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Music

This Is What Your Favorite Singer Sounds Like In The Shower

Provided that your favorite singer is Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, or Ronnie James Dio.

Yesterday, a video of Kurt Cobain's isolated "Smells Like Teen Spirit" vocals uploaded to YouTube a little over two years ago cropped up somewhere and spread through the Internets like junk through the late grunge godfather's circulatory system. Apparently these rare recordings became public domain after game developers for Guitar Hero and Rock Band realized that "recreating" songs with MIDI instruments makes them sound like Nokia ringtones from the mid-90s, and that they'd probably be better off going straight to the source.

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Almost instantaneously, comments beginning "I see your 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' vocals and raise you…" burned through blogs and message boards. Here are some choice vocal tracks from songs that you knew were good, but never knew were that good.

"Smells Like Teen Spirit"

Nirvana

In the two decades following his tragic death, mainstream public opinion of Cobain has tended to play more to the tune of "junkie with a guitar who sparked a generation of scummy wannabes" than "troubled prolific artist who pioneered a genre." If anyone still has any doubts that Kurt's talent was proportionate to his hype, this haunting track will lay them to rest. (Vocals begin at :36)

"Wouldn't It Be Nice"

The Beach Boys

Say what you will about the Beach Boys, but these guys are great at what they do. Pitch-perfect, lush harmonies, intricate vocal arrangements--I've almost forgiven them for whatever the hell happened at the Grammys. Though, to give credit where it's due, these rocking chair rockers are still as tight as ever.

"Rainbow in the Dark"

Dio

I'm deeply ashamed to admit that the first thing I thought of while listening to this track was Jack Black belting it in his absurd "rock stance"--legs wide, fingers splayed in front of his face. That being said, Dio's vocals are so explosive that the talent exhibited on this cut trounces any farcical hit the hard rock/heavy metal genre may have taken over the years.

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"Would"

Alice In Chains

Sure, they're doubled tracked and soaked in reverb here, but I would venture a guess that even stripped down to their rawest, Staley's vocals would still burst at the seams with power and punch. Somehow, they manage to skillfully and playfully traverse the line between disciplined and feral. (Check the falsetto leap at 2:00-2:12.)

"Jesus Christ Pose"

Soundgarden

Alright, Chris. I'm going to need you to level with me here. Are you kidding me? Are you fucking kidding me with this? I'm not typically one for early 90's hard rock, but it's impossible not to recognize Chris Cornell as being perhaps the most staggeringly impressive rock vocalist of all time. Juggular bulging and lungs flattening like whoopie cushions on the seats of a Tea Party convention hall, Cornell's impossibly titanic wail at 4:40 will have you reaching for the box of Fisherman's Friend.

@sashahecht