best version of Hurt

[In Bloom]

Johnny Cash's version has a certain poigniancy that Reznor's self-pitying whineyness can't quite measure up to, IMO.

 

[DotCommunist]

But that makes it great, obviously.

the poignancy of cash doing hurt does not excuse the knackered-crooner element to his vocals. Don't get me wrong I got grit in my eye when I first saw the video, but after a period of reflection I still prefer the nin version. It is simply sung better

 

[DotCommunist]

Johnny Cash's version has a certain poigniancy that Reznor's self-pitying whineyness can't quite measure up to, IMO.

damn you for using the same adjective as me

 

[Dillinger4]

But there is no point in measuring a song like hurt on how technically good the singing is.

It is meant to be full of raw pathos. Singing from a low point, from a point at the end of your life, with a whole lifetime of hurt to draw upon, is far more moving than anything 'Trent Reznor' could ever muster.

 

[Dillinger4]

Johnny Cash's version has a certain poigniancy that Reznor's self-pitying whineyness can't quite measure up to, IMO.

Indeed.

 

[DotCommunist]

But there is no point in measuring a song like hurt on how technically good the singing is.

It is meant to be full of raw pathos. Singing from a low point, from a point at the end of your life, with a whole lifetime of hurt to draw upon, is far more moving than anything 'Trent Reznor' could ever muster.

I disagree. A song is not 'how it made you feel the first time you heard it' and pathos is an aesthetic judgement surely?

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

NIN, just because I know most people on here will choose Cash.

 

[twistedAM]

the poignancy of cash doing hurt does not excuse the knackered-crooner element to his vocals. Don't get me wrong I got grit in my eye when I first saw the video, but after a period of reflection I still prefer the nin version. It is simply sung better

That can be said for almost all of the Rubin-Cash output. In most cases the original songwriter wins, especially Tom Petty.

 

[poului]

I've decided that NIN do the best version

it's "the better version", for fuck's sake.

 

[Refused as fuck]

I like both versions. I voted for NIN because someone had to.

 

[Maggot]

nails do it way better. The music is much better on the original and reznors better at whining. Random noise in background=win.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eX8Lmcrm5sU&feature=related

is the nin version.

I bet people are suprised by my vote!

dave

No, it's well known that you have rubbish taste.

 

[Maggot]

NIN, just because I know most people on here will choose Cash.

You're supposed to vote for the one you prefer, not the underdog.

 

[clandestino]

I'm sure even Trent Reznor thinks the Johnny Cash version is better.

 

[DotCommunist]

I'm sure even Trent Reznor thinks the Johnny Cash version is better.

he's entitled to his opinion, but I disagree.

 

[marty21]

first couple of times i heard it, I wandered who his swedish friend was

 

[8ball]

This is *really* the best version:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BcERe5pd8yI

 

[Maggot]

This is *really* the best version:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BcERe5pd8yI

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

 

[isitme]

This is *really* the best version:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BcERe5pd8yI

that is quite sad actually

 

[8ball]

that is quite sad actually

Yes, if I was one of those book-learnin' types I might use a word like 'juxtaposition' at this point . . .

 

[scifisam]

the poignancy of cash doing hurt does not excuse the knackered-crooner element to his vocals. Don't get me wrong I got grit in my eye when I first saw the video, but after a period of reflection I still prefer the nin version. It is simply sung better

A song isn't good just because it's technically proficient. Sometimes being too technically proficient can even make a song worse - soulless.

If the only 'good' voices were the ones that are technically better, then only classical singers could be considered good.

Cash's version is better because it's more effective. The NIN one is still excellent, but not as effective.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

You're supposed to vote for the one you prefer, not the underdog.

I know. But there's a certain pavlovian factor about how people vote on Urban sometimes.

Cash has this 'cool' status, so they vote for him...

 

[scifisam]

I know. But there's a certain pavlovian factor about how people vote on Urban sometimes.

Cash has this 'cool' status, so they vote for him...

I don't think that's why most people are voting for Cash in this poll.

 

[brix]

I voted for Cash because he made that song his own. It sends shivers down my spine when I hear it. I can't actually watch the video because I always end up snivelling

 

[8ball]

I don't think that's why most people are voting for Cash in this poll.

It's because there is no 'kermit' option.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Not at all. the only thing I don't like about Johnny cash's version is that it makes the original sound a bit lame

The thing I don't like about it, is it's an old man, singing a young man's song.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

If you talk to old people, feeling a psychological disconnect from the world that would make them cut themselves in order to feel alive, isn't the problem.

The problem is that they feel voraciously alive inside old bodies that are slowly disconnecting themselves from the world.

 

[subversplat]

The thing I don't like about it, is it's an old man, singing a young man's song.

Reznor was 32 when 'Hurt' was released

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Reznor was 32 when 'Hurt' was released

I suspect most NIN fans are or were a bit younger than that.

 

[DotCommunist]

I'm suprised at just how big a landslide this poll has been tbh.

The cash version just hasn't got the piercing vocals and when divorced from what you know about the man, it isn't as good.

 

[Bakunin]

I voted for Cash because he made that song his own. It sends shivers down my spine when I hear it. I can't actually watch the video because I always end up snivelling

The Man In Black FTW.