NIN was my late wife's favourite band. We saw them many times together, including while she was pregnant with our eldest child. The day before our wedding, having been told about her illness, Trent was gracious enough to call her for a chat and to wish us well, which meant a very great deal to her. I played this song, as well as "The Day the Whole World Went Away", at her funeral. It still punches me in the gut every time I hear it, but I still love it. Makes me feel close to her again.
You hit the nail on the head at the end there. Trent isn't singing, he's a sound in the soundscape. That's why the pitch doesn't matter, it's the sound and emotion. Glad you enjoyed this. I can't wait till you see something from the Fragile performances, they're equally emotional and maybe even more brilliant.
I love that everytime Elizabeth reacts to Trent Reznor, she's like "talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before" and on top of that, calling him genius all the time, and it's great, because that's exactly what Trent Reznor is.
To repurpose a compliment to give to Trent Reznor, that Frank Black from the Pixies purportedly received from an old-timer that heard him sing, "That boy sure can holler!"
I entered this song by repeating it over and over in my headphones and loud in my car screaming along from the day it came out! Every sound resonated inside my troubled identity. Spoke so strongly to me. Was an unreal experience that connected to my tortured soul. 30 yrs ago
This, honestly, is TRENT. When someone asks me what he actually sounds like, this goes from plaintive, to angry, to furious. He uses his breath, even his inhales to paint the picture. I've seen him do this live three times, and I've cried every time.
I agree she needs to do an few special episodes with a whole album maybe less cuts only in between songs to discuss the song and the placement. This one would be great also The Wall, King Dimond - Them, just to name a few.
Especially some specifics like this. Live just does not do some things justice. NIN and Tool very much so because of the atmosphere being very detailed, reliant on crisp audio. The piano/keyboard intro to this track on the album is absolutely amazing. Though, I think this guy may have been faking playing it in this performance? IDK, rambling... I think she does these though due to avoid copyright strikes maybe? I don't think that's it, don't people get strikes for just singing a few words sometimes? Maybe it's a different aspect of youtube's bizarre take on "fair use" or something, who knows. Maybe in part it's to do a study on their actual singing voice rather than what's processed....not that it matters much in most metal where they really do sing like that.....not to mention that if it's done for effect(eg a chorus or background or whatever) they can totally do it on stage too. I don't know, I flip back and forth between those two reasons. I wound up not following the channel because I tend to dislike live recordings.
Iv seen a lot of NIN reactions and I gotta say a lot of them absolutely do not understand what he’s doing. It’s incredibly nice to see you actually able to understand what is going on here and with his music in general. His ability to convey the raw, tormented, pain and emotion just through is voice is unequaled. Then you throw the rest of the music on top of it and that’s where the genius of his music comes to fruition. It’s just nice to see a UA-cam reactor realize and appreciate this. Oh and thank you for not reacting to closer like EVERYONE else.
I recommend checking out “Reptile” if you want to hear the more industrial side of Nine Inch Nails. It’s sludgy, dark, melodic, and Trent goes from growling to screaming to whispering to …scatting? It’s my favorite NIN song!
The Woodstock version of it is quite good! However I also like the 2001 version from the Fragile toor. I think the recording on the latter is somewhat better, but at Woodstock Trent is more crazy. Can't just pick one :-)
@@karlrobinson3608 it’s good but to me it looses the feeling of NIN a bit. Anyways tbh I think the Woodstock version is the best for reaction purposes out of them all.
I love hearing you talk about NIN like this. I often feel on my own thinking that he's a genius, he is. I don't know any other artist that moves me the way he does. I love how geeked out you are over the "ugly" sound. I always think there is something so incredibly vengeful and sinister about NIN music, and at the same time he can write love songs that feel like they're whispered in your ear just for you, and I love it.
Trent is seriously the GOAT of making you feel those dark emotions. This is one of my favorite NIN songs of all time. I appreciate that you can enunciate the subtle vocal and musical changes he used to hit in the feels every single time.
Hands down one the most amazing live acts throughout the entire 90s along with Pantera Tool, Rage Against the Machine among a few others, This was the best performance of Woodstock 94 even though it started off a bit rough during Terrible Lie with Trent practically losing his shit with his microphone cutting in and out,, That being said that was the only slight mishap though easily forgotten within Trent and Nails Outstanding and Powerful Performance here!
Trent is a genius, period. He early work was (and is) incredibly ground breaking. I was fortunate to see NIN in a small venue then they were just getting started, and it was a life altering experience. I'm so glad you reacted to this performance....there are many more of NIN songs that are worthy of your time.
@@mikehansen5356Agreed. People connect with how Cash's history recontextualizes the lyrics, but the NIN version is more interesting and complex musically and still quite good in terms of performance and emotional resonance. And that's not even getting into its role as the conclusion to the journey on The Downward Spiral.
This is a great idea. I did listen to Nine Inch Nail's version before I listened to Johnny Cash's, but that was years ago and I've totally forgotten how it sounded.
Thanks for reacting to this! I was actually at this show. At that time I was obsessed with Trent/NiN and their entire set was unreal. I was probably about 100 yards out dead center….covered in mud and drenched. The entire weekend was insane - but feel blessed I was there.
Trent's ability to invoke pain and brokenness and humanity into his vocal performances is awe-inspiring and just leaves you feeling raw. The man is a genius on the level of Mozart, Vivaldi, and Beethoven. It's a shame he doesn't get the recognition he truly deserves.
You are absolutely right! He will be looked upon as one of the greatest. Not among his contemporaries. Across all recorded music. He did most of this by himself, outside of the drumming. He is truly one of a kind.
The BEST or probably the best performance from Trent to be analyzed from you here is the PIANO live version of this song. He is playing piano and singing. You can hear so well exactly the sounds he makes with his voice in this macabre intimate version. I like the low quality video of it, with 13 million views. Something special also about “degrading the video” added to the feeling. It feels old and nostalgic. When I saw it first time I have stayed for months thinking about it. Because of his intensity. There’s so much planning on how to make such an impact. He’s a case study for whoever wants to be a better artist.
Damn I wish it was the “Still” version but still love seeing more NIИ. Trent is the perfect example of emotion and expression being the most important element of a vocal performance (or any performance for that matter).
@@hereinsideisthemetal5841 Ehm… I don’t think I’d say Woodstock were their worst performances at all. I wouldn’t even compare the “Still” versions of songs to Woodstock performances because they are VERY intentionally different.
The whole Still album is amazing. I got The Fragile DVD and there was a advert to order Still inside of it. It wasn't even out yet so it took a long time to get it but the wait was well worth it.
I love your love for him. You are such a cheerleader for talented individuals, and are clearly talented enough yourself to have released the jealousy that artists so often feel for each other. This is by far the best reaction channel on UA-cam; your analysis, attitude, and skill with the youtube medium are top notch. Thanks for everything you do! P.s. please do jeff buckley!
Another one to look into is “The Great Below” (from their And All That Could Have Been tour). Great example of Trent’s clean, but still emotional, singing. Beautiful soundscape too, it feels like being carried away by a giant wave.
You just encapsulated what I wish I had the words for when I was 15 and listening to NIN albums on repeat. I found life hard as a kid/young man and this was the soundtrack, sadly most people I knew dismissed it as noise. It's great that Trent has vindicated himself to the ears of the masses with the scope and depth of his work. Watched the channel since the first few videos, your journey is satisfying and inspiring.
One of the things I love most about your channel is how you cover songs I've loved in my past, and give them brand new life. I love it, thank you so much for all of your insight.
@@alphooeyStill holds up to the point that it resonates deeply with the current generation. I recently introduced my 16 yr old and her best friend to PHM and they are thoroughly hooked. All these years later it is still relevant.
@karlrobinson3608 I revisit that one occasionally. There is a version of it that was an Easter egg on the DVD version of NIN Live: All that could have been. That's probably my favorite. That whole DVD is a must-see.
Reptile's placement in TDS makes it perfection to me. Sublime on its own for certain, but the impact of where it arrives in the context of TDS is another level. Consideration for the entire composition, never mind A / B sides is something lost in the streaming era.
I saw him do Reptile with Gary Numan in 2013. I listened to NIN at the time but the concert made me fall in love with the song and NIN in general and now Trent/the band are one of my favorites.
