When talking with a Nirvana fan, just the sheer mention of the band’s name brings one’s mind to not only a feeling of angst and rebellion, but also to an incredible catalogue of talent and breakthrough music. Sure there were guitars smashed and Kurt Cobain’s well known screaming vocals, but there was also a morbid beauty in Cobain’s lyrics, and passion in Krist Novoselic’s bass and Dave Grohl’s percussion. And while it may seem inconceivable to someone on the outside looking in that there could be a shared bond between grunge and country, it’s really not. Both share truths, albeit with very different musical techniques, but the truth is still there, the emotions are still there, as is the musical genius. That connection is what James Robert Webb brought forth in his piano acoustic version of Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box” premiering exclusively with The Country Note today.
“If you want to write songs with great melodies, then you need to study great melodies,” says Webb. “I’ve been a Nirvana fan since I was a kid and I think “Heart Shaped Box” is one of the most beautiful melodies to come out of that era. It’s a haunting song where the music speaks more than the words. So, to create something new with this song, I wanted to get away from the noise, the screaming and the grunge of the original–take the Nirvana out of it and just let the melody shine through. Just strip it down to me playing live at a piano, being carried along by the power of the song.”
While adapting the song’s iconic opening from guitar to piano might be a bit of an instinctive ear-twitch at first, the flow of the keys throughout makes the song more intimate. It strips away the harshness – but gets just as intense during the chorus – bringing attention to the song’s melody, just as Webb intended. Using his lower register, Webb also adds intimacy the lyrics; his enunciation of each word creates a sense of a conversation, rather than an argument.
Listen to the premiere of James Robert Webb’s cover of “Heart Shaped Box” here: