mod, Administrators
14,199
edits
Changes
no edit summary
| length = 4:59
| BPM = 115
| versions = Head Like A Hole<br>Head Like A Hole (Clay)<br>Head Like A Hole (Copper)<br>Head Like A Hole (Opal)<br>Head Like A Hole (Slate)<br>Head Like A Hole (Soil)<br>Head Like A Hole (Radio Edit)<br>Head Like A Hole (NMS 10 Sampler versionJohn Fryer Mix)<br>You Know Who You Are<br>Head Like A Hole (''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'')<br>Head Like A Hole (''[[Beside You In Time (halo)|Beside You In Time]]'')
| live = [["Pretty Hate Machine" Promotional Tour]] through present
}}'''"Head Like A Hole"''' is the first track on the 1989 release ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]].'' It was the first commercial success [[Trent Reznor]] had and received wide radio rotation at the time. Though Reznor doesn't dislike the song, he was quite surprised it became as big as it did, especially due to its relatively easy writing process compared to some of the lesser recognized tracks on ''Pretty Hate Machine'' ("[[That's What I Get]]" and "[[Kinda I Want To]]" most notably.)
===Other===
*''[[Demos and & Remixes]]''
==Versions==
===Head Like A Hole===
The version that appears as the first track on ''Pretty Hate Machine,'' it's perhaps one of the most well known [[Nine Inch Nails]] songs. Its pounding synth bassline, tribal rhythms and chants, layered guitar and catchy double chorus are all signature aspects of the song. The stereo wipe at the end fades into the beginning of "Terrible Lie"." The tribal chants are [[samples|sampled]] from "Samburu Warriors' Initiation (Kenya)" taken from field recordings under the title ''East Africa Ceremonial & Folk Music'' (performed by the Samburu Tribe of Kenya and recorded by David Fanshawe.)[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G08Wvtspmjo] There is a sample from 3:12 to 3:19, first appearing in the right channel and then the left, that may be a saxophone. Per [[Brian Liesegang]] on Gearspace[https://gearspace.com/board/showpost.php?p=7652961&postcount=15], the bassline on this track was done with a Minimoog Model D.
===Head Like A Hole (Slate)===
'''''Running Time: 4:13'''''
The first track on the ''Head Like A Hole'' single, this version contains more treble than its cousins and a somewhat dancier beat than most, along with higher pitched synths playing the bassline as a lead instead. Its intro is similar to the "(Clay)" remix. The instrumental melody of the original has been replaced and there is no guitar part in the chorus. It also lacks the stereo wipe outro and instead simply loops as it fades out. As indicated on the credits of the ''Head Like A Hole'' 12" vinyl single, this remix was completed in July 1989.
====Song Credits====
'''''Running Time: 4:30'''''
The second track on the ''Head Like A Hole'' single, this is the version that was used in the video for "Head Like A Hole"." The only major differences are a different intro (one that features the second half of the chorus and some rhythmic chanting), a shorter pre-chorus in the second verse, and an unadulterated and extended version of the outro stereo wipe. As indicated on the credits of the ''Head Like A Hole'' 12" vinyl UK single, this remix was completed in July 1989.
====Song Credits====
'''''Running Time: 6:26'''''
Present on the ''Head Like A Hole'' single, the "(Copper)" remix seems to be a cut and paste of the various remixes above, containing bits and pieces, loops and interruptions of the other songs. It contains the dance beat of "(Slate)" but has the layered guitar of the original version as well as a slightly modified instrumental intro. Its outro, unique to this mix, is the "Bow down before the one you serve/you're going to get what you deserve" lyric over a swinging drum-machine loop sampled from "Body Language" by Queen; the drum loop includes part of a scream by Freddie Mercury. The section sampled (from the cymbal crash to when Freddie shouts "Yeah!") is heard from 3:04 to 3:08 in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqLyjg-klhE. As indicated on the credits of the ''Head Like A Hole'' 12" vinyl UK single, this remix was completed in January 1990.
====Song Credits====
'''''Running Time: 5:50'''''
The fifth track on the ''Head Like A Hole'' single, this song is an instrumental composed of the background synths and various tribal rhythms and chants that compose the song. It's more or less a wordless "dub" version of the song and is notable for being the first instrumental piece appearing on an official Nine Inch Nails release. The outro of the song is the actual intro to the original version of "Head Like A Hole"." (This song is not to be confused with "[[You Know What You Are?]]"," the second track off of the album ''[[With Teeth (halo)|With Teeth]].''.)