Thank you! I'm so glad you felt this song. This is my favorite NIN song. It helped me during some hard times. It holds a very special place in my heart.
Same! I think I have been consistently listening to NIN just as long, if not more so, than just about any other artist. I picked up the Broken EP the week it came out & I have been hooked ever since.
@@Flagg795 Cool, have you heard Pigface? Industrial supergroup formed by Martin Atkin, with Reznor as one of the rotating vocalist/writers. Atkins recently founded an industrial music museum in Chicago! Also I highly recommend Skinny Puppy, especially if you're into animal rights
@@mattjohn4731 I have indeed! I had not heard of the industrial music museum, but that sounds bad ass & I will certainly check it out the next time I am in Chicago! Thank you for the heads up!
Wow, Elizabeth! This was probably the best song reaction I’ve ever seen. Soooo few people even begin to process all the depth and detail, the manifold creativity, that goes into a NIN expression (song). That’s the thing that most people miss is that these songs aren’t intended to be songs, in the traditional sense, and that’s why people who measure them by those standards miss the genius. The NIN masterpieces are expressions of VERY specific emotions, and he pours every ounce of his creativity into capturing and communicating that emotion with full nuance and a depth that satisfies those who have been unfortunate enough to have been struck in that particular way. It’s not just rage. Or, betrayal. Or seduction. It’s situational. The songs are tweaked in such a way that they don’t remind you of every heartbreak you’ve ever had. They remind you of that ONE person that really kicked your heart in the balls. Ha. And, he digs and digs until it’s all carved out and left there in a big messy pile on the floor. And, strangely, you sometimes feel better. Ha. Of course, you can also OD on his music. Especially teenagers. It can paint a very bleak portrait for people who haven’t experienced enough of life for themselves. And, I think from the beginning, he understood that there are limits to what traditional composition techniques and instrumentation could convey, and that the talent of the past had utilized those tools to the full extent already. In order to push deeper, he needed to discover brand new sounds and techniques, and nothing was off the table. He was one of the original mic-droppers, only he didn’t do it as a flex. He did it as a way of saying, “I gave it my all. I have nothing left.” He would often drop the mic at the end of a particularly intense song, it would just fall out of his hand as he walked away, spent. So, he really did move music forward in some impressive ways, although most people never really got it. Furthermore, competing with him was kind of off the table for most musicians, due to their own artistic limits. Thus, he was one of the rare artists that essentially created his own genre, and subsequently also shut it down, once he got tired of delving into those various darknesses. It’s rare for someone to do something so well initially, that none of the would-be copycats could gain enough traction to even get noticed. He was grouped with “industrial” artists, because they also used alternative noises to construct songs, but anyone who loved the other industrial bands could easily see that he wasn’t just playing with the cool new toys, but that there was a higher artistic visionary at work. There is a scream in the song “Wish” on the Broken album, that I’ll just never get over. It just makes every other attempt at capturing that level of despair look like cheap community theatre. It’s not something that Dimash or Freddy Mercury could ever pull off, even though they are far superior singers by the normal metrics. Ha. So, yeah, thanks for this. It’s just cool to see someone as knowledgeable and as experienced as you getting hypnotized by the same things that blew the roof off my understanding of what music could be over 3 decades ago. Speaking of Freddy, NIN does a cover of Queen’s “Get Down, Make Love.” My GF and I requested that one at our prom. lol. It got cancelled about a minute in. Anyone who has heard it will know why😂
My favorite NIN album & one I think you would love is The Fragile. What an amazing album, meant to be experienced front to back. Favorite tracks are “We’re in this together” “Into The Void” “The Day The World Went Away”
It's always so great to have those concrete reminders of how far you've come on this journey. A journey we've all joyfully gone along with you. The open-mindedness and willingness to explore is always such a breath of fresh air. Yours is hands down one of the best UA-cam evolutions that I've ever witnessed. And it only promises to get better. Love from the UK to you and your family and all the fans 🇬🇧🤩
It's a long shot bc I'm probably the only one who will request this, but I think you'd enjoy reacting to "All Time Low" from NIN's Tension tour for a very different but still quite good NIN experience.
Liz Im so proud of you! I wanted to recommend this , but was afraid to. This is the heaviest song ever. there is one song equal sorta, by a band named Click Click called Bent Massive. This is true genius, and the perfect example of what an artist Trent is. Thank you.
@@JohnnyBNerdythe way Trent loves to carry through musical motifs in his albums is so perfect for a stage performance! Unfortunately it would be the most depressing play of all time…
I shred at least a couple tears EVERY time I hear this song. I had some dark times buried in my own head and this song was on repeat through a lot of it. Now I hear it with love and re-emergence instead of darkness. LOVE NIN!
I first saw them supporting Guns N Roses. Got the feeling most of the crowd didn't like them too much but I found them very interesting. Loved that first album on purchase and pretty much everything since. Such a talent!
Those were the best shows, when Pretty Hate Machine first came out, and NIN was still playing small venues. Not stadiums. Right up close to the stage. So intense! Cabaret Metro in Chicago! Miss those days!
@@ArtDigitalMediaTV Same here - saw them at AXIS on Lansdowne in Boston in 1990 - Phenomenal power and intensity. Met Trent at the after party upstairs and got him a Heineken and he signed my ticket stub. Amazing how he downshifted all that energy to have a normal rock chat after his high-octane performance.
Thank you for recognizing the brilliance that is Trent Reznor. I have been blow away with everything he's been involved with since hearing the Pretty Hate Machine album and seeing them in concert before the album hit...
Been a huge NIN fan since my youth. This song had a big part in my life after I tragically lost my wife 8 months after getting married. Trent Reznor is one of a kind, there will never be another.
Yeah i have had a major connection to NIN for a similar reason, late 90s, my late wife passed, while pregnant. We met from her spotting me wearing a NIN concert shirt from Downward Spiral tour. No one captures the grit of emption like he does. Not a dig to any other artist but Trent has a unique ability to speak to your pain or loss. And sans the tragedy, his music is simply genius!
Thankyou, I appreciate it. It was a long time ago now, but i still feel it, especially with certain music. The end of The Great Below come into my head when i think of her. Again thank you for the comment. This music community is filled with the good ones.
Omg you get everything my love.. I know Trent hates his Woodstock set, I assume bad memories...but it's one of my favourite set's he's ever done. Thankyou for showing such love to Trent 🖤
Elizabeth this was yet another good choice. I have seen Trent talk about being inspired by Jim Morrison's live performances (i.e. Celebration of the Lizard, The End, The Changeling, and many others.), especially Live@TheHollywoodBowl. Jim would weave/vamp improvised poems & lyrics in his Lizard King persona, like a trance; while in real time the band would improvise the background music to capture the Jim's emotions, body language, facial expressions in sync with his vamped lyrics/poems. Trent is also influenced by Rush's epic multi-section songs. Thank you for your effort, experience, and enthusiasm. 🤘😎🤘
Trent Reznor is a legitimate musical genius, he never does anything by accident it is all by design. Whether its a straight up hard rock/metal tone like in Starf*ckers Inc or something moody and dark like this or Hurt he is one of my favourite musial artists ever..
One of the most commendable things about Reznor and NIN is the journey they’ve been on. To compare this raw, passionate performance from these young men to seeing them live today….they are equally as powerful, artistic, and true. He has not lost any of his spark(clearly when you see what he has achieved lately) and finds a way to stay connected to these songs which he wrote a lifetime ago. There is no going through the motions or phoning it in. With all that said- check out some of their more recent live performances, I think you’d enjoy the comparison.
He never rests on his laurels and is always experimenting with new sounds and vibes. That extends to their live shows too, he's always thinking of interesting new ways to arrange and perform the music in live settings, and pushing the tech for what can be achieved visually as well. There's a great two part doc about the behind the scenes on the Tension Tour. It's really incredible how much work goes into everything.
The fact that through his iconoclastic work, he also pursues and records with preceding legends like Gary Numan and Peter Murphy just goes to show he is aware of his place and importance in carrying on a legacy of industrial electronica which pushes envelopes and pulls in new listeners. His studio work of re-imagining Bella Lugosi's Dead with Murphy, himself, is mind-blowing.
The years go by, and in my way of understanding music, I have never found anything more creative than NIN. Yes, they are my favorite band. Thanks for the video.
