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Head Like A Hole (song) (view source)
Revision as of 03:20, 8 September 2023
, 03:20, 8 September 2023→External Links
| 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 (NMS 10 Sampler version)<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.)
====Song Credits====
*Productionand mix: Flood, Trent Reznor*Mix: Keith LeBlanc
===Head Like A Hole (Clay)===
====Song Credits====
*Production and mix: Flood, Trent Reznor*Mix: Keith LeBlanc
===Head Like A Hole (Copper)===
'''''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 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.)
====Song Credits====
*Production and mix: Flood, Trent Reznor
===Head Like A Hole (NMS 10 Sampler version)===
'''''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 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====
*Production: Flood, Trent Reznor
*Mix: John Fryer
===Head Like A Hole (''And All That Could Have Been'')===
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 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. At least part of the music video was filmed on May 6, 1990, as indicated on the film clapperboard seen in the "Flood Mix"/"Copper" version of the video.
===Credits===
==External Links==
*[httphttps://vimeo.com/3610495 17071419 "Head Like A Hole" music video(Remastered)]*[httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXZQubSHhsQ LIfudW3aqRY "Head Like A Hole" (Copper) music video]
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