Smells like NO spirit

hello hello hello hello hello...hehe Kurt Cobain sang that part the best. Bet most of you heard the song 'Smells like Teen Spirit' by Nirvana. To listen to this song go here and select #5. Smells like teen spirit. Tragic he died so young - that guy had talent. Whenever I listened to this song I used to wonder what exactly he (Kurt wrote that song) meant by the words. What exactly is teen spirit? No it isn't the deodorant 'Teen Spirit' that skyrocketed it's sales after this song became a hit :) I think teen spirit is about being youthful, stupid, happy, mischievous, rebellious, obedient and enjoying the best days of your life. Atleast that's what my teenage years were like.

Unfortunately most teenagers of today are not anywhere close to this. They are stressed out, over-worked, pressurred and setting themselves standards that's almost impossible to achieve nor maintain. Teen spirit is lost somewhere in this mess. I feel teenagers of today expect too much from life and are expected too much from as well. Where are the days when teenagers were just teenagers? Alot of unrest has been born that most teenagers these days don't seem to know what peace, respect, discipline and happiness are. Most crimes in Australia are carried out by teenagers (car jacking, home invasions, traffic offenses, suicides, murder, sex, drugs, alcohol, schoolyard crimes etc). I'm sure most of you would have heard of the Columbine tragedy and numerous other school shootings by teenagers. These things never happened few years ago and so why now? The only peer challenge we had back in school was being gossipped about or a little bit of teasing...not a mate with a gun in his hands about to shoot us down! I cant even imagine how I would feel in such a situation.

I think most familes don't realise that teenage years are the most important foundation years of a child. For it to be healthy and stable, and not to tarnish the natural teen spirit, I think parents need to spend a lot of time and effort on their teenage kids. Most don't bother 'cause they think teenage kids are 'mature' enough to handle things on their own. Some may be so but not all. You need to be there for your kids and make sure they become an asset to themselves as well as to the society, not a lost child that ends up committing a crime that's irreparable. I understand that certain circumstances put kids in dire sitautions, and that's exactly what should be prevented.

Reading the lyrics of the song again and again and seeing beyond what my naked eye could see, I realise that maybe Kurt had troubled teen years. Leaving aside the fact that he later became a very popular musician, maybe he too was a very unhappy teenager not being able to reach goals set by the family/society, not being accepted for what he was...not being 'loved' enough. There's some hidden rage in the lyrics...masked disappointment...some anger at the world/God. This suppressed rage could have grown over the years and finally lead to his suicide. I don't know, it's just a possibility 'cause no one really knows why he died. And really he didnt have to die - it was necessary for him, but an unnecassary loss to the music world.

Here are few lines from the song. I have chopped the repetition. Tell me what you gather from this (you may really have to listen to the tempo and his voice to understand his notions well) . And don't forget to tell me what your teenage years are/were like, who/what has the responsibilty to guide the teens and why so many teens have lost interest in goodwill these days.

~~Load up on guns...bring your friends...It’s fun to lose...and to pretend...She’s overboard...Myself assured...I know I know...A dirty word Hello (x 16)

With the lights out, it’s less dangerous...Here we are now...entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious..Here we are now...entertain us

A mulatto...An albino...A mosquito...My libido...Yea I’m worse at what I do best...And for this gift I feel blessed...

Our little group has always been...And always will until the end

And I forget...just what it takes...And yet I guess it makes me smile...I found it hard...it's hard to find...Oh well, whatever...~~

-Kurt Cobain

Oh innocent Rose bloom beautifully...don't let the gloom around you fade you before your time...