View source for In Bloom

{{short description|1992 single by Nirvana}}
{{other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = In Bloom
| cover      = File:Nirvana-usa-in-bloom-geffen-s.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]
| album      = [[Nevermind]]
| B-side     = "[[Sliver (song)|Sliver]]" (live)
*"[[Polly (Nirvana song)|Polly]]" (live)
| released   = {{start date|1992|11|30}}
| recorded   = May 1991
| studio     = [[Sound City Studios|Sound City]] ([[Van Nuys]], [[California]])
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Grunge]]<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/08/the-50-best-grunge-songs.html?p=3 |title=The 50 Best Grunge Songs |magazine=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |last=Danaher |first=Michael |date=August 4, 2014 |access-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-date=March 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320171523/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/08/the-50-best-grunge-songs.html?p=3 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| length     = {{Duration|m=4|s=11}}
| label      = [[DGC Records|DGC]]
| writer     = 
* [[Kurt Cobain]]{{efn|On the original release of [[Nevermind]], the lyrics were credited to Cobain while the music was credited to the whole band.<ref name=linernotes>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Nevermind |others=[[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] |year=1991 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=[[DGC Records|DGC]]}}</ref> Later releases  credit this song solely to Cobain.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Nevermind |others=[[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] |date=2021 |publisher=[[Geffen Records]] |type=30th Anniversary reissue liner notes}}</ref>}}
| producer   = {{hlist|[[Butch Vig]]|Nirvana<ref name=linernotes />}}
| prev_title = [[Lithium (Nirvana song)|Lithium]]
| prev_year  = 1992
| next_title = [[Puss / Oh, the Guilt]]
| next_year  = 1993
| misc       =
{{External music video|{{Plainlist|
*{{YouTube|xAy---wp_DQ|"In Bloom" (Alternate Version)}} 
*{{YouTube|PbgKEjNBHqM|"In Bloom" (Nevermind Version)}}}}
|header=Music videos}}
}}

"'''In Bloom'''" is a song by American [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], written by vocalist and guitarist [[Kurt Cobain]]. It appears as the second track on the band's second album, ''[[Nevermind]]'', released by [[DGC Records]] in September 1991. The ''Nevermind'' version was recorded at [[Sound City Studios]] in May 1991, and was produced by the band themselves and [[Butch Vig]]. It is the second of two versions of the song that were released in 1991, the earlier of which was recorded in 1990, while the band was still signed to their original record label, [[Sub Pop]]. This version was initially released as a music video only, on the ''Sub Pop Video Network Volume 1'' [[VHS]] compilation.

"In Bloom" was released as ''Nevermind''{{'}}s fourth and final [[single (music)|single]] in November 1992 and generated heavy American airplay, reaching number 5 on the US [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Mainstream Rock]] chart, despite never being released as a physical single in the United States. The international release of the single made the Top 10 in [[Ireland]] and [[Portugal]], the Top 20 in [[Finland]] and [[New Zealand]], and the [[Top 40|Top 30]] in [[Sweden]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. The ''Nevermind'' version was accompanied by a new music video, directed by American filmmaker [[Kevin Kerslake]], which won Best Alternative Video at the [[1993 MTV Video Music Awards]].

==Early history==
According to Nirvana's bassist [[Krist Novoselic]], "In Bloom" "originally sounded like a [[Bad Brains]] song," before being slowed down and reworked by Cobain at home.<ref name="requiem">{{cite magazine |title=Requiem for a Dream |first=Charles R. |last=Cross |date=October 2001 |magazine=[[Guitar World]]}}</ref><ref name="HannM">{{cite news |last1=Hann |first1=Michael |title=Why Nirvana's In Bloom is busting out all over |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/apr/05/nirvana-in-bloom-nevermind-ezra-furman-sturgill-simpson |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=5 April 2016 |archive-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025185143/https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/apr/05/nirvana-in-bloom-nevermind-ezra-furman-sturgill-simpson |url-status=live }}</ref> In a 2002 ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' interview with [[David Fricke]], Novoselic recalled that Cobain "went home and [he] hammered it. He kept working on it. Then he called me on the phone and said, 'Listen to this song.' He started singing it on the phone. You could hear the guitar. It was the 'In Bloom' of ''Nevermind'', more of a pop thing."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nirvana/articles/story/5934222/krist_novoselic_on_nevermind |title=Krist Novoselic on ''Nevermind'' |first=David |last=Fricke |date=September 13, 2001 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128214653/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nirvana/articles/story/5934222/krist_novoselic_on_nevermind |archive-date=January 28, 2010}}</ref>

