"SOMETHING I CAN NEVER HAVE" harmonic/rhythmic analysis - Nine Inch Nails
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 31 янв 2021
- PATREON - more videos, sheet music, education: / iximusic
BUY ME A LIPSTICK: www.buymeacoffee.com/iximusic
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/59lLMF...
FOLLOW me on Instagram! @ixi.music
WATCH more NIN analysis videos: • "LA MER" - Nine Inch N...
-------------
And you thought this was just a simple piano ballad! With NIN, weird is normal, weird is beautiful. The ending of this track is my favorite and I'll show you why, while I cry! I know this one means a lot to NIN fans. What lyric is your favorite? And which version is your favorite and why?
--------------- 
Развлечения
The note that's "missing"--as I have always interpreted--is a second heartbeat. Whereas there were two, now there is only one. Alone. Broken. Still beating to a syncopation that only it bears.
Ah that's beautiful.
B r o k e n
I love how you mention it seems 'not stable'. Like the melody is wanting for something but never gets it
I C what you did there! ♥️
The whole "left a note out" thing makes me feel loneliness. I never knew that's why I felt it. But I think that's what the song is communicating. That absent note is the something he can never have.
Do think he found that note over the next 15 albums?
Wow, that's an interesting way to think of it, and after listening to it for years and years - yep.
I'm so glad I discovered this channel. "Something I Can Never Have" is a thing of immense beauty and depth. I am a music lover and amateur composer. I studied, was raised on, and compose modern classical music. Stravinsky, Bartok, Shostakovich, Prokofiev - that crowd is my influence. I also love Nine Inch Nails. I have every album, EP, and bootleg, and sometimes I put them all in a massive playlist and just soak them in. The musicality, the _craft_ in Trent Reznor's composition is formidable. It's so wonderful to see someone versed in music theory and composition recognize this and create thoughtful analysis videos on his songs. Subscribed, rang the bell; I'm there.
Thank you. You get it.
I adore Stravinsky. The Rite of Spring is something I can't live without.
100%
"My favourite dreams of you still wash ashore, scraping through my head till I don't want to sleep anymore."
That line always got to me in high school. There's a very distinct visual that accompany his lyrics.
"...the way he breaks rules reminds me of someone who doesn't have training..." I find this to be the single-most important observation about Reznor in any video I've seen yet. He appears to play how he Feels, as opposed to: "what is the next logical/expected sound according to theory"? And that is what makes music SUCK, but it's what defines a lot of radio-friendly pop/rock. After a while, it's so stale and boring. Reznor plays how he Feels, he envelopes you in his emotion, and takes the listener from one interesting bit to the next. And, he does it unconventionally, but in a way that's immediately understood... and this is what I think makes him an expressive genius. Another example may be David Tibet (of Current 93). He evokes painful sounds that you wouldn't hear on the radio, but there's an entire audience who gets it. He can use such shrill sounds for extended periods of time, or erupt a complete moment of total "non-musicality", and... somehow, it's still beautiful because it's composed from a place of Honest, Deep Feeling. I think the ultimate lesson to be learnt from genius artists we all come to love is: fuck conventionality, do what feels right, and honest, no filter, be transparent and vulnerable, but FEEL it. Whatever you're playing or singing, FEEL it. People will appreciate The Sincerity of it.
The Beatles are another great example of people who understand music from an intuitive place but are incredibly complex with that emotional understanding.
@@Bradley_Lute so true. So so true.
Late response, but I think you absolutely have the right idea. The music Trent creates so special is actually a really interesting mix. He's an exceptionally skilled musician and composer, but also gifted at creating music that channels many layers of emotion. He doesn't just play how he feels, he plays how YOU feel by creating music that leads you on an emotional journey. It's very much like how certain sounds will harmonise with others to change the feel of a song from happy, to sad, to angry, to lonely etc. He writes music that, through defying your expectations, changes your "mode". You might be feeling "G major", but through his music you realise (or begin to feel) D Mixolydian. I love it.
