SONG OF THE DAY
“All Apologies” by Nirvana (In Utero, DGC Records, 1993). Written by Kurt Cobain.
INTERESTING FACTS (from wikipedia)
– It is the 2nd single from the band’s 3rd album.
– It was the band’s third number one Modern Rock hit and reached number thirty-two on the UK Singles Chart.
– “All Apologies” had been around since 1990. Nirvana first recorded the song during a January 1, 1991 demo session with Craig Montgomery in Seattle, Washington. This version of the song had more a folk music aspect than later versions. Bassist Krist Novoselic accompanied Kurt Cobain on a second guitar instead of his standard instrument, utilizing several seventh chords as he played. Drummer Dave Grohl’s drumming was accented by a tambourine.
– Nirvana recorded the song for its third album In Utero in February 1993 with Steve Albini in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. The song, at that point tentatively titled “La La La”, was recorded on February 14. The recording featured Kera Schaley on cello, who was the only other musician to play on the album besides the band members. It was remixed, along with “Heart-Shaped Box” and later “Pennyroyal Tea,” by Scott Litt prior to the album’s release, with Cobain asserting that the vocals and bass sounded “mushy” in the unmastered Albini recording.
– Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic viewed “All Apologies” and “Heart-Shaped Box”, the other single released from In Utero, as “gateways” to the more abrasive sound of the rest of the album, telling journalist Jim DeRogatis that once listeners played the record they would discover “this aggressive wild sound, a true alternative record, one of the best songs of the nineties”.
– Cobain dedicated “All Apologies” to his wife Courtney Love and their daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. The songwriter told biographer Michael Azerrad that while the lyrics had nothing to do with his family, the song’s mood (which Cobain summarized in the words “Peaceful, happy, comfort”) was intended for them.
– The only instruction Cobain gave the single’s art director Robert Fisher regarding the packaging was that he wanted “Something with seahorses“.
– Like its predecessor “Heart-Shaped Box”, the single was not released commercially in the United States.
– Everett True of Melody Maker made “All Apologies” the Single Of The Week for the magazine; he wrote “It’s the most supremely resigned, supremely weary fuck you to the outside world I’ve heard this year. ‘All Apologies’ has the most gorgeous, aching tune, an emotionally draining ennui.”
– In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song at number 455 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
– This song also ranked at number 99 in Blender‘s The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born.
– The Unplugged version, which features Lori Goldston on cello, appears on the band’s 1994 album MTV Unplugged in New York. This version was also included on the 2002 “best-of” compilation album, Nirvana. An acoustic demo appears on the band’s rarities box set, With the Lights Out released in 2004 and on the compilation album, Sliver: The Best of the Box released in 2005.
– “All Apologies” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rock Song in 1995.
– I don’t want to post what the b-side to this single is, since I already get enough spam comments, so I’ll just leave it at a link. Find out for yourself.
MY TAKE
Ah, the continuation of 1990’s week….eventually it had to reach Nirvana and Seattle, don’t you agree? This is probably my favorite Nirvana song, though I have so much more time I need to dedicate to their oeuvre, so that favorite status may change with time.
Enjoy grunge.
Enjoy the incredible influence Seattle had on the world.
Enjoy Kurt Cobain’s genius.
VIDEOS OF THE DAY
Check out this song, its unplugged version, and its original unmixed version, all on the 1990’s Week playlist!