(Credits: Far Out / Subpop)
Grunge might have started out in the grassroots punk scene of Seattle, Washington, but the infectious sounds of groups like Nirvana soon exploded the abrasive sounds of the genre onto the global mainstream. A definitive group of the 1990s, the Washington outfit are still hailed for their inventive, subversive genius, and even early tracks like ‘About A Girl’ still resonate with multiple generations of music listeners. However, the origins of that Bleach track might stretch back much further than you think.
A lot of Kurt Cobain’s songwriting was rooted in the influence of his extensive record collection, regularly drawing from the inspiration of artists like The Raincoats, The Vaselines, or Wipers. Although he was often able to imbue these influences with his own unique voice and sensibilities, a few Nirvana tracks are fairly overt in their lineage. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, for instance, bears a striking resemblance to the riff of soft-rock classic ‘More Than A Feeling’ by Boston.
‘About A Girl’ is another example of a Nirvana track that bears resemblance to a rock anthem from times gone by. It features a chord progression very similar to that of a song called ‘Hrast’ by Croatian rock outfit Parni Valjak. You would be forgiven for never having heard of Parni Valjak, but they were one of the biggest rock outfits in Yugoslavia at one time and remain one of Croatia’s most popular groups.
In stark contrast to other socialist states during the 20th century, Yugoslavia was much more receptive to Western cultural influences. So, while Western rock and pop were largely banned in the USSR and its various satellite states, though, admittedly, their extensive network of bootleggers meant music fans in those states were still exposed to rock, the citizens of Yugoslavia were free to explore rock and roll to their heart’s content.
As a result, nations like Croatia fostered particularly vibrant rock and roll scenes, and Parni Valjak were always at the forefront. Formed in Zagreb back in 1975, from the ashes of another group called Grupa 220, the band found success in Yugoslavia almost immediately, earning a dedicated following for their energetic live performances and infectious sound.
One of the band’s most notable releases came in 1979, with the album Gradske Priče, which featured the track ‘Hrast’. Although the track wasn’t hugely notable at the time, or when it featured on their self-titled album six years later, it is difficult to listen to the song in the modern age without immediately drawing parallels to Nirvana’s ‘About A Girl’.
Not only is the chord progression very similar between the two songs, but the drum beat and even the guitar tone bear striking similarities. It is worth remembering, too, that Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic is Croatian-American, born in California to two Croatian immigrants, and that he grew up in a predominantly Croatian neighbourhood, in addition to spending multiple years in Croatia during the early 1980s. It is safe to assume, therefore, that the bassist was aware of Parni Valjak and likely held an appreciation for their Yugoslav rock anthems.
While plagiarism might be too extreme a word for the case of ‘About A Girl’ versus ‘Hrast’, it certainly seems likely that the Croatian outfit played a role in inspiring that iconic Nirvana sound. Not only does the resulting track highlight the ahead-of-their-time brilliance of Parni Valjak, but it also highlights Nirvana’s unique ability to take inspiration from a wealth of sources and completely transform them.
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