Song Exploder Season 2 Episode 3 Nine Inch Nails - Hurt

Nine Inch Nails’ "Hurt" is a song that’s become iconic since its release in 1994. It’s been covered by countless artists in every genre, and it’s cemented Trent Reznor’s place as a legendary songwriter and producer. But when he first wrote and recorded the song, he didn’t know if it would even make it onto Nine Inch Nails’ second album, "The Downward Spiral". Luckily, it did, and it went on to become one of the most beloved and heartbreaking songs in the band’s catalog.

In this episode of Song Exploder, Trent Reznor explains how he wrote "Hurt", and how he approached recording and producing it. He also talks about why the song has had such an impact on so many people.

"Hurt" is a deeply personal song for Reznor. It explores themes of self-harm, addiction, and depression. The lyrics are raw and vulnerable, and they cut straight to the heart of Reznor’s pain. He wrote the song after a particularly difficult time in his life, when he was struggling with drug addiction and the end of a relationship. He says that he wanted to create something that was really honest and raw about what he was going through.

The song starts with a simple acoustic guitar riff, which Reznor wrote on an old Martin guitar that his grandfather had given him. He says that he wanted to write a song that was really stripped down and simple, something that was completely different from the kind of music Nine Inch Nails was known for. But even though the song starts out with just that one guitar, it gradually builds into something much more powerful and intense.

One of the most memorable things about "Hurt" is the way Reznor sings it. His voice is strained and emotional, and it sounds like he’s on the brink of breaking down. He says that he deliberately sang the song in a way that was really uncomfortable for him, so that it would sound more honest and authentic.

Throughout the episode, Reznor breaks down the different elements of the song, from the lyrics to the instrumentation to the production. He talks about how he used noise and distortion to create a sense of unease, and how he experimented with different ways of playing the guitars and drums. He also discusses the decision to include a piano part in the song, which he says was something he was nervous about because he didn’t know how to play the piano.

Overall, this episode of Song Exploder is a fascinating look into the creative process of one of the most influential musicians of our time. Reznor is refreshingly honest and open about the challenges he faced in writing and recording "Hurt", and he provides a lot of insight into how he approaches music-making as a whole. If you’re a fan of Nine Inch Nails, or just great music in general, you won’t want to miss this episode.