I'm not a gatekeeper, but like...even without knowing who Nirvana is, how are you going to sit there, stone faced, in a room full of people jamming out and not at least head bob a little? How has he gone his whole life and not bumped into some version of Smells Like Teens Spirit? I don't know all the words off hand either come on!
Worked with a woman who was very trendy, she came into work with a Joy Division T-shirt on one day. I love Joy Division and was happy to see her in it. Mentioned a song to her and she had no idea who I was on about, so I looked at her and said loudly in a horrified voice "You are wearing a band t-shirt that was inspired by the Nazi party, the name is based on the ethos of one of their concentration camps!". She believed me and ran off to change, I got called into HR for that one.
They're not exactly an obscure band, it would take the sound guy seconds to bring up the song. It will take longer to determine whether and how much royalties he owes for playing it during his show.
I understand a lot of it is niche based and admitting you can’t wear any of it because you’re not a poser is admirable, but at the same time, how do you not fit into any of those niches?
I don't mean it in the way people talk about like urban outfitters, I needed some clothes real quick and I wasn't willing to wear any of the stuff they had there because it was depressing looking, and the Nirvana shirt was about as good as it got.
But you did want some screen print stuff? Because plenty of plain color tees and polos, and they even have the beer gut mannequins to show how they’ll fit my drunk self.
Dude I have Apple Music right now and it plays the lyrics karaoke style with the song and I’ve been humbled on so many lyrics I had no idea I wasn’t hearing right
One time I came home from the pub, walked in and some housemates had the TV on. This came on, I understood every word. That's one of those "you've had enough, mate, take yourself to bed" moments
I've heard the Weird Al version for decades now. 'Cause it's the version that had actual words. "What is this song allll about, can't figure any lyrics out. How do the words to it go, oh won't you tell me please 'cause I don't know...don't know...don't know"
And it dawns on me.... The media liked to say that Nirvana "spoke" for my generation but I never felt that at all. I think its because I never could understand any lyrics. How can someone unintelligible speak for *anybody*?
No, but if I see a book called “Nirvana,” I do kinda expect to see it featured somewhere in the contents. Otherwise it’s bad marketing at best, and false-advertising at worst.
You sorta can when they're literally wearing merch for the artist of the song. It's not like it was an Album Art shirt which some people buy without knowing the band because it looks cool-- it was literally just the Nirvana text logo. That's it.
It's like wearing a shirt that says "Actor Will Smith" and then being like "What's the Fresh Prince of Bel Air? What's Independence Day? What's the Pursuit of Happyness? What's Seven Pounds? What's iRobot? What's I Am Legend?".
Well, Nirvana is also a concept, and it's not like all the shirts that say Namaste got it from a band. The band disbanded 30 years ago. Dude might not have even been born. It's more like buying a shirt that says Independence Day thinking it's celebrating July 4th and not getting it when people keep quoting the movie at you.
He probably wasn’t alive then, no, and people can wear what they want. But the band was important for a lot of us growing up, and the way we showed that off was to wear the merch. So it’s strange for us to see kids wearing shirts of bands we love who’ve never even heard of them.
I definitely understand that! Wasn't trying to say it's not strange. I just meant he might honestly be wearing it thinking it just means "nirvana" and not the band Nirvana, so you still can't always judge a book by its cover.
Maybe he knew the songs and just didn't want to join, which I get, but it reminded me of chicks wearing Slayer shirts as "fashion" nowadays. Just... wut.
Have we considered that “mulatto” is in this song, and it’s a slur? I honestly thought that’s where this joke was going, that a room full of white people just sang right through it.
Mulatto was a term commonly used in US Civil War/Jim Crow eras to refer to someone who was mixed race, especially black and white. The person calling it a slur is correct, it was not a good thing to be called, and the group it described was heavily marginalized.
I can only speak from my own personal experiences, but when I was a kid in the 90s, most people I heard use that word were using it in a strictly descriptive way and it literally just meant someone who was mixed race, usually black and white. I can think of one other song from the era that uses it this way. I truly do not believe it was intended as a slur in the context of this song. Kurt Cobain was just about as far away from being a bigot as it was possible to get.
