10 Live Songs Better Than The Studio Recordings
3. All Apologies - Nirvana
Nirvana's appearance on MTV Unplugged was one of the watershed moments in the band's career. Not only did they strip down their classic hits, but the intimate setting showed just how great a songwriter Kurt Cobain really was. While many cite the cover songs as the standouts of the gig, the last original song of the night was absolutely captivating.
Since the gig was filmed shortly after the release of the band's third record In Utero, many of the cuts played that night were from the album, with "All Apologies" saved for last. There is actually a lot of merit to the original, with its clean electric guitar and the hazy affectation to Kurt's voice, which sounds like he's on the edge of consciousness.
On the other hand, something magical happened once Cobain got an acoustic in his hands. The more downtrodden theme of the lyrics seems to ring all the more true with Cobain left to his own devices without his trademark electric sound. The performance also ends beautifully with Cobain and Dave Grohl harmonizing until the track's instrumentation completely fades away. Given Cobain's tragic suicide shortly afterward, this stellar unplugged performance stands as one of the final memories fans have of one of the spokesmen of 90's rock.