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| versions =The Perfect Drug<br>The Perfect Drug (Edit)<br>The Perfect Drug (''We're In This Together'' version)<br>The Perfect Drug (Instrumental)<br>The Perfect Drug ([[Meat Beat Manifesto]])<br>The Perfect Drug ([[Plug]])<br>The Perfect Drug ([[Nine Inch Nails]])<br>The Perfect Drug ([[Spacetime Continuum]])<br>The Perfect Drug ([[The Orb]])<br>The Perfect Drug (Aphrodite)| live = [[NIN songs never played live|UnperformedCold And Black And Infinite Tour]]through present}}'''"The Perfect Drug"''' was written and recorded for the ''[[Lost Highway Soundtrack]]'' in 1996. In addition to the six [[Trent Reznorremixes]] has expressed dissatisfaction with the song, saying in a VIVA 2 Magazine interview,<blockquote>"At that time I was listening to a lot of Drum 'n' Bass and Jungle and stuff. And I think that's the most I've ever seen external influence come out in my own music. And it was a transition period, that's what I want to stresswere released, it another remix by Goldie was time when I was feeling out what I wanted to do artistically and given the liberation of working within the context of a soundtrack, it's not like a major work. I always treated that as an area to be freer and try things. I'm glad it was in that contextplanned but never materialized. There was never any consideration to include that on [''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]]'']http://www. It really was an area where I was feeling out the landscape to see what I wanted to donin-pages."<de/blockquote>1997_Raygun_Februar_english.htm]

*Production: [[Trent Reznor]]

*Assistance: [[Brian Pollack]] ==About==Trent Reznor has expressed dissatisfaction with the song, saying in a ''VIVA 2'' Magazine interview,<blockquote>At that time I was listening to a lot of Drum 'n' Bass and Jungle and stuff. And I think that's the most I've ever seen external influence come out in my own music. And it was a transition period, that's what I want to stress, it was time when I was feeling out what I wanted to do artistically and given the liberation of working within the context of a soundtrack, it's not like a major work. I always treated that as an area to be freer and try things. I'm glad it was in that context. There was never any consideration to include that on [''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]]'']. It really was an area where I was feeling out the landscape to see what I wanted to do. [http://theninhotline.net/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=827]</blockquote> On a BBC Radio 1 show, Reznor said:<blockquote>The only thing I think I really don't like that much, is The Perfect Drug song. It was one of those things where you have a week, do a track for a movie, and the mindset you kind of adapt in that situation, or I did, was "Let's go in and experiment and see what happens, and if it's not - whatever comes out of it, it's not the end of the world." And I think what came out of it, married with a bloated over-budget video... just feels like the most... the least thing that I would play to somebody if they said "play me, y'know, the top 100 songs you've written." That probably wouldn't be in the top 100. But uh, I'm not cringing about it, but it's not my favorite piece. [https://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/display/88]</blockquote>

*''[[The Perfect Drug (halo)|"The Perfect Drug " Versions]]''

This is the original version that can be found on the ''Lost Highway'' soundtrack as well as some editions of ''"The Perfect Drug " Versions''. It features prominent acoustic guitars playing a quick, ascending riff similar to the chorus of "[[The Wretched]]". It is backed by frantic and complex drum machine programming commonly associated with the drum 'n' bass genre, which opens up into simpler patterns for the pre-choruses. The drum sound in the pre-chorus is highly reminiscent of that on "[[Eraser]]". The chorus features heavy guitars backed by more frantic drums, while the bridge is composed mainly of percussion patterns and percussive synthesizers and guitar riffs, which build in intensity to give way to a slower, simpler, quieter codawhich features what is likely a Mellotron.

'''''Running Time: 5:42''''' From the third ''We're In This Together'' single and international ''Into The Void'' single, this version is the same as the original, but does not cut off at the end, rather repeating further and fading out.

