Since having two series of reviews (one weekly, the other one whenever I can be arsed to make another review), I decided to do a third series, in which I'll review a different cover song for each review. This review, I'll be looking at The Man in Black's cover of Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt".
As I'm sure most of you are aware of, Johnny Cash was a country singer/songwriter back in the 60's through 90's, writing such classics as "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line". However, from the mid 90's all the way up to two posthumous records, he shifted gears slightly. He still did country style songs, and even some originals, but he started doing covers of industrial and other rock songs. One of those songs was "Hurt", off of his album "American IV: The Man Comes Around", an album that featured several other covers such as Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Stings "Hang My Head", and Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus".
The cover version is quite different from NIN's version. While the NIN version was a young man basically going through a depression , Johnny Cash sings the song as an old man looking back on his life, regretting all the mistakes he's made, and wishing he could go back and fix them. It is quite poignant, and honestly quite touching. As well, he makes a single lyrical change. In the NIN's version, there is a line in the second verse that says "I wear this crown of shit, on my liar's head". Now, that line was all right in the original, showing the disdain the singer felt towards himself, but I wouldn't have wanted Johnny Cash, singing it. Luckily, The Man agreed, changing "shit" to "thorns", drawing religious parallels. And while a lot of songs go too far with the religious parallels, with Johnny Cash's smooth voice, as well as age, it works out in his favor.
The instrumentals are, like many Johnny Cash's songs, simple. But also like many Johnny Cash songs, the guitar accents the song well, pushing the emotions in Johnny Cash's voice further. And the instrumentals in the original version weren't complex, either. Johnny Cash also manages to keep the power of the guitar and piano combo held back until the last half of the final chorus, avoiding drowning himself out on the powerful sections of the song, something that happens with the distorted guitar of the original version.
So, which version is better? I have nothing against the original version. Trent Reznor has quite a talent for industrial music, and this is one of the most emotional songs that NIN has ever produced. However, Johnny Cash's cover removes the overwrought guitar, and the shouting vocals in the chorus, and in the process, changes the tone from a young adult going through a depression to an old man looking back and wishing he hadn't made the mistakes he did. It is a change for the better. In the end, I'd give the nod to Johnny Cash's version. Again, the original is really good, and one of NIN's best songs. But competing against the Man in Black? They never really stood a chance.
Like this review? Let me know! See room for improvement? Let me know. It's the first attempt at something like this for me, so I would appreciate some feedback.
As I'm sure most of you are aware of, Johnny Cash was a country singer/songwriter back in the 60's through 90's, writing such classics as "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line". However, from the mid 90's all the way up to two posthumous records, he shifted gears slightly. He still did country style songs, and even some originals, but he started doing covers of industrial and other rock songs. One of those songs was "Hurt", off of his album "American IV: The Man Comes Around", an album that featured several other covers such as Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Stings "Hang My Head", and Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus".
The cover version is quite different from NIN's version. While the NIN version was a young man basically going through a depression , Johnny Cash sings the song as an old man looking back on his life, regretting all the mistakes he's made, and wishing he could go back and fix them. It is quite poignant, and honestly quite touching. As well, he makes a single lyrical change. In the NIN's version, there is a line in the second verse that says "I wear this crown of shit, on my liar's head". Now, that line was all right in the original, showing the disdain the singer felt towards himself, but I wouldn't have wanted Johnny Cash, singing it. Luckily, The Man agreed, changing "shit" to "thorns", drawing religious parallels. And while a lot of songs go too far with the religious parallels, with Johnny Cash's smooth voice, as well as age, it works out in his favor.
Not bad. Chorus is a bit rough.
The instrumentals are, like many Johnny Cash's songs, simple. But also like many Johnny Cash songs, the guitar accents the song well, pushing the emotions in Johnny Cash's voice further. And the instrumentals in the original version weren't complex, either. Johnny Cash also manages to keep the power of the guitar and piano combo held back until the last half of the final chorus, avoiding drowning himself out on the powerful sections of the song, something that happens with the distorted guitar of the original version.
So, which version is better? I have nothing against the original version. Trent Reznor has quite a talent for industrial music, and this is one of the most emotional songs that NIN has ever produced. However, Johnny Cash's cover removes the overwrought guitar, and the shouting vocals in the chorus, and in the process, changes the tone from a young adult going through a depression to an old man looking back and wishing he hadn't made the mistakes he did. It is a change for the better. In the end, I'd give the nod to Johnny Cash's version. Again, the original is really good, and one of NIN's best songs. But competing against the Man in Black? They never really stood a chance.
Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
Like this review? Let me know! See room for improvement? Let me know. It's the first attempt at something like this for me, so I would appreciate some feedback.
