Closer by Nine Inch Nails

[Apollo]

So I was talking to a friend last night, and he says the song is comletely disgusting and wrong, and totally shouldnt be around because he blatantly sings about sex. I agreed the video was disgusting but the song is ok to me. And how its sad kids listen to this. But teenagers are watching porn by the time they hit puberty and figure out what sex is. I don't see how this song is much different.

ANYWAY, here is the song. What do you guys think.

this is the live version
this is the actual video verson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC0IAyUnCfA&mode=related&search=

 

[Paxton]

I really like the song. Been a favorite of mine since it came out.
I don't think it's disgusting or wrong. It may have strong worded lyrics, but since it's about the search for love that transcends the flesh, those graphics descriptions make sense.


CLOSER

You let me violate you
You let me desecrate you
You let me penetrate you
You let me complicate you
Help me...
I broke apart my insides
Help me...
I've got no soul to sell
Help me...
the only thing that works for me
Help me get away from myself,

I wanna fuck you like an animal
I wanna feel you from the inside
I wanna fuck you like an animal
My whole existence is flawed
You get me closer to God

You can have my isolation...
You can have the hate that it brings
You can have my absence of faith...
You can have my everything

Help me... you tear down my reason
Help me... it's your sex I can smell
Help me... you make me perfect
Help me become somebody else

I wanna fuck you like an animal
I wanna feel you from the inside
I wanna fuck you like an animal
My whole existence is flawed
You get me closer to God

Through every forest
Above the trees
Within my stomach
Scraped off my knees
I drink the honey, inside your hive...
You are the reason I stay alive...

 

[Spiff]

Despite the lyrics that may raise a few eyebrows among the conservative crowd, there's no denying this song has an excellent beat. There's more to a song than just lyrics.

Thanks for the link. I've always wanted to see a live performance of this song.

 

[Soilwork]

I think that song is brilliant. The production is amazing. the lyrics are great.

And WHY is it that everything has to be Disney-fied?

Can't adults have music that isn't sanitized for "the children?"

 

[eddielee]

It is rather common, but a lot of people like it. It has a good beat, but the video is gloomy and depressing. I'm not sure what kind of statement the spinning hog's head is supposed to make.

 

[Paws]

When was Closer done? In 1994? And you're still arguing over it?

 

[G-Lexington]

The surprise isn't that the song is around.
The surprise is that the song is so popular.

This sort of music has been around for some time, but no one before (or since) has pushed such an unnerving song about sex/ownership so far up the charts.

For the record, I don't think the video is "disgusting". A much better adjective for the video is "unnerving". Many of the visual aspects of the video certainly aren't disgusting in and of themselves - the seven businessmen, the kid in a top hat, the cobweb-covered mechanism to open the curtain, Trent hanging from the ceiling. But the way they're presented, the way they're filmed and edited together, serve to make the video even more freaky than it would've been had it simply had the pig head and the nudity.

Lex

 

[probable]

come on, you guys. pig head! lord of the flies?! the evil of tyranny and obsessive power?! it's perfect.

i love the song and the video. and i love that trent reznor makes that allusion between sex and power. i love trent reznor in general.

 

[Raven03]

That is one of my favorite songs on the downward spiral.

 

[cantthink949]

i love this song it brings back memories of a trip to spain when i was in high school...me and my friends were fucked up with absinthe and dancing on the bed half naked it was amazing

it has a really good beat

 

[iluvbenmckenzie]

When was Closer done? In 1994? And you're still arguing over it?

Ditto. This song isn't even relevant anymore in the debate of what kids are listening to. I love the song and like Nine Inch Nails a lot, but I'm in the minority among my peers (I'm 18). It's still a classic, landmark song, but not really argued over anymore.

 

[Absolut]

It's fun to fuck to if you like it rough

plus, it's a great song even if you DON'T want to fuck to it....actually, the whole album was great..."March of the Pigs?" yes please!

 

[justsimon]

I think it's just like all of NIN's songs: sad, fucked-up, kind of hot and brilliant.