The singular most important thing in art: you have learn the rules before you can break the rules.
Thank you for evoking a deep memory! PHM was the soundtrack of my cancer treatment and recovery. Not long after the "all clear", I found myself in a studio with a Bösendorfer Imperial Grand. I could not think of any other song to play other than this. By the end I was singing through tears and rattling the walls. My friends and the studio owner were bawling along with me. Still hits me hard in the feels.
This specific piano has 97 keys, which are added as a lower octave. Gut wrenching sounds. Trent knew what he was doing!
I was probably 14 the first time i heard this. Nothing I had ever heard sounded like this at the time. Like I would fall forever and never hit the ground.
Wow ♥️
@Acid Fist I was 22 when Pretty Hate Machine was released, and I felt the same way about this song. I was into industrial music through most of the 80’s, and NiN came out of nowhere and appealed to those of us wanting something a little more accessible, but without losing its edge. Trent revolutionized the underground industrial scene first, and then did the same to mainstream rock 4 1/2 years later with The Downward Spiral.
That note left out gives me a feeling of a nearly crippling loss. Something to complete him, that he can never have. This song is so amazingly expressive.
The amount of work and time devoted to creating this content, seriously needs Trent’s attention ASAF’nP
If I had music classes like this when I was a kid I would have actually paid attention. Love all these NIN videos. It’s like a behind the scenes
Behind the scenes! Exactly!
Do you ever think that you think too much. This song is loss , pain , longing, etc... cant you picture him writing this song 3am slumped over his keyboard taping away with no real end in mind... you play it too fast.
Do you know his story he worked as a night janitor and snuck tracks out when no one was around. Second, read the lyrics that are in the cd or tape foldout... it goes beyond what he sings. "The sqeeking of the bed is
Right in time with the song stuck in my head, i can't help but think Jesus never had it like this.... the whole album is a story terrible lie in the crash before why are you doing this to me .... am i not living up to what im supposed to be? It's hard to hear, but he says "hey god!" My point being sometimes i dont think he was trying to break new ground in music he just did... then look at all his work leaving out singles and remixs. Sin (fun) , Pretty hate machine( sad hurt). Broken pissed of at everything himself and the world ... fixed (twisted ) .. downward spiral speaks for its self ate up chewed the ... further down the spiral...you woukdnt believe how easy it was..look at the blood on his face. BANG so much blood from such a tiny little hole problems have solutions.a life time of fucking things fixed i one determined flash..
the fragile
Im sorry last thing once i saw an interview where the guy asked what a song was about and why did it seam to hurt him so much... trent replied the song is what it is to me but the second i tell you what that was someone out ther who bonded with that song that feel it as much as i do feels it for their reasons if i tell you mine it destroys where that song takes them...
I really appreciate how you experiment with different possibilities for where the song could have gone and comparing those choices to the choices Trent made in the actual song. I'm learning how to get better at applying music theory + learning piano (from a guitar background), and have been playing my keyboard along with all your videos. Thanks for all that you do!
Thank you - that's great feedback. It always helps me to recontextualize and it's good to know it helps others!
" you always were the one to show me how . back then i couldn't do the things that i can do now " 🥺
Rule #28: Don’t bring a Pick Axe and Baseball bat to a gunfight
I like this. Ixi for the win
@@veerchasm1 if u have to fight, fight like a man and leave the guns alone
@@tosh_is_me942 God made man but Samuel Colt made them all equal.
This is the song that made me realize what an exceptional vocalist Trent is. I think his vocals fly under the radar - you mentioned him being less experienced - but it's just **so hard** to actually do them in practice. I've been trying to cover this and it's just really hard to do it well, as the vocals are doing so much work.
