Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” rocks its way to a new peak on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. weeks before it turns 35. Nirvana, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain, Vooruit, Gent, Belgium, 23/11/1991. (Photo by Goedefroit Music/Getty Images)
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In only a matter of weeks, Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” will turn 35 years old. The grunge rockers released the tune in September 1991, just two weeks before the group’s sophomore album Nevermind became available. Of course, that set would change everything for not only Nirvana, but rock music in general, and it remains one of the most important and commercially successful releases in the genre of all time.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is not simply a grunge or alternative rock favorite, but a landmark tune that continues to chart today, decades after its release. The single keeps Nirvana on Billboard’s rankings, as does its parent album, and this week, the former reaches a new peak.
Nirvana’s Smash Single Reaches a New Global Peak
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” rises five spaces from No. 110 to No. 105 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., which ranks the most-consumed songs throughout the world outside the United States using streaming and sales activity. The improvement brings “Smells Like Teen Spirit” to a new all-time high on the roster. The classic had just reached its previous best showing of No. 110 last week, and now it resets that peak once more.
Nirvana’s Tune Returns to Its Best Showing
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” also appears on the Billboard Global 200 in an even loftier position. That tally – introduced at the same time as its companion list – uses the same kinds of consumption data as the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., but does include activity from the U.S.
This frame, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” ascends three spaces to No. 92, returning to its already-established high point. The track first reached that exact position in October 2021, the same year that it debuted on the Billboard Global 200.
Nirvana Has Scored Two Hits on One of the Worldwide Tallies
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is one of only two Nirvana tracks to appear on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. It is easily the group’s longest-running success on the list, but also its lowest-peaking entry of the pair.
“Something in the Way” climbed as high as No. 42, though it spent only five weeks on the ranking. “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” meanwhile, has now accumulated 158 frames on the worldwide roster, recently celebrating three full years on the chart.
Nirvana Has Claimed Three Global 200 Hits
On the Billboard Global 200, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sits in the middle of Nirvana’s three career hits, when they are ranked by peak position. “Something in the Way” performed best, soaring all the way to No. 23, while “Come as You Are” rose as high as No. 155.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” has enjoyed a much longer run than either of those tunes. It has now earned a total of 227 weeks on the Billboard Global 200, compared with only nine for “Something in the Way” and 10 for “Come as You Are.”
Nirvana Charts Nevermind on a Quartet of Billboard Charts
Nevermind appears on four Billboard-owned rankings this week, and it lives inside the top 20 on all but one of them. The classic performs best on the Top Alternative Albums roster, where it sits at No. 10.
The full-length also reaches Nos. 11 and 15 on the Top Rock Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums tallies, respectively. Nevermind rises on the former – almost cracking the top 10 again – while slipping slightly on the latter.
On the Billboard 200, Nevermind improves one space to No. 57. The landmark project has spent 785 weeks on the country’s primary albums ranking, and in the coming months, it will likely become one of only a handful of titles to reach 800 periods somewhere on the rundown.