This is the most timeless '90s song, according to Spotify data

YouTube

Nirvana's video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is iconic.

The raw vocals of Kurt Cobain paired with the chorus' upbeat (yet drone) melody make the track intoxicating and timeless. Now there's hard data to back up the song's status as a classic

Data scientist Matt Daniels recently looked at Spotify's catalog of '90s songs, and then ranked them by play count in 2014 (the most recent year available).

He found that Nirvana's hit from its 1991 album "Nevermind" topped the list by a huge margin, with over 50.6 million plays. Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris," which ranked second, didn't even come close with 35.6 million plays.

Weirdly enough, "Smells like Teen Spirit" never reached the Billboard Top 5 in '91 or '92. It obviously had plenty of commercial success, but nothing close to the Spotify success it's achieving today.

Perhaps it's because the music streaming service caters to younger listeners. In 2016, the track brings a certain level of punk nostalgia that defined the '90s music scene, making it especially iconic for the millennial generation.

Just listen for yourself: