The song Closer by the American rock band Nine Inch Nails and the video shot for the track turned out to be so provocative that the lyrics and the music video had to be softened for rotation on radio and television. But even the lighter version of the composition made moralists grit their teeth with rage, which did not prevent the single from becoming the most commercially successful single in NIN(Nine Inch Nails) story.
The story and meaning of the song Closer by Nine Inch Nails
The words and music of Closer were composed by Trent Reznor. The song was conceived as a reflection on obsession and one’s own nature, which causes hostility in the author. But the scandalous phrases in the chorus made the audience consider the track an anthem of animal passion.
Fans also put forward other versions of the interpretation of the main idea of Closer:
- trying to get rid of drug addiction,
- thoughts of a rapist maniac,
- fight against depression
- desire for suicide
- difficult relationship with a sexual partner.
Do you know what Closer is about? Write reviews and reviews in the comments.
For Tommy Lee of Motley Crue, the meaning of Closer is clear:
This is the best song of all time. These rhythms are purely for love – Trent Reznor knew what he was doing. You can make love to it, you can dance to it, you can get drunk to it.
Blender, 2002
On May 30, 1994, Closer was released as a single from The Downward Spiral Nine Inch Nails. In most releases, the single is called “Closer to God”.
Video of Closer by Nine Inch Nails
The video for NIN’s Closer was directed by Mark Romanek, who also directed the music videos for Bedtime Story and Rain Madonna, as well as Are You Gonna Go My Way Lenny Kravitz. Mark Romanek’s eccentric images were inspired by the work of American photographer Joel-Peter Witkin.
Trent Reznor praised Romanek’s work:
A rare thing happened: the song sounded better to me when I watched the music video. And this is my song.
retrospective
The censored version of the video received heavy rotation on MTV. Let’s watch online clip Closer – Nine Inch Nails.
Let’s check out the Closer Nine Inch Nails music video from Woodstock 94.
Closer covers have been performed by MGMT, Maroon 5 and other notable bands.
Interesting Facts
- The drum part features a heavily altered sample from Iggy Pop’s Nightclubbing.
- Mark Romanek said that he used an old 1919 camera to film the Closer Nine Inch Nails video.
- The monkey crucified in the video was not harmed.
- VH1 listed Closer’s music video as one of the top twenty videos of all time.
- Various versions of Closer are featured on the soundtracks of David Fincher’s Seven, Tony Scott’s The Fanboy, and Dave Meyers’ The Hitchhiker.
- Limp Bizkit parodied the songs NIN Closer, Burn and The Perfect Drug in the track Hot Dog.
Closer Lyrics by Nine Inch Nails
You let me violate you
You let me desecrate you
You let me penetrate you
You let me compare 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
chorus:
I want to f*** you like an animal
I want to feel you from the inside
I want to f*** 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 tear down my reason
Help me, it’s your sex I can smell
Help me make me perfect
Help me become somebody else
Chorus
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
Lyrics of Closer by NIN Alternate
You let me rape you
You let me insult you
You let me enter you
You let me complicate your life.
Help me, I’ve torn my insides.
Help me, I don’t have a soul to sell.
Help me, there’s only one thing that works for me.
Help me escape myself.
Chorus:
I want to f*** you like an animal
I want to touch you from within.
I want to f*** you like an animal
My whole being is corrupt.
You bring me closer to God.
You can take my privacy
You can take away the hate it causes
You can take away my lack of faith
You can take everything from me.
Help me destroy my mind.
Help me, I can smell your floor.
Help me, you make me perfect.
Help me become someone else.
Chorus
Through all the forests, over the trees,
In the stomach, peeling off the knees,
I drink honey inside your hive.
I’m still alive only because of you.