So in this song, he has so many quiet onsets and offsets, little creaks and aspirations and whispers, and they are all at just the right moment. It's not like they sound conspicuously overdone or affected, there's no predictable pattern in them, and they sound so authentic and real. Then he does those high belting notes (as a baritone), seamlessly adding and taking away distortion. And over the course of the whole song he manages the dynamics across the verses, gradually ratcheting it up for each chorus - it's as if each verse is an argument, each chorus the unwanted and insistent conclusion, growing louder and louder in his head (like the ringing in his ears).
Nine Inch Nails have been my favourite band for 16 years, and it's this song which made me realize just how much Trent's voice is as exquisitely tuned and balanced with the music as everything else.
Really glad I discovered your channel. I always wondered what the hell that note *is* that I've been singing and it's nice to know it's objectively ambiguous :D
The still cut moves me so much every time that I hear it
The version that is on the album Still is my favorite version of this song. the mix of the piano and Trent's voice is powerful and moving.
Still is probably one of my favorite go to albums (even though it's "just" Disc 2 of a Live CD), it's undoubtedly one of the best collections of NIN music (in my opinion). I love the minimal aesthetic to everything, and I love the additional songs that were added to it, including all the instrumentals AND the track that shares the title of the Live CD "And All That Could Have Been". I found that song by accident once in high school and was super into it, then forgot about it until years later, and once I remembered it, I fell in love all over again.
Side note, you rekindled my appreciation for the album's closer "Leaving Hope". I always sort of glossed over that one because there's no lyrics and at that point I would become a bit burnt out by all the instrumentals, but now I play it all the way through and I love it dearly.
I'm glad to hear that about Leaving Hope!
Amazing!!!!! Bravo. Love it watching you getting emotionally getting involved as you play. 💌
i love the enthusiasm you bring to these videos. watching someone as intelligent and invested as you are is just spellbinding. you are a true star.
I’ve never seen one of your videos before. I’m 2 minutes and 45 seconds into this now and I had to stop just because you are amazing at breaking this song down. Wow. Just wow. I am a huge NIN fan and I grew up where Trent did. I get him. And you get his music. Amazing how one man can bring so many people together. All because of his decision to express himself and be bravely vulnerable. Thank you Trent. Subbed
😃 i like how watching your analysis vindicates my appreciation of nin and belief that it was somehow above and beyond other popular music somehow ..
my favorite line is the same as yours... oh my god, that gets me EVERY time... STILL this song after so many years, absolute MASTERPIECE!!! goes from down almost a whisper to a scream, it's like a lightning bolt hits you.
This song sounds great after Sanctified as well. Especially with those crazy screaming voices way in the background. It's a good low point of the album before the synths take over the rest. I like the fading reminder line but i think my fav is 'gray would be the color if i had a heart'. And Happy Birfday!
Nice observation about the album flow.
And thank you!
Something I Can Never Have just breaks me apart every time I hear it. I don't know why. I was like 8 when I first heard the song back in the early 90's, and it still breaks me to this day. It somehow has ALWAYS spoken to me. And it always does. I'm convinced it's because it's the musical elements.
I discovered this song watching Natural born killers, it's used twice and I recognised it as NIN quite fast and it's no wonder Trent and Atticus went into film scoring!
this whole NIN analysis series is so cool. thanks for these
I love watching your breakdown of music. Wish I’d had you as as my professor instead of the ones I suffered under. Keep up the great work!!
That moment where it's so soft "in this place it seems like such a shame. Though it all looks different now, I know its still the same".... right before he goes all "fading fucking reminder" on us.... that moment is one of my favorite parts of the song. It takes me to a deep level of the song. Like i'm being smothered...
(This is why his music inspires my writing. Beyond his lyrics, the atmosphere he creates is descriptive)
I am completely blown away by your interpretation and have so much fun and crave your knowledge on music theory. I have always secretly been obsessed with NIN musically and usually feel I am the only one that loves it for its many layers and meaning. When I think oh that was such a good point you continue with even more interesting ideas. I love this channel. I feel like composing on such a different level after listening. Thank you!!!
This comment made me smile!