I was listening to this song the other day almost hoping that one day she might cover it for how eerie and simple and droning and brilliant Trent rezner is in this song
The mud was an accident, but a fortuitous one. Woodstock '94 is mostly famous, I think, for the terrible weather turning everything to mud. The live bassist for NIN pushed Trent Reznor into the mud right before they went on stage. This escalated and bassist, keyboardist, and drummer all ended up in the mud as well.
There is a video on YT of the band talking backstage before the show and planning to get in the mud, but I do like the story of them having a mud fight better
Not actually an accident. Kate van Buren, the wife of the late James Woolsey, who toured with NIN as their keyboardist during that era, has been uploading a ton of the home video footage he recorded to her UA-cam channel, including a bunch of Woodstock 94 behind the scenes stuff. The mud was 100% planned out, when they were getting ready to go on stage Trent had their PA trying to find a mud puddle they could walk by so they could stage a scuffle in it. Their whole plan was to upstage Metallica and show off what they were doing as the new cutting edge of aggressive rock/metal music, and it worked.
Wow, I really appreciate your take and respectful interpretation of Trent's music. You acknowledge that some people in your chat may be thinking about him a certain way because he is not a traditional singer/performer with a specific type of voice. And then you acknowledge the brilliant audacity of refusing to try to be someone other than who he is in order to make the music emotionally inspiring that makes you feel and appreciate the emotion and effort being put into the performance in order to convey exactly what he's trying to convey. NIN and Trent Reznor are so inspiring to so many people. I think if he had ever given in to his suffering and died or ended his own life, it would mean something totally different. But the fact that he has overcome everything while baring his heart and soul to the world, and has created success and happiness for himself after so many years, is in itself inspiring when you can see the torture he has been through. It's so relatable to a lot of people, and I adore his music like so many others because it has helped inspire me in my own life to get through difficult times. Thank you again for your take. So many people just don't really consider the depth of his efforts when they hear him the first few times, and I think they get the wrong impression and lose interest too quickly.
Fastest like of my life. Couldn't have picked a better NIN song to react to. Trent's rawness and intensity are tangible. Its so difficult to pick out my stand out songs from the performance. But Suck, Reptile and Head like a hole are definitely worth a listen.
I've been waiting for a good time to watch this one. NIN was the first concert I remember going to at 8 years old, then last week at Echo & The Bunnymen my pop said "you probably dont remember but we took you to see Echo when you were 5" like thanks for telling me now that I'm 41.. lol But I knew the tears would flow during this one. And I had tears rollin within 45 secs. And by half through it looked like I've been ugly cryin'! I absolutely love this performance and Reznor/NIN in general. Thank you for this. And yes, everyone please "Fall in love with music every day"!
My mom got me the pay per view of this Woodstock. I watched this live and was jaw dropped. I’ve since seen NIN three times live. Love love love love love love love Reznor!!!!!!!!
When you are in a place in life that is as dark as this song....you are normally very lonely. A song like this helps you not feel so alone. When listening to this you feel someone is with you and that gives you strength.
I will accuse him of that. Bowie's side of their Hurt duet, at least, sounds like vibrato affectation in comparison to Trent. IMHO. Minority opinion, I'm sure. Bowie is wonderful doing Bowie of course, but he sounds like a visitor in a foreign country to me trying to do NIN. Depends on what we think makes a good singer. Is it self-expression, innovation, conventional melody or defying expectations. What do you like? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
@@PeterPounders Listen to his background vocals on Past the Mission by Tori Amos and you might disagree. He CAN sing very well. It just isn't what his music calls for.
Reznor's performance even in this forum pulls me in so deep I forget this is a analysis video. Each time you stop to analyze the performance I'm a bit jarred being pulled out of his performance. This song and the album is ugly, dirty, raw, full of hurt and filled with so much pain. It's also incredibly beautiful. This song and the album are wonderful and beautiful works of art. If his performance doesn't make you heart ache and bring tears to your eyes then I'd guess you've never been in the place he was when he wrote this. The fact he can bring back the depth of his pain in a live performance is brilliant. I have to believe each performance of his works is emotionally and physically exhausting.
You often talk about taking care of your voice, but I want to see you react to Tom Waits voice through the ages. He sounds like a completely different person now (probably more to do with drinking and smoking than bad singing honestly) I LIVE his song writing and his unique voice adds so much character to songs that I grew up listening to not realizing that they were covers of his originals.
@@robertelmore3616 I think she should work towards those after hearing his older stuff from when his voice was in better shape. I'm a fan Ol' 55 or (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night
My favourite band for pretty much all the reasons you've highlighted. Such vulnerability, such attention to detail and a really unique sound. So glad you've liked the performances! :) Would recommend either Reptile from this same concert or perhaps The Becoming (Still version). Both are really prime examples of raw and genuine anguish.
@@maineiacial who could forget the mud people? I managed to avoid them. Did you see Primus? Someone threw mud on Les and he stopped the song “my name is mud”
He is pitchy, and pressed, but all in service to the performance. For me the composition has always been the main point of interest in NIN, because a lot of it is transcendently good. Tool is probably the only other band I can point to from the same general era, that is as good at crafting these kinds of musical pocket dimensions.
NIN and Tool have been my favorite bands for years. we are blessed that they are both alive and putting out music/performing. out of all the 90s bands we lost, thankfully we still have them (and primus!)
Thank you for walking us through this performance. Trent Reznor's performance, and Nine Inch Nails in general, is always personnal and visceral. There aren't many performers that can convey emotions like he can. And, yes, I do enjoy the perfect pitch and timber, but they never reach my soul like his delivery does. Maybe that's why he's such a great film composer now! He understands how to convey the required emotion. Reznor has been an inspiration of mine on so many level. And he's been an conduit for my anguish and emotions. I will always hold him in high regards. Thank you again! Edit: Oh, and one thing I forgot to mention, the mud in that show was sort of improvised. It had been raining for a while and there was a big puddle at the entrance of the stage. Reznor though it would be cool if they drenched themselves in mud for their stage appearance. Many members of the band later remember it as the worst idea ever. Not only were they freezing cold during the performance, but, like you said, the mud and water went everywhere, shortcicuiting many of the boards and instruments. It only to their honnor that they were able to render such a memorable performance under those conditions!
Amazing reaction! I'm a huge fan of Nine Inch Nails and have been for decades. This song here is incredible and super motivational! It makes me feel incredibly happy that you've expanded your listening habits to include harsher vocals and singing. :) Everybody can grow! hahahaha, I absolutely love that you're in awe at the end! :D I'll be checking that list out! :)
You should check out his live intimate version on this song called “Something I can never have (Still) “ it’s just him and the piano and his guitar player. If you really wanna hear the pain on this song and Trent true power vocals, you need to check that out.
Again, welcome to the genius that is Trent. So great to see an opera singer so enthralled by performances like this, and extolling the values of rock and metal. You really need to listen to the first three albums entirely, but at least, Downward Spiral from beginning to end. It’s so haunting and spooky and raw, and real.
“You’re just a fading fucking reminder of who I used to be.” The perfect dismissal for the person in all our lives who had been the “Pretty Hate Machine”
I was at that Woodstock performance at the heady age of 14. (My friend's hippie parents took us and pretended to be my parents when asked about allowing the 'minors' into the show.) Listening to this again after so many years, is still both haunting and soothing. 'I still recall the smell of the mud; An intriguing mix of scents just like angst, booze, and blood.' 🤘💀🤘
You fuckin kill it girl with your analysis! I don't understand a whiff of the tech talk but appreciate so much the way you articulate the characteristics of the things we are hearing and create an entirely new level of appreciation in the 'genius' of the artist. One thing I noticed and was surprised you didn't comment on is that early in the piece Trent often doesn't finish the vocal line, he allows it to just trail off. For instance the opening use of the "Something I Can Never Have" line he doesn't actually complete the word 'Have" and just sort of leaves it to linger in a kind of of breathy expression. He goes on to repeat this behaviour with various lines throughout the first movement of the piece. This design really sells it for me, it conveys so well the depth of pain here that actually finishing the line is simply too much. As you say it's genius.
