It’s sort of rocklore that Kurt Cobain of Nirvana hated “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” His bandmate, Dave Grohl, revealed that although Cobain enjoyed selling multiple records worldwide, I hated “the baggage” that came with the fame and intrusion of privacy. Nonetheless, after releasing their most popular song in 1991, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became a generational anthem for Gen X. Through the three decades after its release, the grunge anthem resonated with millennials due to its recurrent push on MTV, and a source of inspiration for emerging Gen Z artists.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” ended up crossing over with a No. 7 peak on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the Alternative Airplay charts. Through its legacy the song is often regarded as the best to be released in the ‘90s– ultimately defining the decade. After the success of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” subsequent bands followed the lead– making Seattle a stomping grounds for grunge music that maintained a crossover appeal.

From there, bands such as Third Eye Blind and Weezer blended grunge into the elements of soft rock. Due to their music’s softer nature and straying away from the hardcore components, these songs became staples in family-oriented venues, such as malls. When shopping, customers are bound to hear “Beverly Hills” by Weezer on a playlist alongside Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears.