THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

788-Nirvana-Lithium.

1992-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 1.57. Nirvana biographer Michael Azerrad described the song’s title as a reference to Karl Marx’s statement that religion is ‘The Opium of the people.’ In other words religion can bring comfort to a person, in the same way that a drug such as Lithium can also help.

Kurt Donald Cobain (see also best songs 9) was born on February 20th, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington, United States, he died on April 5th, 1994, from a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head, at the age of 27. Kurt Cobain formed Nirvana with Krist Novoselic, and Aaron Burckhard, in 1987. Burckahard was the bands first drummer, but would leave in October 1987, while Novoselic, would remain a member of Nirvana, through until when the band was retired, following the death of Kurt Cobain. Although Cobain always denied it, the music press heralded him as a ‘spokesman for his generation,’ and he is highly recognised as one of the most influential ‘Alternative Rock’ musicians of all time. During the last years of his life, Kurt Cobain struggled with a heroin addiction, and chronic health problems, such as depression. In March 1994, he overdosed on a combination of champagne, and Rohypnol, after which he underwent a detox program, but less than a month later he was found dead, from committing suicide.

Krist Anthony Novoselic was born on May 16th, 1965, in Compton, California, United States, he was the bass player for Nirvana from their forming in 1987, through until the band were retired in 1994. He is one of the groups classic line up, which also included Dave Grohl, (see also best songs 999-292 and 9) who was the groups drummer between 1990-1994. Prior to Grohl joining the group, Nirvana had used six previous drummers between 1987-1989. After the death of Kurt Cobain, Novoselic co-formed the band ‘Sweet 75,’ with the Venezuelan musician Yva Las Vegass in 1995, releasing a single, and a self-titled album in 1997. In 2002 Novoselic once again joined forces with Dave Grohl, providing backing vocals on ‘Walking a Line,’ from the Foo Fighters fourth studio Album ‘One by One,’ and then again in 2011, on the Foo Fighter seventh studio Album ‘Wasting Light,’ he played the bass and accordion on the track ‘I Should Have Known.’

‘Lithium’ was the third of four singles released from Nirvana’s second Album ‘Nevermind,’ from September 1991, the song was written by Kurt Cobain, and produced by Butch Vig, (see also best songs 641-421 and 9) in America on the Billboard Hot 100, the song stalled at Number 64, but did chart within the top 40 on the Billboard ‘Mainstream Rock,’ and ‘Alternative Airplay’ charts. Speaking about the song ‘Lithium’ Kurt Cobain said,’The song is about a man who, after the death of his girlfriend, turns to religion, as a last resort to keep himself alive, to keep him from suicide.’ Cobain also said that while the narrative of the song ‘Lithium’ was fictional, ’I did infuse some of my personal experiences, like breaking up with girlfriends, and having bad relationships.’ Cobain has acknowledged that the song was possibly inspired by the time he spent living with his friend Jesse Reed, and his ‘Born-again Christian’ parents.The drug Lithium is a psychiatric medication, used primarily to treat bipolar disorder, and treat major depressive disorder, that does not improve following the use of antidepressants, it helps reduce the risk of suicide.

‘I’m so happy ’cause today I’ve found my friends they’re in my head. I’m so ugly, that’s okay, ’cause so are you. Broke our mirrors, Sunday morning is everyday for all I care, and I’m not scared. Light my candles in a daze, ’cause I’ve found God.’