Sliver (song)
Encyclopedia
"Sliver" is a song by American grunge
band Nirvana
. It was originally released as a non-album single in 1990 by Sub Pop
. DGC re-released the song to radio to support the release of the rarities compilation album Incesticide
in 1992.
in July 1990 to record the a-side. Tad frontman Tad Doyle disliked the idea, but producer Jack Endino
talked him into it. During a one hour period, Nirvana recorded the basic tracks for "Sliver" using Tad's equipment. Cobain completed writing the song's lyrics just before it was recorded.
, however the song was released in the US for radio airplay and charted on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Sliver also charted in Ireland
two years after release, shortly after the success of the Nevermind
album.
Nirvana biographer Everett True
wrote a favorable review for Melody Maker
—"Sure, the vocals are lazily throat splitting, the guitars belligerently grungy, the bass up and out of place . . . but check the melodies, damn fools, check the melodies. The only reason this isn't 'Single Of The Week' is because three even mightier singles were released this week."
Sliver also appeared on Nirvana's self titled greatest hits album Nirvana in 2002.
, the video starts with Kurt Cobain
's daughter Frances Bean Cobain
(who was an infant at the time) dancing to the opening bassline
and the band in a small, dark, cramped room, playing their instruments. Kurt sings to the camera and his movements change with the music, with Krist Novoselic
and Dave Grohl
(though not having played drums during the recording session) in the background of the room. In between shots there are scenes of the baby and a Chim-Chim toy
which had been given to Kurt by Shonen Knife
as a present. The video ends with Krist Novoselic destroying objects in the room.
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
band Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
. It was originally released as a non-album single in 1990 by Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
. DGC re-released the song to radio to support the release of the rarities compilation album Incesticide
Incesticide
-Personnel:All sessions:*Kurt Cobain – vocals, guitar*Krist Novoselic – bass guitarSeattle, WA: Reciprocal Recording Studios Nirvana's first studio demo tape...
in 1992.
Recording and composition
Kurt Cobain wrote the music to "Sliver" and arranged it with Nirvana member Krist Novoselic and temporary drummer Dan Peters during a practice session. Jonathan Poneman of Sub Pop had requested that Nirvana release another single. While the band selected the previously recorded "Dive" as the b-side, Cobain wanted to take advantage of a studio break by the group TadTad (band)
Tad was an American grunge band from Seattle, Washington led by Tad Doyle. Among the first of the many bands which came out of Seattle in the grunge era, Tad was notable for the fact that its music had a noticeable 1970s metal influence, rather than the punk which influenced most other grunge bands...
in July 1990 to record the a-side. Tad frontman Tad Doyle disliked the idea, but producer Jack Endino
Jack Endino
Jack Endino is a producer and musician based in Seattle. Long associated with Seattle label Sub Pop and the grunge movement, Endino worked on seminal albums from bands such as Mudhoney, Soundgarden, and Nirvana...
talked him into it. During a one hour period, Nirvana recorded the basic tracks for "Sliver" using Tad's equipment. Cobain completed writing the song's lyrics just before it was recorded.
Release and reception
Sliver was released as a single in 1990 making the top 100 in the UK. Retail singles were not re-released for IncesticideIncesticide
-Personnel:All sessions:*Kurt Cobain – vocals, guitar*Krist Novoselic – bass guitarSeattle, WA: Reciprocal Recording Studios Nirvana's first studio demo tape...
, however the song was released in the US for radio airplay and charted on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Sliver also charted in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
two years after release, shortly after the success of the Nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
album.
Nirvana biographer Everett True
Everett True
For the cartoon character, see The Outbursts of Everett True.Everett True is a British music journalist, who grew up in Chelmsford, Essex...
wrote a favorable review for Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
—"Sure, the vocals are lazily throat splitting, the guitars belligerently grungy, the bass up and out of place . . . but check the melodies, damn fools, check the melodies. The only reason this isn't 'Single Of The Week' is because three even mightier singles were released this week."