The song was first performed live on April 1, 1990, at the [[Metro Chicago|Cabaret Metro]] in [[Chicago]]. The following day, the band began work on recording a new release for their then-label Sub Pop, at [[Smart Studios]] in [[Madison, Wisconsin]] with producer [[Butch Vig]].<ref>Azerrad, p. 137</ref> Among the eight songs recorded during the five-day session was "In Bloom", which originally featured a bridge that Vig removed by physically cutting it out of the 16-track master tape with a razor blade, and throwing it in the garbage.<ref name="requiem" /> The original plan of releasing the songs recorded during this session on a single release were abandoned later in the year, after the exit of drummer [[Chad Channing]]. The band instead used the material as a demo tape, which circulated amongst the music industry and generated interest in the group among major record labels.<ref>Azerrad, p. 138</ref> However, a few songs from the session still appeared on various official releases in 1990 and 1991. "In Bloom" was released as a music video only, on the ''Sub Pop Video Network Volume 1'' VHS compilation in 1991.

=== ''Nevermind'' version ===
"In Bloom" was re-recorded by Vig at [[Sound City Studios]] in [[Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California|Van Nuys, California]] in May 1991, during the sessions for the band's second album and major label debut, ''Nevermind''. It was one of the first songs worked on during the sessions, due to Vig's familiarity with it from his previous session with the band.<ref name="classicalbums">''Classic Albums—Nirvana: Nevermind'' [DVD]. Isis Productions, 2004.</ref> Like the other songs recorded at Smart Studios, the arrangement for "In Bloom" was left mostly unchanged, with the band's new drummer [[Dave Grohl]] staying close to what Channing had played.<ref>Azerrad, p. 173</ref>

According to Vig, Cobain's impatience with recording multiple vocal takes made it difficult to acquire a master vocal take. In the 2005 documentary ''[[Classic Albums: Nirvana – Nevermind]]'', Vig revealed the methods he used to get Cobain to record multiple takes, which included tricking him into believing that certain parts were not properly recorded and needed to be done again, and reminding him that [[the Beatles]]' [[John Lennon]] [[Double tracking|double-tracked]] his vocals in the studio.<ref name="classicalbums" /> The varying intensity of Cobain's vocals from one take to the next, and from the verses to the choruses, also presented a problem for Vig, who had to adjust the input levels "on the fly" while recording Cobain.<ref name="berkenstadt70">Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 70</ref>  Ultimately, Vig was able to edit several takes together into a single master, due to the consistency of Cobain's vocal phrasing.<ref name="berkenstadt70"/>

Vig also decided to have Grohl sing high harmonies, double-tracking them as he did with Cobain's. Grohl initially had difficulty hitting the proper notes, but ultimately was able to sing what Vig wanted.<ref>Azerrad, p. 174</ref> The original studio version of "In Bloom" featured no harmonies, possibly due to time constraints.<ref>Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 37</ref>

==Composition==
{{Listen
 |filename     = Nirvana - In Bloom.ogg
 |title        = "In Bloom"
 |description  = "In Bloom" is a typical example of the loud-quiet techniques employed by Nirvana on ''Nevermind''. The guitar in the song's chorus are heavily [[overdubbing|layered]] as a result of the production style of Butch Vig.
}}

===Music===
Like many other Nirvana songs, "In Bloom" shifts back and forth between quiet verses and loud choruses. Cobain uses a [[Mesa Boogie]] guitar amplifier for the verses, and during the chorus he switches to a [[Fender Bassman]] amp (suggested by Vig) for a heavier, double-tracked fuzztone sound.<ref name="berkenstadt70" /> The rhythm section of Novoselic and Grohl kept its parts simple; Grohl stated it was "an unspoken rule" to avoid unnecessary drum fills, while Novoselic said he felt his role was about "serving the song".<ref name="classicalbums" />

===Lyrics===
According to the 1993 Nirvana biography ''[[Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana|Come As You Are]]'' by [[Michael Azerrad]], "In Bloom" was originally written about "the jocks and shallow mainstream types" of the [[underground music]] scene the band began to find in their audience after the release of their 1989 debut album, ''[[Bleach (Nirvana album)|Bleach]]''. As Azerrad points out, the song's lyrics "translated even better to the mass popularity the band enjoyed" following the breakthrough success of their second album, ''Nevermind''.<ref name="Azerrad, p. 215">Azerrad, p. 215</ref> "The brilliant irony," Azerrad wrote, "is that the tune is so catchy that millions of people actually do sing along to it."<ref name="Azerrad, p. 215"/> English journalist [[Everett True]] suggested the song may also have addressed the band's discomfort with being part of the [[grunge]] movement of the early 1990s, saying that "I assumed it was directed towards the fans who would show up at concerts with signs saying [[Even Flow]] [a [[Pearl Jam]] song] on one side and [[Rape Me]] – I think – on the other: the fans who did not understand there was a point of difference between Nirvana and other Seattle bands or media representations of grunge. I've always associated the song with [In Utero single] [[Rape Me]]. Like they're a pair."<ref name="HannM" />