Crowd atmosphere and live spontaneity have their charms, but if you haven't heard the studio version of this, you should check it out-and as you mentioned, preferably on headphones. It's hopeless despair explored while sitting next to a subterranean river in the pitch dark of a deep cave in which you're trapped.
@@wysockibTrue but, it is a different perspective live with a huge crowd... But I do agree the studio version perhaps first, then the live version, would have been perhaps a better listening experience for her first trip down the rabbit hole.. ✌️
I feel that way about most NIN songs. They do a remarkably good job of capturing a song's sound live, and this being a vocal analysis channel there's definitely a reason to prefer live performances, but still, the production on the albums is always so immaculate. Where things are placed in the mix, how some things overpower everything else and then fade into the background, things moving around the stereo field, whatever dark arts he uses to make instruments sound like each other so you can't even tell what you're hearing, the vocal effects, the often strange but amazing harmonies he gets by layering his voice. They sound great on live recordings, and I'm sure it's phenomenal to be in the crowd, but there's only so much you can do live, and there's only a few songs I've heard where I'd say the live version is as good or better than the album one.
Always a passionate and emotional performance by NIN. There is a lot of personal meaning behind their songs if anyone checks... great analysis as always! ❤️
'The Becoming', 'Reptile', 'Only', 'With Teeth', 'The Fragile', 'We're in this Together', 'Piggy'... and if you want a wild showcasing of his mixing and layering, check out, 'All The Love In The World''
Trent is indeed a genius. I really appreciate that you pointed out, even if it's not "pleasing" to the ear, it can still create feelings you don't get without the "ugly" bits as you called them. It's beautiful what he creates and shares with us.
Thank you for sharing the info about the audio gear you use. It’s something that I’ve always been curious about since I also believe the right audio gear will present the music as it was heard at recording. I love your videos, Tool, and now NIN! I was 14 when I first seen a home recorded VHS tape of this concert recorded from HBO PPV. Life changing.
I see that someone has already mentioned their performance of Hurt with David Bowie, which I absolutely love and recommend. But if you do check out that one, realize that it's musically way different than the original recording. I really dig the slow, syncopated guitar tapping in the version with Bowie.
First time commenting and suggesting but long time fan. May not surprise you but your Tool videos brought me in. I'm one of those guys. Thank you so much, I can't tell you how nice it is as a metal head to have someone so smart and enthusiastic about music breaking this music down. You seem to be on a live kick lately so I just wanted to suggest one of my favorite live performances of all time. The artist is Gary Clark Jr and the particular performance is When my train rolls in from the Gastenbury festival in 2016. If you are unfamiliar with GCJ I will say he is the most impressive guitar player and the loudest I have ever seen live. In this song the crowd chants his name before the song and there is a playful interaction between Gary and the crowd and it's like he almost makes a conscious decision that he is going to just melt their faces off and boy does he. The vocals on this song may not be enough to justify making the cut for your channel but Gary sings with his axe like almost nobody else out there. At the 10:07 mark in the background you can actually see his bass player, who has been with him forever not just a fill in musician mind you, literally shaking his head in disbelief at what Gary is doing. I'm sure you get countless requests to listen to different songs but as someone who appreciates music performed at an incredibly high level this is as pure as it gets. Apologies for writing a book but i could ramble for days about this stuff. Thanks again and keep up the good work
I was born in 1986, began working with music in a professional capacity in '94 at the age of 8....and Trent Reznor has been my biggest influence since '95. So it is nice to hear someone I respect as much as Elizabeth truly understanding the depth of his live performances!!!
Please, please, please start doing vocal performances for skinny puppy. Ohgr is one of the greatest musicians of our generation. Just do spasmylotic, killing fields or anymofmthe big music videoe, hell just listen to too dark park. One of the best albums ever.
Art is the essence of humanity distilled into a form, a piece, a finite lump of emotion. This "ugly" sound, these purposeful imperfections are exactly why NIN is true art. True emotion, true human experience. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this, Elizabeth.
I would love to see an analysis of the live version of Right where it belongs, that performance is haunting! Thank you for making so many videos on NIN! Its a pleasure to watch.
I love Nine Inch Nails so much. Hearing The Downward Spiral in '94 literally (like, actually "literally") changed my life. They will always be my favorite band.
I've been a NIN/Trent Reznor fan for 30+ years and I love how you can see the brilliance in something that's not your normal music. And he definitely wouldn't say he tried to sing perfectly, and the uglyness was kinda the point... Love your videos like this 😊
NIN was my late wife's favourite band. We saw them many times together, including while she was pregnant with our eldest child.
The day before our wedding, having been told about her illness, Trent was gracious enough to call her for a chat and to wish us well, which meant a very great deal to her.
I played this song, as well as "The Day the Whole World Went Away", at her funeral. It still punches me in the gut every time I hear it, but I still love it. Makes me feel close to her again.
Fuckin beautiful that he did that, sorry for your loss
It's heart-warming to hear you had such incredible experiences together before her passing. So very sorry for your loss, and her own loss as well! xo
I am so sorry for your loss. Happy to know he is a good human being.
How very beautiful…and so heartbreaking…much like how a lot of NIN feels 🖤. Very sorry for your loss….hope you and your children are all doing well 🖤
So sorry for your loss.
Love is evergreen in our hearts, and those we love and remember are never truly gone.
You hit the nail on the head at the end there. Trent isn't singing, he's a sound in the soundscape. That's why the pitch doesn't matter, it's the sound and emotion.
Glad you enjoyed this. I can't wait till you see something from the Fragile performances, they're equally emotional and maybe even more brilliant.
I love that everytime Elizabeth reacts to Trent Reznor, she's like "talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before" and on top of that, calling him genius all the time, and it's great, because that's exactly what Trent Reznor is.
is this Trent ?
@@markvanderstelt8999 yep
He's finally getting his due, all at once. 💪😎
To repurpose a compliment to give to Trent Reznor, that Frank Black from the Pixies purportedly received from an old-timer that heard him sing, "That boy sure can holler!"
I entered this song by repeating it over and over in my headphones and loud in my car screaming along from the day it came out! Every sound resonated inside my troubled identity. Spoke so strongly to me. Was an unreal experience that connected to my tortured soul. 30 yrs ago
This, honestly, is TRENT. When someone asks me what he actually sounds like, this goes from plaintive, to angry, to furious. He uses his breath, even his inhales to paint the picture. I've seen him do this live three times, and I've cried every time.
Same. Every time I saw this song performed live I cried.
the whole album, pretty hate machine, is a masterpiece of emotion, atmosphere and meaning
100%
Word
I agree she needs to do an few special episodes with a whole album maybe less cuts only in between songs to discuss the song and the placement. This one would be great also The Wall, King Dimond - Them, just to name a few.
Especially some specifics like this. Live just does not do some things justice. NIN and Tool very much so because of the atmosphere being very detailed, reliant on crisp audio. The piano/keyboard intro to this track on the album is absolutely amazing. Though, I think this guy may have been faking playing it in this performance? IDK, rambling...
I think she does these though due to avoid copyright strikes maybe? I don't think that's it, don't people get strikes for just singing a few words sometimes? Maybe it's a different aspect of youtube's bizarre take on "fair use" or something, who knows.
Maybe in part it's to do a study on their actual singing voice rather than what's processed....not that it matters much in most metal where they really do sing like that.....not to mention that if it's done for effect(eg a chorus or background or whatever) they can totally do it on stage too.
I don't know, I flip back and forth between those two reasons. I wound up not following the channel because I tend to dislike live recordings.
In my top 10 albums of all time.
Iv seen a lot of NIN reactions and I gotta say a lot of them absolutely do not understand what he’s doing. It’s incredibly nice to see you actually able to understand what is going on here and with his music in general. His ability to convey the raw, tormented, pain and emotion just through is voice is unequaled. Then you throw the rest of the music on top of it and that’s where the genius of his music comes to fruition. It’s just nice to see a UA-cam reactor realize and appreciate this. Oh and thank you for not reacting to closer like EVERYONE else.
I recommend checking out “Reptile” if you want to hear the more industrial side of Nine Inch Nails. It’s sludgy, dark, melodic, and Trent goes from growling to screaming to whispering to …scatting? It’s my favorite NIN song!
