Changes

Original Album: {{song| title = Closer| album = ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]]''First | length = 6:13| BPM = 90| versions = Closer<br>Closer (Instrumental)<br>Closer (Clean Pussy Radio Edit)<br>Closer (Clean Original)<br>Closer To God<br>Closer (Precursor)<br>Closer (Further Away)<br>Closer (Deviation)<br>Closer (Internal)<br>Closer (Thrust)<br>Closer (Unrecalled)<br>Closer (''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'')<br>Closer (''[[Beside You In Time Played Live: (halo)|Beside You In Time]]'')| live = [[Self Destruct Touring Cycle]] through [[NIN 2013 Festival Tour]]<br>[[NIN 2014 Europe/UK Tour]] through present}}'''"Closer"''' is the fifth track on the 1994Last release ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]]'' and is perhaps the most well-known song by [[Nine Inch Nails]], as it received much airplay both on radio and music video television. The subject matter seems to be about a feeling of worthlessness being quelled through control over others using sex. The song was at the number 2 position on AOL's "69 Sexiest Songs of All Time Played Live: 2007," mostly due to the explicit frankness of its chorus.

==About=Song Credits==="Closer" is the fifth track on the 1994 release "The Downward Spiral." It begins with an electronic beat that is reminiscent of a heartbeat for eight bars. A keyboard pattern *Production: [[Flood]] and stxteenth[[Trent Reznor]]*Mixing Engineer: [[Alan Moulder]]*Special Hi-note beat join in along with the vocals. Layers are continuously added before dropping out at the end, leaving a simple chromatic piano melody to end the song.Hat Programming: Flood

"==Appearances=====Halos===*''The Downward Spiral'' (1994)*''[[Closer To God (halo)|Closer" is perhaps the most wellTo God]]'' (1994)*''[[Closure]]'' (Music video; 1997)*''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'' (CD/VHS/DVD; 2002)*''[[Beside You In Time (halo)|Beside You In Time]]'' (2007)===Seeds===*''[[Collected]]''*''[[The Definitive NIN -known song from Nine Inch Nails, maybe moreso for its video. The subject matter is clearly about sex, but itSingles]]''*''[[The Definitive NIN - Quiet Tracks]]'s not just sex. Instead it's a feeling of worthlessness and trying to quell that feeling through sex. ===Other=======Films====*''[[In_pop_culture#Film|Se7en]]'' (1995)*''[[In_pop_culture#Film|The song was at the number 2 position on AOLHitcher]]''s "69 Sexiest Songs of All Time," mostly due to the frankness of the chorus of "I want to fuck you like an animal/I want to feel you from the inside."(2007)

==Appearances==Video Games====The Downward Spiral (1994)Closer To God (1994)Closure (Music video; 1998)And All That Could Have Been (CD/VHS/DVD; 2002)*''[[Use in Video Games#Guitar_Hero:_Warriors_of_Rock|Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock]]''Beside You In Time *''[[Use in Video Games#Rock_Band|Rock Band 3]]'' (2007available for download)

