Content deleted Content added
WesleyDodds (talk | contribs) |
|||
Line 52:
==Release, success, and acclaim==
The "Smells Like Teen Spirit" single was released on [[September 10]], [[1991]] as the lead single from ''Nevermind''. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was meant to be the base-building alternative rock cut, while "Come As You Are" was expected to be the song that could cross over to other radio formats. However, [[campus radio]] and [[modern rock]] radio stations picked up on the song and put it into heavy rotation. Danny Goldberg of Nirvana's management firm Gold Mountain said "None of us heard it as a crossover song, but the public heard it and it was instantaneous [. . .] They heard it on alternative radio, and then they rushed out like lemmings to buy it."<ref>Azerrad, pg. 227</ref> The video received a world premiere on [[MTV]]'s late-night alternative rock program ''[[120 Minutes]]'', but soon proved so popular the channel began to air it during it's regular daytime rotation. As a result, ''Nevermind'' began selling thousands of copies a week, culminating in the album knocking [[Michael Jackson]]'s ''[[Dangerous (album)|Dangerous]]'' album from the top spot on the ''Billboard'' charts in January of 1992.
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" received much critical acclaim. It topped the 1991 year-end polls for the ''[[Village Voice]]'' [[Pazz & Jop]] critics poll and ''[[Melody Maker]]'' magazine, and reached number two on ''Rolling Stone's'' list of best singles of the year. The single topped out at #6 on the singles chart the same week ''Nevermind'' reached #1;<ref>"Nirvana Achieves Chart Perfection!" ''[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]''. [[January 25]], [[1992]].</ref> it also hit number one on the Modern Rock Tacks chart and has since been [[RIAA single certification|certified platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Basham, David | year=2001| title=Got Charts? No Doubt's Christmas Gift; Nirvana Ain't No Beatles | format=http | work=MTV.com | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1451583/20011220/story.jhtml#/news/articles/1451583/20011220/story.jhtml | accessdate=October 19 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> The single also topped numerous charts worldwide. Still, many American Top 40 stations at the time were reluctant to play the song in regular rotation due to its sound and restricted it to nighttime play.<ref>Ross, Sean. "Nirvana Receiving Less-Than-Spirited Airplay." ''Billboard''. [[February 1]], [[1992]].</ref>
| |||