The Woodstock version of it is quite good! However I also like the 2001 version from the Fragile toor. I think the recording on the latter is somewhat better, but at Woodstock Trent is more crazy. Can't just pick one :-)
@AntonNidhoggr have you seen the version with Peter Murphy in 06? That's my standout
@@karlrobinson3608 it’s good but to me it looses the feeling of NIN a bit.
Anyways tbh I think the Woodstock version is the best for reaction purposes out of them all.
My favorite track on ‘The Downward Spiral’, so deeply industrial.
Reptile is in my top three nin songs
I love hearing you talk about NIN like this. I often feel on my own thinking that he's a genius, he is. I don't know any other artist that moves me the way he does. I love how geeked out you are over the "ugly" sound. I always think there is something so incredibly vengeful and sinister about NIN music, and at the same time he can write love songs that feel like they're whispered in your ear just for you, and I love it.
Trent is seriously the GOAT of making you feel those dark emotions. This is one of my favorite NIN songs of all time. I appreciate that you can enunciate the subtle vocal and musical changes he used to hit in the feels every single time.
Hands down one the most amazing live acts throughout the entire 90s along with Pantera Tool, Rage Against the Machine among a few others, This was the best performance of Woodstock 94 even though it started off a bit rough during Terrible Lie with Trent practically losing his shit with his microphone cutting in and out,, That being said that was the only slight mishap though easily forgotten within Trent and Nails Outstanding and Powerful Performance here!
Trent is a genius, period. He early work was (and is) incredibly ground breaking. I was fortunate to see NIN in a small venue then they were just getting started, and it was a life altering experience. I'm so glad you reacted to this performance....there are many more of NIN songs that are worthy of your time.
Oh, since you have already done Johnny Cash's cover for Hurt, you should definitely do the original by NIN.
Unpopular opinion I like the NIN version better
Yes, absolutely! Please do this!
@@mikehansen5356Agreed. People connect with how Cash's history recontextualizes the lyrics, but the NIN version is more interesting and complex musically and still quite good in terms of performance and emotional resonance. And that's not even getting into its role as the conclusion to the journey on The Downward Spiral.
This is a great idea. I did listen to Nine Inch Nail's version before I listened to Johnny Cash's, but that was years ago and I've totally forgotten how it sounded.
Or even better, go for the live version with David Bowie. It's masterful 🤩
Thanks for reacting to this! I was actually at this show. At that time I was obsessed with Trent/NiN and their entire set was unreal. I was probably about 100 yards out dead center….covered in mud and drenched. The entire weekend was insane - but feel blessed I was there.
Trent's ability to invoke pain and brokenness and humanity into his vocal performances is awe-inspiring and just leaves you feeling raw. The man is a genius on the level of Mozart, Vivaldi, and Beethoven. It's a shame he doesn't get the recognition he truly deserves.
You are absolutely right! He will be looked upon as one of the greatest. Not among his contemporaries. Across all recorded music. He did most of this by himself, outside of the drumming. He is truly one of a kind.
The BEST or probably the best performance from Trent to be analyzed from you here is the PIANO live version of this song. He is playing piano and singing. You can hear so well exactly the sounds he makes with his voice in this macabre intimate version. I like the low quality video of it, with 13 million views. Something special also about “degrading the video” added to the feeling. It feels old and nostalgic. When I saw it first time I have stayed for months thinking about it. Because of his intensity. There’s so much planning on how to make such an impact. He’s a case study for whoever wants to be a better artist.
Damn I wish it was the “Still” version but still love seeing more NIИ. Trent is the perfect example of emotion and expression being the most important element of a vocal performance (or any performance for that matter).
That version is amazing. Wish she would do that one as well.
Please look into “Arctic Monkeys”. Don’t worry about the song, you’ll feel it.
Those performances would be amazing to do. Woodstock is quite possibly their worse performance ever
@@hereinsideisthemetal5841 Ehm… I don’t think I’d say Woodstock were their worst performances at all. I wouldn’t even compare the “Still” versions of songs to Woodstock performances because they are VERY intentionally different.
The whole Still album is amazing. I got The Fragile DVD and there was a advert to order Still inside of it. It wasn't even out yet so it took a long time to get it but the wait was well worth it.
I love your love for him. You are such a cheerleader for talented individuals, and are clearly talented enough yourself to have released the jealousy that artists so often feel for each other. This is by far the best reaction channel on UA-cam; your analysis, attitude, and skill with the youtube medium are top notch. Thanks for everything you do! P.s. please do jeff buckley!
Another one to look into is “The Great Below” (from their And All That Could Have Been tour). Great example of Trent’s clean, but still emotional, singing. Beautiful soundscape too, it feels like being carried away by a giant wave.
You just encapsulated what I wish I had the words for when I was 15 and listening to NIN albums on repeat. I found life hard as a kid/young man and this was the soundtrack, sadly most people I knew dismissed it as noise.
It's great that Trent has vindicated himself to the ears of the masses with the scope and depth of his work.
Watched the channel since the first few videos, your journey is satisfying and inspiring.
The emotion of NIN is the silence between the notes
One of the things I love most about your channel is how you cover songs I've loved in my past, and give them brand new life. I love it, thank you so much for all of your insight.
The album version of this song saved my life...
The auditory brutality is an essential component of expressing how these things feel...
Legend
Pretty Hate Machine is probably my most loved album. 35 years in October 2024. Still holds up.
@@alphooeyStill holds up to the point that it resonates deeply with the current generation. I recently introduced my 16 yr old and her best friend to PHM and they are thoroughly hooked. All these years later it is still relevant.
If I had a million dollars, I'd send it to you to do the entire nin catalog from beginning to end.
She has 1.66 million subscribers. If we all pay $1…. :-D
Godddddd me tooo. What a trip that would be for her and every one of the viewers
The version of "Reptile" from this performance is amazing
That's a great version but for me the one with Peter Murphy in '06 for the radio broadcast stands out for me.
@karlrobinson3608 I revisit that one occasionally. There is a version of it that was an Easter egg on the DVD version of NIN Live: All that could have been. That's probably my favorite. That whole DVD is a must-see.
Reptile's placement in TDS makes it perfection to me. Sublime on its own for certain, but the impact of where it arrives in the context of TDS is another level. Consideration for the entire composition, never mind A / B sides is something lost in the streaming era.
I saw him do Reptile with Gary Numan in 2013. I listened to NIN at the time but the concert made me fall in love with the song and NIN in general and now Trent/the band are one of my favorites.
On TDS Reptile was just another song to me. Live, it's a monster of a song.
Thank you! I'm so glad you felt this song. This is my favorite NIN song. It helped me during some hard times. It holds a very special place in my heart.
NIN has been one of my favorites since I was 12 years old (I’m 47). I hope she appreciates it as much as I do.
Same! I think I have been consistently listening to NIN just as long, if not more so, than just about any other artist. I picked up the Broken EP the week it came out & I have been hooked ever since.
Pretty Hate Machine grabbed me and never let go.
You were at least 13, no 12 year old was onto NIN before the Head Like A Hole single, at the least
@@Flagg795 Cool, have you heard Pigface? Industrial supergroup formed by Martin Atkin, with Reznor as one of the rotating vocalist/writers. Atkins recently founded an industrial music museum in Chicago! Also I highly recommend Skinny Puppy, especially if you're into animal rights
@@mattjohn4731 I have indeed! I had not heard of the industrial music museum, but that sounds bad ass & I will certainly check it out the next time I am in Chicago! Thank you for the heads up!
Wow, Elizabeth! This was probably the best song reaction I’ve ever seen. Soooo few people even begin to process all the depth and detail, the manifold creativity, that goes into a NIN expression (song).
That’s the thing that most people miss is that these songs aren’t intended to be songs, in the traditional sense, and that’s why people who measure them by those standards miss the genius. The NIN masterpieces are expressions of VERY specific emotions, and he pours every ounce of his creativity into capturing and communicating that emotion with full nuance and a depth that satisfies those who have been unfortunate enough to have been struck in that particular way.
It’s not just rage. Or, betrayal. Or seduction. It’s situational. The songs are tweaked in such a way that they don’t remind you of every heartbreak you’ve ever had. They remind you of that ONE person that really kicked your heart in the balls. Ha. And, he digs and digs until it’s all carved out and left there in a big messy pile on the floor.
And, strangely, you sometimes feel better. Ha.
