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Teen Can’t Comprehend Kurt Cobain’s Suicide

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A lot of people do not realize how much of a role model Kurt Cobain played in the lives of so many young teens. His outstanding lyrics, which he tried so desperately to write from his heart, express pain, anger and hate from his childhood memories. These honest, humble lyrics immediately built a bond between him and his many fans alike (“In Seattle, a Mood of Teen Dispirit,” April 12, Calendar). He expressed his feelings in a way his fans wish they could have, but never knew how. His realistic lyrics bring young teens to grip with their own reality.

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However, Cobain’s reality was missing something he rarely wrote about, something his fans lacked also. This was love. Cobain tried earnestly to find love somewhere, but his childhood memories and agonizing pain of stardom kept a distance between him and love. In his last attempts to find love and happiness, Cobain gave up and committed suicide.

If a rich, powerful, singer-songwriter, father, idol and role model could not find happiness, what will make his fans believe in themselves so that they, unlike Cobain, can? Times Pop Music Critic Robert Hilburn says Cobain is a spokesman

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for this generation.

True, but I, and a few other sources, say watch this “spokesman” lead many dysfunctional teens into eternal misery-suicide.

More and more after Cobain’s death, I begin to see the potential he had to find happiness. It is the potential to want it. Cobain wanted the best for his wife and daughter, he wanted the best for himself. Money did not give him that. Being a star did not give him that. Drugs did not give him that. Suicide did not give him that. He turned everywhere for help. Unfortunately he made all the wrong turns. “Please,” we wanted to say, “don’t give up.”

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“The hard part is that my folks just don’t understand what he meant to me,” said one fan at Cobain’s memorial, according to Hilburn. A lot of people do not understand. Even after many young, devoted fans follow in Cobain’s footsteps, many of us still will not be able to comprehend the reason why.

Counterpunch is a weekly feature designed to let readers respond to reviews or stories about entertainment and the arts.

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