This songs arrangement has haunted me since it's release. I eventually figured out how everything was laid out (20 years later), but no matter how well you know it, it always leaves you with this feeling of loss and wanting and anxiety. Your analysis of this song in particular is probably one of the greatest things I've watched on RUclips ever! Thank you so much.
First NIN song I ever heard! I still remember where was when I heard it.
What a fucking song. Haunting
Ugh that piano part always gives me the chills. In a good way though. Loving these breakdowns!
This was so good. Even your analysis brought me to tears!
new to your channel, but im loving this. please continue doing your thing. i get goosebumps, almost like hearing these songs anew
ixi, I'm watching at 3am in the morning. There's the rain outside and the snow is melting. I'm thousands of miles away from you. And things in my life aren't pretty. But I wanna thank you for what you've been doing. Trent's music keeps me alive and you too.
Love this analysis. So much subtlety in this that I felt but could not put into words. Favourite line: "gray would be the colour now, if you had a heart" from the 'bleak mix' cover. But the still version is still my favourite version.
I love this analysis so much! Thank you for diving deep on this song.
What you're doing with these videos is mind blowing. Thank you.
your channel has made me so happy. thank you very much
I just found your channel and I just wanted to say that I love what you’re doing! I’m a huge NIN-fan since ’94 and thought I knew the songs but hearing you going into detail of the music theory with such passion is amazing. I’m learning so much.
Trents delivery is just so powerful and honest one of my fave NIN tracks.
I really appreciate you going through so much of his work in such a broken down fashion. I definitely don't have your knowledge base and most of it goes over the head but the bigger ideas connect and thats what i enjoy gaining knowledge of. Thank you again.
First NIN song that I fell in love with. I love playing it. Happy birthday and good luck with the new single!
You are friggin, friggin AMAZING!!
Your videos are really insightful and bring out elements I never noticed in NIN’s music -- thanks!
Nice, love that! It's so cool to hear new things in music you think you know back to front. Thank you for tuning in!
Another thing i noticed with the chorus vocal melody of this song is the use of thematic leitmotifs which Reznor tucked underneath near the end of Terrible Lie earlier in the album. His usage of recurring melodic themes throughout an album become more noticeable in The Downward Spiral.
That is EXACTLY my fave line too!!!! I love your videos!!!!!!!!!!! You are quite knowledgeable and that shows me a side of my favorite band that I haven't looked at before!!!! It's inspiring!!!! Much respect and thankyou
Thank you for these productions! The way you explain music theory and the conjunction between feeling, technique, and themes with the beautifully dark compositions by Reznor is inspirational.
Trent Reznor has become an accomplished composer. He now has two Golden Globes, one Emmy, one Oscar and three Grammys for his work in music/film scores.
It's very cool to see him so well respected in the music and film industries. I wonder if he ever thought he'd end up where he is. Pretty amazing. I'm beyond grateful he shared himself with us!
He really needs to write music for stage plays so we can get his ass that Tony. He needs an EGOT.
@@eboethrasher I have a feeling he will soon.
said "fist fuck", won a grammy. absolute legend.
Wow!!!!😯
Loved this video. It’s nice to geek out in a way about my favorite band. Thank you.
Ahhh so happy I found this channel! I love it, keep up the great work!
this song hurts me. not as much as it used to, still a lot of memories attached to a lot of these songs
I hope the video was not too much. Music is so evocative. The way it can recall full-sensory memories is remarkable. Thank you for watching and commenting ♥️
@@iximusic nin more than anything else has been the soundtrack to my life, & tbh it got hard to finish especially w/ the soft female vocals in parts of it . lol
I feel you, there are nin I still can’t listen too anymore. Take care of yourself, ax
🥺
@@iximusic like you said, music is evocative. But in a good way too. To me, music is a language that expresses something that words alone cannot. You’re helping us interpret that language. I’m willing to bet that one of the things that brings us to together on this channel is a common experience of NIN helping us survive difficult emotional challenges. And your analysis of this art we all love, of course! It’s a nice community you’ve brought together here, ixi. Thank you
I'm so happy to find this channel, can't belive how much work you put in analysing each song. I vote the becoming for a future song 😅. Keep on the sublime work
You are a true gift to me you really have no idea what am I saying you love his music as much if not more than me blah.
