Lauren Rathmell

C. Olding
College Writing II
12 November 2015
While Kurt Cobain and Sam Smith are not typically compared to each other, both Lay
Me Down by Sam Smith and About a Girl by Nirvana use ethos, pathos, and logos to
appeal to their audience using a song about the desire to have a relationship with
someone.
Born in Averdeen, Washington in 1987, Nirvana arrived on the scene as one of the first
bands to represent the grunge lifestyle of the Pacific Northwest With Kurt Cobain leading
the band, a following of youth outcasts began to grow, leading the group to its first deal
with Seattle label SubPop. The band embodied the grunge rocker lifestyle typical of the
underground scene at the time. With the hit Smells like Teen Spirit the band moved out
of the underground Pacific Northwest scene and gained popularity across the country
(Carew).
A London native, Sam Smith grew up listening to the music of Aretha Franklin and
Stevie Wonder. His soulful sound was polished while he studied music at St. Mary's
Catholic School. After providing vocals for various groups, Smith released his first EP
entitled Nirvana. Several of the songs featured on his EP topped the charts in the UK. In
2014, Smith released his first full-length album by the name of In the Lonely Hour. The
release of his album also ushered Smith to come out as gay to the public (Sam Smith
Biography).
About a Girl

Off of their debut studio album Bleach, Nirvanas About a Girl uses Cobains lyrics
to convey his nonchalant attitude of wanting to get a girl. As the writer of the song,
Cobains own thoughts are portrayed in the song, giving him authority on the subject, the
subject being his own ideas. In his performance of the song on MTVs Unplugged, he
looks like the rock star everyone perceives him to be with an oversized cardigan and
washed out jeans(NirvanaVEVO), but it is evident that Cobains fears of becoming a sell
out are intertwined with the song in the lyrics Ill take advantage while you hang me out
to dry.
It is often speculated that Cobains suicide was fueled by Nirvanas evolution into
a mainstream band for the masses instead of just a underground grunge band (Olding,
Lecture). Cobain being hung out to dry can be a reference to the sell out he felt he had
become with Nirvanas success. Nirvanas audience was the Generation X population full
of the slackers and losers of society. Sub Pop constructed many of what would
eventually become the early 1990s clichs about grunge and, by extension, Generation X,
alternative music, slackers, and so forth: the fry-cook loser as existential hero; the
authenticity of the scene as local community; and the ironic simulation of regional
proletarian fashion (Moore, Kindle Locations 2528-2530). Cobains style when
performing embodied that exact type of person: He often wore tattered clothes and had
greasy uncombed hair (Kurt Cobain: Grunge Style Icon). Because of the specific
audience Nirvanas grunge style and sound attracted, their audience sought to embody the
band, styling their clothes and attitude after them. The group was the unifier of the
losers of society.

About a Girl gives off the emotional appeals of urgency and apathy, which are
supported in the timing of the music and Cobains vocals. The timing is quick, but
Cobains voice is rough. This quickness expresses the urgency of the words, but paired
with Cobains unpolished vocals, Cobain appears apathetic to the situation he is singing
about. Cobain almost sounds annoyed as he sings, because his tone is monotonous
throughout the whole song. His lack of extreme emotion in his vocals is further evidence
that he is apathetic to the situation. Aggravation is another emotion fueled by Cobains
rough vocals; however, the lyrics explicitly demonstrate that feeling; I do pick a number
too. I do keep a date with you. Cobains reference to picking a number is his way of
saying he has to do what everyone else has to do.
The logic behind About a Girl is a clear claim that Cobain wants a girl, but it
has to be convenient for him. This claim is straightforward and clear, which is supported
by the traditional lyric structure involving repeating lines and verses such as, I'll take
advantage while you hang me out to dry. But I can't see you every night. No I can't see
you every night, which is repeated twice in the song. His claim in the song is not just
wanting a girl, but it is also that he wants this on his own terms, without commitment.
The line I need an easy friend shows that Cobain does not want to put forth much effort
into the relationship with this person. He sings cant see you every night which evokes
the notion that he wants his freedom, something that goes along with the rocker lifestyle.
Lay Me Down
Sam Smiths Lay me Down off his debut album In the Lonely Hour was written
by Smith and showcases his desire for companionship. Being the writer of the lyrics,
Smiths vulnerability at the time of the song really shows. The album was written about