Of course, you can also OD on his music. Especially teenagers. It can paint a very bleak portrait for people who haven’t experienced enough of life for themselves.
And, I think from the beginning, he understood that there are limits to what traditional composition techniques and instrumentation could convey, and that the talent of the past had utilized those tools to the full extent already. In order to push deeper, he needed to discover brand new sounds and techniques, and nothing was off the table.
He was one of the original mic-droppers, only he didn’t do it as a flex. He did it as a way of saying, “I gave it my all. I have nothing left.” He would often drop the mic at the end of a particularly intense song, it would just fall out of his hand as he walked away, spent.
So, he really did move music forward in some impressive ways, although most people never really got it. Furthermore, competing with him was kind of off the table for most musicians, due to their own artistic limits. Thus, he was one of the rare artists that essentially created his own genre, and subsequently also shut it down, once he got tired of delving into those various darknesses. It’s rare for someone to do something so well initially, that none of the would-be copycats could gain enough traction to even get noticed.
He was grouped with “industrial” artists, because they also used alternative noises to construct songs, but anyone who loved the other industrial bands could easily see that he wasn’t just playing with the cool new toys, but that there was a higher artistic visionary at work. There is a scream in the song “Wish” on the Broken album, that I’ll just never get over. It just makes every other attempt at capturing that level of despair look like cheap community theatre.
It’s not something that Dimash or Freddy Mercury could ever pull off, even though they are far superior singers by the normal metrics. Ha.
So, yeah, thanks for this. It’s just cool to see someone as knowledgeable and as experienced as you getting hypnotized by the same things that blew the roof off my understanding of what music could be over 3 decades ago.
Speaking of Freddy, NIN does a cover of Queen’s “Get Down, Make Love.” My GF and I requested that one at our prom. lol. It got cancelled about a minute in. Anyone who has heard it will know why😂
My favorite NIN album & one I think you would love is The Fragile.
What an amazing album, meant to be experienced front to back.
Favorite tracks are
“We’re in this together”
“Into The Void”
“The Day The World Went Away”
would that i had more than one thumbs up to give
My sweet spot on The Fragile is The Great Below.
The distorted wall of sound in “the day the world went away.”
'Where is everybody' from the fragile is 🔥🔥🔥
The Great Below is my favorite track off this brilliant album.
It's always so great to have those concrete reminders of how far you've come on this journey. A journey we've all joyfully gone along with you.
The open-mindedness and willingness to explore is always such a breath of fresh air.
Yours is hands down one of the best UA-cam evolutions that I've ever witnessed. And it only promises to get better.
Love from the UK to you and your family and all the fans 🇬🇧🤩
This song breaks my heart every time I hear it without fail. I'm so glad it resonated with you. 💔
with Trent Reznor every single thing is intentional. I am so happy to see you finding and analyzing this music.
It's a long shot bc I'm probably the only one who will request this, but I think you'd enjoy reacting to "All Time Low" from NIN's Tension tour for a very different but still quite good NIN experience.
Such a good song. I love the funky bass and the piano. Definitely underrated 🖤
Great call. I loved how they performed it on that tour.
Liz Im so proud of you! I wanted to recommend this , but was afraid to. This is the heaviest song ever. there is one song equal sorta, by a band named Click Click called Bent Massive. This is true genius, and the perfect example of what an artist Trent is. Thank you.
30 years later, he has an Emmy, multiple Grammys and multiple Oscars...
We just need a Downward Spiral: The Musical so Trent can get his EGOT
@@JohnnyBNerdythe way Trent loves to carry through musical motifs in his albums is so perfect for a stage performance! Unfortunately it would be the most depressing play of all time…
It is only a matter of time before he joins the EGOT list
He wont do a Broadway show lol
And a Country Music Award too. The music for Old Town Road is from the Ghosts album
I shred at least a couple tears EVERY time I hear this song. I had some dark times buried in my own head and this song was on repeat through a lot of it. Now I hear it with love and re-emergence instead of darkness. LOVE NIN!
I saw NIN live for the 'Pretty Hate Machine' tour (NIN's first tour ever), and Trent's been intense since day one.
I first saw them supporting Guns N Roses. Got the feeling most of the crowd didn't like them too much but I found them very interesting. Loved that first album on purchase and pretty much everything since. Such a talent!
Those were the best shows, when Pretty Hate Machine first came out, and NIN was still playing small venues. Not stadiums. Right up close to the stage. So intense! Cabaret Metro in Chicago! Miss those days!
@@ArtDigitalMediaTV Same here - saw them at AXIS on Lansdowne in Boston in 1990 - Phenomenal power and intensity. Met Trent at the after party upstairs and got him a Heineken and he signed my ticket stub. Amazing how he downshifted all that energy to have a normal rock chat after his high-octane performance.
The Astoria show in London felt like it was teetering on the edge of a full riot. Such an intense gig.
I saw them in Texas on that tour in a very small venue...the experience was something I will never forget...
Thank you for recognizing the brilliance that is Trent Reznor. I have been blow away with everything he's been involved with since hearing the Pretty Hate Machine album and seeing them in concert before the album hit...
Been a huge NIN fan since my youth. This song had a big part in my life after I tragically lost my wife 8 months after getting married. Trent Reznor is one of a kind, there will never be another.
Yeah i have had a major connection to NIN for a similar reason, late 90s, my late wife passed, while pregnant. We met from her spotting me wearing a NIN concert shirt from Downward Spiral tour.
No one captures the grit of emption like he does. Not a dig to any other artist but Trent has a unique ability to speak to your pain or loss.
And sans the tragedy, his music is simply genius!
@@bigd6398 My condolences, sir. I am sorry for your loss.
My condolences. The NIN community is sorry for your loss.
Thankyou, I appreciate it. It was a long time ago now, but i still feel it, especially with certain music. The end of The Great Below come into my head when i think of her.
Again thank you for the comment. This music community is filled with the good ones.
Omg you get everything my love..
I know Trent hates his Woodstock set, I assume bad memories...but it's one of my favourite set's he's ever done.
Thankyou for showing such love to Trent 🖤
Elizabeth this was yet another good choice. I have seen Trent talk about being inspired by Jim Morrison's live performances (i.e. Celebration of the Lizard, The End, The Changeling, and many others.), especially Live@TheHollywoodBowl. Jim would weave/vamp improvised poems & lyrics in his Lizard King persona, like a trance; while in real time the band would improvise the background music to capture the Jim's emotions, body language, facial expressions in sync with his vamped lyrics/poems. Trent is also influenced by Rush's epic multi-section songs. Thank you for your effort, experience, and enthusiasm. 🤘😎🤘
Trent Reznor is a legitimate musical genius, he never does anything by accident it is all by design. Whether its a straight up hard rock/metal tone like in Starf*ckers Inc or something moody and dark like this or Hurt he is one of my favourite musial artists ever..
One of the most commendable things about Reznor and NIN is the journey they’ve been on. To compare this raw, passionate performance from these young men to seeing them live today….they are equally as powerful, artistic, and true. He has not lost any of his spark(clearly when you see what he has achieved lately) and finds a way to stay connected to these songs which he wrote a lifetime ago. There is no going through the motions or phoning it in. With all that said- check out some of their more recent live performances, I think you’d enjoy the comparison.
He never rests on his laurels and is always experimenting with new sounds and vibes. That extends to their live shows too, he's always thinking of interesting new ways to arrange and perform the music in live settings, and pushing the tech for what can be achieved visually as well. There's a great two part doc about the behind the scenes on the Tension Tour. It's really incredible how much work goes into everything.
The fact that through his iconoclastic work, he also pursues and records with preceding legends like Gary Numan and Peter Murphy just goes to show he is aware of his place and importance in carrying on a legacy of industrial electronica which pushes envelopes and pulls in new listeners. His studio work of re-imagining Bella Lugosi's Dead with Murphy, himself, is mind-blowing.
The years go by, and in my way of understanding music, I have never found anything more creative than NIN. Yes, they are my favorite band. Thanks for the video.
Great reaction/analysis Elizabeth! This is why you're the best. You help me learn and appreciate more music!
The Downward Spiral is a ground breaking album. It is a masterpiece. Range of emotions through each stage of the album is done perfectly.
