Difference between revisions of "Supernaut"

Latest revision as of 17:19, 18 August 2025

"Supernaut" is a song originally written and recorded by Black Sabbath and covered by Ministry side project 1000 Homo DJs. Trent Reznor recorded the original vocals for the song, but Reznor's record label, TVT Records, refused to allow him to appear on the song, due to their ongoing contractual disputes. Al Jourgensen was forced to re-record the vocals himself, and this is the version that appears on the official single release.

However, the Trent Reznor Vocal Version had already been released on the Wax Trax! Sampler #2 promo cassette, and it gained widespread distribution in the NIN fan community through its inclusion on the Halo 00 and Demos & Remixes bootlegs. Following the acquisition of Wax Trax! by TVT in 1992, the legal obstacles were removed, and the Trent Reznor Vocal Version was officially released on 1994's Black Box - Wax Trax! Records: The First 13 Years.

Jourgensen self-reissued the "Supernaut" single on digital and limited edition vinyl in 2021, containing both the Al Vocal and Trent Vocal versions.

There has been much speculation amongst fans over the years as to whether Jourgensen actually re-recorded the vocals or whether he just manipulated Reznor's vocals to sound different; however, both Jourgensen and Reznor have been unequivocal in numerous interviews over the years that Jourgensen appears on the official single, and Reznor appears on the then-bootleg version.

This is one of several songs misattributed to NIN.

Recording

The liner notes in the Black Box say the following about the recording:

Al and Paul found themselves late one night with Trent Reznor, recording Ministry's The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste. The result of that night's session was the Art Linkletter-introduced cover of Black Sabbath's "Supernaut". Included here for the first time is the Trent Reznor vocal of this song.

Assuming the recollection is accurate, this seems to indicate that the recording of "Supernaut" took place in 1989.

Appearances

Al Jourgensen vocal

Supernaut (1990)
Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath (1994)
Ministry, Greatest Fits (2001)
Ministry and Co-Conspirators, Cover Up (2008)
Ministry, Trax Box (2014)
Ministry, Trax! Rarities (2016)
Supernaut (2021)

Trent Reznor vocal

Wax Trax! Sampler #2 (1990)
Black Box - Wax Trax! Records: The First 13 Years (1994)
Ministry, Side Trax (2004)
Ministry, Trax Box (2014)
OCCULT BOX (2015)
Supernaut (2021)

Versions

Supernaut

The wide release version with re-recorded vocals by Al Jourgensen, originally on the 1990 Supernaut single. All other versions of the track, other than the two listed below, feature the Al Jourgensen vocal.

Supernaut (Trent Reznor Vocal Version)

This version originally appeared on the Wax Trax! Sampler #2 cassette with Reznor's vocals uncredited. It wasn't officially released until 1994's Black Box.

Supernaut (Die Krupps Remix)

Exclusive to the OCCULT BOX by various artists, released on Cleopatra Records. It features the Trent Reznor vocal and is done in a style that is very reminiscent of "Head Like A Hole", even using elements of the track.

Lyrics

    I want to reach out and touch the sky
    I want to touch the sun, but I don't want to fly 
    I'm gonna climb up every mountain on the moon
    I found the dish that runs away with the spoon
    
    Supernaut
    Supernaut
    
    I've crossed the ocean, done every land
    I found the crossing at the golden rainbow's end
    I've been through magic and through life's reality
    I've lived a thousand years, it never bothered me
    
    Bothered me
    Supernaut
    Bothered me
    Supernaut
    
    Got no religion, don't need no friends
    Got all I want, I got no need to pretend
    Don't try to reach me, cause I'll tear up your mind
    I've seen the future and I'd leave it all behind
    
    Supernaut
    Supernaut

The following lyrics appear in the song as pre-recorded audio and other samples:

    Practically every one of the top 40 records being played on
    every radio station in the United States is a communication to the
    children to take a trip, to cop out, to groove. The psychedelic
    jackets on the record albums have their own hidden symbols and
    messages as well as the lyrics to all the top rock songs and they all
    sing the same refrain: it's fun to take a trip, put acid in your veins.
    
