Nirvana's Music Analysis

“With the lights out, it's less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us”, is a famous line from a set of lyrics known across all generations. Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, Blink-182’s “What’s my Age Again?” and Coldplay’s “Yellow”, created a ripple effect in the 1990’s, and continues to inspire heartfelt angst nearly twenty-six years later. Music of the 1990’s was a new breed of expression; the lyrics became raw and the sound was heavy. Almost two decades later, the outstanding influence of this music is still seen today. As influential as 1990’s music is, it’s not all one coherent sound that can have a label slapped on it. The decade was taking a harsh turn from 80’s electric sound and wanted to drop the mellow vibes of 1970’s folk
Alternative Rock contains more spectrums within its genre of music, but it still connects the same feeling and sound. The biggest criticism of alternative rock is sounding “generic”, often being highlighted on radio music for its kinder demeanor. The universal message of alternative rock ironically plays a part to its downfall in popularity. Alternative rock sound was originally rooted in the same ideas of grunge and pop-punk, wanting to branch out from the mainstream: Unfortunately, the every-day sound pulled away from the ideas of originality and have left artist searching for something different in the new decade. Coldplay’s sound was and has remained relatable to the majority, but it never took away the sting of their conscious lyrics and delicate
While Nirvana’s grunge scene yelled emotions in your face, and Blink-182’s pop-punk music light-heartedly glossed over the emotions: Coldplay’s sound was revolutionary in emphasizing the emotion and recognizing sympathy. Coldplay’s singer, Chris Martin’s expansive vocal range allows the band to bounce between all poles of alternative rock. While songs like “Yes” exemplify Chris’s natural baritone voice, it easily transitions into falsetto, as heard in “Fix You”. All members of the band have coherently played piano and keyboard, allowing for a classical influential rhythm. The lead guitar played by Johnny Buckland and bass played by Guy Berryman beautifully harmonize with Chris’s tone color. Will Champion does a wonderful job playing drums while frequently shifting gears with percussion and piano. Their songs like “Viva La Vida” and “Paradise” show the use of orchestral instruments with modern alternative rock sounds. Coldplay’s continued relevance to the musical world is largely due to their ability to explore new musical sounds and