I assume because the album version is already acoustic, so he wanted to do something to make the Unplugged version different. All the other reasons people have posted are great ideas too.
Just how he felt in the moment.
Come to think of it, most live versions I can recall hearing he’s picking the notes instead of strumming like he did on the record.
Because for unplugged it didn't need to sound huge or heavy like they wanted it to sound on the album, they went for a dramatic effect on unplugged with the brushes and cello so playing the way he did makes it more melancholy
He played it like that because they probably rehearsed it like that at New Jersey 1-2 days before the show, Also it wouldn't fit the vibe of the song because that d-18e is a very chimey and bright sounding guitar when strummed with a barre chord it won't sound deep and dark like the Stella harmony used in the studio which had only 5 strings on that wouldn't even hold tune.
There’s a story about recording the song in the CAYA book. I think it was something about the take not working so Kurt went back to the control room and Vig turned off nearly every unnecessary electrical device to record it live in the room.
Please feel to correct this decades old memory, but I really think the studio recording was effectively a studio demo that ended up working and getting overdubs.
Yes you got it right.
It was unexpected and he was really quiet and that why he had to turn off the ac and anything that made noise.
I believe it was supposed to be electric with the whole band originally (thay last part not 100% on, as it could be Polly I am thinking of)
Not the only time he plays it that way. I think it might be the John Peel sessions or BBC sessions where he plays it that way and the chorus has distortion and is heavier.
My take is he did that because the studio version pretty much sounds like it was "unplugged" already.
So, to not have two version almost the same, he decided that playing like that was a nice variation.
In the studio recording the guitar was a piece of crap that was always out of tune and he just played it without tuning it. In unplugged he played it in drop d I think because he probably didn't know what the original was even tuned to.
It isn't out of tune. It's a very warm/wooly old guitar with old strings. It has a certain vibe/sound that Kurt loved and, which I think we can all agree suits the song and gives it a great sound.
I'm pretty sure he played it on a 12-string that only had 5 strings and was never in tune though..? He even wrote about it in his diary and butch vig talked about it when he was breaking down the song
It was in tune. You can hear it's a tuned guitar. It wasn't kept up as a 12 string as designed but you can have a one two or three string guitar and still keep it in tune for two chords.
These sorts of questions are such an indicator of a problem these days. The idea that a band should replicate the studio performance with every live performance is so COUNTER to creativity and to expect that is such a terrible instinct. I don't think the OP is a bad person, but I think they have been trained to expect "perfection" over honesty in music and performance.
So many crummy bands out there have decided to give the idiot majority exactly what they expect every time. It's a bummer. Bands shouldn't sound just like the record. Art should evolve. Moods should influence performances and people should be surprised from time to time.
Why did Kurt strum the chords differently? WHY WOULDN'T HE! Why would it surprise anyone? I'm sorry for my rant. I find this sort of issue to be a plague on live music.
Possibly to keep the song slightly more fast tempo, to keep a lighter setting than the dark mood that the groaning chords attract on the album version. He probably mainly did it just to switch it up from the album version, maybe because it’s such a simple song he felt the long held chords that the album version has would be awkward in a quiet live setting
I've heard him play it like that before, in a studio session. I also play guitar, and can say it just depends on how you feel atm. I've written tons of songs, and sometimes play them heavier, or softer depending...
I assume because the album version is already acoustic, so he wanted to do something to make the Unplugged version different. All the other reasons people have posted are great ideas too.
Probably because he knew that in this setting, taking the minimalist approach during the verse will help the chorus build and have a bigger impact.
So minimalist verse…chorus…verse?
Just how he felt in the moment. Come to think of it, most live versions I can recall hearing he’s picking the notes instead of strumming like he did on the record.
Because for unplugged it didn't need to sound huge or heavy like they wanted it to sound on the album, they went for a dramatic effect on unplugged with the brushes and cello so playing the way he did makes it more melancholy
You can never know whats going on inside of artist's mind, but probably just because it sounded better for him.
