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sir pball

(4,726 posts)
Sat Mar 4, 2023, 10:54 PM Mar 2023

The best cover of all time?

Trent Reznor captured the loss and isolation of addiction so well with his song, "Hurt".

Then Johnny Cash came along.

To quote Cracked (and Trent):

Ultimately, "Hurt" was about the fragile psychological state of Trent Reznor -- and wow, it probably did not help matters at all when Johnny Cash roared up on a Harley, stole that manifesto of emotional agony right out of his shaking, bleeding hands, then threw a whiskey bottle at the wall and fell asleep on top of his girlfriend. Yes, you still gave birth to that song, Trent, and we all know it wouldn't exist without you, but it very clearly loves Johnny so, so much more now. Cash's cover was a testament to a lifetime of hard living and regret, from the lips of a man who's lost nearly everything he's ever loved and is now facing down death himself. No matter how real you think shit got in your 20s, your goth/industrial problems are just never going to compare to the lifelong issues of Liquor: The Cowboy. Cash had about five decades of pain on Reznor when he first performed "Hurt"; you're just not fighting in same weight class.

It's tragic, really: You raised that music up as best you could, Trent, and sure you had your problems, but you tried your best and you really loved it. Then mom's cool new boyfriend came along with his speedboat and an autographed picture of that time he met Dolph Lundgren at the driving range and shit, man, you never stood a chance.

If you find that your neurotically chewed, black-painted fingernails are just dancing across the keyboard with rage right now, you should know this is the one entry that cannot be contested. In the words of Mr. Reznor himself:

"I pop the video in, and wow ... Tears welling, silence, goose-bumps ... Wow. I just lost my girlfriend, because that song isn't mine anymore."

Game. Set. Cash.

https://www.cracked.com/blog/5-cover-songs-that-stole-show-from-originals

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The best cover of all time? (Original Post) sir pball Mar 2023 OP
It's on the short list, for sure, with a caveat. RockRaven Mar 2023 #1
Cash's version sounds like a man on his deathbed confessing a lifetime of sins and regrets. LonePirate Mar 2023 #2
You may be correct. Eko Mar 2023 #3
Awesome, Eko. rubbersole Mar 2023 #4
Welcome. Eko Mar 2023 #7
I always listen to this on my good headphones. sir pball Mar 2023 #6
I use my Adam Audio monitors. Eko Mar 2023 #8
I would go with this one. moniss Mar 2023 #5
sir pball......... Upthevibe Mar 2023 #9
Whenever the question comes up, this is the song I link to...nt Wounded Bear Mar 2023 #10

RockRaven

(14,783 posts)
1. It's on the short list, for sure, with a caveat.
Sat Mar 4, 2023, 11:42 PM
Mar 2023

It's more powerful in music video form than just the record. That adds a lot to the experience, imo. I still like it if it's just the audio, but it doesn't move me half as much.

However, I'm partial to Hendrix's All Along The Watchtower if I have to choose just one cover to wear the crown.

LonePirate

(13,386 posts)
2. Cash's version sounds like a man on his deathbed confessing a lifetime of sins and regrets.
Sat Mar 4, 2023, 11:54 PM
Mar 2023

It's doubling as a proxy for Cash's life perhaps.

Reznor's version, a fine song itself, sounds like he's going through a bad breakup. It just seems so insignificant compared to the Cash version.

There are several covers which I think are better than the original; but I'm not sure any of them exceed what Cash did here, even if the Grammys somehow didn't reward Cash for it.

Eko

(7,170 posts)
3. You may be correct.
Sat Mar 4, 2023, 11:54 PM
Mar 2023

As a side note for those musicians or just music lovers that delve into the detail check out this video that shows the genius of the music behind that. I recommend listening to the Cash version with good headphones or speakers, closing your eyes so you can really hear it and then watch this video.
The Hidden Beauty of Johnny Cash's Hurt




But this one is really, really good as well for best cover ever and its a Cash one as well.



Im torn, both are awesome.
Eko.

ps, yeah, I know Johnny Cash.

sir pball

(4,726 posts)
6. I always listen to this on my good headphones.
Fri Mar 10, 2023, 09:32 PM
Mar 2023

Sennheiser HD280s. If you know, you know.

It's brilliant.

Eko

(7,170 posts)
8. I use my Adam Audio monitors.
Fri Mar 10, 2023, 09:45 PM
Mar 2023

Ive got like 7 sets of headphones and I'm not even sure which ones I so hardly ever use them. Some Audio Technica, Sennheisers, Sure, Pioneers, and then some cheap ones. Would like to get some Beyerdynamic's but I only use headphones when I record and I just do that much anymore.
Eko.

moniss

(3,949 posts)
5. I would go with this one.
Sun Mar 5, 2023, 12:39 AM
Mar 2023

Written in 1929 and recorded many times but when Judy Garland did this live on her show it was so incredibly personal and her pain is very real yet she got through the song. As she is singing she knows another marriage was dying that she had hoped would live and last. Nobody knew better than Judy that her demons ruined her relationships and her chances at happiness. It takes one hell of a brave performer to do what she did here. This tears me up like no other. This is a colorized video done by a fan.

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
9. sir pball.........
Fri Mar 10, 2023, 09:47 PM
Mar 2023

I don't know if it's my favorite cover of all time but here's the original and then the cover.




My preference for sure:

&t=10s



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