====Song Credits====
'''''Running Time: 5:18'''''
Exclusive to the UK version of the ''Head Like A Hole'' single, the mix is notable for its "realistic" drums and strange instrumentation, much of which isn't present on any of the other remixes. It is perhaps the most unique remix, having a different vocal take with a few lyrical differences from the original version of the song (in particular, the verses clearly say "God of money" rather than "God Money"), as well as using an inverted version of the bassline rather than the bassline itself and a totally different drumbeat. The only element that found its way over from the other mixes is the wood percussion intro from the original version of the song, which the drum beat follows exactly. The song ends by fading away while Reznor whispers "You know... you know who you are" repeatedly. This line is found only on this version, though it does appear in the printed lyrics on the ''Pretty Hate Machine'' album. It has been billed as "Head Like A Hole " (Demo)" and "Head Like A Hole " (Go-Go Mix)" on various [[bootlegs]]. As indicated on the credits of the ''Head Like A Hole'' 12" vinyl UK single, this remix was completed in November 1990. It was produced in London with Flood, during a short trip by Reznor and [[John Malm]] to prepare for the upcoming UK releases and tour through Island Records. [https://happinessinheresy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/scene.jpg]
It features a sample in the choruses that also forms the main rhythm of "The Wrong Name and the Wrong Number" by Mark Stewart. Adrian Sherwood was involved in the production of the Stewart song, and he and Keith LeBlanc were both members of Mark Stewart And The Maffia at the time they worked on ''Pretty Hate Machine'', though whether they had direct involvement with the "Opal" mix is unknown. LeBlanc and Sherwood aren't credited on any of the "Head Like A Hole" versions except Keith's mixing of "Slate". The remix also samples "Tamborine" by Prince and "Release It" by The Time (which also samples "Squib Cakes" by Tower Of Power.)
'''''Running Time: 3:43'''''
Available on a promotional-only "special DJ edit" UK vinyl pressing.
===Head Like A Hole (NMS 10 Sampler versionJohn Fryer Mix)===
'''''Running Time: 5:50'''''
This mix was exclusive to a [https://www.discogs.com/release/9407932-Various-TVT-Records-NMS-10-Sampler TVT Records cassette sampler] released for the 1989 New Music Seminar. It is an early, pre-album release mix and features several differences: the main snare sound is different, the choruses feature the bass synth riff used in "You Know Who You Are", the breakdown after the second chorus is longer and has a more prominent synth percussion part panning left and right, and the last chorus and "Bow down before the one you serve" outro are both longer.
====Song Credits====
==Music Video==
[[Image:HLAHstill.jpg|thumb|Screenshot from the "Head Like A Hole" video]]
The [[Nine Inch Nails music videos|music video]] for "Head Like A Hole" was directed by Eric Zimmermanfor H-Gun, who also co-directed "[[Down In It (song)|Down In It]]".The " The Clay " remix is used in place of the album version.
The video contains three different sequences, used at different intervals of the song. During the verses, footage of tribal dancers is undercut with rotating cybernetic heads, creating a strobe effect. For the main chorus and instrumental interludes, the band is seen playing in a large cage with wires and magnetic tape at their feet. The sub-chorus features black-and-white footage of Reznor lowering his head into a tub filled with water and bringing it back up. At the end of the video, Reznor's feet have become entangled in the tape and wires as he is lifted off the ground, hung upside-down and writhes in mid-air. The video features two drummers, one being [[Chris Vrenna]] and the other being [[Martin Atkins]]. The imagery of the band in a cage was revisited in the "[[Wish (song)|Wish]]" video.
The video was originally going to be directed by [[David Lynch]][http://www.nin-pages.de/1989_Boston_Rock_Dezember_english.htm], whom Reznor would later work with on the ''[[Lost Highway Soundtrack]]'' and the "[[Came Back Haunted (song)|Came Back Haunted]]" music video. An extended version of the video also exists, referred to as the "Flood Mix" version, which is set to the "Copper" mix. This version was used when the video was shown on ''Beavis And Butt-Head'' in 1993.
The performance portion of the video was filmed at the original Exit Lounge nightclub location in Chicagoat 1653 North Wells Street.[https://www.avclub.com/head-like-a-hole-captured-the-dangerous-allure-of-nin-1798283642] [https://www.facebook.com/groups/WaxTraxRecords1980/permalink/1937962396719015] At least part of it was filmed on May 6, 1990, as indicated on the film clapperboard seen in the "Flood Mix"/"Copper" version of the video.
===Credits===
You know who you are
The final line appears only in the liner notes and in the "Opal " remix.
==External Links==