The 30-Day Song Selection Spectacular: #8, A Song That Made You Pull Your Car Over The First Time You Heard It

Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Me and you both, I’m sure. Fall, ’91, I was driving on Rt 23, and heard this song on the radio. I had my own little Beatles-on-Ed-Sullivan freakout, pulled directly into the Sound Exchange parking lot in Wayne, NJ, and bought the album (on cassette, it seems worth noting). That was the first and last time any kind of vehicular maneuvering was involved in a first listen/purchase.

I’m listening to this for the first time in years. I’d drive to Wayne, NJ, all over again to buy this. What a great record.

#1 (Intro/Favorite Cover Version)
#2 (Favorite Love Song)
#3 (Favorite Movie Song)
#4 (Favorite Breakup Song)
#5 (A Song You Hear Shopping)
#6 (A Song You Can’t Listen To Just Once)
#7 (A Song That Breaks Your Heart With The First Few Notes)

Singer-songwriter and American Songwriter contributor Paula Carino lives in Brooklyn, NY. Her latest album, Open On Sunday, is available at paulacarino.com.