The dude in the Nirvana shirt I mean. That may be why he wasn’t singing along and is making a weird face when asked about it. He looks like he wants to say something but doesn’t want to make himself (more of) a target of the comedian.
Front row at a comedy show. Its probable that might happen. Just laugh it off. The sullen face is what annoys comediens, especially in the front row. ive heard comediens talk about it
dude is literally the reason why "gatekeeping" is a thing, because posers and pretenders like him exist...hell, im not even a big rock or nirvana fan but it just hurt watching his dumb face not understanding that someone wearing that shirt is fucken obliged to rock to that song...
Not sure why you're being so heavily downvoted. As someone with social anxiety this would be a nightmare scenario for me and in the past I def would have responded with "too cool to play along" as a way to cope
I think this is a crowd work focused comedian, thats why they are getting down voted. If you go to that type of show the understanding is you've got a chance to be picked on, but so does the guy right next to you, so you be a good sport. The audience lights being on bright supports that idea, so he can see the audience to make comments
He might have had to deal with the fact that his girl also bought a ticket for the guy shes cheating on him with, and he just can't enjoy even the music he loves this weekend.
DukeDarkwood
"What is this song all about?
Can't figure any lyrics out.
It's hard to bargle nawdle zouss
with all these marbles in my mouth."
jesusisherelookbusy
That’s why I always wear T-shirts for bands I only listen too.
TheRicM
His name is BT Kingsley. This comedian is VERY skilled at working the crowd. It’s like his whole act
nitemayr
From here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByOsbx3KFho
NirvanaNik
UnconditionalSalmon
that man truly said "i just like the font"
Cindex1337SucksBalls
Was it Papyrus? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVhlJNJopOQ
VanessaBludgeons
It's Papyrus is bold.
MrHappySmiles
Some fan daggers be flyin’..
BigRedTX
Name every Nirvana song!
vnqx
Or, you know, just the most popular one
stoots24
I’d just be singing the Weird Al version…
Morlyndia
I'm not a gatekeeper, but like...even without knowing who Nirvana is, how are you going to sit there, stone faced, in a room full of people jamming out and not at least head bob a little? How has he gone his whole life and not bumped into some version of Smells Like Teens Spirit? I don't know all the words off hand either come on!
jursamaj
Only way I know it at all is Weird Al's parody…
sketchyjoe
Id always rock out for titties.
powerlurker5001
I always titties out for rocks
Harmonylovesmusic
ComoSeIguana
whitewater0034
Worked with a woman who was very trendy, she came into work with a Joy Division T-shirt on one day. I love Joy Division and was happy to see her in it. Mentioned a song to her and she had no idea who I was on about, so I looked at her and said loudly in a horrified voice "You are wearing a band t-shirt that was inspired by the Nazi party, the name is based on the ethos of one of their concentration camps!".
She believed me and ran off to change, I got called into HR for that one.
minqapoc
I'd consider it worth it.
JerzeeTomato
I played Nirvana for some of my 6th graders, and one of them said, "Like the t-shirt brand?" I died a little bit that day...
5ing
Does he always have Nirvana queued up just in case? (NGL, I would)
tarataqa
Have you searched in Spotify, or Pandora, or the dozen more music streaming apps?
MeanWinchester
They're not exactly an obscure band, it would take the sound guy seconds to bring up the song. It will take longer to determine whether and how much royalties he owes for playing it during his show.
TrustMeImADog
Talked to a barmaid in a Crue tee for a few minutes, before I realised she'd never heard their music, and just liked the torn and ripped look.
ElaineTheNPC
"Oh it's a band? I thought it was a Buddhist thing."
DonkeyEsq
2 bands, there was another in the 70s i never listened to it, but the guy in the 2nd hand cd shop said it was a very different vibe.
PineappleLoopsBroether
I just saw that shirt in the barely anything wearable mens section at target.
BlueRonfar
BlueRonfar
I understand a lot of it is niche based and admitting you can’t wear any of it because you’re not a poser is admirable, but at the same time, how do you not fit into any of those niches?
PineappleLoopsBroether
I don't mean it in the way people talk about like urban outfitters, I needed some clothes real quick and I wasn't willing to wear any of the stuff they had there because it was depressing looking, and the Nirvana shirt was about as good as it got.
