| "The Perfect Drug" | ||||
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| Single byNine Inch Nails | ||||
| from the albumLost Highway Soundtrack | ||||
| Released | May 13, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | Mid–late 1996 | |||
| Genre | Industrial pop | |||
| Length | 5:42 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Trent Reznor | |||
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"The Perfect Drug" is a song byNine Inch Nails written for theDavid Lynch filmLost Highway.[1] It was released in 1997 on theLost Highway soundtrack and as a single from the score. Remixes of the song were released as anEP called"The Perfect Drug" Versions, on which the original version does not appear.
The track has also been included on international singles "We're in This Together, Part 3" and "Into the Void" without the truncated ending; the only audio release of it in North America was on theLost Highway soundtrack. A music video for the song, directed byMark Romanek, was included with the VHS compilationClosure and inThe Work of Director Mark Romanek.
Initially regarded by Reznor as his least favorite work, the song was noted among Nine Inch Nails fans for his refusal to perform it at concerts, until it finally made its live debut after more than two decades atRed Rocks Amphitheatre in September 2018.[2]
"The Perfect Drug" was described byEntertainment Weekly as a "drum and bass-infusedindustrialpop song".[3]The Guardian also noted the drum and bass influence in the song.[4] In May 2004, a fan posted on the band's website to ask whether the track had not been performed live because "thedrum solo would make Jerome's arms fall off". Then-drummerJerome Dillon replied that they "never rule out the possibility of playing any of the songs live".[5]
In April 2005, while guest-hosting an episode of the British late-nightRock Show onBBC Radio 1, Nine Inch Nails frontmanTrent Reznor answered questions sent in by fans. When asked to name which of his works he was least satisfied with and why, he responded:
The only thing I think I really don't like that much is "The Perfect Drug" song. It was one of those things where you have a week to do a track for a movie. The mindset that you kind of adapt in that situation—or I did—was, "Let's go in and experiment and see what happens [and] whatever comes out of it, it's not the end of the world." And I think what came out of it, married with a bloated, over-budget video, feels like the least [likely] thing that I would play to somebody if they said, "Play me, y'know, the top hundred songs you've written." That probably wouldn't be in the top hundred. I'm not cringing about it, but it's not my favorite piece.[6]
Despite being released as a single, "The Perfect Drug" was not performed live by Nine Inch Nails until September 2018, more than 21 years after its release.[7]
Amusic video for the single was directed byMark Romanek and released on January 18, 1997. The theme was inspired by the illustrations of 20th-century artistEdward Gorey, with familiar Gorey elements including oversized urns and glum, pale characters in fullEdwardian costume.[8][9] The most obvious reference to Gorey is the boy sitting on a cushion in front of a painting. Other references include an unidentified painting resemblingGustav Klimt'sThe Kiss (1907–1908) and a "Scanning Machine" designed by FrenchmanFrançois Willème in 1860.
Charlie Clouser,Danny Lohner, andChris Vrenna also appear in the video, most notably playing string instruments at the beginning of the video. The first half of the video was filmed with a blue tint, switching to a flashing green light during the drum breakdown and reverting to blue for the remainder of the song.Joanne Gair's work with Nine Inch Nails on "The Perfect Drug" won her the makeup portion of the award for best hair/makeup in a music video at the Music Video Production Awards.[10]
"The Perfect Drug" Versions is the eleventh official Nine Inch Nails release and consists of five remixes of the song "The Perfect Drug." The European, Australian, and Japanese releases append the original version of the song, while a promotionalvinyl set adds an exclusive sixth remix, byAphrodite.
Available asUnited States,Australia,Japan orEU single.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Perfect Drug" (Remixed byMeat Beat Manifesto) | 7:24 |
| 2. | "The Perfect Drug" (Remixed byPlug) | 6:53 |
| 3. | "The Perfect Drug" (Remixed byNine Inch Nails) | 8:19 |
| 4. | "The Perfect Drug" (Remixed bySpacetime Continuum) | 5:42 |
| 5. | "The Perfect Drug" (Remixed byThe Orb) | 6:12 |
| 6. | "The Perfect Drug (Original Version)" (Non-US releases only) | 5:16 |
| Total length: | 39:46 | |
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In 2002, Americanpost-hardcore bandthe Blood Brothers sampled the song in their song "Kiss of the Octopus". Americandeathcore bandFit for an Autopsy covered the song for the split EPThe Depression Sessions in 2016.
In January 2023, the song was licensed for the gameHi-Fi Rush and was featured as the theme for the final boss fight against Kale Vandelay.[25][26]
Reznor reads the question at 1:38:20 and after discussing how he is still satisfied with his previous albums, he brings up "The Perfect Drug" at 1:39:25
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