Lyrically Speaking: Kurt Cobain, Elvis and The Cranberries

In Sheryl Crow’s “Maybe Angels”, Kurt Cobain sits with the King of rock ‘n’ roll, the King of kings (and Lord of lords), and – well – John Lennon.

My sister, she says she knows Elvis

She knows Jesus, John Lennon and Cobain personally

Dolores O’Riordan admitted in an interview that she hates vibrato and finds it “disgusting”. Consequently, she never uses this vocal technique in her singing. But even she expressed appreciation for guys like Elvis who have used vibrato effectively. In “I’m still remembering”, the sprightly Cranberries lead singer is at her plaintive, non-vibrato best. She mentions our faithful departed rocker and J.F.K in the same verse. She asks:

What of Kurt Cobain

Will his presence still remain

Remember J.F.K

Ever saintly in a way

In some corners, it is believed that just like J.F.K. (and John Lennon), Cobain was murdered. This conspiracy theory goes contrary to the widely accepted belief that he committed suicide.

Like Dolores, Bloodhound gang’s lyricist and lead singer, Jimmy Pop also mentions the dead president and Kurt in the same verse. Unlike Dolores, Jimmy Pop’s lyrics are far from being saintly in any way. The second verse of their 1996 hit “ Fire, Water, Burn” testifies to this:

Yo yo this hard-core ghetto gangster image takes a lot of practice,

I’m not black like Barry White no I am white like Frank Black is,

So if man is five and the devil is six then that must make me seven,

This honkey’s gone to heaven,

But if I go to hell then I hope I burn well,

I’ll spend my days with J.F.K., Marvin Gaye, Martha Raye and Lawrence Welk,

And Kurt Cobain, Kojak, Mark Twain and Jimi Hendrix’s poltergeist,

And Webster yeah Emmanuel Lewis cause he’s the anti-christ. . .

Huh??? I think these lines from Nirvana’s “Smells like teen spirit” say it all for me:

I found it hard, it was hard to find

Oh well, whatever, nevermind.