Nirvana’s “In Bloom” won Best Alternative Video at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.
The award recognized the music video directed by Kevin Kerslake. It presents Nirvana in deliberately old-fashioned black-and-white television performances, with the band members wearing suits and appearing in a style that recalls early variety programs.
The video then contrasts that polished presentation with more chaotic color footage. This contrast reflects the song’s satirical edge and its subject: people who enjoy a band’s sound without necessarily understanding its meaning or context.
“In Bloom” originally appeared on Nevermind and became one of the album’s later singles. It is sometimes confused with “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which won major awards and had the more iconic school-gym video, but the 1993 Best Alternative Video award went to “In Bloom.”