Smiths love for someone who did not love him back, and having never been in a
relationship (Wyatt). Smith came out to the world as gay right as his album was being
released (Sam Smith Biography). He uses his vulnerability to relate to the audience with
topics such as loneliness and longing for someone. In his music video for the song and
also in all of his performances, Smiths presentation is clean and formal, usually wearing
a suit. This style further explores his sincerity in the songs he performs. Smiths audience
is the mainstream pop music fans, and the themes of the song are common themes such
as love and wanting someone, so the audience is easily connected to Smiths song.
Lay Me Down expresses somber emotions and the feeling of yearning for
someone. The lyrics Im reaching out to you, can you hear my call show Smiths desire
for his companion. Smiths vocals are very powerful. Timid at first but getting louder,
Smith uses his voice to further express the feelings of yearning for someone and the
somber tone of the song. The instrumentation uses a piano and classical instruments in a
slow tempo, reflecting the somber emotions that the lyrics and vocals also convey.
In Lay Me Down Sam Smith has a clear claim: He needs this person and wants
to be with him. This claim in evident when he sings can I lay by your side, next to you,
And make sure you're alright. I'll take care of you. And I don't wanna be here if I can't be
with you tonight. The traditional lyric structure of the song adds to this poetic meaning
by making the song easy to follow. Smiths song is also very personal because he looks at
his issue from his view only. The song is about his feelings, and no one else's. This is
evident in the lyrics no words can explain, the way I'm missing you, the night, this
emptiness, this hole that I'm inside because he is only talking about himself.

Although these two songs and artists are seemingly complete opposites, both
songs use ethos, pathos and logos to convey their claims. Each claim is similar because
both songs are talking about the desire to be with a person. Both About a Girl and Lay
Me Down were written by the artist, and the artists used their life experiences as an
influence.
Cobains rocker lifestyle contributed to his claims of wanting to be with someone,
but only when it is convenient for him when he sings but I can't see you every night. No
I can't see you every night, and Smiths willingness to be there for the person he loves
when he sings Can I lay by your side, next to you, Ill take care of you and make sure
youre alright.
Each song also uses the artist's vocal style to convey emotion in the song.
Cobains rough vocals influence his nonchalant attitude, and Smiths powerful bravado
further demonstrates the somber tone of the song.
Coming off of debut albums for both Nirvana and Smith, each song contributes to
the identity that the artist takes on. About a Girl helps to propagate the grunge lifestyle,
showing a carefree and indifferent attitude, while Lay Me Down presents Smith as a
serious and emotional artist.
Differences between the two song lie within each artists genre and identity. In
Cobains song, he is apathetic to whether or not he gets to be with this person, which fits
in with the attitude of the grunge lifestyle. However, Smith is clear that he has a strong
need and desire to be with the person. A large difference is who the songs are about.
Smith wrote his song about a man and Cobain wrote about a woman. The audience for
the songs is also different. Nirvana appealed to the grunge scene at first, while Smith was

immersed into the mainstream music culture from the start. The vocal styles differ greatly
as well. Cobains vocals are rough and unpolished compared to Smiths powerful, clean
sound.
These different artists each use ethos, pathos, and logos to express themselves in
songs about wanting to be with someone. Through the emotional, logical, and ethical
aspects of each song, Sam Smiths Lay Me Down and Nirvanas About a Girl are
songs about the artist's desire for companionship, whether serious in Smiths case, or
nonchalant in Nirvanas case.

Works Cited
Carew, Anthony, Nirvana-Artist Profile. About Entertainment. About.com. November
11
Kurt Cobain: Grunge Style Icon, The Fashionisto. The Fashionisto, March 2014.
November 12.
Moore, Ryan (2009-11-21). Sells Like Teen Spirit. NYU Press short. Kindle Edition.
Nirvana - About A Girl (MTV Unplugged). Nirvana. YouTube.com. NirvanaVEVO.
Sam Smith Biography, Biography.com. A&E Television Networks

Sam Smith - Lay Me Down. Sam Smith. YouTube.com. SamSmithWorldVEVO.

Wyatt, Daisy, Sam Smith reveals new album is about guy he 'fell in love with'.
Independent.
Independent Digital News and Media Limited, May 2014. Online. November 11