Thank you
omg just randomly stumbled upon this video. time to binge on everything you've ever made! NIN's harmonization has always been so beautiful yet sparse, and this song is a great example of that.
"beautiful yet sparse" - yes!
Oh god this is my new favourite channel on YT, time to binge on everything you've put out and then feel empty and anxious at the end, thanks ADHD!
absolutely soul crushing
Another awesome video!
This is actually the first NIN song I ever heard. I was in college and had just gone through the worst breakup of my life. One of my friends had a bunch of music playing on his computer and this one came on. That song destroyed me in ways that went beyond just the lyrics. Never could figure out why it hit so different. Makes a lot more sense after watching your breakdown of it! Trent really is brilliant at using chord progression to convey emotions, but it's done so subtly that you don't realize it.
This was a good one. Love it
Funny your piano breakdown of the sound brought to my mind Caught A Light Sneeze. I wonder if either song was influenced by the other?!
thanks. Really love your breakdowns.
The Most Powerfully Haunting Loving Song in the World. Thank You for taking on my (Most likely many others) request. Love You
I listened! Thank you for the request!
Love your videos and passion
Just discovered your channel and wanted to say thank you for sharing your musical knowledge and analyzing these amazing songs by one of the greatest songwriters of our generation. Love your personality and admiration of Trent's music. I had the luxury of seeing him live in Nashville a few years ago and still consider it one of the best shows I've been to. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks. I just subscribed and plan on becoming a backer of your Patreon when I have more time to spend on music.
It's an honor! I'll be doing this for...ever. So I'll see you then :)
LOL... it's funny what comes up when one searches.
It's endearing to see this video of you, IxI.
You have grown & evolved, as has your adience and channel.
At the unintended risk of coming across as condescending... I am proud of you (for at least so much as who I perceive you to be).
Please be well.
Such a beautiful, haunting song
It's so wonderful of you to do this. A lot of work. It's like going to my music lesson. Thank you so much.
This one got me to stop what I was doing, go sit at my keyboard and start playing. I don't know how to play piano, I just have one for messing around and expressing some musical thoughts I may have.. just another outlet besides my guitars that I typically play. But this I started playing and kinda finding the notes by ear as you went along. Maybe one of the first times using both hands to play something. Truly enjoyed your breakdown, as always, of one of my favorite nin songs.
wow.......all it took was an Ab to change the whole feeling of the song at the end....brilliant!
Wooow! I am absolutely not music talented but love to learn about why music makes you feel the way it does AND I love Nine inch nails so much!
I am soo glad I found your channel, this is awesome work! ❤️
Sounds like my videos are meant for you! I'm glad you found them too :)
Simply beautiful explanation!
I love Nine Inch Nails and your analysis videos are great. I can't wait for more :)
Thank you, glad you're here!
Amazing analysis and breakdown. Thank you, this helped me immensely learning the song. Subbed. Cant wait to learn more and apply this stuff to my own originals!
This is the song that saved my life. Was n a lil band, played some Tool, lotsa nin; i'd already figured out sicnh w a buddy at a church thing in the Appalaichan mountains, blew the speakers at the penultimate moment... This was many, many years ago... Was in a car crash and i died for a while... Was in a coma on the top floor of hospital for a week and when i returned, there was nothing: knew nothing of my family or past... or how to eat... but when the nurses found out i played, they begged that my parents bring the guitar and my folks lost it: i was estimated to b no more than an ape for the rest of my life... but they did lay it in my lap. At first, confused, i lifted it beneath my armpit and this song came out. i knew the (albeit broken and rearranged) words and chords but not so much how to feed myself. Thank you for your gift here ma'am. Your insights are raw and elegantly stated, talent exquisite and presentation warm and brilliant. Blessed be.
