Over the past few days, social media posts have been stirring up a viral storm following an article that was published by the Daily Mail suggesting that Kurt Cobain is still alive.

The claims were made due to a video of Peruvian singer, Ramiro Saavedra, covering an eerily similar version of the Nirvana classic “Come As You Are” on the South American country’s talent show Yo Soy, in 2012.

Just a few hours ago, the official Nirvana Facebook page sarcastically posted a note in response to the speculation, which read: “It is true, Kurt is alive. He needed time to learn to play the guitar with his right hand. Finding left-handed guitars is not easy. We are so happy to have him back, and forgive him for all of the sadness that we have held so deeply in our hearts.”

Here is the cover version of the performance that is causing all the controversy:

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And here is the original version:

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Although I personally don’t believe that Cobain is still alive, there is no doubt that there are similarities between the voices of the two—so it is clear why fans are clinging to the possibility that he may still be around and performing, especially as (like myself) there are millions who were deeply affected by his art and greatly miss his presence.

Although the music icon’s death—on April 5^th 1994, at his home in Seattle—was ruled as suicide, many fans believe that he is in fact still alive, while others refuse to believe that he took his own life and are convinced that he was murdered.

One of the most significant points about the song Saavendra chose to sing is the section of the lyrics that could add fuel to the rumor Cobain did not take his own life: “And I swear that I don’t have a gun. No, I don’t have a gun.” They are chilling words to ponder, considering that the gun that was identified in Cobain’s suicide did not belong to him, and neither did they find his fingerprints on it.

Cobain was clearly a gifted, highly sensitive, creative, emotional, delicate soul who was passionate about his music—and although he longed for love and acceptance, he struggled to find any of this in the trappings of fame and glory. He regularly spoke out about how he suffered from anxiety and constant stomach pains, and felt entirely at odds with those around him. Sadly, it seems this rock-and-roll genius’ life tragically ended far too early and unfortunately, before he truly experienced a profound sense of peace or his place in the world

I believe that it is evident by the sound of Cobain’s voice, the way he played guitar and the lyrics he wrote that he externalized the internal pain he felt. He expressed himself to try to put what he was feeling, thinking and seeing into context, in the hopes that someone would understand it, and perhaps miraculously recognize what he was going through and give him the answers to alleviate his suffering. Heartbreakingly, that never happened.

“If my eyes could show my soul,everyone would cry when they saw me smile.” ~ Kurt Cobain

There is one particular quote of Cobain’s that shook me when I first read it, and it continues to do so each and every time, as it is one that I resonate with strongly. Each word of it reflects to me my own perception on the world, and how I felt so out of place as a child and for the majority of my adult life. I experienced the same feelings he describes. From around the age of five, I talked to aliens in the sky—and from as far back as I can remember, I didn’t feel as though I fit into place here. I never met others who thought or felt as I did.

“I always want to think I was an alien, I used to think when I was young, that I was adopted by my mother because they found me in a spaceship, and they let me out, and I was from a different planet. I wanted to be from a different planet really bad. Every night I would talk to my real parents and my real family in the skies. I knew that there were thousands of alien babies dropped off all over the place, and I have met quite a few of them. It’s just something that I’ve always liked to toy with in my mind. It’s really fun to pretend that ya know, there is some special reason for me to be here, and I feel really homesick all the time, and so do the other aliens. And I only have a chance to come across a handful of other aliens the rest of my life…eventually one day, we’ll find out what we’re supposed to do.” ~ Kurt Cobain

I’m hoping that before his death, Kurt met with at least one of two of these other alien-like humans that he talked of, and that he knew in his heart why he was here, and mostly that he experienced how it felt to fully belong.

A few of the final words from the note found when he died were, “Peace, Love, Empathy.”

This is how I’ll forever remember him.

To read the full note, click here.

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Author: Alex Myles

Image: Flickr/Day Donaldson

Editor: Yoli Ramazzina