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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]]<br>[[Cold And Black And Infinite Tour]]through present}}'''"The Becoming"''' is the seventh track on the 1994 album ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]].'' A semi-acoustic version can be found on ''[[Still]],'' which has an accompanying performance video released at the time on [[nin.com]]. The bassline on this track was done with a prototype of the Oberheim OB-Mx synthesizer.[https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw4RM5movKf/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=jqklvyc8wfw7] [[Trent Reznor]] stated in an interview[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IwIxiovt_I] that the idea for the metaphor of a person becoming a machine was inspired by [[Shinya Tsukamoto]]'s ''Tetsuo: The Iron Man''.

"===Annie===In a 2004 interview for ''Alternative Press'The Becoming'''" is made from many loops , Reznor was asked about the use of industrial sounds, showcasing the hard sound from [[The Downward Spiral]]. A more 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 an accompanying video on [[nin.com]] ([http://youtube.com/watch?v=eaX4Ac2-Fww YouTube upload])name Annie in this song.

<blockquote><p>Oh, and "Annie" was abstractly referring to a college sweetheart/ heartbreak situation that, at the time I was writing that song, was a valid source of emotional pain to draw from. Her real name is Andrea Mulrain, and her phone number is [number deleted for privacy purposes. -Patriot Act Ed.]</p> <p>—Reznor [http://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=11]</p></blockquote> =Lyrics==Song Credits===*Production: [[Flood]] and Trent Reznor*Mixing Engineer: [[Alan Moulder]]*Ring Mod Guitar: [[Adrian Belew]]*ARP2600: Flood ==Appearances=====Halos===*''The Downward Spiral'' (1994)*''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'' (Deluxe Edition CD; 2002)*''Still'' ===Seeds===*''[[The Definitive NIN - Deep Cuts]]'' ==Versions=====The Becoming===This is the original album version. It begins in a 13/8 time signature with a manipulated piano line, then bursts into drum and [[samples|sample]] loops of screams taken from the film ''Robot Jox''. The drum loop pattern is also nearly identical in "[[The Way Out Is Through]]". At the 3-minute mark, it mellows into an acoustic guitar-led passage in 6/8, with machine-like loops and synthesized chorus pads sampled from Reznor's voice. The quiet portions of the song also contain a backwards sample from the film ''Angel Heart'' where the character is repeatedly yelling "I know who I am!" There is a final outburst of noise and screaming before returning to the acoustic section, which crossfades with the opening of "[[I Do Not Want This]]". ===The Becoming (Instrumental)==='''''Running Time: 6:24''''' Released by Reznor via his [[remix.nin.com]] account, this unmastered instrumental version is extended in length, as it does not fade out the ending, rather looping the acoustic guitar riff many times until stopping. ===The Becoming (''Still'')==='''''Running Time: 4:30'''''

I beat my machine itThis version appears on the 's a part of me it's inside of me IStill'm stuck in this dream it's changing me I am becoming The me that you know he had some second thoughts HeCD, which was disc two of the Deluxe Edition CD of 's covered with scabs he is broken and sore The me that you know he doesn't come around much And All That part of me isnCould Have Been''t here anymore All pain disappears . Simpler in its instrumentation and without the sample loops, it's transitions immediately from the nature end of my circuitry Drowns out all I hear no escape from this my new consciousness "[[The_Fragile_%28song%29#The_Fragile_.28Still.29|The me that you know Fragile]]" and ends suddenly after the final "noisy" section. Though he used to have feelings But is absent from the blood has stopped pumping and he's left to decay The me that you know credits, [[Danny Lohner]] is now made up of wires And even when I'm right with you I'm so far away I can try to get away but I've strapped myself clearly seen performing in I can try to scratch away the sound in my ears I can see it killing away all of my bad parts I don't want to listen but it's all to clear Hiding backwards inside of me I feel so unafraid Annie, hold a little tighter I might just slip away It wont give up it wants me dead Goddamn this noise inside my headvideo.

=== 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 Jox'' 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]