Several remixes ===Closer===This is the original album version, found on both ''The Downward Spiral'' and ''Closer To God.'' It begins with an electronic beat. A keyboard pattern and sixteenth-note cymbal pattern join in along with the vocals. Layers are continuously added before dropping out at the end, leaving a simple chromatic piano melody to end the song and segue into "[[Ruiner]]". The version on ''Closer To God,'' however, allows the final piano note and background noise to ring out completely. The bass drum is [[samples|sampled]] from "[[Nightclubbing]]" by Iggy Pop and the synth bass is sampled from the ''A Poke in the Ear With a Sharp Stick, Vol. 2'' sample library by Rarefaction.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwnbjv9e-Ms] The track also features a reversed and heavily processed sample from "Take A Chance With Me" by Roxy Music, which is most easily heard during the ending (starting from 5:52.) The sample is also used as an intro when the song is played live. Being the third song on the album to contain the famous "Downward Spiral Motif," "Closer" plays the motif in similar structure to "[[The Downward Spiral (song)|The Downward Spiral]]," but in a different key: [[Image:Closer_(Lower)_Motif_Tab.JPG‎|The Downward Spiral Motif, found in the cacophony of sound in the closing seconds of "Closer." have been made]] The part of the motif that segues into "Ruiner" (and played by Reznor at the end of the video) is played at a higher octave: [[Image:Closer_(Higher)_Motif_Tab. These appear JPG‎|The higher part of the motif, found on the very last seconds on "Closer To God."]] ===Closer(Instrumental)==='''''Running Time: 6:26''''' Released by Reznor via his [[remix.nin.com]] account, this is an unmastered and complete version of the album cut, sans his vocals. ===Closer To God(Clean Pussy Radio Edit)==='''''Running Time: 4:31''''' This version is shortened and censored for radio airplay. ===Closer (PrecursorClean Original)==='''''Running Time: 6:23''''' This version is full-length but censored. ===Closer To God==='''''Running Time: 5:05''''' This is a major reworking of "Closer," and is quite different in sound and structure. The vocals were re-recorded (Deviationwith a few lines of new lyrics)to fit the sound of this song: You let me violate you, you let me desecrate you You let me penetrate you, you let me complicate you I broke apart my insides, I've got no soul to sell The only thing that works for me, help me get away I want to fuck you I want to taste you I want to feel you I want to be you Just like an animal You can have my isolation, you can have the hate that it brings You can have my absence of faith, you can have my everything You tear down all my reason, you see through what I hide You make me perfect, help me get inside I want to fuck you I want to taste you I want to feel you I want to be you "Closer To God" is one of the only remixes that has been performed live (Internalon the [[Dissonance]] tour). On the DJ promo vinyl for its release, the track runs roughly 5:29, fading out at the end. ====Song Credits====* Manipulation: Trent Reznor, [[Sean Beavan]], [[Brian Pollack]] ===Closer (Further AwayPrecursor)==='''''Running Time: 7:16''''' This is an atmospheric remix, made up of heavily distorted synth and percussion loops that sound like machinery. The line "I want to fuck you like an animal" is repeated heavily in the last half. When the song reaches its ending, it changes from the mechanical sound of the rest of the remix to a stripped down form, consisting of only the first verse lyrics, a piano, and the synth drone from the beginning and end of the original song. It also [[samples]] multiple sounds from the ''A Poke in the Ear With a Sharp Stick, Vol. 1'' sample library by Rarefaction. A special edit was used in the credits of [[David Fincher]]'s ''Se7en''. ====Song Credits====* Manipulation: [[Coil]], Danny Hyde

