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| album = '' [[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]]''| length = 5 min :31 s| BPM = 150| versions = The Becoming<br>The Becoming (Instrumental)<br>The Becoming (''[[Still]]'')| live = [[Dissonance]] tour <br> [[Year Zero Warm-Up Performance 2007]]<br>[[Wave Goodbye Tour]]<br>[[NIN 2014 Europe/UK Tour]]}}'''"The Becoming"''' is the seventh track on the 1994 album ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]].''

"'''The Becoming'''" is made from many loops of industrial sounds, showcasing the hard sound from [[The Downward Spiral]]. A more semi-acoustic version (with [[Trent]] on piano, [[Danny Lohner]] on guitar, [[Jerome Dillon]] on drums, with drum machine and samples) can be found on ''[[Still]], with '' which has an accompanying performance video released at the time on [[nin.com]] ([http://youtube.com/watch?v=eaX4Ac2-Fww YouTube upload]).

==Lyrics=Annie===In a 2004 interview for ''Alternative Press'', [[Trent Reznor]] was asked about the use of the name Annie in this song.

<blockquote><p>"Oh, and "Annie" was abstractly referring to a college sweetheart/ heartbreak situation that, at the time I beat my machine it's was writing that song, was a part of me it's inside valid source of me I'm stuck in this dream it's changing me I am becomingemotional pain to draw from. Her real name is Andrea Mulrain, and her phone number is [number deleted for privacy purposes. -Patriot Act Ed.]"</p>

The me that you know he had some second thoughts<p>—Reznor [http://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=11]</p></blockquote> ===Song Credits=== He's covered with scabs he is broken *Production: [[Flood]] and soreTrent Reznor*Mixing Engineer: [[Alan Moulder]]*Ring Mod Guitar: [[Adrian Belew]]*ARP2600: Flood ==Appearances=====Halos=== *''The me that you know he doesnDownward Spiral''t come around much(1994) *''[[And All That part of me isnCould Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'' (Deluxe Edition CD; 2002)*''Still''t here anymore All pain disappears it===Seeds===*''[[The Definitive NIN - Deep Cuts]]''s the nature of my circuitry Drowns out all I hear no escape from this my new consciousness ==Versions== ===The me that you know he used to have feelingsBecoming=== But This is the original album version. It begins in a 13/8 time signature with a manipulated piano line, then bursts into drum and sample loops of screams taken from the film ''Robot Joxx''. The drum loop pattern is also nearly identical in "[[The Way Out Is Through]]." At the blood has stopped pumping 3-minute mark, it mellows into an acoustic guitar-led passage in 6/8, with machine-like loops and hesynthesized chorus pads sampled from Reznor's left voice. There is a final outburst of noise and screaming before returning to decaythe acoustic section, which crossfades with the opening of "[[I Do Not Want This]]." ===The me that you know is now made up of wiresBecoming (Instrumental)=== And even when I'm right with you I'm so far away'''Running Time: 6:24'''''  I can try to get away but I've strapped myself Released by Reznor via his [[remix.nin.com]] account, this unmastered instrumental version is extended inlength, as it does not fade out the ending, rather looping the acoustic guitar riff many times until stopping. I can try to scratch away the sound in my ears I can see it killing away all of my bad parts===The Becoming (''Still'')=== I don't want to listen but it's all to clear'''Running Time: 4:30''''' Hiding backwards inside This version appears on the ''Still'' CD, which was Disc 2 of the Deluxe Edition CD of me I feel so unafraid Annie''And All That Could Have Been'' and is currently available through nin.com. Simpler in its instrumentation and without the sample loops, hold a little tighter I might just slip away It wont give up it wants me dead Goddamn this noise inside my headtransitions immediately from the end of "[[The_Fragile_%28song%29#The_Fragile_.28Still.29|The Fragile]]" and ends suddenly after the final "noisy" section. Though he is absent from the credits, [[Danny Lohner]] is clearly seen performing in the video.

=== Meaning =Song Credits====*Performance: Trent Reznor, Jerome Dillon*Mix engineering: Alan Moulder*Engineering: Alan Moulder*Second Engineering: [[Leo Herrera]]*Programming: [[Keith Hillebrandt]]

The lyrics describe a man fighting against himself==Live==This song, trying played live frequently on the [[Dissonance]] Tour and relegated to rarity status until its brief return on the [[Performance 2007]] Tour, was resurrected for the [[Wave Goodbye Tour]], during which it was characterized by [[Robin Finck]]'s use of an acoustic guitar throughout. However, the structure of the song stayed close to avoid his "becoming"the album version, transforming him into a machine without human characteristics and feelingswith distortion used on the acoustic guitar for the loud parts. These performances also dropped the ''Robot Joxx'' sample loop.

This is ==Lyrics== I beat my machine it's a rare example part of me it's inside of [[Trent]] directly referencing a name ("Annie") me I'm stuck in his lyrics. Usually, this dream it's changing me I am becoming The me that you know had some second thoughts He's covered with scabs he uses ambiguous pronouns. This expresses is broken and sore The me that you know doesn't come around much That part of me isn’t here anymore All pain disappears it's the need for attachment, nature of my circuitry Drowns out all I hear no escape from this my new consciousness The me that you know used to have feelings But the need blood has stopped pumping and he's left to interact intimately decay The me that you know is now made up of wires And even when I'm right with another human despite you I'm so far away I can try to get away but I've strapped myself in I can try to scratch away the narratorsound in my ears I can see it killing away all my bad parts I don't want to listen but it's extreme attempts to detach himself from the world.all too clear Hiding backwards inside of me I feel so unafraid Annie, hold a little tighter I might just slip away It won't give up it wants me dead Goddamn this noise inside my head

==External Links==*[http://vimeo.com/61677369 "The song begins with industrial noises such as those from a drum machine and what appears to be distorted screams. At the 3-minute mark it mellows into swooshy sounds with Becoming" (''ahhStill''ing ) music video]*[http://vimeo.com/5133409 "The Becoming" live from more emotive voices. There is a final outburst of noise and screaming before fading out with on stage at the ''ahh''s againSasquatch Festival, 5. This song structure is indicative of the struggle between the narrator and the noise/machine24.09]