Allways loved that song :)
This will always forever be my NIN first love and favourite. I mean we all love the easy intros to NIN like Closer or perfect drug or the usual mainstream tracks but this one spoke straight to my soul
These are absolutely tremendous.
This song still haunts me. 🤘
I never thought I could play it until now. 👍😼
Amo tus análisis musicales son increíbles 🎶❣️
My all-time favorite song. Not sure how many times I sang along until I lost my voice. SICNH helped me in countless situations. Masterpiece.
I can see why!
Thank you for the videos. I do not know anything about music theory, but I do enjoy intelligent and talented people expressing their knowledge so that I can enjoy it.
🙏
literally broke down every NIN song that has piano 😂 respect.
*especially going from this song into The Fragile album and a bit from With Teeth. Even heard a reference to the Halloween theme. Which he redid w Atticus, sure enough
WOW. Thank you for this.
this was lovely.
@6:49 the “other harmonic implications” sound like the massive Attack Teardrop, then like themes Reznor, Ross, and more explore on After the flood.
Love what your doing here!! I'm learning to play the piano and your video's helped answer a lot of assumptions I've had for the song's he's made. His music is what inspired me to learn the piano, especially over 2020. Watching your videos has also helped me find the last peices I've been missing too, so thank you.
I dont read music, so I've been mostly going off my ear, which has helped alot in my day to day for the love of music in general but yeah, thank you again cant wait for more!!! 😁😁😁🎹
That's so awesome and I'm happy to know the videos are helping you with learning the piano! I also rely on my ear most of the time and it's something I try not to take for granted. To me, the musical ear is the soul of the musician. Cheers, glad you're here!
Love this break down ❤️
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love your analysis, subscribing. Don't mind about the lyrics thing.
This was one of the first songs I heard from NIN, really got me hooked.
Another piano heavy song id be interested in hearing about would be Lights In The Sky. Great vids!
YES
YEASSS
YEEAAASSSSS
wait, whose channel am I on?
I definitely plan to analyze that one - such an often forgotten gem! Some good ol' NIN strangeness too.
@@trulysigni ⁸
Xzrn bcnvhp8vmn.
Ja keep ps
@@iximusic there's also this remix of Lights in the Sky (from when Trent released the stems on his remix page) -- was the highest rated remix on that page for a long time, and does something very different to the key signature of the tune
ruclips.net/video/TlWbUCWCi8w/видео.html
Wow. You took something that is very dear to me, and brought me back to a long time love.. ixi high five.
🤚
Amazing video. NAILed it! 😎 I'm so happy you dissected this song I requested- Thank you! 😄 SICNH is one of my absolute favourite NIN tracks!!! It's always been the song that stands out for me on PHM. I adore how vulnerable his vocals are on this. The Still version is stunning! In fact the whole Still album is incredible and I always look to that for inspiration. NIN are pretty much the reason I'm still playing music in a pandemic. I would love to learn some music theory. Best wishes with the single and have an amazing birthday! 🎉🎉🎉Take care.
I love your passion for this music! Thank you for the awesome feedback and birthday wishes. Until next time!
Trent Reznor is just magical to me
What an excellent analysis of this song!
Had a laugh out loud great time watching this!
This song hits hard, in fact I couldn't even listen to it for several years because it was attached to a certain person that had a tragic ending.
Thank you. Hey a warm place is deep.
This is the first NIN song I ever heard, (via mixtape from the then-guy-I-was-dating-now-husband) back in 1990. I was instantly enthralled. Thank you for the beautiful breakdown of the song.
And yeah, my favorite lyric is “fading forking reminder of who I used to be,”
That is a great lyric! My favorite is "Grey would be the color, if I had a heart."
Thanks for sharing your channel in our NIN group. I'm loving it so far!!! 😍
That's my favorite lyric too ❤