Why does everyone consider Cobain a genius?

I mean, I'll admit he's a good lyricist. But in terms of musical compossing he was fairly average And he wasn't anything special guitar/vocal wise. Fairly average musician. So what makes him such a "genius" that people tend to consider him to be?

It's like, their opinion man

Not sure to be honest. Simple lyrics..Simple music. Nothing genius about him or Nirvana to be honest.

He was popular when he died, just like Tupac, Jimi Hendrix etc, therefore people think if he's still alive, he could produce the same quality music.

He was popular when he died, just like Tupac, Jimi Hendrix etc, therefore people think if he's still alive, he could produce the same quality music.

stevoqwerty

[QUOTE="stevoqwerty"]

He was popular when he died, just like Tupac, Jimi Hendrix etc, therefore people think if he's still alive, he could produce the same quality music.

DmadFearmonger

[QUOTE="DmadFearmonger"][QUOTE="stevoqwerty"]

He was popular when he died, just like Tupac, Jimi Hendrix etc, therefore people think if he's still alive, he could produce the same quality music.

marcthpro

good question. ive always wondered that myself. i agree with everyone about the dying in the height of popularity. to me he was just some strung out junkie that got lucky at the right time. music is depressing and i change it every time it comes on the radio.

Probably because he shot himself and became something of a martyr for want of a better word.

As someone else said when died he was about as popular as he was gonna get.

Person dies at heght of fame = person considered a legend.

E.g. James Dean, Elvis, Jim Morrison

The people who consider him to be a genius are probably people who don't know much about music.Lonelynight

And the most ignorant comment of the day award goes to.....

:roll:

And the most ignorant comment of the day award goes to.....Sagem28

As a fan of Nirvana I can honestly say that there is a lot of undue fan-fair for Kurt. He was a great musician just for the simple fact that he wrote songs that sounded like nothing else anybody was playing, that goes for the melodies and the lyrics. Kurt wouldn't have been much without his band, and I think a lot of people fail to see that, instead they see a tortured soul that was martyred for art, when in all reality he was a man with problems, just like anyone. But that being said Nirvana was a great band.

Because he was young, attractive, unpredicatable and made gazillions of dollars on his simple music.

The Beatles did the exact same thing.

All BUSINESS geniuses.

He's good with power chords, and people are easily impressed.

I think because he could write some great hooks. And as others said he created a movement and died young. Add those up and people can think someone is a musical genius.

I think because he could write some great hooks. And as others said he created a movement and died young. Add those up and people can think someone is a musical genius.

Swanogt19

Again, I agree. But TC seemd to be asking why Cobain is looked at as musical genius(that is the way I interpreted it). Sure I can see lyrics but people can not deny his ability to write hooks. Smells Like Teen Spirit has a hook just about anybody can recongize even if they don't know the song.

It's like, their opinion man

Joshywaa

I guess he ushered in that whole "alternative music" genre back in the 90's.

Not me, I think Nirvana is crappy and depressing music.

[QUOTE="Sagem28"]And the most ignorant comment of the day award goes to.....Lonelynight

Aren't you overdoing it with the generalizations here ?
Saying that people who believe he is a genius don't have a taste in music is just plain silly.
Music is an art and art is subjective

[QUOTE="Lonelynight"][QUOTE="Sagem28"]And the most ignorant comment of the day award goes to.....Sagem28

Aren't you overdoing it with the generalizations here ?
Saying that people who believe he is a genius don't have a taste in music is just plain silly.
Music is an art and art is subjective

Dying young and tragically always helps...

Dying young and tragically always helps...

heysharpshooter

[QUOTE="heysharpshooter"]

Dying young and tragically always helps...

LJS9502_basic

meh... Nirvana have some cool songs, but the whole grunge thing never really did it for me personally...

From what I can tell, his legacy would be half what it is today if he lived, and was now some old dude with a receeding hair line playing alt-country and playing mid-level venues...

which would be pretty awesome, actually...

Nirvana were already the biggest band on the planet at the time of his death, so clearly him dying is the only reason he's well known. As far as genius: there's more to genius than technical skill. There's thousands of guitarists out there that could play circles around Cobain, but can't write a worthwhile tune to save their life. That said I wouldn't call Cobain a "genius", but rather a musician who had skill enough for what he set out to do, who played with feeling, who knew how to write a hook, and who understood that simple and catchy resonates more with people than the ability to cram a thousand notes into a song.