In his biography of Cobain, ''[[Heavier Than Heaven]]'', [[Charles R. Cross]] asserted that the song was a "thinly disguised portrait" of Cobain's friend [[Dylan Carlson (musician)|Dylan Carlson]].<ref>Cross, p. 149</ref>

==Release and reception==
Originally Cobain wanted to release In Bloom on a promotional EP as well as their first major label debut single after signing with DGC, for the then-second album sessions with Sub Pop, entitled Sheep. The [[Extended play|EP]] would've been titled ''NIRVANA Sings Songs of the Vaselines, the Wipers, Devo, & Nirvana''.<ref>p.141-143, Kurt Cobain, ''Journals'' (2003)</ref>

"In Bloom" was released as the fourth and final single from ''Nevermind'' on November 30, 1992.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=19|date=November 28, 1992}}</ref> The commercial single was only released in Europe, while promotional copies were released in the United States. The 12-inch vinyl and CD versions of the commercial single featured live versions of "[[Polly (Nirvana song)|Polly]]" and "[[Sliver (song)|Sliver]]", from the band's show at [[Del Mar Fairgrounds]] in [[Del Mar, California]] on December 28, 1991, as [[B-sides]]. The 7-inch vinyl and cassette versions featured only "Polly".<ref name="goldmine">{{cite magazine |title=Verse Chorus Verse: The Recording History of Nirvana |first=Gillian G. |last=Gaar |date=February 14, 1997 |magazine=[[Goldmine (magazine)|Goldmine]]}}</ref> The single peaked at number 28 on the British singles chart.<ref name="guinness">{{cite book |editor-first=David |editor-last=Roberts |date=2006 |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |edition=19th |location=London, UK |publisher=HIT Entertainment |isbn=1-90499-410-5}}</ref> Despite the lack of a commercial release domestically, the song reached number five on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|Album Rock Tracks]] chart.<ref name="Billboard singles">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/nirvana-mn0000357406/awards |title=Nirvana – Awards |website=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=May 31, 2012 |archive-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232159/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nirvana-mn0000357406/awards |url-status=live }}</ref> In Israel, it was voted in at number 15 on the [[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]]'s "Voice of Israel" singles chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1of9J-7k3EqEzvgH8mZXqGv5N-oAIC30d/edit?gid=497451199#gid=497451199 |title=Israeli Singles Chart archive |website=google.com |language=he |access-date=August 17, 2024}}</ref> It was also voted in at number 15 on Poland's [[Lista Przebojów Programu Trzeciego|LP3]] chart in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lp3.pl/wykonawca/808 |title=Archiwum Listy Przebojow - Trojki - Nrivana |website=www.lp3.pl |publisher=[[Polskie Radio]]|access-date=August 6, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010010630/https://www.lp3.pl/wykonawca/808 |archive-date=October 10, 2024}}</ref>

Music journalist [[Everett True]] wrote an uncharacteristically unfavorable review of the single in ''[[Melody Maker]]'', accusing it of "milking" the success of ''Nevermind''. "Whoop whoop bloody whoop", wrote True, "forgive me if I don't sound too thrilled. This release is stretching even my credulity beyond repair. Like, milking a still-breathing (sacred) cow, or what? Badly inferior live versions of 'Polly' and 'Sliver' on the flip don't help matters either."<ref>{{cite book |first=Everett |last=True |author-link=Everett True |date=2007 |title=Nirvana: The Biography |location=Boston, Massachusetts |publisher=[[Da Capo Press]] |page=409 |isbn=978-0-306-81554-6}}</ref>