==Lyrics=Closer (Deviation)==='''''Running Time: 6:15''''' This is one of the lesser reworked remixes of "Closer." It adds an interesting loop in the background the consists of what appears to be a bass guitar and a high-pitched drone. At the end it repeats the two lines "Help me get away from myself" and "You let get me violate youcloser to God". The track also contains slowed-down samples from "Mountain of Needles" by Brian Eno and David Byrne, and from the intro of "Pinch" by Can.====Song Credits====* Manipulation: [[Meat Beat Manifesto|Jack Dangers]], you let me desecrate youCraig Silvey ===Closer (Internal)==='''''Running Time: 4:15''''' This remix uses stereo panning in which the phrases "You let get me penetrate closer to god" and "I want to fuck youlike an animal" switch between left and right speaker.====Song Credits====* Manipulation: Bill Kennedy, Scott Humphrey, John "Geetus" Aguto, Paul Decarli, Eric Caudieux ===Closer (Further Away)==='''''Running Time: 5:45''''' This remix begins with a significantly modified drumbeat, similar to the drums heard in "[[A Violet Fluid]]." Slowly the song picks up and a sound similar to a lion's roar is heard with the cry "I want to fuck you let me complicate youlike an animal." Lyrics are then whispered and vocoded. A loud drum solo features, backed by the looped synth whine from the end of the original, and then the lyrics from the choruses are heard.====Song Credits====* Manipulation: Bill Kennedy, Scott Humphrey, John "Geetus" Aguto, Paul Decarli, Eric Caudieux ===Closer (Thrust)==='''''Running Time: 5:54''''' This remix didn't make it onto the ''Closer To God'' EP, but was available from remix.nin.com. This is essentially a variation on "Closer (Internal)".====Song Credits====* Manipulation: Paul de Carli ===Closer (Unrecalled)==='''''Running Time: 7:41''''' Released on the semi-official ''[[Recoiled]]'' EP. A variation on Coil's "Precursor" mix. ===Closer (''And All That Could Have Been'')===This live version uses the swirling synthesizers prominent at the end of the original song for an introduction. Its ending segues into "[[Head Like A Hole (song)|Head Like A Hole]]" much like the transition between "Closer" and "Ruiner" on ''The Downward Spiral.'' ===Closer (''Beside You In Time'')===On this live version, the instrumental bridge of "[[The Only Time]]" is incorporated into the song's bridge. The accompanying lyrics are sung in a manner different from past tours, and the final outro is much shorter than on the album version. ==Music Video==[[Image:Closerstill.jpg|thumb|Screenshot from the "Closer" video]]Help me I broke apart my insidesIn April 1994, a [[Nine Inch Nails music videos|music video]] for "Closer" was filmed. It was directed by [[Mark Romanek]], who also directed "[[The Perfect Drug (song)|The Perfect Drug]]" in 1997 and [[Johnny Cash]]'s cover of "[[Hurt (song)|Hurt]]" in 2003. The concept to the video is that it's an old stag reel recently uncovered. The aesthetic, atmosphere, and images in the video were inspired by the works of Man Ray, Francis Bacon, George Tooker, the Quay brothers, and, most notably, Joel-Peter Witkin. It was filmed using three-color film and hand-cranked cameras, help me I’ve got no soul to sellmake it look much older. Additionally, there were more modern devices included in the video, such as a television. Help me Romanek has said that Reznor was pretty much tortured throughout the only thing shoot, yet he never once complained. Reznor seemed to know that works what they were making would be phenomenal and would push the proverbial envelope of the music video format. Initially, there was a plan to film two versions of the video: an uncensored director's cut, and an edited version for meMTV. This idea would save money on editing because of the costs of editing the film that was used. Reznor objected to shooting a censored version, stating that he didn't care whether or not MTV would show the video. MTV would show the video, but not before edits were made. The network censors objected to imagery they felt was blasphemous (a crucified monkey and a crucifix on a nude woman's blindfold), help me get away too risqué (Reznor gagged in front of a wall covered with sado-masochistic paraphernalia and writhing from myselfa chain while blindfolded), or too overtly sexual in nature (the nude woman and a diagram of a vulva). Ultimately, the video was edited for MTV, with offending images either blurred or blacked out, zoomed in to avoid objectionable content, or replaced by a screen reading SCENE MISSING. Some innuendo did make it past the censors, such as the shape of the microphone in some scenes, and what the hanging beef carcass appeared to resemble in addition to wings. Despite the heavy editing on MTV, "Closer" would go on to become one of the network's most popular videos in 1994 and 1995.

I want to fuck you like an animalI want to feel you The uncensored director's cut can be seen on the ''Closure'' video as well as the DualDisc re-issue of ''The Downward Spiral.'' It can also be found on a compilation DVD of Mark Romanek's work (''Director's Series Vol. 4: The Work of Director Mark Romanek'') along with footage from the insideI want to fuck you like an animalMy whole existence is flawedYou get me closer to Godmaking of the video. A further five hours of behind-the-scenes footage eventually surfaced on eBay and was liberated and spread around freely by the NIN fanbase.

You can have my isolationOver the years, you can have "Closer" has been included on many greatest video lists. In 2006, it was voted the greatest video on VH1 Classics' "20 Greatest Music Videos of All Time." It has also been placed in the permanent collection at the hate that it bringsYou can have my absence Museum of faith, you can have my everythingHelp me tear down my reason, help me it’s your sex I can smellHelp me you make me perfect, help me become somebody elseModern Art in New York City.

Through every forest==Live=="Closer" has been regularly performed live since 1994. Starting from [[Live: With Teeth]] tour, above the treesWithin my stomachinstrumental breakdown of "The Only Time" was incorporated into the breakdown of "Closer". Also, scraped off my kneesthe second to last line of the song has been sung as "I am the honey inside your hive" instead of "I drink the honey inside your hive." An example of this can be seen on ''Beside You are the reason I stay aliveIn Time.''