I was listening to this song the other day almost hoping that one day she might cover it for how eerie and simple and droning and brilliant Trent rezner is in this song
This performance is fricking RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME.
I don't think this man's moody brilliance will ever be appreciated enough
I've become obsessed with your metal/rock reviews, and this one is a master class in technical musical review with honesty and real emotion.
The mud was an accident, but a fortuitous one. Woodstock '94 is mostly famous, I think, for the terrible weather turning everything to mud. The live bassist for NIN pushed Trent Reznor into the mud right before they went on stage. This escalated and bassist, keyboardist, and drummer all ended up in the mud as well.
we slang mud at every band. sometimes out of love as seen here, sometimes out of hate (spin doctors)
There is a video on YT of the band talking backstage before the show and planning to get in the mud, but I do like the story of them having a mud fight better
Not actually an accident. Kate van Buren, the wife of the late James Woolsey, who toured with NIN as their keyboardist during that era, has been uploading a ton of the home video footage he recorded to her UA-cam channel, including a bunch of Woodstock 94 behind the scenes stuff. The mud was 100% planned out, when they were getting ready to go on stage Trent had their PA trying to find a mud puddle they could walk by so they could stage a scuffle in it. Their whole plan was to upstage Metallica and show off what they were doing as the new cutting edge of aggressive rock/metal music, and it worked.
@@SuzakuX from what I’ve heard, the fact that it was sewage mud was definitely not planned.
Also, I forget the years he was with Trent, but was that Manson on guitar?
I'm truly grateful for your journey to understand this type of music and performance! Raw emotion through music is so incredibly powerful.
Raw emotion. Powerful. There's no band better than NIN. Thank you and please keep doing more. Reptile from Woodstock 94 is incredible.
Wow, I really appreciate your take and respectful interpretation of Trent's music. You acknowledge that some people in your chat may be thinking about him a certain way because he is not a traditional singer/performer with a specific type of voice. And then you acknowledge the brilliant audacity of refusing to try to be someone other than who he is in order to make the music emotionally inspiring that makes you feel and appreciate the emotion and effort being put into the performance in order to convey exactly what he's trying to convey. NIN and Trent Reznor are so inspiring to so many people. I think if he had ever given in to his suffering and died or ended his own life, it would mean something totally different. But the fact that he has overcome everything while baring his heart and soul to the world, and has created success and happiness for himself after so many years, is in itself inspiring when you can see the torture he has been through. It's so relatable to a lot of people, and I adore his music like so many others because it has helped inspire me in my own life to get through difficult times. Thank you again for your take. So many people just don't really consider the depth of his efforts when they hear him the first few times, and I think they get the wrong impression and lose interest too quickly.
Fastest like of my life. Couldn't have picked a better NIN song to react to. Trent's rawness and intensity are tangible. Its so difficult to pick out my stand out songs from the performance. But Suck, Reptile and Head like a hole are definitely worth a listen.
I've been waiting for a good time to watch this one. NIN was the first concert I remember going to at 8 years old, then last week at Echo & The Bunnymen my pop said "you probably dont remember but we took you to see Echo when you were 5" like thanks for telling me now that I'm 41.. lol
But I knew the tears would flow during this one. And I had tears rollin within 45 secs. And by half through it looked like I've been ugly cryin'! I absolutely love this performance and Reznor/NIN in general. Thank you for this. And yes, everyone please "Fall in love with music every day"!
My mom got me the pay per view of this Woodstock. I watched this live and was jaw dropped. I’ve since seen NIN three times live. Love love love love love love love Reznor!!!!!!!!
What an awesome mom 🖤
I was there
@@jasonwoods4272
Awesome
You are perfect in your analysis about this song. It’s a brilliant take.
"A Warm Place" is one of my favorite instrumental songs of all time.
Same here..... masterpiece inspired by Bowie
When you are in a place in life that is as dark as this song....you are normally very lonely. A song like this helps you not feel so alone. When listening to this you feel someone is with you and that gives you strength.
Nobody will ever accuse Trent of being the best singer but his emotion is top tier. The mud was also wreaking havoc on their equipment at this show.
I came here to post something similar. Trent is beyond a production\musical genius. But yea, not really a great singer.
I will accuse him of that. Bowie's side of their Hurt duet, at least, sounds like vibrato affectation in comparison to Trent. IMHO. Minority opinion, I'm sure. Bowie is wonderful doing Bowie of course, but he sounds like a visitor in a foreign country to me trying to do NIN. Depends on what we think makes a good singer. Is it self-expression, innovation, conventional melody or defying expectations. What do you like? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
@@PeterPounders Listen to his background vocals on Past the Mission by Tori Amos and you might disagree. He CAN sing very well. It just isn't what his music calls for.
Reznor's performance even in this forum pulls me in so deep I forget this is a analysis video. Each time you stop to analyze the performance I'm a bit jarred being pulled out of his performance. This song and the album is ugly, dirty, raw, full of hurt and filled with so much pain. It's also incredibly beautiful. This song and the album are wonderful and beautiful works of art. If his performance doesn't make you heart ache and bring tears to your eyes then I'd guess you've never been in the place he was when he wrote this. The fact he can bring back the depth of his pain in a live performance is brilliant. I have to believe each performance of his works is emotionally and physically exhausting.
On the low verses, on a good night, Trent can get through an entire set without ever accidentally being in tune
😂
I am SOOO happy you get Trent. You nailed it and I love you even more for it!! NIN has been a favorite since the beginning. Well done ❤
You often talk about taking care of your voice, but I want to see you react to Tom Waits voice through the ages. He sounds like a completely different person now (probably more to do with drinking and smoking than bad singing honestly) I LIVE his song writing and his unique voice adds so much character to songs that I grew up listening to not realizing that they were covers of his originals.
YES!!!
@@bodyfarmbrat I'm glad I'm not the only one!
She should do Hell Broke Luce or Hoist That Rag.
@@robertelmore3616 I think she should work towards those after hearing his older stuff from when his voice was in better shape. I'm a fan Ol' 55 or (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night
My favourite band for pretty much all the reasons you've highlighted. Such vulnerability, such attention to detail and a really unique sound. So glad you've liked the performances! :)
Would recommend either Reptile from this same concert or perhaps The Becoming (Still version). Both are really prime examples of raw and genuine anguish.
I was there, 1994. It rained and everything was muddy. NIN was in the audience in the mud before they went on stage.
this was the most incredible energy ive ever felt in my life. the mud people. the abandoned tents. the cops drinkin beers at the gates
I was there also. 🔥
@@maineiacial who could forget the mud people? I managed to avoid them. Did you see Primus? Someone threw mud on Les and he stopped the song “my name is mud”
YUP!… under the “mystic” tent that was spraying water mist all day long…
@@willrock8369 lmao
I love watching you listen to music. It always makes me smile and teaches me something.
He is pitchy, and pressed, but all in service to the performance. For me the composition has always been the main point of interest in NIN, because a lot of it is transcendently good. Tool is probably the only other band I can point to from the same general era, that is as good at crafting these kinds of musical pocket dimensions.
NIN and Tool have been my favorite bands for years. we are blessed that they are both alive and putting out music/performing. out of all the 90s bands we lost, thankfully we still have them (and primus!)
Thank you for walking us through this performance. Trent Reznor's performance, and Nine Inch Nails in general, is always personnal and visceral. There aren't many performers that can convey emotions like he can. And, yes, I do enjoy the perfect pitch and timber, but they never reach my soul like his delivery does. Maybe that's why he's such a great film composer now! He understands how to convey the required emotion. Reznor has been an inspiration of mine on so many level. And he's been an conduit for my anguish and emotions. I will always hold him in high regards. Thank you again!
Edit: Oh, and one thing I forgot to mention, the mud in that show was sort of improvised. It had been raining for a while and there was a big puddle at the entrance of the stage. Reznor though it would be cool if they drenched themselves in mud for their stage appearance. Many members of the band later remember it as the worst idea ever. Not only were they freezing cold during the performance, but, like you said, the mud and water went everywhere, shortcicuiting many of the boards and instruments. It only to their honnor that they were able to render such a memorable performance under those conditions!
This song always hits me in the feels, it's a lot like REM Hurt. When you're just not feeling like being happy.
