Lithium (Nirvana song)
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"Lithium (song)" redirects here. For the Evanescence song, see Lithium (Evanescence song).
| "Lithium" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by Nirvana | ||
| from the album Nevermind | ||
| B-side(s) | "Been a Son" (live)/"Curmudgeon" | |
| Released | July 21, 1992 | |
| Format | CD | |
| Recorded | May - June, 1991 at Sound City, Van Nuys |
|
| Genre | Grunge | |
| Length | 4:16 | |
| Label | DGC | |
| Producer(s) | Butch Vig | |
| Chart positions | ||
| Nirvana singles chronology | ||
| "Come as You Are" (1992) |
"Lithium" (1992) |
"In Bloom" (1992) |
| Nevermind track listing | ||
| "Breed" (4) |
"Lithium" (5) |
"Polly" (6) |
"Lithium" is a song by the grunge band Nirvana. It originally appeared on and was the third single from their breakthrough album Nevermind. The lyrics were written by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
The name of the song is often attributed to the metal lithium's tendency to be found in mood stabilizers such as lithium carbonate and lithium orotate; because of this the lyrics are often interpreted as describing bipolar disorder. Nonetheless, there is much disagreement about the exact meaning and interpretation of it.
Contents |
[edit] Other Versions
A live version from 1992 would later appear on their live VHS Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! released in 1994 and another version from 1991 on their live album From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah released in 1996. The Nevermind version was included on their greatest hits album Nirvana in 2002. An acoustic version appears on the 2004 box set With the Lights Out. A demo version from 1990 with a fade-out ending is available on bootlegs and in trading circles, in numerous electric and acoustic mixes by producer Butch Vig. An early 1990 video of the band shooting music videos at Evergreen State College also features their first attempt at this song, with significantly different lyrics.
[edit] Memorable performances
Nirvana was asked to perform their first hit, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards but the band wanted to play a new song called "Rape Me". MTV declined, and eventually it was agreed that the band would play "Lithium" which was their latest hit single. When the band began their performance, Kurt strummed and sang the first few bars of the song "Rape Me", before jumping into "Lithium". Nearing the end of the live performance, people began jumping on and off the stage and Krist Novoselic threw his bass into the air, (later saying it was because his bass was cutting out) but misjudged the catch and the bass smacked him in the forehead, causing him to collapse. Cobain and drummer Dave Grohl, oblivious to this, continued to play as Novoselic rose and staggered offstage.
Another memorable live performance of "Lithium" from the Reading Festival in 1992 can be found on the bands VHS Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! which was released in 1994.
[edit] Covers
The following artists have covered Nirvana's song Lithium:
- American rock band Papa Roach.
- American rock band The Polyphonic Spree.
- Turkish Alternative rock band Direc-t.
- Steeve Estatof sang Lithium when he won Nouvelle Star.
- Dilana sang Lithium in the first episode of the Reality show Rockstar:Supernova.
- The song was also partially covered by the Brazilian rock band Legião Urbana and featured on their 2001 live album "Como é que se diz eu te amo".
- Nirvana a 60's band from the UK on their 1997 Box Set
[edit] Track listing
The following songs appeared on the single:
- "Lithium" [LP Version] (Cobain) - 4:16
- "Been A Son" [live, Paramount Theatre (Seattle, Washington) 1991.10.31] (Cobain) - 2:14
- "Curmudgeon" (Cobain, Nirvana) - 2:58
[edit] Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Official Finland Singles Charts | No. 3 |
| 1992 | Official Irish Singles Charts | No. 5 |
| 1992 | Polish Airplay Charts | No. 9 |
| 1992 | Slovakian Airplay Charts | No. 10 |
| 1992 | Official UK Singles Charts | No. 11 |
| 1992 | Official Spanish Singles Charts | No. 13 |
| 1992 | Official Italian Singles Charts | No. 16 |
| 1992 | Official Holland Singles Charts | No. 16 |
| 1992 | Mainstream Rock Tracks (US) | No. 16 |
| 1992 | Finland Mitä hittiä Charts | No. 18 |
| 1992 | Modern Rock Tracks (US) | No. 25 |
| 1992 | Official New Zealand Singles Charts | No. 28 |
| 1992 | Official Belgium Singles Charts | No. 28 |
| 1992 | Official Australian Singles Charts | No. 53 |
| 1992 | French Airplay Charts | No. 60 |
| 1992 | The Billboard Hot 100 (US) | No. 64 |
[edit] Accolades
- Ranked #20 in Kerrang!'s "100 Greatest Rock Tracks Ever" (1999)
- Ranked #42 in Kerrang!'s "100 Greatest Singles of All Time" (2002)
- Ranked #5 in NME's "Top 20 Nirvana Songs" (2004)
- Ranked #8 in Q's "10 Greatest Nirvana Songs Ever" (2004)
[edit] See also
List of songs about mental illness
