all about grunge!

As you've probably seen, I'm very much into grunge. With that being said, I've noticed that many people confuse it for other things or simply don't know what it is or what it's all about. So, I have come to answer some burning questions!

"What is grunge?"

Before we really get into this question, let's just go over the actual dictionary definition of the word "grunge". "Grunge" is an informal word for dirt and grime. However, thanks to changes in music during the late 1980s through the 1990s, it's now far more than just another word for shmutz.

Grunge is currently quite a few things: A genre of music, a subculture, a movement, a style of dress, and, above all else, a way of life to varying extents.

"Great! Where did grunge music come from?"

The best way to really track grunge's history is to go all the way back to the 1950s and the explosion of rock and roll. Rock and roll then branched off in many directions, but we're following the "alternative rock" route. So, we're now given garage music, which, like music often does, branched out. Here's where we get to punk music! Grunge is basically the little sibling of punk music.

As for physical location, grunge first exploded in Washington state. Many grunge bands hailed from Seattle, so it was often known as the "Seattle scene". Plenty of grunge groups were not, in fact, from Seattle at all, with some not even being American.

"That's neat! What characteristics does grunge have musically?"

Like punk, grunge is known to sound rather aggressive. It has "dirty" guitar, heavy drumming, and lyrics that, for the most part, are rather angsty in nature. Just like punk, grunge has everything to do with making a statement! It's very clearly an outlet for the musicians, as it is a genre that relies more on passion and rawness than it does on making things sound "good" or "clean". Grunge is usually considered a fusion between punk rock and heavy metal.

"Fair enough. What about fashion? How do those in the grunge subculture dress?"

The simple answer (which goes for all subcultures) is thus: However they want!

But if we're actually going to talk about the fashion part of the subculture, it's a bit different. The best way to describe the style is "comfy". It's all about dressing down and de-emphasizing the silhouette. With that being said, layering is rather common as well as loose clothes. Thrifting is great for this sort of thing, as it's not only fun, but cheap! The most important thing about grunge fashion, however, is the fact that it's non-conforming. Grunge is meant to be timeless; your clothes aren't just a trend, but what you actually like and feel like yourself in.

"What are some colors and motifs that go into grunge, though?"

Grunge tends to utilize more muted colors in its look; of course, this can be any color, but colors usually associated with grunge include black, brown, grey, blue, green, and red! As for motifs, jeans, flannel, and ill-fitting clothes.

"Cool! Does grunge stand for anything? What's it like as a movement?"

Again, grunge and punk are very similar in their values. People who consider themselves part of the grunge subculture value comfort, acceptance, and equality. Grunge is also all for anti-consumerism, DIY culture, the counterculture in general, and, most importantly, the rejection of the mainstream.

"That's great and all, but what are some grunge bands?"

I'm so glad you asked! Some great grunge bands include: Nirvana (of course), Green River (founders, essentially), Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Temple of the Dog, 7 Year Bitch, Love Battery, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Mother Love Bone, Silverchair, Babes in Toyland, and the Melvins!

"Wow! This is all so cool! Thanks for teaching me about grunge!"

Of course! Grunge might be considered "dead" by many, but that's not completely true! Many people, myself included, are happy to consider ourselves a part of this very alive subculture. Thanks for reading! <333