You never know what being on a film’s soundtrack can do for a tune, butfor one Nirvana song, it will never be the same after its inclusion in a blockbuster from three years ago. Sometimes, it’s theoriginal tracks from the movies that become big. However, in this case, Nirvana’s old tune was brought to prominence.
In the 1980s, manyrock albums shaped a specific sound for the genre. Then, Nirvana was one of the leaders inshaping how the ’90s would be. They carved a path for other artists, pushing their peers to perform at the highest level, creatingunbelievable hits from many years ago.
However, even with all the success of Nirvana, not every song has become mainstream. There are many that are still waiting to see their full potential, but that’s what makes the use of this specific tune so significant. Now, what was a deep cuthas become an important memory from their collection.
Nirvana’s “Something In The Way” Was Completely Changed By The Batman
This Song Is Now Very Special
When the trailer forThe Batmanwas released in August 2020, its impact extended beyond the DC Universe. Instead, it also affected music. More specifically,it brought Nirvana’s song “Something in the Way” to prominence like never before, turning it into one of the most well-known tracks in their collection.
The tune was part of Nirvana’s best-selling album,Nevermind. However, it wasn’t one of the songs they heavily promoted. While songs such as “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are” were released as singles,“Something in the Way” wasn’t one of those selected for this promotional aspect.
The song played a role as one of the last parts of the record, but that was all.According to Setlist.fm, the band performed the tune less than 40 times, although one of those performances was at their famedMTV Unplugged in New Yorkshow. Even then,nothing quite brought it to prominence like being paired withThe Batman.
After the trailer was released,the song placed in multipleBillboardrankings. This included a fifth-place finish on their Alternative Digital Songs Sales chart and a second-place finish on their Rock Digital Songs Sales chart. Additionally, it rose up the Amazon and iTunes ranks, making it one of the biggest rock songs in the latter part of 2020.
The Batman Understands The Song’s Essence Perfectly
This Pairing Was Everything
The tragic past of Batman has been well-documented. Likewise, so has that of Nirvana. The band experienced the ultimate tragedy with the death of frontman Kurt Cobain, which has captured their legacy in a gloomy light at times. “Something in the Way"is one of their many songs that captures this essence.
Although it doesn’t have many lyrics,the ones it does have are very powerful. The story is essentially that of a lost soul, trapped in a place they can’t escape from, but making the best of the situation. The slow instrumental assists in setting the mood, allowing each word to truly resonate with listeners.
Underneath the bridge, tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I’ve trapped have all become my pets
And I’m living off of grass, and the drippings from my ceiling
It’s okay to eat fish ‘cause they don’t have any feelings
Something in the way, hmm-mmm
Something in the way, yeah, hmm-mmm
Although there wasn’t an official music video, there was something special about having the trials and tribulations of Batman as the backdrop. Once the movie was officially released in March 2022, the song skyrocketed again.This time it ranked in the 46th position on theBillboardHot 100, marking their first appearance on there since 2002.
Perhaps more Nirvana deep cuts will be used in other films. There are surely some that have untapped potential. Judging by the reaction this song received,The Batmandirector, Matt Reeves,has set a standard for finding a true connection between the film and the main song,just as he did with Nirvana’s “Something in the Way.”
