Annas 1

Stephen Annas ENG 200 Ms. Olding 11/19/13

Personal Expression in the Grunge Movement during the 1990s The nineties in America were characterized by the emergence of the internet and the technological age. The youth of the nineties were shaped by a decade of war, technological advancements, and throw back styles of fashion and music that developed into their own niche movement. Focusing specifically on the grunge movement that emerged during the nineties, the movement promoted the exploration of personal thought and expression through drug use, appearance, and musical presentation. The origins of the grunge movement can be seen in the roots of the punk movement of the eighties. The evolution of punk respectively can be traced back in time when rock music came onto the scene as a non-conformist youth culture (Grossman 20). Teenagers and proponents of the punk movement believed that rock had forgotten the true meaning of a nonconformist movement, close interaction with fans and rejection of fame, therefore punks characterized rock as part of society that they were trying to escape. Specifically, punks disliked the separation between bands and audience in large venues, the idea of people being worshiped as rock stars, and regularly opposed mainstream culture as rigid and monotonous (Grossman 20). Regularly, punk challenged both capitalism and politics but rarely succeeded in providing a viable alternative to the current system. As a movement, punks were extremely critical in nature and therefore the movement as a whole was more divergent than uniting. Seen from outside the movement their characteristics created a commanding shock value to older generations.

Annas 2

Musically, many punk artists were young listeners to rock bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin before becoming full-fledged punk bands. Covering rock songs that had historical significance or political undertones contributed to punks adoption of rock attributes and helped define their distinct sound. But in order to define themselves as something different than the rock bands they despised, punks versions of songs were heavy on guitar distortion, fast-paced, rapid changing instrumentation, and louder than necessary. Rock generally had guitar without distortion, songs would normally be over three minutes long, and a steady beat to combine with chorus. The final transformation from punk to grunge involved shifts in musical message, a more relaxed presentation of emotions, and a blending of punk and rock genres. The shift in musical message from punk to grunge consists of less straightforward political messages and a greater emphasis on inconspicuous societal critiques (Grossman 32). Emotionally, the punk movement had a genuine anger and discontent with societal norms which was changed in the grunge movement to become more passive and accepting of change. Finally, the grunge movement blended the dynamism of the punk genre with the melody and tempo of rock (Grossman 32). The geographical birthplace for the grunge movement of the nineties was the Pacific Northwestern United States. Several factors allowed for the grunge to develop there. Firstly, underground music is typically defined as starting at small venues (Griffin). In Seattle for example popular bands did not tour to the Pacific Northwest leading to popularity of house and garage bands. Precursors to well-known grunge bands included Mudhoney, the Melvins, and Green River all of which congregated in the Seattle, Washington area (History of 90s Grunge Music). These local Seattle bands had a large following but struggled to make it into the mainstream spotlight, leaving the beginnings of the grunge movement still in the underground

Annas 3

scene. Green River was the predecessor to the band Mudhoney. Formed in 1984, the band had little influence outside of Seattle but mixed punk, glam, and rock into what became the first known form of grunge. After releasing three studio albums, Green River broke up in 1988 but their influence outlived the band (Green River). Eventually, Mudhoney formed from their remaining lineup and developed their own unique spin on the grunge music sound. Still failing to become a commercial success, Mudhoney continued to make studio albums and influence other musicians and bands. All that was required for grunge to be heard was a record label willing to sign bands like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden. Seattles Sub Pop records transformed the music scene by bringing the Northwests rock and punk sounds together turning a local grunge movement into mainstream music. The importance of predecessors to these bands was they paved the way and broke musical and societal norms so that future bands could build upon what they had done; in turn becoming more successful. Breaking through to record labels, setting the foundation what would define grunge music, and experimenting with different sounds all helped to break barriers that were keeping grunge set in the underground movement instead of breaking into the mainstream audiences. Nirvana became the figurehead for the grunge movement by verbalizing the emotions and attitudes of youth during the nineties. The reason for the bands success is probably a combination of factors but namely their lyrics connected with Generation X, they were truly the epitome of a grunge band because they came out of a garage in Washington, and they became mainstream by heavily promoting themselves. Youth culture is always looking for ways to better define themselves and the grunge movement was that escape and separation necessary for the teenagers in the nineties. Kurt Cobain, lead singer for Nirvana, sang about abused children, a pervasive, free-floating anxiety and incomprehension all of which were applicable feelings for