===Legacy===
In 2011, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked "In Bloom" at number 415 on their list of the "[[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]".<ref>"{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/aerosmith-sweet-emotion-20110526 |title=The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (1–500) |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=11 December 2003 |access-date=2015-04-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212045924/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/aerosmith-sweet-emotion-20110526 |archive-date=December 12, 2015}}</ref> In 2019, the magazine ranked it second on their ranking of 102 Nirvana songs.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/no-apologies-all-102-nirvana-songs-ranked-175683/in-bloom-31548/|title=No Apologies: All 102 Nirvana Songs Ranked|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=April 5, 2019|accessdate=January 15, 2022}}</ref> In 2023, [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] ranked "In Bloom" at number 10 on ''[[the A.V. Club|the A.V. Club's]]'' "Essential Nirvana: Their 30 greatest songs, ranked" list.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas Erlewine |first1=Stephen |title=Essential Nirvana: Their 30 greatest songs, ranked |url=https://www.avclub.com/essential-nirvana-best-songs-ranked-1850854298/slides/22 |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=The A.V. Club |date=21 September 2023}}</ref> According to [[Nielsen Music]]'s year-end report for 2019, "In Bloom" was the seventh most-played song of the decade on mainstream rock radio with 131,000 spins. All of the songs in the top 10 were from the 1990s.<ref name="MainstreamRockDecade2010-2019">{{Cite web |url=https://loudwire.com/nirvana-most-played-radio-rock-band-decade/ |title=Nirvana Were the Most-Played Band of the Decade on Rock Radio |last=Trapp |first=Philip |date=January 14, 2020 |access-date=January 23, 2020 |website=[[Loudwire]] |archive-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116015928/https://loudwire.com/nirvana-most-played-radio-rock-band-decade/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, Cobain was given a songwriting credit on the single "[[Panini (song)|Panini]]" by American rapper and singer [[Lil Nas X]], due to the song having a similar chorus melody as "In Bloom". As Nas X explained in a [[SiriusXM]] interview, "I put out the snippet [of 'Panini'] and everyone was like, 'Wow, he's sampling Nirvana.' I was like, 'Where? I'm not sampling Nirvana, this beat doesn't have Nirvana in it.' Then, I listened to 'In Bloom' in full, and I was like, 'Oh, okay.{{' "}}  Nas X revealed that the song was approved by Kurt's daughter, [[Frances Bean Cobain]], and that the experience "actually got me into ''[Nevermind]'' for the first time."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |title=Lil Nas X Says Frances Bean Cobain Approved His Accidental Nirvana Sample on 'Panini' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8529122/lil-nas-x-frances-bean-cobain-approved-panini-nirvana-sample |access-date=3 November 2020 |magazine=Billboard |date=4 September 2019 |archive-date=24 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124075508/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8529122/lil-nas-x-frances-bean-cobain-approved-panini-nirvana-sample |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a 2021 interview with the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', Cobain's widow, [[Courtney Love]], said she was "very firmly in the club that says 'In Bloom' should have been the first single" from ''Nevermind'', calling it "a far better song" than "Smells Like Teen Spirit".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Charles R. |first1=Cross |title='I never talk about "Nevermind"!': Courtney Love on the Nirvana album that changed everything |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-09-24/courtney-love-nirvana-nevermind-30th-anniversary-kurt-cobain?_amp=true&__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR0YBSlPmBDlyEGCzrn9oaJSFe62bKFLQn7JXPvK8EaIV8JwvXVzYqA6c9Q |access-date=26 September 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=24 September 2021 |archive-date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926053322/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-09-24/courtney-love-nirvana-nevermind-30th-anniversary-kurt-cobain?_amp=true&__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR0YBSlPmBDlyEGCzrn9oaJSFe62bKFLQn7JXPvK8EaIV8JwvXVzYqA6c9Q |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Music videos==
{{multiple image
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 200
 | footer = 
 | image1 =In Bloom Alternate Version.jpg
 | alt1 = 
 | caption1 = Nirvana drummer [[Chad Channing]] in the music video for the original version of "In Bloom" that was recorded at [[Smart Studios]]. This video is now called ''Alternate Version''
 | image2 =In Bloom video.JPG
 | alt2 =
 | caption2 =Nirvana parodying early 1960s variety shows in the second "In Bloom" music video that was filmed for the ''Nevermind'' version, entirely in black and white.
}}

===''Sub Pop'' / ''Alternate'' version===
The first music video for "In Bloom", for the Smart Studios version, was directed by Steve Brown, and filmed in [[New York City]] in April 1990, shortly after the song had been recorded. It features footage of the band walking around lower [[Manhattan]], including the [[South Street Seaport]], the [[Lower East Side]], and [[Wall Street]] on April 25,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livenirvana.com/history/calendar90.php|title=Nirvana Day by Day}}</ref> as well as rehearsal footage and clips from the band's show at [[Maxwell's]] in [[Hoboken, New Jersey]] on April 28. Novoselic had shaved his head as punishment for what he perceived to be a bad performance at the [[Pyramid Club (New York City)|Pyramid Club]] in New York City on April 26, and so appears with hair in some shots, and with a shaved head in others.<ref>Azerrad, p. 133–34</ref>

The video was first released in 1991 on the ''Sub Pop Video Network Volume 1'' compilation. It was re-released on the [[DVD]] of the band's rarities box set, ''[[With the Lights Out]]'', in November 2004. The audio of this version appeared on some copies of the [[Promotional recording|promotional]] [[Extended play|EP]], ''Selections from With the Lights Out'', which was released shortly before the box set, but not on the box set itself. It did not appear on a commercial release until the full Smart session was included on disc two of the 20th anniversary "Deluxe" and "Super Deluxe" versions of ''Nevermind'' in September 2011.