BlueRonfar
But you did want some screen print stuff? Because plenty of plain color tees and polos, and they even have the beer gut mannequins to show how they’ll fit my drunk self.
CaviaPorcellus
dude don't even know!
Kakeukh
"... with those maaarbles iiiin my mouth..."
illmx
I’ve heard the song for nearly 3 decades. Understood more words in the last 30 seconds
MachinatioVitae
I only know the lyrics bc Tori Amos sang them intelligibly when she covered Smells Like Teen Spirit on American Heartbreaker in '94.
motherfluffer
Dude I have Apple Music right now and it plays the lyrics karaoke style with the song and I’ve been humbled on so many lyrics I had no idea I wasn’t hearing right
SoberAndBored
One time I came home from the pub, walked in and some housemates had the TV on. This came on, I understood every word. That's one of those "you've had enough, mate, take yourself to bed" moments
bacross
Check out the tori Amos cover.. almost as old.https://youtu.be/vB2c7_vyBSM?si=eEaLeoPWmARj0rQY
Sooner70
I've heard the Weird Al version for decades now. 'Cause it's the version that had actual words. "What is this song allll about, can't figure any lyrics out. How do the words to it go, oh won't you tell me please 'cause I don't know...don't know...don't know"
Sooner70
And it dawns on me.... The media liked to say that Nirvana "spoke" for my generation but I never felt that at all. I think its because I never could understand any lyrics. How can someone unintelligible speak for *anybody*?
DataBeardFace
It's hard to garble blarble blouth with all these marbles in my mouth
illmx
illmx
100%. My kids are now discovering Weird Al and I love it.
Teledabby
IMHO best part: 'Now I'm mumblin′, and I'm screamin′ And I don't know what I'm singin′'
AlmostClever
Buy our album! We're Nirvana!
davesaint01930
Unpopular opinion here. Nirvana was absolute shit
relsky
That is an unpopular opinion, good job.
NSAgent
…staged?
tarataqa
A straight-faced black dude sitting up front in a Nirvana T-shirt who doesn't acknowledge that he is wearing it? of course it's staged.
einstoll7
I mean... he's on a stage.
Lachwen
Anyone know who that comic is? Because based solely on this clip I really want to go see him perform now. Dude knows how to work an audience.
thatiscomedygoldrightthere
Ron Funches?
ActuallyAPirate
Someone else said bt Kingsley
TheAdjuster
I see sooooo many girls in their early 20s wearing Nirvana or Sublime shirts. I like to be optimistic and think they like the bands but I doubt it.
tarataqa
It's called "Fashion".
BlueRonfar
Tell girls in Sublime shirts that you love “Date Rape” fastest way to find out if they are fans, or if they’re gonna call the cops on you.
GabbyJayYay
Those girls are probably into crystals and shit
Gruesslibaer
They don't practice Santeria, they ain't got no crystal ball.
KeynoteSpeakerr
You really can't judge a book by it's cover.
thedadinblack4
No, but if I see a book called “Nirvana,” I do kinda expect to see it featured somewhere in the contents. Otherwise it’s bad marketing at best, and false-advertising at worst.
NovemberAlphaMikeEcho
You sorta can when they're literally wearing merch for the artist of the song. It's not like it was an Album Art shirt which some people buy without knowing the band because it looks cool-- it was literally just the Nirvana text logo. That's it.
It's like wearing a shirt that says "Actor Will Smith" and then being like "What's the Fresh Prince of Bel Air? What's Independence Day? What's the Pursuit of Happyness? What's Seven Pounds? What's iRobot? What's I Am Legend?".
Equinox13
Well, Nirvana is also a concept, and it's not like all the shirts that say Namaste got it from a band. The band disbanded 30 years ago. Dude might not have even been born. It's more like buying a shirt that says Independence Day thinking it's celebrating July 4th and not getting it when people keep quoting the movie at you.
thedadinblack4
He probably wasn’t alive then, no, and people can wear what they want. But the band was important for a lot of us growing up, and the way we showed that off was to wear the merch. So it’s strange for us to see kids wearing shirts of bands we love who’ve never even heard of them.
