smell that teen spirit

so, suskind's tale about scent has finally been adapted for cinema. an extremely difficult proposition, of course, considering how much the prose relies on recreating the sense of smell. then again, if words work, a director can always argue about images being equally powerful triggers. for now, kurt cobain's take on the affair from 1993's in utero. boys and girls, scentless apprentice:

"like most babies smell like butter
his smell smelled like no other
he was born scentless and senseless
he was born a scentless apprentice

go away - get away, get a-way

every wet nurse refused to feed him
electrolytes smell like semen
i promise not to sell your perfumed secrets
there are countless formulas for pressing flowers

go away - get away, get a-way

i lie in the soll and fertilize mushrooms
leaking out gas fumes are made into perfume
you can't fire me because i quit!
throw me in the fire and i won't throw a fit

go away - get away, get away, get away, get a-way"