The video is listed as ''Alternate Version'' on Nirvana's official YouTube channel.

===''Nevermind'' version===
The second music video for "In Bloom", for the ''[[Nevermind]]'' version, was directed by [[Kevin Kerslake]], who had directed the videos for the band's previous two singles from ''Nevermind'', "[[Come as You Are (Nirvana song)|Come as You Are]]" and "[[Lithium (Nirvana song)|Lithium]]". The video was filmed on October 15, 1992 and first aired in late November.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livenirvana.com/history/calendar92.php|title=Nirvana Day by Day}}</ref><ref name="azerrad291">Azerrad, p. 291</ref> According to [[Michael Azerrad]], Cobain's original concept for the video was "a surrealistic fable about a little girl who is born into a [[Ku Klux Klan]] family and one day realizes how evil her parents are."<ref name="azerrad291"/> This proved to be "too ambitious," so Cobain instead came up with the idea of making a video that parodied the musical performances of wholesome pop bands on early 1960s [[variety show]]s, such as ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]''.<ref name="azerrad291" />

The low-def black and white footage was filmed on old [[Kinescope]] cameras, following Cobain's request that Kerslake use authentic cameras from the period, and the band's performance was improvised.<ref name="azerrad291" /> The satirical tone was a result of Cobain being "so tired for the last year of people taking us so seriously . . . I wanted to fuck off and show them that we have a humorous side to us".<ref>Azerrad, p. 293</ref> The video begins with an unnamed variety show host, played by [[Doug Llewelyn]], former host of American reality show ''[[The People's Court]]'', introducing Nirvana to an in-studio crowd of young fans, whose screaming is heard throughout the duration of the song. The band members, whom the host refers to as "thoroughly all right and decent fellas," perform dressed in suits, while Cobain wears glasses that made him dizzy.<ref name="Azerrad, p. 292">Azerrad, p. 292</ref> As Cobain explained in a 1992 ''[[Melody Maker]]'' interview, "We wanted to be like [[The Beatles]] – no, [[The Dave Clark Five]], I was wearing glasses – we would never make fun of The Beatles."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=True |first1=Everett |title=All Dressed Up |magazine=[[Melody Maker]] |date=12 December 1992}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=True |first1=Everett |title=Nirvana: The True Story |date=1 September 2006 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=1844496406}}</ref> Novoselic had cut his hair short for the video, and liked it so much he kept it that way afterwards.<ref name="Azerrad, p. 292"/> As the song progresses, the band members destroy their instruments and the set.

Three edits of the Kerslake video were made. Cobain wanted [[MTV]] to first play the first edit, featuring the band in suits only, and eventually replace it with a second edit featuring the band wearing dresses and performing in their traditional manner, which included destroying the set. However, Cobain was skeptical that MTV's [[alternative rock]] show ''[[120 Minutes]]'', which insisted on premiering the video, would properly convey the humor of the "pop idol" version. As a result, the familiar third edit was produced which contained shots of the band in both suits and dresses. The original edit of the video never aired.<ref>Azerrad, p. 293–94</ref>