'''''Running Time: 7:25''''' This remix is almost a dub mix: it is very light on lyrics and emphasizes the percussion beat of the song. The word "annihilate" is added at some points and leads this remix out of the breakdown and into the ending portion. "The only lyrics in this version are "And I want you" and "You are the perfect drug."The drums are [[samples|sampled]] from "Amen Brother" by The Winstons. ===The Perfect Drug (Plug)==='''''Running Time: 6:53'''''

'''''Running Time: 8:19''''' This remix begins with Reznor whispering "You are the perfect drug," distorted and slowed down. A dance beat and wind are added over the vocals to form the first section. The lyrics are then sung about a third of the way through, as the beat becomes heavier and the synths build in volume. By the middle of the song, the music becomes much louder as the lyric "Take me with you" is whispered over it. Vocal instrumentation, albeit distorted, is also incorporated into this remix. Perhaps the most notable aspect of this remix is the use of the "[[Closer]]" synth voice treated piano sound to replicate the melody at the end of the song. ===The Perfect Drug (Spacetime Continuum)==='''''Running Time: 5:42'''''

===The Perfect Drug ([[The Orb]])==='''''Running Time: 6:11''''' 

'''''Running Time: 6:10 (Vinyl version), 5:38 (DJ Aphrodite upload)''''' This remix is exclusive to the vinyl edition of ''"The Perfect Drug " Versions.'' It's set in a different key than the other remixes and has a fast, electronic beat. As with most of the other remixes, it is light on lyrics, consisting only of "can't keep control/can't keep track," "taking me," and "you are perfect." A CD-quality The track as released in 1997 was mastered at a slower speed. An MP3 file of the track this version was uploaded by Reznor to the Rare & Unreleased playlist on remix.nin.com.The original, unaltered track was eventually uploaded to Soundcloud by DJ Aphrodite, who stated: "This is the original speed the remix was made at. For the vinyl, [[Nothing Records]] slowed it down to around 160bpm, perhaps to lower the vocals, and at the time the general music loving public were still not used to the speed and energy of Jungle/D&B."

"The Perfect Drug" was not played live until [[NIN songs never played live2018/09/18_Morrison,_CO|has never been played liveSeptember 18, 2018]] despite its popularity with many NIN fansat Red Rocks, Colorado, though it was attempted during rehearsals for a few previous tours. It was widely speculated that the complex drum solo in the song is was responsible for this, although it was probably not out of the range of drummers [[Josh Freese]] or [[Ilan Rubin]]. It is also likely possible that Reznor does did not personally like the song very much, as he concedes that it was produced quickly for the ''Lost Highway'' soundtrack.

ThenNIN fan Trollmanen was able to ask ex-current drummer [[Jerome Dillon]] said Josh Freese about the rehearsal process for the song:<blockquote>The one question I asked him was about playing The Perfect Drug live, and how the band has "rehearsal process went for that song and why it never rule[d] worked out . The first thing he said, without hesitation was that the song itself isn't that difficult to play live on the drums. He said something about the programmed beats part was the possibility" only thing that was sort of complicated (it was a little hard to hear him at times, crappy connection), but that it worked live with him playing it. The drumming sounded good and everyone was happy with that. He said the problem with the songwas the ending. The whole song was really rocking and pushing through, in response then you get to the ending and it just never seemed to work. He said they tried four or so different endings to the song. They tried it kinda mellow sounding, and that didn't work. They tried a really aggressive ending, and that didn't work either. They did a fansimple ending, same result. They just couldn's question posted on [t find an ending to the sound that seemed to do it justice. The thing was that the song sounded really good, but to get to the ending and just not sound good, it was kind of a let down. He said [nin.com/access]Trent Reznor] just seemed uninterested with it after a while and they just gave up on 2005-07-19:[[Image:2005_07_19Questions2it.gif]]</blockquote>