Sliver also appeared on Nirvana's self titled greatest hits album Nirvana in 2002.
Music video
A music video was made for "Sliver" as promotion for Incesticide in March 1993. Directed by Kevin KerslakeKevin Kerslake
Kevin Kerslake is an American music video director. He has directed videos for Stone Temple Pilots, Filter, R.E.M., 311, Faith No More, Green Day, The Used, 10 Years, Depeche Mode, The Smashing Pumpkins, Papa Roach, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Rise Against, Insane Clown Posse, The Offspring, and Blue...
, the video starts with Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
's daughter Frances Bean Cobain
Frances Bean Cobain
Frances Bean Cobain is the daughter of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and Hole singer Courtney Love.-Childhood and youth:...
(who was an infant at the time) dancing to the opening bassline
Bassline
A bassline is the term used in many styles of popular music, such as jazz, blues, funk, dub and electronic music for the low-pitched instrumental part or line played by a rhythm section instrument such as the electric bass, double bass, tuba or keyboard...
and the band in a small, dark, cramped room, playing their instruments. Kurt sings to the camera and his movements change with the music, with Krist Novoselic
Krist Novoselic
Krist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
and Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
(though not having played drums during the recording session) in the background of the room. In between shots there are scenes of the baby and a Chim-Chim toy
Cymbal-banging monkey toy
A cymbal-banging monkey toy is a mechanical depiction of a monkey holding a cymbal in each hand. When activated it repeatedly bangs its cymbals together and, in some cases, bobs its head, chatters, grins, does flips, and more...
which had been given to Kurt by Shonen Knife
Shonen Knife
Shonen Knife, written in Japanese characters as 少年ナイフ, which transliterates as Shōnen Naifu, literally "Boy Knife," is an all-female Japanese pop-punk band formed in Osaka, Japan, in 1981...
as a present. The video ends with Krist Novoselic destroying objects in the room.
Track listing
Chart performance
| Year | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
90 |
| 1992 | Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
23 |
| 1993 | US Modern Rock Tracks | 19 |
Other versions
- A live performance is included on the 1992 "In BloomIn Bloom"In Bloom" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana. Written by frontman Kurt Cobain, the song addresses people outside of the underground music community who did not understand the band's message....
" single. - A second live performance can be seen on the 1994 home video Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!Nirvana: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! is a video album released by the grunge band Nirvana on laserdisc and VHS on November 15, 1994. The DVD version was released November 7, 2006. Kurt Cobain compiled much of the video himself, but did not complete it prior to his death...
. - A third live performance was included on the live album From the Muddy Banks of the WishkahFrom the Muddy Banks of the WishkahFrom the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah is a live album by the American grunge band, Nirvana. It was released on October 1, 1996 and features live performances recorded from 1989 to 1994...
released in 1996. - An early acoustic version would later appear on the 2004 rarities box set With the Lights OutWith the Lights OutWith the Lights Out is a box set, containing three CDs and one DVD, of previously rare or unreleased material, including b-sides, demos, rough rehearsal recordings and live recordings, from the American rock band Nirvana. It was released in November 2004...
as well as on Sliver: The Best of the Box released in 2005. - A fourth live performance appears on Live at ReadingLive at Reading-Album charts:-DVD charts:- Personnel :*Kurt Cobain - vocals, guitar*Krist Novoselic - bass, backing vocals on "The Money Will Roll Right In", intro voice on "Territorial Pissings".*Dave Grohl - drums, backing vocals*Antony Hodgkinson - dancerProduction...
released in 2009. - A fifth live performance from the Paramount Theatre in 1991 appears on Live at the ParamountLive at the Paramount (video)Live at the Paramount is a live video by the grunge band Nirvana released in 2011. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc as part of the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind album. It showcases a live performance at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle from October 31, 1991. The footage is taken...
released in 2011.