The Real Reason Nirvana Covered The Man Who Sold The World By David Bowie

"I guarantee you I will screw this song up," Kurt Cobain mutters into his mic, peering intently at his notes and shuffling them around.

These words, ironically, came at the beginning of what was easily one of the most seminal performances of Nirvana's entire career, one that Kurt absolutely nailed. In response to Kurt's quibble, bassist Krist Novoselic speaks up and banters a bit. The song's cellist, Lori Goldston, sits stoically off to one side, waiting for her parts to ride atop Kurt's humming, single-note riff that speaks throughout the song. Dave Grohl slouches over his drum set, sticks poised to recede into the background and deliver a hushed, almost reverent backing track for the performance. Supporting guitarist Pat Smear, who later went on to join The Foo Fighters along with Grohl, waits to fuse his strumming and picking with the ensemble.

As a group, Nirvana captured the mystical, almost eerie quality of David Bowie's original song. The song was the perfect vehicle for them to reveal their vulnerable side. The instrumentation — pared-down, approachable, and utterly intimate — suited the track perfectly. Kurt's voice and face revealed a deep sorrow and hopelessness that point to his inner turmoil. The dim lightning of the unplugged set, and the small size of the audience, enhanced the overall sense of closeness shared by everyone present. In fact, the entire set was supposed was supposed to be decorated like a funeral, per the Independent.