10 Nirvana Covers Better Than The Original
2. Love Buzz
Of all Nirvana’s covers, this is likely the one that most people don’t realise isn’t an original. Placed on the band’s debut full length, Bleach, its raucous superfuzz sound and Cobain’s tuneful growl along with Krist Novoselic’s bouncy bass fit right in with Nirvana’s first collection of new material.
In fact, the original is a fairly strange song by ‘60s band Shocking Blue. Melodically it’s a fairly faithful cover, with Nirvana maintaining the winding riff and the tune in full. Tonally, though, it’s a world apart.
Shocking Blue’s version sounds like it’s aiming for a far Eastern sound, with the guitar stabs and almost atonal solo played not unlike a sitar, to compliment the riff that carries a similar flavour.
While Shocking Blue’s version is a fun curio in the vein of Jefferson Airplane, Nirvana’s cover is a blast of earwormy, instantly memorable bubblegum grunge, with the jolt of pace and Cobain’s frenzied screams making it the more enjoyable version by far.