That's the Downward Spiral in a nutshell :P
Amazing reaction! I'm a huge fan of Nine Inch Nails and have been for decades. This song here is incredible and super motivational! It makes me feel incredibly happy that you've expanded your listening habits to include harsher vocals and singing. :) Everybody can grow!
hahahaha, I absolutely love that you're in awe at the end! :D
I'll be checking that list out! :)
You should check out his live intimate version on this song called “Something I can never have (Still) “ it’s just him and the piano and his guitar player. If you really wanna hear the pain on this song and Trent true power vocals, you need to check that out.
Again, welcome to the genius that is Trent. So great to see an opera singer so enthralled by performances like this, and extolling the values of rock and metal. You really need to listen to the first three albums entirely, but at least, Downward Spiral from beginning to end. It’s so haunting and spooky and raw, and real.
“You’re just a fading fucking reminder of who I used to be.”
The perfect dismissal for the person in all our lives who had been the “Pretty Hate Machine”
And the coming-into the knowledge, hedged within the act of saying that, that you are no longer who you were either.... Not now. Never again.
preach
Damn - very very accurate description - we've all been there at some point
You are a gem and love that you keep diving deeper and deeper into the rock world !! Keep on trucking
I was at that Woodstock performance at the heady age of 14. (My friend's hippie parents took us and pretended to be my parents when asked about allowing the 'minors' into the show.) Listening to this again after so many years, is still both haunting and soothing.
'I still recall the smell of the mud;
An intriguing mix of scents just like angst, booze, and blood.'
🤘💀🤘
I always heard that the flooded latrines also contributed some material to the odor.
@@SuzakuX My first thought on reading @Octodeth's comment was "That wasn't mud..."😉
You fuckin kill it girl with your analysis! I don't understand a whiff of the tech talk but appreciate so much the way you articulate the characteristics of the things we are hearing and create an entirely new level of appreciation in the 'genius' of the artist.
One thing I noticed and was surprised you didn't comment on is that early in the piece Trent often doesn't finish the vocal line, he allows it to just trail off. For instance the opening use of the "Something I Can Never Have" line he doesn't actually complete the word 'Have" and just sort of leaves it to linger in a kind of of breathy expression. He goes on to repeat this behaviour with various lines throughout the first movement of the piece. This design really sells it for me, it conveys so well the depth of pain here that actually finishing the line is simply too much. As you say it's genius.
Crowd atmosphere and live spontaneity have their charms, but if you haven't heard the studio version of this, you should check it out-and as you mentioned, preferably on headphones. It's hopeless despair explored while sitting next to a subterranean river in the pitch dark of a deep cave in which you're trapped.
I agree, this isn't really a song that benefits from the concert atmosphere. A quiet room is best.
@@wysockibTrue but, it is a different perspective live with a huge crowd... But I do agree the studio version perhaps first, then the live version, would have been perhaps a better listening experience for her first trip down the rabbit hole.. ✌️
I feel that way about most NIN songs. They do a remarkably good job of capturing a song's sound live, and this being a vocal analysis channel there's definitely a reason to prefer live performances, but still, the production on the albums is always so immaculate. Where things are placed in the mix, how some things overpower everything else and then fade into the background, things moving around the stereo field, whatever dark arts he uses to make instruments sound like each other so you can't even tell what you're hearing, the vocal effects, the often strange but amazing harmonies he gets by layering his voice.
They sound great on live recordings, and I'm sure it's phenomenal to be in the crowd, but there's only so much you can do live, and there's only a few songs I've heard where I'd say the live version is as good or better than the album one.
Omg I was hoping you would do this song....I love it!
Thank you!
March of the Pigs next!! The official video version. Pure rage. Pure Anger. Pure disgust. I love it.
Live versions because they are extended. Trent usually goes ham on them.
Always a passionate and emotional performance by NIN. There is a lot of personal meaning behind their songs if anyone checks... great analysis as always! ❤️
'The Becoming', 'Reptile', 'Only', 'With Teeth', 'The Fragile', 'We're in this Together', 'Piggy'... and if you want a wild showcasing of his mixing and layering, check out, 'All The Love In The World''
Trent is indeed a genius. I really appreciate that you pointed out, even if it's not "pleasing" to the ear, it can still create feelings you don't get without the "ugly" bits as you called them. It's beautiful what he creates and shares with us.
Amszing song from an amazing band at an amazing show. Cant wait for this reaction
Thank you for sharing the info about the audio gear you use. It’s something that I’ve always been curious about since I also believe the right audio gear will present the music as it was heard at recording. I love your videos, Tool, and now NIN! I was 14 when I first seen a home recorded VHS tape of this concert recorded from HBO PPV. Life changing.
I see that someone has already mentioned their performance of Hurt with David Bowie, which I absolutely love and recommend. But if you do check out that one, realize that it's musically way different than the original recording. I really dig the slow, syncopated guitar tapping in the version with Bowie.
First time commenting and suggesting but long time fan. May not surprise you but your Tool videos brought me in. I'm one of those guys. Thank you so much, I can't tell you how nice it is as a metal head to have someone so smart and enthusiastic about music breaking this music down. You seem to be on a live kick lately so I just wanted to suggest one of my favorite live performances of all time. The artist is Gary Clark Jr and the particular performance is When my train rolls in from the Gastenbury festival in 2016. If you are unfamiliar with GCJ I will say he is the most impressive guitar player and the loudest I have ever seen live. In this song the crowd chants his name before the song and there is a playful interaction between Gary and the crowd and it's like he almost makes a conscious decision that he is going to just melt their faces off and boy does he. The vocals on this song may not be enough to justify making the cut for your channel but Gary sings with his axe like almost nobody else out there. At the 10:07 mark in the background you can actually see his bass player, who has been with him forever not just a fill in musician mind you, literally shaking his head in disbelief at what Gary is doing. I'm sure you get countless requests to listen to different songs but as someone who appreciates music performed at an incredibly high level this is as pure as it gets. Apologies for writing a book but i could ramble for days about this stuff. Thanks again and keep up the good work
I was born in 1986, began working with music in a professional capacity in '94 at the age of 8....and Trent Reznor has been my biggest influence since '95. So it is nice to hear someone I respect as much as Elizabeth truly understanding the depth of his live performances!!!
I love your reaction, it's good to know that you have an appreciation of Trent. Dito
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
Really agree with your analysis! I love his extra additions of audible breaths and sounds. Would love to see your thoughts on Vessel!
Something I Can Never Have - Album: Still
This is the best version imo
I have been WANTING a reaction for THIS PERFORMANCE for so long! MULTIPLE YEARS!! xD I'm BEYOND STOKED to be watching this now. :D
Please, please, please start doing vocal performances for skinny puppy. Ohgr is one of the greatest musicians of our generation. Just do spasmylotic, killing fields or anymofmthe big music videoe, hell just listen to too dark park. One of the best albums ever.
It's hard to do that for Puppy considering how much Ogre uses a vocoder
Art is the essence of humanity distilled into a form, a piece, a finite lump of emotion. This "ugly" sound, these purposeful imperfections are exactly why NIN is true art. True emotion, true human experience. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this, Elizabeth.
You teased that you will do The Doors within the next couple months. Please do When The Music's Over, Please!
I would love to see an analysis of the live version of Right where it belongs, that performance is haunting! Thank you for making so many videos on NIN! Its a pleasure to watch.
God bless the person that hurt Trent so bad he wrote this masterpiece of an album!!!
I love Nine Inch Nails so much. Hearing The Downward Spiral in '94 literally (like, actually "literally") changed my life. They will always be my favorite band.
Trent is the Edgar Allen Poe of the rock world.
The whole concert is an epic experience. Keep going back to it. So much emotion.
If you think Trent Reznor sounds tortured, you gotta hear Ogre from Skinny Puppy. Lol! The ultimate tortured voice, and a big influence on NIN.
Without Skinny Puppy and Ministry, NIN would sound completely different imo
Ogre's use of vocoder would make analysis difficult
@@scottsommer8382 besides Worlock when else does he use a vocoder? It’s not something they use often.
Killing Game it would be a great song to react
I've been a NIN/Trent Reznor fan for 30+ years and I love how you can see the brilliance in something that's not your normal music. And he definitely wouldn't say he tried to sing perfectly, and the uglyness was kinda the point... Love your videos like this 😊