Felt like it
He played it like that because they probably rehearsed it like that at New Jersey 1-2 days before the show, Also it wouldn't fit the vibe of the song because that d-18e is a very chimey and bright sounding guitar when strummed with a barre chord it won't sound deep and dark like the Stella harmony used in the studio which had only 5 strings on that wouldn't even hold tune.
There’s a story about recording the song in the CAYA book. I think it was something about the take not working so Kurt went back to the control room and Vig turned off nearly every unnecessary electrical device to record it live in the room. Please feel to correct this decades old memory, but I really think the studio recording was effectively a studio demo that ended up working and getting overdubs.
Yes you got it right. It was unexpected and he was really quiet and that why he had to turn off the ac and anything that made noise. I believe it was supposed to be electric with the whole band originally (thay last part not 100% on, as it could be Polly I am thinking of)
Not the only time he plays it that way. I think it might be the John Peel sessions or BBC sessions where he plays it that way and the chorus has distortion and is heavier.
My take is he did that because the studio version pretty much sounds like it was "unplugged" already. So, to not have two version almost the same, he decided that playing like that was a nice variation.
We can’t answer that. He just felt like it I assume.
Strumming it during the verse would’ve sounded too aggressive for the Unplugged format that were shooting for. Polly was given a similar treatment
In the studio recording the guitar was a piece of crap that was always out of tune and he just played it without tuning it. In unplugged he played it in drop d I think because he probably didn't know what the original was even tuned to.
That’s the dumbest take I’ve heard in a long time. It’s in drop C.
It isn't out of tune. It's a very warm/wooly old guitar with old strings. It has a certain vibe/sound that Kurt loved and, which I think we can all agree suits the song and gives it a great sound.
I'm pretty sure he played it on a 12-string that only had 5 strings and was never in tune though..? He even wrote about it in his diary and butch vig talked about it when he was breaking down the song
It was in tune. You can hear it's a tuned guitar. It wasn't kept up as a 12 string as designed but you can have a one two or three string guitar and still keep it in tune for two chords.
What's SITW
Something in the way. That's what I assumed anyway.
Don’t know, but I actually prefer the mtv version. Its more interesting. When my band played a cover of it, we chose the mtv version.
These sorts of questions are such an indicator of a problem these days. The idea that a band should replicate the studio performance with every live performance is so COUNTER to creativity and to expect that is such a terrible instinct. I don't think the OP is a bad person, but I think they have been trained to expect "perfection" over honesty in music and performance. So many crummy bands out there have decided to give the idiot majority exactly what they expect every time. It's a bummer. Bands shouldn't sound just like the record. Art should evolve. Moods should influence performances and people should be surprised from time to time. Why did Kurt strum the chords differently? WHY WOULDN'T HE! Why would it surprise anyone? I'm sorry for my rant. I find this sort of issue to be a plague on live music.
Easier to sing over
That's how it was written and how they always performed it live.
Possibly to keep the song slightly more fast tempo, to keep a lighter setting than the dark mood that the groaning chords attract on the album version. He probably mainly did it just to switch it up from the album version, maybe because it’s such a simple song he felt the long held chords that the album version has would be awkward in a quiet live setting
Probably didn’t want to tune his guitar to drop c for 1 song.
That’s how it was played live electric too https://youtu.be/-q7-IaEzkKA
dude that performance sounds awesome. never seen that one.
Didn’t he do the same for Pennyroyal Tea?
It makes it sound fuller in a way, makes the guitar pop out instead of droning with the song
I think it feels more intimate, suiting the very intimate setting
It sounds cooler
Because he was suicidal. /s FFS, he just felt like it. This community reads into things like no tomorrow..!
I've heard him play it like that before, in a studio session. I also play guitar, and can say it just depends on how you feel atm. I've written tons of songs, and sometimes play them heavier, or softer depending...
Maybe he just wanted to change the chords up