The "In Bloom" music video won the award for [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video|Best Alternative Video]] at the [[1993 MTV Video Music Awards]],<ref>Cross, p. 286</ref> and topped the music video category in the 1992 ''[[Village Voice]]'' [[Pazz & Jop]] critics' poll.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres92.php |title=The 1992 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll |first=Robert |last=Christgau |date=March 2, 1993 |website=Village Voice |access-date=June 14, 2008 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606185713/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres92.php |url-status=live }}</ref> It was placed into heavy rotation on [[MTV]] in the US.<ref>
*{{cite magazine |date=January 16, 1993 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1993/1993-01-16-Billboard-Page-0034.pdf |title=The Clip List |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=36 |access-date=February 10, 2024 |quote=heavy}}
*{{cite magazine |date=September 18, 1993 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1993/1993-09-18-Billboard-Page-0054.pdf |title=Video Monitor |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=56 |access-date=February 10, 2024}}</ref> It was also played on [[MTV Europe]].<ref>
*{{cite magazine |date=December 19, 1992 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/92/MM-1992-12-19-OCR-Page-0041.pdf |title=Station Reports |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |page=41 |access-date=February 10, 2024}}
*{{cite magazine |date=January 9, 1993 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/93/MM-1993-01-09-OCR-Page-0008.pdf |title=Station Reports |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |page=8 |access-date=February 10, 2024}}
*{{cite magazine |date=January 16, 1993 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/93/MM-1993-01-16-OCR-Page-0013.pdf |title=Station Reports |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |page=13 |access-date=February 10, 2024}}
*{{cite magazine |date=January 23, 1993 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/93/MM-1993-01-23-OCR-Page-0020.pdf |title=Station Reports |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |page=20 |access-date=February 10, 2024}}
*{{cite magazine |date=January 30, 1993 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/93/MM-1993-01-30-OCR-Page-0038.pdf |title=Station Reports |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |page=38 |access-date=February 10, 2024}}
*{{cite magazine |date=February 6, 1993 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/93/MM-1993-02-06-OCR-Page-0011.pdf |title=Station Reports |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |page=13 |access-date=February 10, 2024}}</ref> It was also played on [[MTV Australia]], ''[[Rage (TV program)|Rage]]'' and ''[[Video Smash Hits]]'' in Australia.<ref>
*{{cite magazine |date=December 6, 1992 |issue=149 |url=https://postimg.cc/cr4QG1DL |title=Music Video Airplay |magazine=[[ARIA Report]] |page=17 |access-date=February 16, 2024}}
*{{cite magazine |date=December 13, 1992 |issue=150 |url=https://postimg.cc/G9jkfTxf |title=Music Video Airplay |magazine=[[ARIA Report]] |page=17 |access-date=February 16, 2024}}</ref>

==Formats and track listings==
All lyrics written by [[Kurt Cobain]], all music written by [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]].<ref name=linernotes>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Nevermind |others=[[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] |year=1991 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=[[DGC Records|DGC]]}}</ref>

*'''7", cassette'''
#"In Bloom"&nbsp; – 4:17
#"[[Polly (Nirvana song)|Polly]]" (live)&nbsp; – 2:47

*'''12", CD'''
#"In Bloom"&nbsp; – 4:17
#"[[Sliver (song)|Sliver]]" (live – Del Mar – 28.12.1991)&nbsp; – 2:06
#"Polly" (live – Del Mar – 28.12.1991)&nbsp; – 2:47

==Personnel==
Sources:<ref name=linernotes>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Nevermind |others=[[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] |year=1991 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=[[DGC Records|DGC]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Classic Albums: Nirvana – Nevermind |date=2005 |people=[[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]}}</ref>

'''Nirvana'''
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*[[Kurt Cobain]] – lead vocals, guitar
*[[Krist Novoselic]] – bass
*[[Dave Grohl]] – drums, backing vocals
{{col-2}}
'''Technical Personnel'''
*[[Butch Vig]] – producer, engineer
* Nirvana – producer, engineer
*[[Andy Wallace (producer)|Andy Wallace]] - mixing