==The Video==After being in April 1994setlist rotation for 14 years, Reznor stated in a video for web interview that the song is "Closernowhere on the setlist" was filmed. It was directed by Mark Romanekfor the [[Wave Goodbye Tour]], despite it later being played a handful of times on that tour, who also directed with Trent playing the breakdown from "The Perfect DrugOnly Time" in 1997 and Johnny Cash's cover instead of "Hurt" in 2003. The concept to the video is that it's an old stag reel recently uncovered[[Alessandro Cortini]]. The aesthetic, atmosphere, and images in the video were inspired by During the works of Man Ray[[Tension 2013 Tour]], Francis Bacon, and, most notably, Joel-Peter Witkin. It "Closer" was filmed using three-color film and hand-cranked cameras, to make it look much older. Additionally, there were more modern devices included in the video, such as a televisionreferenced during some live performances of "[[All Time Low]]".

Romanek ==Covers=="Closer" has said that Trent Reznor was pretty much tortured throughout the shoot, yet he never once complainedbeen covered by a variety of artists. Reznor seemed to know that what they were making would More information can be phenominal and would push the proverbial envelope of the music video formatfound [[Covers Of NIN|here]].

Initially==Lyrics== You let me violate you, there was a plan you let me desecrate you You let me penetrate you, you let me complicate you Help me I broke apart my insides, help me I've got no soul to film two versions of sell Help me the video: an uncensored director's cutonly thing that works for me, and help me get away from myself I want to fuck you like an edited version for MTV. This idea would save money on editing because of animal I want to feel you from the costs of editing inside I want to fuck you like an animal My whole existence is flawed You get me closer to God You can have my isolation, you can have the film hate that was used. Reznor objected to shooting a censored versionit brings You can have my absence of faith, stating that he didn't care whether or not MTV would show the video. MTV would show the videoyou can have my everything Help me tear down my reason, but not before edits were made. The network censors objected to religious imagery they felt was blasphemous (a crucified monkey and a crucifix on a nude womanhelp me it's mask)your sex I can smell Help me you make me perfect, too risqué (Reznor gagged by a wall covered with sado-masochistic paraphernalia and writing help me become somebody else I want to fuck you like an animal I want to feel you from a chain while blindfolded), or too overtly sexual in nature (the nude woman and a diagram of a vulva). Ultimately, the video was edited for MTV, with offending images either bluured or blacked out, zoomed in inside I want to fuck you like an animal My whole existence is flawed You get me closer to avoid objectionable contentGod Through every forest, or replaced by a screen reading SCENE MISSING. Despite above the heavy editing on MTVtrees Within my stomach, "Closer" would go on to become one of scraped off my knees I drink the network's most popular videos in 1994 and 1995. The uncensored director's cut can be seen on honey inside your hive You are the Closure video.reason I stay alive

Since then, ==External Links==*[http://vimeo.com/3554226 "Closer" (uncensored) music video (NSFW)]*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8F_KaILW6g "Closer" had been included on many Greatest-Video lists(censored) music video]*[http://vimeo. in 2006, it was voted com/3704806 The making of the greatest "Closer" music video on VH1 Classic]*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdXaR0dnH-M "Closer" live from ''Beside You In Time's ']*[http://archive.org/details/remix-nin-com-audio-00139 "Closer" (Thrust Remix) at archive.org]*[https://archive.org/details/remix-nin-com-audio-02897 "Closer"20 Greatest Music Videos (Instrumental) at archive.org]*[http://ninlive.com/audio/NiNterviews%20Set%201/1995_02_09%2006%20Recording%20Process.mp3 Interview] disc mentioning the source of All Timethe bass drum sample*[http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep12/articles/classic-tracks-0912.htm Sound On Sound article about "Closer"and ''The Downward Spiral'']<br>{{Succession box| title=[[The Downward Spiral (halo)#Track Listing (original release and DVD-A release)|The Downward Spiral]]| before=[[March Of The Pigs (song)|March Of The Pigs]]| after=[[Ruiner]]| track=5}}[[Category:NIN Songs]][[Category:Music Videos]][[Category:Know The Score]]