Aren't you overdoing it with the generalizations here ? Saying that people who believe he is a genius don't have a taste in music is just plain silly. Music is an art and art is subjectiveSagem28

Wasn't anything wrong with Nirvana's music. Sure they weren't the best grunge band...or even my favorite. But they were not a bad band by any means.LJS9502_basic

Nirvana were already the biggest band on the planet at the time of his death, so clearly him dying is the only reason he's well known. As far as genius: there's more to genius than technical skill. There's thousands of guitarists out there that could play circles around Cobain, but can't write a worthwhile tune to save their life. That said I wouldn't call Cobain a "genius", but rather a musician who had skill enough for what he set out to do, who played with feeling, who knew how to write a hook, and who understood that simple and catchy resonates more with people than the ability to cram a thousand notes into a song.

worlock77

I think you put it best just now.

because he was so intelligent that his skull couldn't contain that much brain.

[QUOTE="Sagem28"]And the most ignorant comment of the day award goes to.....Lonelynight

Ouch...

I think that he was a pretty good musician, not a genius, but he did kill himself at the height of his popularity, so his legacy lives on as one of the better musicians of history instead of another rise and fall.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="heysharpshooter"]

Dying young and tragically always helps...

heysharpshooter

meh... Nirvana have some cool songs, but the whole grunge thing never really did it for me personally...

From what I can tell, his legacy would be half what it is today if he lived, and was now some old dude with a receeding hair line playing alt-country and playing mid-level venues...

which would be pretty awesome, actually...

[QUOTE="heysharpshooter"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] He was already the voice of a generation before his death. His death has kept him from being forgotten I suppose...but had nothing to do with the initial fame he found.LJS9502_basic

meh... Nirvana have some cool songs, but the whole grunge thing never really did it for me personally...

From what I can tell, his legacy would be half what it is today if he lived, and was now some old dude with a receeding hair line playing alt-country and playing mid-level venues...

which would be pretty awesome, actually...

I doubt that very much... turing your life into a Greek Tragedy with some buckshot is a surefire way to immortality... especially if you are banging some crazy lady on the side all MacBeth style...

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="heysharpshooter"]

meh... Nirvana have some cool songs, but the whole grunge thing never really did it for me personally...

From what I can tell, his legacy would be half what it is today if he lived, and was now some old dude with a receeding hair line playing alt-country and playing mid-level venues...

which would be pretty awesome, actually...

heysharpshooter

I doubt that very much... turing your life into a Greek Tragedy with some buckshot is a surefire way to immortality... especially if you are banging some crazy lady on the side all MacBeth style...

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Wasn't anything wrong with Nirvana's music. Sure they weren't the best grunge band...or even my favorite. But they were not a bad band by any means.Lonelynight

I don't think genius applies solely to technical merit here....LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]I don't think genius applies solely to technical merit here....Lonelynight

No. His lyrics resonated with people. Looking at it from today's standpoint you probably don't see it. But his lyrics are what got him the notice. Time has a way of making us see things as they are today...and not as they were.LJS9502_basic

As a fan of Nirvana I can honestly say that there is a lot of undue fan-fair for Kurt. He was a great musician just for the simple fact that he wrote songs that sounded like nothing else anybody was playing, that goes for the melodies and the lyrics. Kurt wouldn't have been much without his band, and I think a lot of people fail to see that, instead they see a tortured soul that was martyred for art, when in all reality he was a man with problems, just like anyone. But that being said Nirvana was a great band.

BATTOSAI76

he was an above average songwriter (this could be debated) and a less than average singer and guitarist. but he was considered great by many people trying to be nonconformists, who were actually very conforming.

he was an above average songwriter (this could be debated) and a less than average singer and guitarist. but he was considered great by many people trying to be nonconformists, who were actually very conforming.

needled24-7

This man speaks truth

Because he Played from his **** heart!!!!

Nirvana were already the biggest band on the planet at the time of his death, so clearly him dying is the only reason he's well known. As far as genius: there's more to genius than technical skill. There's thousands of guitarists out there that could play circles around Cobain, but can't write a worthwhile tune to save their life. That said I wouldn't call Cobain a "genius", but rather a musician who had skill enough for what he set out to do, who played with feeling, who knew how to write a hook, and who understood that simple and catchy resonates more with people than the ability to cram a thousand notes into a song.

worlock77

This, this and this.

So beautifully said.

I think it is pretty obvious. Nirvana created a syle and unique sound that no one else had at the time. Although the music might not be this technical marvel, it was very interesting. Just think of it this way, Nirvana killed big hair metal and really opened the door for a ton of underground music to peer its way into the public.