Equinox13
I definitely understand that! Wasn't trying to say it's not strange. I just meant he might honestly be wearing it thinking it just means "nirvana" and not the band Nirvana, so you still can't always judge a book by its cover.
thedadinblack4
For sure. It doesn’t have much else on it that makes it look like a band shirt.
Arenlor
You really can, you learn which artists work with good authors.
Equinox13
On the other hand, I loved the Wheel of Time books. Not so much the cover art.
Metallica93
Maybe he knew the songs and just didn't want to join, which I get, but it reminded me of chicks wearing Slayer shirts as "fashion" nowadays. Just... wut.
BlueRonfar
Worse is all the youth wearing Thrasher that can’t even ride off a curb, or haven’t even set foot on a board.
vnqx
thedadinblack4
Ahahaha I was about to quote this, thanks
MrsHowVeryDareYou
Have we considered that “mulatto” is in this song, and it’s a slur? I honestly thought that’s where this joke was going, that a room full of white people just sang right through it.
4vie
White guy here (Also, Swede) in what context is "mulatto" a slur? Not excusing the people's ignorance. Just curious
Blud4BludGod
Mulatto was a term commonly used in US Civil War/Jim Crow eras to refer to someone who was mixed race, especially black and white. The person calling it a slur is correct, it was not a good thing to be called, and the group it described was heavily marginalized.
4vie
*nod*
LordBoboftheBobs
I can only speak from my own personal experiences, but when I was a kid in the 90s, most people I heard use that word were using it in a strictly descriptive way and it literally just meant someone who was mixed race, usually black and white. I can think of one other song from the era that uses it this way. I truly do not believe it was intended as a slur in the context of this song. Kurt Cobain was just about as far away from being a bigot as it was possible to get.
MrsHowVeryDareYou
No, Kurt didn’t, but maybe the dude in the video is sensitive about it 🤷🏼♀️
LordBoboftheBobs
Okay, well, I mean...he's obviously not?
MrsHowVeryDareYou
The dude in the Nirvana shirt I mean. That may be why he wasn’t singing along and is making a weird face when asked about it. He looks like he wants to say something but doesn’t want to make himself (more of) a target of the comedian.
ButMyNamesBilly
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him sing. Seriously how was he the only one not vibing?
StewedTomaters
He might have caught on that he was being singled out...
itsthejacket
Front row at a comedy show. Its probable that might happen. Just laugh it off. The sullen face is what annoys comediens, especially in the front row. ive heard comediens talk about it
StewedTomaters
Pourquoi es-tu si triste?
RecurringNightmare
dude is literally the reason why "gatekeeping" is a thing, because posers and pretenders like him exist...hell, im not even a big rock or nirvana fan but it just hurt watching his dumb face not understanding that someone wearing that shirt is fucken obliged to rock to that song...
HeyOP
Came to see a show not be a show. I think I'd have walked.
LinemanMatt
Rule #1 of going to see a comedy show, if you don't want to be part of it don't sit in the first couple rows.
mezzidriel
If you sit in the front row of a comedic act, you're gonna get singled out. This is THE rule of comedy shows.
mrgreen326
Maybe I'm cynical bc of the internet, but this looks like a plant to me
RevolutionOnHerLips
Not sure why you're being so heavily downvoted. As someone with social anxiety this would be a nightmare scenario for me and in the past I def would have responded with "too cool to play along" as a way to cope
mezzidriel
Because he sat somewhere that tells a comedian "pick on me" and then wouldn't play along
potshot
You shouldn't go to the front seat of a crowd work standup comedian then in the first place.
mezzidriel
THIS
hugyourhedgehog
I think this is a crowd work focused comedian, thats why they are getting down voted. If you go to that type of show the understanding is you've got a chance to be picked on, but so does the guy right next to you, so you be a good sport. The audience lights being on bright supports that idea, so he can see the audience to make comments
sniggly5212
He might have had to deal with the fact that his girl also bought a ticket for the guy shes cheating on him with, and he just can't enjoy even the music he loves this weekend.
SerialChickenLover
Holy leapin to assumptions Batman
AppleCrispCraver
This may have been revealed in another part of the act that’s not in this clip
sniggly5212
No, just projection... trying to make a joke too i guess. Im actually surprised my comment has positive points lol.
mardis
Lots of us are master projectionists! 100 % that is what is going on with this dude…