Big Cheese
Nirvana
Unpacking the Rebellion in Nirvana's 'Big Cheese'
Nirvana's 'Big Cheese' is a song that encapsulates the band's early grunge sound and their penchant for cryptic lyrics. The song's title itself suggests a critique of authority or corporate power, with 'Big Cheese' being a slang term for an important person, especially in a business context. The repetitive nature of the lyrics, with phrases like 'Go to the office' and 'What is it?', could be interpreted as a mocking take on the monotony and meaninglessness of bureaucratic or corporate work.
The lines 'Black is black, No trading back' and 'We were enemies' hint at a definitive stance taken by the speaker, possibly against the establishment or the status quo. The phrase 'Sure you are, But what am I?' might be a challenge to the identity that the 'Big Cheese' represents, questioning the legitimacy of their authority. The mention of 'She eats glue, How about you?' adds a surreal and nonsensical element to the song, which could be seen as a metaphor for blindly following or adhering to societal norms without question.
Overall, 'Big Cheese' by Nirvana seems to be a song about defiance and nonconformity. The lyrics, while abstract, evoke a sense of rebellion against figures of authority and a refusal to accept imposed identities or roles. The song's raw energy and confrontational tone are characteristic of Nirvana's style and the grunge movement they helped to define, which often dealt with themes of alienation and dissent.