I say this is the best version of "Hurt".
I think it's ok to like both (the NIN original and this one). They are almost like different genres of music though.
Totally okay to like both (I do!). I just contend the Cash version is best.
Definitely a different genre is this choir arrangement. I really like it, but I don't know my ranking of versions over all.
NiN is still the best in my opinion. I like the complexity and layering and the sounds used. Cash's cover is fine.
As I recall Trent Reznor said that himself.about this version. Specifically that while he wrote it, after this rendition it's not his song anymore.
This is a common misquote, Trent never said that Johnny’s was better. He simply said that what he was hearing wasn’t his song anymore.
Basically just expressing how impressed he was that Johnny Cash really made it his own, and didn’t just do a simple cover.
In my opinion it's significantly worse and only known because it's Johnny Cash. He's hardly singing and sounds bored half the time...compared to Trent reznor who sings passionately and varied. I'm not the biggest NIN fan but I think the original's instrumental part is way more musically interesting to me, too. To each their own of course but I'm always surprised to see how many people love this version
I believe that Trent Reznor liked Cash's version so much that upon hearing it, he stated that it's Johnny Cash's song now.
His wife and then he died within a year of making this video. Makes me cry.
Just looked it up: This is on Cash's 67th and last studio album: American IV: The Man Comes Around.
