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Nirvana, “The Man Who Sold the World” (Unplugged, 1994)

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Nirvana, “The Man Who Sold the World” (Unplugged, 1994)

By Allesandro Rotondi

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And there they were, unplugged and stripped down as most audiences had never heard them before. On the stage of MTV’s Unplugged, Nirvana performed an intimate show for fans that were blatantly unaware that in a few months the band would be no more, due to the tragic and untimely death of frontman Kurt Cobain. With “The Man Who Sold the World,” a David Bowie cover released as a leading single to this posthumous live album, it is easy to assume the death of Cobain had a hand in the song’s popularity. However, it likely something less. Or perhaps more.

This performance, captured live with microphone squeals and guitar booboos intact, allowed an intimate insight into the heart of the band, Kurt, and most of all, the music. Famous for the 90’s grunge sound of distorted crunch guitars, bar chords and angst-driven drum beats, this was a chance for acoustic guitars and bass, drums hit with bamboo sticks, and even a guest cellist.

“The Man Who Sold the World” has nothing to hide. It is a performance with heart on sleeve, and perhaps that was the appeal to heartbroken fans and music lovers crooning for a chance to get inside the head of their fallen hero. Twenty-five years later, with the death of David Bowie still somewhat fresh on the radar, this song and performance is still as relevant as ever. Perhaps even without context, this tune comes off with an airy and almost eerie vibe, as though for three minutes and forty seconds, you have actually come face to face with the man who sold the world. As Cobain sings lines like “I must have died, a long long time ago,” accompanied by a haunting and unwavering three-note guitar melody, it is difficult not to think that Kurt Cobain, a man who sold the world, may actually be singing about himself.

See below to watch the performance, recorded live off the floor:

The Tragically Hip, “Grace, Too” (Day for Night, 1994)

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By Chelsea Ives

Grace, Too by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip shows how seamlessly poetry and music work together to create something otherworldly. The smooth guitar riffs and drum beats make up the basis of the background while lead singer Gord Downie’s unique and iconic voice projects each word with a fervour and freedom that’s sure to leave the listener in awe. The song is from the groups 1994 album titled Day For Night. The song is a classic of the band’s, and a favourite of true ‘Hip fans.

Interestingly, lead singer Gord Downie is known to have frequently altered the lyrics of his songs while performing live. Especially this song, which I can vouch from personal experience. The first line of the song, “He said, ‘I’m fabulously rich’, ” was often changed during their live performances to, “We are The Tragically Hip,” and the same was true when I saw them perform. As I watched Gord Downie, suffering from terminal brain cancer, perform his fourth-to-last show in Toronto in August of 2016, I could not recall a man who looked more emotionally raw than Gord did while singing this song. It was the final song they played (the last after three encores) and as he opened with, “we are the Tragically Hip” and the whole Air Canada Centre (as it was at the time) erupted into a frenzy of emotional cheers for a beloved Canadian band whom, we all understood, would never perform together again.

Thanks, Chelsea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJjmYa16kVk
This video is The Tragically Hip at their 1999 Woodstock show, and it is an example of Downie changing the lyrics to Grace, Too.

The Cranberries, “Zombie” (No Need to Argue, 1994)

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By Maria Ceglie

I may be stating the obvious… “What’s in your HEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAADDDDD, In your HeeEEEAAAaaAAD” sounds like someone is suffering from a serious psychotic breakdown. These lyrics are super catchy and disturbing. The chorus still lingers in my head after listening to The Cranberries track “Zombie” from their album No Need to Argue. 

The creeping distorted riffs/chords crossfires with lead singer Dolores O’Riordan’s vocals that ultimately paralyze the fine hairs on my body. The track starts off with a soft strum by the electric guitar that slowly builds up into a grunge drop followed by guitar scaling. The guitar scaling is what introduces the icy cold verses. O’Riordan’s yodeling followed by the instrumentalist’s sudden pause complete the track to create a beautiful sharp piece.

Although this song is perfect for jam session with a bunch of friends, it’s emotional embeddedness pierces your ears when the lyrics are comprehended.  The lyrics are as clammy as death when O’Riordan’s sings “another head hangs lowly/ child is slowly taken” in the first verse. Political and social distress are the themes moved throughout the versus.

This tune is not like the rest of their songs it is heavy, and by heavy, I mean that it is like Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech before being shot in front of many stimulated eyes. This song was written to make a change and inspire many.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of this tracks release date and is still played on the radio, sung in karaoke bars, and covered by many. In a few days marks the anniversary of Dolores O’Riordan’s death. Cheers! to one of the most unique vocalists globally! If you haven’t already, roll down the windows in your car and belt this song out because I promise you, it will take you out of “zombie” mode.

-Maria