Kurt Cobain Sound-Alike Shocks Judges on Peruvian Talent Show (VIDEO)
Kurt Cobain sound-alike Ramiro Saavedra shocked judges on Peruvian talent show "Yo Soy" with his impersonation of the late Nirvana frontman.
Saavedra's Kurt Cobain sound-alike skills earned him the praise and awe of the judges as he performed several songs from the Seattle band's 1991 rock album Nevermind. Both the host of "Yo Soy" and the judges sat mouth agape as Saavedra perfectly mimicked Cobain's guttural slurs, unique pitch, and diverse tones.
One of the musically talented panel called the guitarist "the best contestant that we've had [on the show]," after hearing the stunning rendition.
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In addition, Saavedra, who is the guitarist for his own band Arequipa, was able to play Cobain's songs on his acoustic guitar flawlessly, and on demand. At the judges request, he sang and played Nirvana's "Come as You Are" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
27-year-old Ramiro Saavedra's imitation of Cobain was perfect in pitch, but had several mistakes in the lyrics. Because the Peruvian guitarist most likely has Spanish as a first language, some noticeable slip-ups are present during the song. However, the Huffington Post pointed out that "Cobain himself famously slurred his words and botched his own lyrics," so it isn't that bad.
The "Yo Soy" panel's immediate reaction to the Nirvana songs is a testament to the iconic band's influence on music worldwide. The band's run, from 1987 to 1994, produced one of the most-lauded grunge sounds in America, and led to alternative rock becoming a mainstream- and widely acclaimed- kind of music.
Nirvana itself, made of vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain, bass guitarist Krist Novoselic, and drummer and vocalist Dave Grohl achieved status and fame after their album Nevermind caught fire, eventually selling 30 million copies.
Unfortunately, the grunge band's tenure was short-lived. Cobain committed suicide in his Lake Washington home April 5, 1994.
Click below to watch a performance of Nirvana's "Come as You Are" on MTV's "Unplugged."
