Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam explained

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
Artist:The Vaselines
Album:Dying for It
Released:1987
Genre:Indie pop
Length:3:31
Label:53rd & 3rd
Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam
Artist:Nirvana
Album:MTV Unplugged in New York
Released:1 November 1994
Recorded:18 November 1993
Venue:Sony Music Studios, New York City
Genre:Alternative rock
Length:4:37
Label:DGC
Producer:Alex Coletti, Scott Litt, Nirvana

"Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" is a song originally recorded by the Scottish alternative band the Vaselines. It was later covered by American rock band Nirvana in 1993 who renamed it "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam".

History

"Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" is a song originally recorded by the Scottish alternative band the Vaselines for their EP Dying for It.[1] It is a parody on the Christian children's hymn "I'll Be a Sunbeam", which has the opening line "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam." The Vaselines re-released the song in 1992 on the compilation albums ,[2] and All the Stuff and More.

The song was little-known outside the indie-pop scene until Seattle grunge band Nirvana recorded the song in November 1993 for their live acoustic album MTV Unplugged in New York, re-titling it "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam".[3]

Two more versions were released by Nirvana on their 2004 box set With the Lights Out. These were an acoustic version recorded in Portugal in 1994, and a live electric performance on the DVD section of the box set that was recorded at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle on October 31, 1991.[4] This version was re-released in 2011 as a bonus track on the 20th anniversary edition of the Nevermind album and on the Live at the Paramount DVD and Blu-ray.[5]

In the version featured on the MTV Unplugged in New York album, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain refers to the song as "a rendition of an old Christian song, I think. But we do it the Vaselines' way."[6] At a Nirvana concert that took place on December 30, 1993, at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, Cobain dedicated the song to the recently deceased River Phoenix.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Alexander . Phil . April 5, 2019 . Kurt Cobain's 50 favourite albums . . December 24, 2021.
  2. Web site: Scott . Jerry . The Vaselines - Complete History . obatik.com . 30 June 2013 . December 24, 2021.
  3. News: Whatley . Jack There also was one recorded ay The Paramount in 1991, In Seattle.. From the Beatles to David Bowie: 10 of Nirvana's Best Covers . . December 24, 2021.
  4. Book: Furniss, Matthew . Nirvana Uncensored On the Record . Coda Books Ltd . 9781781580059.
  5. News: Appelo . Tim . September 26, 2011 . 'Nirvana Live at the Paramount' DVD Review . . December 24, 2021.
  6. Kurt Cobain, Nov. 18, 1993. MTV Unplugged in New York, DGC Records, released Nov. 1, 1994.
  7. Borzillo . Carrie . Carrie Borzillo . April 23, 1994 . Cobain Death Spurs Rush at Retail . . 102 . December 24, 2021.