I Hate Myself and Want to Die

"I Hate Myself and Want to Die"
Song by Nirvana
A-side "Pennyroyal Tea"
Released November 23, 1993 (1993-11-23) (The Beavis and Butt-head Experience)
April 1994 (single)
Format CD
Recorded February 1993, at Pachyderm Studios, Cannon Falls, Minnesota
Genre Grunge
Length 2:42
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s) Kurt Cobain
Producer(s) Steve Albini

"I Hate Myself and Want to Die" is a song by the American grunge band, Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist, Kurt Cobain. It appears on the compilation, The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience, released in November of 1993. It is also known as the b-side of the Pennyroyal Tea single.

History and recording

"I Hate Myself and Want to Die" was first recorded in the studio in January, 1993, when a demo version was recorded by Craig Montgomery at BMG Ariola Ltda in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The final version was recorded by Steve Albini at Pachyderm Studios on February 15, 1993, during the recording session for the band's third and final album, In Utero. [1] Originally titled "2 Bass Kid," [2], the song was represented by a fish symbol on the tape box for the album. [3]

It missed inclusion on the album, which was released in September, 1993, with Cobain later explaining that there were too many "noise" songs on the album. [4] The song instead appeared as the opening track on the compilation album, The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience, released in November, 1993. The band was given $60,000 by its record label, Geffen Records, for the song. [5] The Beavis and Butt-head Experience compilation album has since been certified 2x Platinum in the US.[6]

The song was set to be released as a b-side to the "Pennyroyal Tea" single in April, 1994, but the single was recalled following Cobain's death that month, possibly because of the song's title.[7] The single was finally released in April, 2014, as part of Record Store Day.[8]

I Hate Myself and Want to Die was also a working title for In Utero. [9][10] According to Tom Mallon of Rolling Stone, Cobain abandoned the title due to fear that the dark humor of the title would be lost on some critics and fans, [11] and after being convinced by Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic that the band might end up with lawsuits if Cobain stuck with the original title. [12] Cobain changed the album's title to Verse Chorus Verse, and then two weeks later to its final title of In Utero. In an October, 1993 [13] interview with David Fricke of Rolling Stone, Cobain explained that he meant the title "as literally as a joke can be," calling it "funny" and claiming it was a reference to the public perception of him "as this pissy, complaining, freaked–out schizophrenic who wants to kill himself all the time."[14]

Composition

The song's interlude features Cobain quoting a "Deep Thought" by American comedian, Jack Handey.[15]

Reception

In Take a Walk on the Dark Side: Rock and Roll Myths, Legends, and Curses, R. Gary Patterson compared the song to John Lennon's "Yer Blues" as "an attempt to explain [Cobain's] introspection."[16] In The Rough Guide to Nirvana, Gillian G. Gaar called the song an "upbeat, friendly thrash-along" with "nonsense lyrics" whose title lacked a connection with its music.[3] In 2015, Rolling Stone put the song at number 44 on a ranked list of 102 Nirvana songs, calling it "a lurching piece of infectious sludge-pop." [11]

Cobain himself was dismissive of the song, calling it "boring" and saying that the band "could write that song in our sleep." [17] Craig Montgomery, however, who recorded the demo version at BMG Ariola Ltda in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was impressed with the song, praising its riff and rhythm and saying he thought it could have been a hit. [18]

The song is referenced by American indie rock musician Cat Power in the song "Hate," from her 2006 album, The Greatest.[19]

Covers

The Blackout released a parody of the song, titled "I Love Myself and I Want to Live," in 2009.[20] Baton Rouge sludge band Thou released a cover of this song on their EP "The Sacrifice".[21]

Recording and release history

Date recorded Studio Producer/recorder Releases
January, 1993 BMG Ariola Ltda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Craig Montgomery With the Lights Out (2004)
February, 1993 Pachyderm Studio Steve Albini The Beavis and Butt-head Experience (1993)
Pennyroyal Tea (1994)
In Utero (deluxe) (2013)

Personnel

Nirvana

Production personnel

References

  1. ↑ Garr, Gillian G. (2006). In Utero. United States: Continium. p. 56. ISBN 0-8264-1776-0.
  2. ↑ Luerssen, John D. (2014). Nirvana FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Most Important Band of the 1990s. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 343. ISBN 978-1-61713-588-0.
  3. 1 2 Gaar, Gillian G. (2009). The Rough Guide to Nirvana. Penguin. p. 194–195. ISBN 978-1-4053-8119-2.
  4. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (2003). Milk It!: Collected Musings on the Alternative Music Explosion of the 90's. Da Capo. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-306-81271-2.
  5. ↑ Luerssen, John D. (2014). Nirvana FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Most Important Band of the 1990s. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 343. ISBN 978-1-61713-588-0.
  6. ↑ "User must do a search for "Beavis"". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  7. ↑ Pennyroyal 3 - Pennyroyal Tea single. crimson-ceremony.net. Retrieved on March 10, 2013.
  8. ↑ http://www.recordstoreday.co.uk/exclusive-products/2014/?p=10
  9. ↑ Cross 2002, p. 262
  10. ↑ Crosbie, Lynn (27 September 2011). "Twenty years after Nevermind, Cobain's candle still burns". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  11. 1 2 Mallon, Tom (April 8, 2015). "No Apologies: All 102 Nirvana Songs Ranked". Rolling Stone. 44. "I Hate Myself and Want to Die".
  12. ↑ Cross 2002, 268
  13. ↑ Bentley, Tiffany (28 March 2012). "David Fricke of Rolling Stone magazine tells intimate rock stories during talk at Allentown Art Museum". lehighvalleylive.com. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  14. ↑ Fricke, David (27 January 1994). "Kurt Cobain: The Rolling Stone Interview | Music News". Rolling Stone. p. 3. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "Deep Thoughts".
  16. ↑ Patterson, R. Gary (2008). Take a Walk on the Dark Side: Rock and Roll Myths, Legends, and Curses. Simon and Schuster. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-4391-0364-7.
  17. ↑ Luerssen, John D. (2014). Nirvana FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Most Important Band of the 1990s. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 343. ISBN 978-1-61713-588-0.
  18. ↑ Gaar, Gillian G. (2006). In Utero. United States: Continium. pp. 28, 29. ISBN 0-8264-1776-0.
  19. ↑ Hoby, Hermione (18 August 2012). "Cat Power: 'I'm your worst nightmare – get your dancing shoes on'". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  20. ↑ Vikkeh (4 November 2009). "Daily Music Dose: The Blackout on Vikkeh~'s Blog - Buzznet". Vikkivendetta.buzznet.com. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  21. ↑ Robotic Empire. "Thou - The Sacrifice EP".

Bibliography

Cross, Charles R. (2002). Heavier Than Heaven: The Biography of Kurt Cobain. Sceptre. ISBN 978-1-444-71389-3.

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