11 Worst Grammy Snubs of All Time
By April Jones
“Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana
It was 1992 and grunge music was spreading from its roots in Seattle to the record shops and radio stations across America. Bands like Alice in Chains, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam were climbing up the Billboard charts. Grunge was so popular that even the people at the Grammys took notice. Both Pearl Jam and Nirvana were among the nominees for Best Rock Song — Pearl Jam for “Jeremy” and Nirvana for “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
But then Eric Clapton and his MTV Unplugged version of “Layla” won. First of all, the song was 20 years old. The original version of “Layla” appeared on a 1971 Derek and the Dominos album. Now the original version was definitely worthy of a nomination for Best Rock Song … in 1971. But this mellowed out ballad was way too blah to beat out a disillusioned anthem of angst-ridden youth like “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
Nirvana’s hit single defined the grunge genre, and depriving it of such an award is a travesty. The entire Nevermind album deserved to be recognized for the impact it had in the music industry. Sadly, the album was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album but lost to R.E.M.’s Out of Time. Then again, Kurt Cobain was against everything the Grammys represent, so maybe it was better this way.