In an video interview with Loudwire, Yankovic says he was nervous about asking the Nirvana frontman for permission, but that Cobain was "cool" with the idea.

He says: "I remember that phone conversation very well - I wish I had recorded it, it would have been a nice little piece of history. I was very nervous, and I didn't know how he would take my requesting the parody. But he was extremely cool. I just told him, 'hey, it's Weird Al Yankovic and I would love to do a parody of Smells Like Teen Spirit.'