{{col-end}}

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1992–1993)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|align="left"|Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/7rdC7mf.png|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 14th February 1993 (61–100)|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]]|access-date=April 13, 2016|archive-date=April 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425205716/http://i.imgur.com/7rdC7mf.png|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite Ryan|page=204}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|73
|-
|align="left"|Australia Alternative ([[ARIA]])<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 20, 1992 |magazine=[[ARIA Report]] |title=ARIA Top 20 Alternative Charts |url=https://i.postimg.cc/Hx8NQtg5/ARIA-Alternative-Charts-20th-December-1992.jpg |issue=151 |page=12 |access-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122193836/https://i.postimg.cc/Hx8NQtg5/ARIA-Alternative-Charts-20th-December-1992.jpg |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|19
|-
|align="left"|Canada Contemporary Album Radio (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 1, 1993 |url=https://postimg.cc/WFk9Rmpx |title=Contemporary Album Radio |magazine=[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]] |page=7 |access-date=October 5, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 71
|-
| [[European Hot 100 Singles]] ''([[Music & Media]])''<ref>{{cite magazine|date=January 9, 1993|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles (Last Week's Position)|url=https://americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/93/MM-1993-01-09-OCR-Page-0011.pdf#search=%22eurochart%20hot%20100%20singles%20january%209%201993%20nirvana%20in%20bloom%22|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|page=11|access-date=July 28, 2018|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106235602/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/93/MM-1993-01-09-OCR-Page-0011.pdf#search=%22eurochart%20hot%20100%20singles%20january%209%201993%20nirvana%20in%20bloom%22|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 65
|-
| Finland ([[The Official Finnish Charts]])<ref name="Pennanan">{{cite book |url=http://suomenlistalevyt.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/new-njo.html |first=Timo |last=Pennanen |date=2003 |title=Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |publisher=Otava Publishing Company Ltd |isbn=951-1-21053-X |language=fi |access-date=2016-03-05 |archive-date=2016-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729081307/http://suomenlistalevyt.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/new-njo.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|7|artist=Nirvana|song=In Loom}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|87|artist=Nirvana|song=In Bloom}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|20|artist=Nirvana|song=In Bloom}}
|-
| Portugal ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{cite magazine|date=February 6, 1993|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|url=https://americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/93/MM-1993-02-06-OCR-Page-0014.pdf#search=%22top%2010%20in%20europe%20february%201993%20portugal%22|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|page=16|access-date=July 28, 2018|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106235604/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/93/MM-1993-02-06-OCR-Page-0014.pdf#search=%22top%2010%20in%20europe%20february%201993%20portugal%22|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|10
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|30|artist=Nirvana|song=In Bloom}}
|-
|UK [[The Network Chart Show#The Network Chart|Network Singles]] ([[MRIB]])<ref>{{cite news |date=December 26, 1992 |title=Charts – Top 30 Network Singles |url=https://imgur.com/9BMM0S0 |publisher=[[Melody Maker]] |agency=[[MRIB]] |page=59 |access-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802030804/https://imgur.com/9BMM0S0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=December 19, 1992 |title=Charts |work=[[NME]] |agency=[[MRIB]] |url=https://postimg.cc/3y8rQJ1Z |page=84 |access-date=June 16, 2022}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|29
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|28|artist=Nirvana}}
|-
| UK Airplay ([[Spotlight Publications#Entertainment Research & Analysis|ERA]])<ref>{{cite news |date=January 16, 1993 |title=Top 50 Airplay Chart |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-01-16.pdf |work=[[Music Week]] |agency=[[Spotlight Publications#Entertainment Research & Analysis|ERA]] |page=16 |access-date=July 2, 2023 |quote=Last week's position}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|27
|-
| [[UK Rock & Metal Singles and Albums Charts|UK Rock & Metal Singles]] ([[Chart Information Network|CIN]])<ref>{{cite news |date=December 19, 1992 |title=Heavy Rock Singles 20 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Hit-Music/1992/Hit-Music-1992-12-19.pdf |work=[[Hit Music]] |agency=[[Chart Information Network|CIN]], [[Gallup (company)|Gallup]] |page=12 |access-date=June 17, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|5|artist=Nirvana}}
|-
| US [[Album-oriented rock|AOR]] Tracks (''[[Radio & Records]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine |title=AOR Tracks |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/93/RR-1993-01-22-OCR-Page-0058.pdf#search=%22nirvana%20in%20bloom%22 |magazine=[[Radio & Records]] |publisher=Radio & Records |date=January 22, 1993 |page=58 |access-date=February 22, 2019 |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106235605/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/93/RR-1993-01-22-OCR-Page-0058.pdf#search=%22nirvana%20in%20bloom%22 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=AOR Tracks – Songs Reaching Top 15 in 1993 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/93/RR-1993-12-10-OCR-Page-0060.pdf#search=%22nirvana%20in%20bloom%22 |magazine=[[Radio & Records]] |publisher=Radio & Records |date=December 10, 1993 |page=60 |access-date=February 22, 2019 |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106235604/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/93/RR-1993-12-10-OCR-Page-0060.pdf#search=%22nirvana%20in%20bloom%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1995–1996)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|Denmark ([[Tracklisten]])<ref>{{cite magazine|date=January 20, 1996|title=Top National Sellers|url=https://americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/96/MM-1996-01-20-OCR-Page-0015.pdf#search=%22denmark%20nirvana%20single%20boxset%20january%201996%22|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|page=15|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106235604/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/96/MM-1996-01-20-OCR-Page-0015.pdf#search=%22denmark%20nirvana%20single%20boxset%20january%201996%22|url-status=live}}</ref><br /><small>''Charted on the singles chart as part of the [[Singles (Nirvana box set)|Singles]] box set''</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
| [[European Hot 100 Singles]] ([[Music & Media]])<ref>{{cite magazine|date=December 9, 1995|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|url=https://americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/95/MM-1995-12-09-OCR-Page-0012.pdf#search=%22eurochart%20hot%20100%20singles%20december%209%201995%22|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|page=12|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106235605/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/95/MM-1995-12-09-OCR-Page-0012.pdf#search=%22eurochart%20hot%20100%20singles%20december%209%201995%22|url-status=live}}</ref><br /><small>''Charted on the singles chart as part of the [[Singles (Nirvana box set)|Singles]] box set''</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| 55
|-
{{single chart|France|17|artist=Nirvana|song=Singles|access-date=June 2, 2019|note=Charted on the singles chart as part of the [[Singles (Nirvana box set)|Singles]] box set}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (2011)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|align="left"|Belgium Back Catalog ([[Ultratop]] Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/back-catalogue/2011/20111015 |date=October 15, 2011 |title=Back Catalog Singles |website=ultratop.be |access-date=January 15, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|41
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1993)
!Peak<br />position
|-
| US [[Album-oriented rock|AOR]] Tracks (''[[Radio & Records]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine |title=AOR Tracks – The Top 93 of 1993 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/93/RR-1993-12-10-OCR-Page-0059.pdf#search=%22nirvana%20in%20bloom%22 |magazine=[[Radio & Records]] |publisher=Radio & Records |date=December 10, 1993 |page=59 |access-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106235604/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/93/RR-1993-12-10-OCR-Page-0059.pdf#search=%22nirvana%20in%20bloom%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center"|67
|}