Annas 4

youth struggling to find their way in life (Seelow 50). Looking at lyrics from Nirvanas most popular songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit and Heart-Shaped Box, Cobain can be seen making these emotional connections with his youth audience. Verses like Here we are now, entertain us, I feel stupid and contagious from Smells Like Teen Spirit does exactly what the name of the song implies. These lines describes the emotional state of many teenagers; inadequate, and lost in society. Heart-Shaped Box showcases Cobains discontent with a loved one in his life when he sings, Hey! Wait! Ive got a new complaint, Forever in debt to your priceless advice (Heart-Shaped Box). It is clear that Cobain does not agree with someone elses opinion but at the same time he mocks the persons advice as nothing more than something he already knew. Both songs by Nirvana have portions that discuss issues of teenagers as they try to find themselves. The topics presented by Nirvana came to characterize the grunge movements discontent with mainstream society and its values. Alice in Chains was equally important in developing the mainstream acceptance of grunge music by helping to merge the metal fans with punk fans (Alice in Chains). Alice in Chains sound merged the heavy guitar riffs from rock music with the pointy and dark topics associated with early punk music. Though the band does not necessarily label themselves as a grunge band, their style combines a wide range of classifications like metal, blues, rock and roll, as well as punk leading some people to classify them as grunge or heavy metal. As with many artists of the nineties, Alice in Chains attributes their unique vocal style and lyrics to the experiences of the lead singer Layne Staley who struggled with addiction and personal problems. Similar messages of despair and feelings of loneliness can be seen between Nirvanas songs and Alice in Chains song Down in a Hole. Staley sings, Down in a hole, feelin so small. Down in a hole, losing my soul. Id like to fly. But my wings have been so denied (Down in a Hole). If

Annas 5

this song were to be analyzed from a societal standpoint, it could be argued that Staley is talking about how society puts people down forcing them to conform and his feelings accompanying this thought. Alice in Chains music advanced the grunge movement by expanding the fan base to include heavy metal and showed that grunge was not necessarily all anger and despair but had complex qualities just like any other music style. Down in a Hole is a combination of acoustics and intertwining vocals that shows the beautiful melody that can come from a grunge/heavy metal band. Soundgarden was also a Washington State based band who took a different approach to their musical style. Heavily rooted in a rock sound resembling Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, their sound was closer to the rock movement of the seventies that began the punk movement (Soundgarden). The group was formed in 1984, well before the first signs of the grunge movement taking place. However, their rock sounds along with their punk influences played a role in defining what constituted as grunge. Tension within the group led to a hiatus which took place throughout late nineties. Soundgarden did reconvene in 2010 which makes them one of the only grunge style bands to survive after the nineties. The song Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden clearly shows ideas of discontent with society and criticizes the morals of people. Namely the line, Times are gone for good men which Chris Cornell, lead singer for Soundgarden, explains means that making your own freedom and destiny becomes harder and harder as people become disillusioned and more dishonest as they try to achieve their own goals (Griffin). Soundgarden could be considered to have set the very foundation for the grunge movement because they formed so much earlier than either Alice in Chains or Nirvana. They represent the evolution from rock into the punk movement because of their rock influences and most accurately portray the transition from rock into grunge.