Fellow NIN fan Trollmanen was able to ask ex-drummer [[Josh Freese]] about the rehearsal process for the song:<blockquote>"The one question I Whiskers had previously asked him was about playing The Perfect Drug live, and how the rehearsal process went for that song and why it never worked out. The first thing same when he said, without hesitation was that the song itself isn't that difficult to play live on the drums. He said something about the programmed beats part was the only thing that was sort of complicated (it was a little hard to hear him at times, crappy connection), but that it worked live had lunch with him playing it. The drumming sounded good and everyone was happy with that. He said the problem with the song was the endingdrummer. The whole song was really rocking and pushing through, then you get to the ending and it just never seemed to work[http://forum. He said they tried four or so different endings to the songnin. They tried it kinda mellow sounding, and that didn't workcom/bb/read. They tried a really aggressive endingphp?30, and that didn't work either. They did a simple ending234801, same result. They just couldn't find an ending to the sound that seemed to do it justice. The thing was that the song sounded really good, but to get to the ending and just not sound good, it was kind of a let down. He said [Trent Reznor665605#msg-665605 link] just seemed uninterested with it after a while and they just gave up on it."</blockquote>

Fellow NIN fan Whiskers had previously asked the same when he had lunch with the drummerReznor answered a question about playing "The Perfect Drug" live directly during a 2017 Q&A in Chicago. [httpHe said://forum <blockquote>We've tried it.nin The unsexy answer is it just doesn't sound that good live.com/bb/read.php?30 And it's hard to sing,234801and it ends up making me angry,665605#msg-665605 link]so we don't do it.</blockquote>

[[Mark Romanek]], who also directed "[[Closer]]"," directed the [[Nine Inch Nails music videos|music video]] for "The Perfect Drug" in 1997. It was one of the most expensive videos at the time, costing over $850,000 to make. Building Two sets were built and numerous props were involved.[http://www.nin-pages.de/perfect_drug_video_quelle.htm] The concept of the refrigerated setvideo is widely interpreted as Trent Reznor portraying a man mourning the death of a child and detaching himself from reality through absinthe. [[Charlie Clouser]], [[Danny Lohner]], commissioning and [[Chris Vrenna]] appear in the giant hand sculpture and paying video, most notably playing string instruments at the beginning. The aesthetics were heavily influenced by the illustrations of 20th-century artist Edward Gorey (1925–2000), the most obvious reference coming from the girl sitting on the cushion in front of the painting. The entire video was filmed with a hedge designer were some blue tint with the exception of the larger expensesdrum breakdown, which uses flashing green light instead, representing Reznor losing himself in the absinthe.

The concept of the video is widely interpreted as In a 2025 post to Instagram[[Trent Reznorhttps://www.instagram.com/markromanek/reel/DE6RRDhpVrF/]] portraying a man mourning , following the death of a child and detaching himself from reality through absinthe. ''Lost Highway'' director [[Charlie ClouserDavid Lynch]], [[Danny Lohner]], and [[Chris Vrenna]] appear in Romanek posted the following:<blockquote>David really liked the "Closer" video, most notably playing string instruments at the beginning which of the course blew my mind, which led him to ask me to direct a video. The aesthetics were heavily influenced by for a Trent Reznor song that was gonna appear on the illustrations LOST HIGHWAY soundtrack (one of 20thmy all-century artist Edward Gorey (1925–2000)time favorite films of his, especially all the most obvious reference coming from the boy sitting on the cushion in front of the paintingRobert Blake scenes).

The entire video was filmed with a blue tint with I asked him if he wanted to have scenes from the exception of movie in the drum breakdownmusic-video.<br>David, one eye asquint from his own stinging cigarette smoke, which uses flashing green light insteadcroaked, representing Reznor losing himself in "Fuck no!! That would ruin the whole fuckin' thing!"<br>Much to the absinthestudio's displeasure, I should add.</blockquote>

*[httphttps://vimeo.com/3612941 "The Perfect Drug" music video]*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDRYwULurGk Mark Romanek talking about the video]*[https://aphroditerecordings.databeats.com/download/amix1 "The Perfect Drug (Aphrodite Mix)" as uploaded by DJ Aphrodite]*[https://archive.org/details/remix-nin-com-audio-02412 "The Perfect Drug" (Instrumental) at archive.org]*[http://theninhotline.net/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=827 Interview] with ''VIVA 2 '' Magazine  

[[Category: NIN Songs]][[Category: NIN Songs Never Played Live]][[Category:Music Videos]][[Category:Rare NIN Songs]]