    They all sing the same refrain:
    It's fun to take a trip, put acid in your veins.
    
    25 seconds
    20 seconds and counting
    15 seconds, guidance is internal
    12, 11, 10, 9
    Ignition sequence starts
    6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

External Links

Supernaut at Bandcamp

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-'Supernaut' is a song originally written and recorded by '''Black Sabbath''' and covered by [[Ministry]] side project [[1000 Homo Djs]].  Several versions of the song exist, and though [[Trent Reznor]] recorded the original vocals for the song, several debates exist as to which version contains his contributions, as he remains uncredited on official releases due to contractual spats with [[TVT Records]].
+'''"Supernaut"''' is a song originally written and recorded by Black Sabbath and [[Cover Songs|covered]] by Ministry side project [[1000 Homo DJs]]. [[Trent Reznor]] recorded the original vocals for the song, but Reznor's record label, [[TVT Records]], refused to allow him to appear on the song, due to their ongoing [[TVT Records#Dispute|contractual disputes]].  Al Jourgensen was forced to re-record the vocals himself, and this is the version that appears on the official single release.
-==Appearances==
+However, the Trent Reznor Vocal Version had already been released on the ''[http://www.discogs.com/release/1563339 Wax Trax! Sampler #2]'' promo cassette, and it gained widespread distribution in the [[NIN]] fan community through its inclusion on the ''[[Halo 00]]'' and ''[[Demos & Remixes]]'' [[bootlegs]].  Following the acquisition of Wax Trax! by TVT in 1992, the legal obstacles were removed, and the Trent Reznor Vocal Version was officially released on 1994's ''Black Box - Wax Trax! Records: The First 13 Years''.
-The only version of 'Supernaut' which is properly credited with Trent's vocals appears on TVT's ''Black Box'' collection.  Due to [[Al Jourgensen]]'s often incoherent and inconclusive interviews, it is hard to determine whether other versions of the song have rerecorded vocals with a similar inflection, or are just Trent's vocals run through a distortion filter.
-=====Single Releases=====
+Jourgensen self-reissued the "Supernaut" single on digital and limited edition vinyl in 2021, containing both the Al Vocal and Trent Vocal versions.
-Supernaut (1990)
+There has been much speculation amongst fans over the years as to whether Jourgensen actually re-recorded the vocals or whether he just manipulated Reznor's vocals to sound different; however, both Jourgensen and Reznor have been unequivocal in numerous interviews over the years that Jourgensen appears on the official single, and Reznor appears on the then-bootleg version.
-=====Compilation Appearances=====
+This is one of several [[Songs misattributed to NIN|songs misattributed to NIN]].
-Various Artists- ''Black Box- Wax Trax! Records: The First 13 Years'' (1994)<br>
-Various Artists- ''Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath'' (1994)<br>
-Ministry- ''Side Trax'' (2004)<br>
-==Lyrics==
+==Recording==
-'''Italics indicate pre-recorded backing tracks and speech samples.'''<br><br>
+The liner notes in the ''Black Box'' say the following about the recording:
-''Practially every one of the top 40 records being played on ''<br>
+<blockquote>Al and Paul found themselves late one night with Trent Reznor, recording Ministry's ''The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste''. The result of that night's session was the Art Linkletter-introduced cover of Black Sabbath's "Supernaut". Included here for the first time is the Trent Reznor vocal of this song. </blockquote>
-''every radio station in the united states is a communication to the''<br>
-''Children to take a trip, to cop out, to groove. the psychedelic''<br>
-''Jackets on the record albums have their own hidden symbols and''<br>
-''Messages as well as the lyrics to all the top rock songs and they all''<br>
-''Sing the same refrain: its fun to take a trip, put acid in your veins.''<br><br>
-I want to reach out and touch the sky<br>