Annas 6

Photo Courtesy of Google Images 1

Bands like Nirvana appeared during performances with clothing styles typical of the punk movement of the eighties. Anything and everything that was against social norms was acceptable to show individualism and freedom of thought. Typically, hair styles were long and unkempt in the case of Cobain that meant hair down to just past his jawline; that was the same for most of the other band members. Clothing consisted of whatever they could find to wear; in live rehearsal performances that meant jeans and a tee shirt. Sometimes this could be switched to wearing a blazer that was too small overtop a tee shirt with baggy jeans. Interviews of the band give the impression that each of the members was all about being as informal as possible. They consisted of the band sitting together on a couch drinking, smoking, and going off on tangent conversations (Nirvana Interview 12-10-93). Kurt Cobain definitely stuck out from the group for his choice of clothing during the interview. Dressed in a purple sequin shirt, shaded glasses, and jeans he seemed to be avoiding the spotlight as much as possible and keep to himself. Off stage the band appeared to be calmer and more likely to joke around with one another and the interviewer. The groups on stage persona was louder, more energetic, and overall less friendly.

Annas 7

A major problem with the grunge movement during the nineties was its involvement with drug usage. Youth listened to the lyrics from their favorite singers and understood their struggles and that undoubtedly they used drugs to combat those memories. Indirectly, this promoted the benefits of highly addictive substances like heroin to a young audience. The most high profile situation of drug usage becoming an issue was with Kurt Cobain and his addiction to heroin which came to light after his death in 1994. Popular drugs of choice during the nineties were heroin and club drugs including ecstasy. Heroin affects the central nervous systems of its users as well as the brain. Short term effects of its use include a temporary euphoria state which alternates between active and drowsy mental states (The Health Effects of Heroin). Its availability during the nineties made it an easy choice for releasing the mind from the stresses of daily life. Ecstasy similarly affects the brain causing mental stimulation, a general sense of well-being, and decreased anxiety. It has the possibility of being used to stimulate creativity and allow the mind to grasp abstract concepts that would not necessarily be possible under normal circumstances. The characteristics that ecstasy exhibits means its uses could be sparking creative music writing or introspectively analyzing thoughts. The grunge movement that came to define the nineties influenced a generation of youth to create their own notion of personal expression and thought. The song topics of bands like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden generalized and verbalized questions that young adults had. By addressing the issues of identity, morals, and societal norms grunge helped youth define themselves. Appearance of these bands also contributed to exploration of personal thought and expression. By wearing casual clothing and expressing a laid back informal attitude during interviews and off stage gatherings these groups began to break social norms of formality in front of an audience. While on stage their presence was known through energetic live

Annas 8

performances that could be interpreted as shock and awe campaigns, these live performances proved a uniting feature for the youth of the grunge movement. Unfortunately, many of these bands struggled with drug use caused by traumatic personal experiences or pressures associated with the lifestyle of quickly rising fame. Specifically heroin and ecstasy were popularized for their liberating qualities. The ability for these drugs to pull a conscious into an otherworldly out of body experience allowed users to escape daily life and its problems. They also allowed for an introspective look at personal issues and led to a deeper level of personal thought. These factors in combination show how the grunge movement shaped the youth of the nineties.

Annas 9

Works Cited

"Alice in Chains." Last.fm. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. "Down in a Hole." Azlyrics.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. "Green River." Last.fm. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. Griffin, Thomas. "Nirvana and the Grunge Movement." Yahoo Contributor Network. Yahoo, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. Grossman, Perry. "Identity Crisis: The Dialectics Of Rock, Punk, And Grunge." Berkeley Journal Of Sociology 41.(1996): 19-40. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.

"The Health Effects of Heroin." About.com Alcoholism. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. "Heart-Shaped Box." Azlyrics.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. "History of 90's Grunge Music." History of 90's Grunge Music. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. Middleton, Jason, (Author). "Heroin Use, Gender, And Affect In Rock Subcultures." ECHO: A Music-Centered Journal 1.1 (1999): RILM Abstracts of Music Literature. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. "Nirvana Interview 12-10-93." YouTube. YouTube, 19 May 2009. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. Seelow, David. "Listening To Youth: Woodstock, Music, America, And Kurt Cobain's Suicide." Child & Youth Care Forum 25.(1996): 49-60. Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 25 Nov. 2013. "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Azlyrics.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. "Soundgarden." Last.fm. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. "What Are the Effects of MDMA?" About.com Alcoholism. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.