===Decade-end charts===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2010–2019)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
| US Mainstream Rock ([[Nielsen Music]])<ref name="MainstreamRockDecade2010-2019"/>
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Nirvana|title=In Bloom|award=Platinum|relyear=1992|certyear=2021|access-date=May 21, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Nirvana|title=In Bloom|award=Platinum|certyear=2024|relyear=1992|access-date=December 18, 2024|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Nirvana|title=In Bloom|award=Gold|relyear=1992|certyear=2020|id=16280-602-1|access-date=April 2, 2024|note=Sales since 2004}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|artist=Nirvana|title=In Bloom|certyear=2024|access-date=December 9, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Cover versions==
Country musician [[Sturgill Simpson]] covered "In Bloom" as a country song on his 2016 album ''[[A Sailor's Guide to Earth]]'', while [[Lil Nas X]] interpolated it for his 2019 song "[[Panini (song)|Panini]]" (which was approved by [[Frances Bean Cobain]]).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Lil Nas X Had Never Heard 'Nevermind' Before Making the Nirvana-Sampling 'Panini' |first=Brittany |last=Spanos |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=June 20, 2019 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lil-nas-x-panini-nirvana-nevermind-old-town-road-850577/ |access-date=June 11, 2020 |archive-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509121601/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lil-nas-x-panini-nirvana-nevermind-old-town-road-850577/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Sludge metal]] band [[Thou (American band)|Thou]] recorded the song in their 2020 collection of Nirvana covers, ''Blessings of the Highest Order''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Thou - Blessings Of The Highest Order |date=2020-06-05 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15427136-Thou-Blessings-Of-The-Highest-Order |access-date=2023-07-04 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
*''Classic Albums—Nirvana: Nevermind'' [DVD]. Isis Productions, 2004.
*Azerrad, Michael. ''Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana''. Doubleday, 1994. {{ISBN|0-385-47199-8}}
*Berkenstadt, Jim; Cross, Charles. ''Classic Rock Albums: Nevermind''. Schirmer, 1998. {{ISBN|0-02-864775-0}}
*Cross, Charles R. ''Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain''. Hyperion, 2001. {{ISBN|0-7868-6505-9}}

===Notes===
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Nevermind}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070212133253/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6596252/in_bloom "In Bloom" on ''Rolling Stone's'' 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]
*[http://www.allmusic.com/song/t2547265 "In Bloom" song review] at [[AllMusic]]
*{{YouTube|PbgKEjNBHqM|"In Bloom" Official music video}}
* [https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Grunge-Music-In-Bloom:-Musical-Analysis-of-Hit-Cohen/a792b34b6067cfc5d9931600378cbc8a6f1ccd01 "Grunge Music In Bloom: Musical Analysis of Nirvana's Hit"]

{{Nirvana (band)}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1990 songs]]
[[Category:1992 singles]]
[[Category:DGC Records singles]]
[[Category:Nirvana (band) songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Butch Vig]]
[[Category:Songs written by Kurt Cobain]]
[[Category:Black-and-white music videos]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Kevin Kerslake]]
[[Category:Songs about rock music]]
[[Category:Sturgill Simpson songs]]