Nine Inch Nails vs. Johnny Cash | Head 2 Head

In the 44th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Nine Inch Nails and Johnny Cash contend for the best rendition of “Hurt.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians performing the same song and compare their performances.  After deliberating, a verdict is rendered about which performance was the best or, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 44^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Nine Inch Nails and Johnny Cash contend for the best rendition of “Hurt”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence

1. Nine Inch Nails, “Hurt”

The Downward Spiral // Island // 1994

“What have I become / My sweetest friend? / Everyone I know / Goes away in the end.” Those are reflective lyrics penned and performed by Trent Reznor.  Reznor composed a marvelous song with “Hurt,” the 14^th and final track from the critically acclaimed 1994 Nine Inch Nails album, The Downward Spiral.  Following those memorable lyrics from the pre-chorus, Reznor continues the glory in the chorus: “And you could have it all / My empire of dirt / I will let you down / I will make you hurt.”

“Hurt” begins with an unsettling intro.  Fittingly, it sets the tone for this ‘hurt’ track. Once the guitar enters the mix, “Hurt” remains enigmatic and foreboding.  It’s by design and brilliant.  Another brilliant aspect of the record is the pacing.  “Hurt” never gets in a rush, remaining laid-back and relaxed.  Two minutes into the song, it’s more stable and grows more dynamic. Delivering unique vocals, Reznor sings quietly initially, never over-singing.  Later, his vocals grow bigger in the choruses, accompanied by pummeling drums and rhythmic piano lines.  One of the most memorable lines of the song that isn’t part of the chorus occurs in the second verse:  “I wear this crown of shit / Upon my liar’s chair / Full of broken thoughts / I cannot repair.” Let that sink in.  Other notes about the classic. In the second iteration of the chorus, everything grows even bigger, with more sound effects. After the four-and-a-half-minute mark, the accompaniment grows noisy.  Closing out, the instrumental outro is distinct, characterized by its texture.  The industrial rock sound is in full effect.  “Hurt” is a gem from the Nine Inch Nail catalog.  However, an unlikely musician would give the original a big-time run for its money.

2. Johnny Cash, “Hurt”

American IV: The Man Comes Around // American Recording Company, LLC // 2002

“I will let you down / I will make you hurt.” Ask yourself, did it ever seem likely that Johnny Cash (1932 – 2003) would cover a Nine Inch Nails song? N-O. On his 2002, platinum album, American IV: The Man Comes Around, Cash covered Reznor’s “Hurt”, which originally appeared on the 1994 Nine Inch Nails album, The Downward Spiral.  Cash made “Hurt” his own, earning a legitimate late-career classic.  Notably, “Hurt” was certified gold by the RIAA in 2005. Also, at the 46^th Annual GRAMMY Awards, Cash won the Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video for “Hurt” posthumously.

Cash made this marvelous Trent Reznor-composed song even more marvelous. Acoustic guitar and piano play crucial roles in the accompaniment. “I hurt myself today / To see if I still feel / I focus on the pain / the only thing that’s real,” Cash sings expressively in a gravelly baritone.  With Cash at the helm, it feels and sounds different than Reznor, who was 29 when the original was released.  Cash was 70 when “Hurt” was released as a single. The second verse is equally chilling and moving, where a slight lyrical modification is made from the original: “I wear this crown of thorns / Upon my liar’s chair / Full of broken thoughts / I cannot repair.” The chorus is the centerpiece with the final iteration being the most powerful. The accompaniment grows more intense, with Cash sounding his most authentic and commanding. “Hurt” covered by Johnny Cash, is a once-in-a-lifetime song.

Appears in 🔻:

• Johnny Cash, Hurt: Covers No. 45 (2024)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

Which version of “Hurt” is the best? Is it the original by Nine Inch Nails or the Johnny Cash cover?  This one is easy: JOHNNY CASH.  Rarely does the original fall to the cover, but Cash’s interpretation of “Hurt” is special and different from the NIN version. It’s not merely my opinion that Cash’s cover trumps the original.  Trent Reznor, skeptical of the Cash cover initially, acknowledged its specialness, asserting, “That song isn’t mine anymore.”  Both versions are superb but Cash’s ‘hits differently.’

Nine Inch Nails vs. Johnny Cash: Head 2 Head No. 44 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; American Recording Company, LLC / Island; Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]