+Assuming the recollection is accurate, this seems to indicate that the recording of "Supernaut" took place in 1989.
-I want to touch the sun<br>
-But I dont need to fly<br>
-I'm gonna climb up every mountain of the moon<br>
-And find a distant man a-waving his spoon<br><br>
-Supernaut<br>
+==Appearances==
-Supernaut<br><br>
+===Al Jourgensen vocal===
+*''Supernaut'' (1990)
+*''Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath'' (1994)
+*Ministry, ''Greatest Fits'' (2001)
+*Ministry and Co-Conspirators, ''Cover Up'' (2008)
+*Ministry, ''Trax Box'' (2014)
+*Ministry, ''Trax! Rarities'' (2016)
+*''Supernaut'' (2021)
+===Trent Reznor vocal===
+*''Wax Trax! Sampler #2'' (1990)
+*''Black Box - Wax Trax! Records: The First 13 Years'' (1994)
+*Ministry, ''Side Trax'' (2004)
+*Ministry, ''Trax Box'' (2014)
+*''OCCULT BOX'' (2015)
+*''Supernaut'' (2021)
-I've crossed the ocean, turned every bend<br>
+==Versions==
-I found the crossing near a golden rainbows end<br>
+===Supernaut===
-I've been through magic and through lifes reality<br>
+The wide release version with re-recorded vocals by Al Jourgensen, originally on the 1990 ''Supernaut'' single. All other versions of the track, other than the two listed below, feature the Al Jourgensen vocal.
-I've lived a thousand years and it never bothered me<br><br>
-Bothered me<br>
+===Supernaut (Trent Reznor Vocal Version)===
-Supernaut<br>
+This version originally appeared on the ''Wax Trax! Sampler #2'' cassette with Reznor's vocals uncredited.  It wasn't officially released until 1994's ''Black Box''.
-Bothered me<br>
-Supernaut<br><br>
-''They all sing the same refrain:''<br>
+===Supernaut (Die Krupps Remix)===
-''It's fun to take a trip, put acid in your veins.''<br><br>
+Exclusive to the ''OCCULT BOX'' by various artists, released on Cleopatra Records. It features the Trent Reznor vocal and is done in a style that is very reminiscent of "[[Head Like A Hole (song)|Head Like A Hole]]", even using elements of the track.
+==Lyrics==
+     I want to reach out and touch the sky
+     I want to touch the sun, but I don't want to fly
+     I'm gonna climb up every mountain on the moon
+     I found the dish that runs away with the spoon
+     Supernaut
+     Supernaut
+     I've crossed the ocean, done every land
+     I found the crossing at the golden rainbow's end
+     I've been through magic and through life's reality
+     I've lived a thousand years, it never bothered me
+     Bothered me
+     Supernaut
+     Bothered me
+     Supernaut
+     Got no religion, don't need no friends
+     Got all I want, I got no need to pretend
+     Don't try to reach me, cause I'll tear up your mind
+     I've seen the future and I'd leave it all behind
+     Supernaut
+     Supernaut
-''25 seconds<br>
+The following lyrics appear in the song as pre-recorded audio and other samples:
-''20 seconds and counting<br>
+     Practically every one of the top 40 records being played on
-''15 seconds, guidence is internal<br>
+     every radio station in the United States is a communication to the
-''12, 11, 10, 9<br>
+     children to take a trip, to cop out, to groove. The psychedelic
-''Ignition sequence starts<br>
+     jackets on the record albums have their own hidden symbols and
-''6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1''<br><br>
+     messages as well as the lyrics to all the top rock songs and they all
+     sing the same refrain: it's fun to take a trip, put acid in your veins.
+     They all sing the same refrain:
+     It's fun to take a trip, put acid in your veins.
+seconds
+seconds and counting
+seconds, guidance is internal
+, 11, 10, 9
+     Ignition sequence starts
+, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
-Got no religion, dont need no friends<br>
+==External Links==
-Got all I want and I got no need to pretend<br>
+*[https://ministryband.bandcamp.com/album/1000-homo-djs-supernaut ''Supernaut'' at Bandcamp]
-Dont try to reach me, cause I'd tear up your mind<br>
-Ive seen the future and I leave it all behind<br><br>
-Supernaut<br>
+[[Category:Related to NIN]][[Category:Covers]]
-Supernaut<br>