Changes

| album = ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]]'' (Left)

| BPM = 93| versions = La Mer<br>La Mer(Alternate Version)<br>La Mer (Version)<br>La Mer (''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'')—DVD/VHS| live = 1999 - 2007[[Fragility]] through [[NIN 2013 Festival Tour]]<br>[[Cold And Black And Infinite Tour]] through present}}==About=='''''"La Mer''"''' is the eleventh track from the Left side disc of the double disc ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]]. It begins '' Its main melodic elements and bassline are taken in a different direction with a piano solo and near the middle of the "[[Into The Void (song the drums begin playing a jazz loop)|Into The Void]]. This " [[Trent Reznor]] has stated that "[[Adrift And At Peace]]" is one of the few songs of Nine Inch Nails that is played with almost all acoustic instrumentsconclusion to "La Mer. At the end of the song all the music and sounds reach a point that build a sonic atmosphere" ([[:Image:LM-AAAP.gif|Source]])

===Lyrics===The lyrics are spoken by [[Denise Milfort]] in creole Creole French. It is one of the many [[NIN ]] songs that includes the phrase "[[Nothing Can Stop Me Now]],", and one of the few to include a vocalist other than TrentReznor.In addition, it was the first instrumental written for ''The Fragile.'' [http://www.9inchnails.com/articles/reznors-edge.php]

The song itself was conceived during a very dark period in Reznor's life. When [[2009/06/03 Mansfield, MA|on stage]] in 2009 he disclosed that he had rented a house at the time on an ocean with the external intent to write some music, but in reality had contemplated suicide there. This song was the only song to come out of that time and place. He still feels strange playing it live because it serves as a reminder of this period. ===Influences===It can be argued that the song is heavily influenced by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mer_(Debussy) Debussy piece of the same name]. Both songs build up to create a sonic atmosphere, and both are (obviously) titled the same. When asked about any classical composers who have inspired him, Reznor said in a Yahoo! Chat in December 1999[https://www.theninhotline.com/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=899]: <blockquote>Debussy. I was sitting in Big Sur, losing my mind. His contribution was that you need to be regimented, with whatever you decide to do. When I was sitting there, Debussy and I had a mind meld for a second. I felt the need to plagiarize the title, "La Mer". He revolutionized the Mozart bullshit world of everything was rigid and stabilized.</blockquote> ===Song Credits===*Vocals: Denise Milfort*Drums: Bill Rieflin*Cello: Willie ==Appearances=====Halos===

===VersionsSeeds===*La Mer (Version)*La Mer (And All That Could Have Been)''[[The Definitive NIN - Quiet Tracks]]''

==Versions=Song Credits====La Mer===This is the original album version. It begins with piano chords accompanied by standup bass and is then accentuated by drums playing a jazz rhythm and e-bow guitar. This is one of the few songs by Nine Inch Nails that is played with almost all acoustic instruments. It consists of a 3/4 time signature superimposed over a 4/4 time signature. Its piano theme is also used at the end of "[[We're In This Together (song)|We're in This Together]]." On ''The Fragile'' vinyl and 2017 DE download, the introductory piano chords and standup bass are repeated one extra time before the solo begins over top, and the ending denouement is slightly longer, featuring more spoken samples. Because of this, the transition into "[[The Great Below]]" is also slightly different than the original CD version. ===La Mer (Alternate Version)==='''''Running Time: 4:54'''''*VocalsReleased on ''The Fragile: Denise MilfortDeviations 1''. Also known as "La Mer" (Alt) when it was originally released on Apple Music as part of ''The Fragile Instrumental'', where it appeared to be marred with brief noise during the intro, potentially caused by a poor DAT transfer. This is a significantly different mix of the album arrangement, with a very different drum sound and more pronounced standup bass. The ending does not fade out or crossfade with "The Great Below." ===La Mer (Version)===*Drums'''''Running Time: 5: 16''''' A [[nin.com]] exclusive from ''The Fragile'' era, this remix by [[Jerome Dillon]] and [[Keith Hillebrandt]] features much more percussion-oriented loops, using atmospheric and base elements from the original. The track was later available for download at the [[remix.nin.com]] website. ===La Mer (''And All That Could Have Been'')===This live version does not feature the speech samples, backs the piano line with bass synth, and [[Robin Finck]] plays the introductory melody (normally played on piano) with a Martin Backpacker acoustic guitar. ==Live=="La Mer" made its live debut on [[1999/11/14 Barcelona, Spain|November 14, 1999]]. On ''And All That Could Have Been,'' it is performed live against the backdrop of three visual screens that display images of the sea. Towards the end of the song, Reznor presses against the screen on the center and moves his hands across the panel, as the blurry image of a woman is revealed before the screen fades to black. The imagery was provided by Bill RieflinViola. During the [[Fragility v2.0]]tour, the main piano melody was played on a Martin Backpacker mini acoustic guitar. *CelloOn the [[With Teeth: Summer Amphitheater Tour]] and [[Performance 2007]], Reznor played a piano-only version of "La Mer," including an initial improvisation, before playing "Into the Void," and it is sometimes confused with "Adrift And At Peace." The band began playing "La Mer" in full again on the [[WillieWave Goodbye Tour]].

==Influences==It can be argued that the song is heavily infuenced by During the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mer_%28Debussy%29 Debussy version of the same name[Cold And Black And Infinite Tour]]. Both songs build up to create a sonic atmosphere, and both are (obviously) titled the samemain piano melody was played on xylophone. It is very similar to On [[http:2018/12/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper%27s_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band14_Los_Angeles,_CA|December 14, 2018]] by The Beatles, in that it layers many, many instruments [[Mike Garson]] joined the band to induce atonality and perform the said sonic atmospheresong live.

===Creole French=== Et quand le jour arrive arrivé Map touné le ciel Et map touné la mer Et la mer va embrassé moi Et délivré moi lakay An rien peut arrêter moi konin la French equivalent : Et quand le jour arrivera Je deviendrai le retournerai au ciel Et je deviendrai retournerai à la mer Et la mer viendra va m'embrasser Pour je rentre Et me délivrer chez moi Rien ne peut m'arrêter maintenant

There is an alternate, more literal translation of the lyrics: And when the day arrives I'll return to the sky And I'll return to the sea And the sea will embrace me And deliver me home Nothing can stop me now ==External Links==*[http://archive.org/details/remix-nin-com-audio-00124 "La Mer" (Version) at archive.org]*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95jbTEb9mD0 Reznor discloses the origins of "La Mer"]{{Succession box| title=[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]] Left (CD), Side C (Vinyl)| before=[[No, You Don't]]| after=[[The Great Below]]| track=11}}[[Category:NIN Songs]][[Category:NIN Instrumentals]][[Category:Know The Score]]