The nineties provided us with plenty of angst driven grunge bands and Nirvana was no

exception. The original song “In Bloom” by Nirvana, came out in 1992. The original video was a

mix of sarcasm and emotion. Sturgill Simpson’s 2016 cover of the hit song gave it new life with

a more serious video. Sturgill’s cover is a beautiful tribute to Nirvana’s grungy and dirty view on

teenage turmoil. The new version shares the same sentiment however, the song slows down and

appeals to a wider audience, thanks to Sturgill’s classic country tone and psychedelic rock vibe.

The lyrics describe how messy transitioning into adulthood can be. In the lyrics Kurt

Cobain wrote, “Bruises on the fruit, tender age in bloom.” I think he means how sensitive and

hard the teenage years are with hormones changing and emotions at an all time high. Both

versions explain this in their own unique way. Sturgill explains his views in a Rolling Stone

interview, “I remember in seventh or eighth grade, when that album dropped, it was like a bomb

went off in my bedroom,” referring to Nirvana’s album Nevermind. “For me, that song has

always summed up what it means to be a teenager, and I think it tells a young boy that he can be

sensitive and compassionate — he doesn’t have to be tough or cold to be a man. So, I wanted to

make a very beautiful and pure homage to Kurt.” (The Rolling Stone, March 2016)

Even though some Nirvana purists may be against the cover by Sturgill, his version opens

the song to a broader audience because of the change in genre. The song still represents that

youthful angst, but with a slowed down psychedelic rock approach. Older generations tend to

steer clear of that hard rock tone of the original. Sturgill’s cover may appeal to those with

different tastes in music. His version most likely appeals to the older crowd as well as the young,

considering the sound is not as harsh. Whereas the Nirvana version appeals to people who may

relate to his message as well as enjoy the grunge rock style.

 The video for the original version of “In Bloom”, is a sarcastic take on the rebellious

nature of Nirvana. The video is set in a 1960’s style talk show somewhat like The Ed Sullivan

Show. The band members would be considered the main characters and they are introduced as

“well behaved young men from Seattle.” The first half of the video, the band is shown looking

well dressed and clean cut. The second half of the video shows flashes of the band with night

gowns on, looking reckless as they throw around instruments and destroy the stage.

To go along with Sturgill’s psychedelic-rock/country sound, his video shows lots of

interesting imagery that leaves the viewer’s imagination running wild. The partially animated

video shares the story of a young man with a cannon barrel as a head, in a boat trying to navigate

rough waters. This young man would be considered the main character. Below the boat you can

see a hairy monster like creature swimming in the deep water. The monster represents the

struggles a hormonal, angst filled young boy might face while transitioning into adulthood. As

the song builds up, the video shows the monster swirling around the boat just as the cannon fuse

gets to the very end. Instead of a cannon ball, the cannon explodes with a heart. Once the

monster eats the heart, it explodes into thousands of tiny hearts. This symbolizes using love to

solve these struggles, instead of anger and angst.

The rhetorical appeals in both videos are using pathos. Between the lyrics, the

symbolism, and the sarcasm, the message being told is that going through that transition between

childhood and adulthood, can be full of confusing experiences. It is a tough time figuring out

where you fit in life and a lot of people can relate to that. Like I previously mentioned, the

Nirvana version appeals to a younger crowd, or maybe true Nirvana fans that are not necessarily

considered the younger generation anymore. It is somewhat of a stereotype that the older

generation does not like loud grunge rock however, it has some truth to it. Sturgill’s version
appeals to a wider range of ages because of its slower, and not so angry tone. A person of any

age may relate to the message but, Sturgill’s version could be considered easier to listen to.

Overall, the song “In Bloom,” is a very relatable song about how difficult the teenage

years can be. Like Sturgill’s, cover songs can offer the world a fresh, new take on a classic hit of

the nineties. With Nirvana being as popular as they are, their music can reach an even wider

audience thanks to Sturgill’s psychedelic-rock rendition.