but I think historically Teen Spirit is the winner.

    This
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  • bootlegger10bootlegger10 Posts: 15,490
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    History has spoken.
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 49,473
    edited October 2015
    Smells Like Teen Spirit
    I'm not even a Nirvana fan, but Smells Like Teen Spirit is the one Nirvana song that I always LOVED. Alive was really cool back in the day and all, and carries plenty of nostalgia too, but it's never been my favorite anything, and I am kind of sick of it now. It's performed way too often.
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