This Nirvana song is one of the best-selling tracks of all time and arguably their most well-known hit. It helped bring grunge into the mainstream and marked an important milestone in the evolution of rock music. The music video is built around the concept of a school concert descending into chaos and anarchy, and, from what I understand, was inspired by the Ramones' film Rock 'n' Roll High School.
The video reflects the shift from late '80s aesthetics to a new era. Its rebellious energy and visual tone resemble Faith No More's 1989 video for "Epic," but it incorporates early '90s grunge elements and darker themes. The mosh pit imagery was likely influenced by late '80s thrash metal culture.
Including cheerleader girls in an otherwise grim and gritty setting was a bold and memorable contrast. This idea has since been echoed by other artists-for example, the Finnish rock band Lordi used a similar concept in their video for Hard Rock Hallelujah, the song that won Eurovision in 2006.
