10 Nirvana Covers Better Than The Original

10. Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam

Kurt Cobain was particularly vocal about his musical influences, and a key band for the Nirvana frontman was Scottish two piece The Vaselines. Nirvana tackled a few of their tunes, and probably the most famous is this one, found on their much beloved Unplugged album.

“Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam” is a wry take on Christian music, and accordingly is right in Cobain’s boundary pushing wheelhouse. The version on Unplugged keeps the melody and melancholic tone of the Vaselines original but adds beautiful texture with subtle harmonies, cello, and a rare accordion turn from bassist Krist Novoselic.

Less well known but possibly better still is their full band version, recorded on a 1991 tour. Played in the typical Nirvana style, it fights right into their catalogue. Whether Cobain is crooning or sneering the lyrics, it’s a song he clearly loves playing, and they make it their own even more when switching out the string breaks for a choppy guitar solo.