It's hard to believe how much Nirvana was nowhere near a sure thing with the release of their major label debut. That a record company threw money at such a non-commercial venture says a lot about the times. Nirvana's first three singles defined a culture, and the videos showed what the medium could do most when artistic license towers above focus groups. Of course the whole thing got co-opted but not with the aide of the artists themselves.

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Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Defining moment:

"Here we are now, entertain us!"

Iconic moment:

The tatted up, hedonistic cheerleaders rallying the pep rally from hell.

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Come As You Are.

Defining moment:

"Now I swear that I don't have a gun."

Iconic moment:

Kurt Cobaine literally swinging from the chandelier.

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In Bloom.

Defining moment:

"He's the one who likes, all the pretty songs and he, likes to sing along and he, likes to shoot his gun but he, don't know what it means, don't know what it means and I say yeah..."

Iconic moment:

The throwback, Beatlemaniacs screaming for a grunge band.