Favorite Videos that aren't "Thriller" #2 - "Hurt"
@teamfreak16 (43655)
Denver, Colorado
June 5, 2017 7:11am CST
Putting the video for Johnny Cash's version of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" in this countdown is such an obvious choice that I almost called this series "Favorite Videos that aren't 'Hurt,'" instead of "Favorite Videos that aren't 'Thriller.'" But I didn't, and so Johnny Cash makes the cut.
Directed by Mark Romanek, 2002's "Hurt" is powerful: a 71-year old Cash, obviously in failing health (he died just seven months later,) performing the song inside the House of Cash museum, which had been closed to the public for years (and was in a state of neglect,) interspersed with footage of Cash in his younger days,
is heady stuff.
"Hurt" won both a Grammy Award and a CMA Award for Best Video of the Year, and in 2011, NME (New Musical Express) Magazine named it Best Video of All-Time. The video also made Johnny Cash the oldest person ever nominated for an MTV Video Music Award (it ended up winning Best Cinematography.)
As I said, I almost ended up not using "Hurt" because it's such an obvious choice ("Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve would have made the cut instead,) but I could not find a way to leave "Hurt" off the countdown, obvious or not. It's too powerful, too haunting, to get left out.
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
10 people like this
10 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
5 Jun 17
Yes was just listening to this the other day..it is hauntingly beautiful and will stand in time as legend.
This is one of the most prolific from Johnny RIP.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
5 Jun 17
@teamfreak16 
I loved this in Logan.
I loved this in Logan.1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Jun 17
Trent Reznor said that after he saw the video, he told himself "It's not your song anymore."
4 people like this
@FourWalls (86855)
• United States
5 Jun 17
This is one of those few instances where someone covered a song and it truly became theirs. What Nine Inch Nails meant by this song and what Cash meant by this song are two completely different things. That's the mark of a good songwriter...and a great artist. And Johnny Cash was certainly a great artist.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Jun 17
Yep. Like I mentioned down there earlier, Trent Reznor said it's not his song anymore.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
6 Jun 17
@spiderdust - It can't be said enough, really, because it says everything.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
6 Jun 17
@teamfreak16 Oops, I should read all of the comments before posting! I just said the same thing. 
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
8 Jun 17
I do not know if I ever told you the story to this and so happy you wrote this because forgot all about it. Our local radio station played this and has been basically on the fritz for last 20 years. Modern technology and people learning the radio is BS. Props to them because they still here, but still doing what the radio does.
Anyway they played this version of the song and they got slammed. So many people called them they did not know what to do. Broadcasted the responses of people and was so refreshing to see. Oh well, what radio could have been if they did not sell out.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
8 Jun 17
@teamfreak16 Yeah and so surprised none of the DJ's challenge them. i bet they do, they just do not listen, or now only hire people that will not challenge them.
If you have not seen Treme, you will love that show. Have a character on there named DJ Davis and he gets fired every other day because he knows how radio should sound, but his boss disagrees. So fun to see how well written that part is and his little rants. Makes you freaking laugh. The music of course is more awesome than you would expect every time he goes off script and about to be fired. 
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Jun 17
I can't even listen to the radio any longer. I'm glad I don't work in the industry anymore.
1 person likes this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
6 Jun 17
Such an amazing song, an amazing video, and an amazing man!!!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
6 Jun 17
It's one of the best video's I've ever seen.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
6 Jun 17
I remember that after hearing Cash's cover of the song, Trent Reznor said, "it isn't my song anymore."
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
6 Jun 17
Yeah, he pretty much gave up. And I like the original, but Johnny OWNED it. It was a perfect song for the end of his life.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
7 Jun 17
@spiderdust - Wow, could you imagine? That would have been something.
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
7 Jun 17
@teamfreak16 I completely missed out on an opportunity to meet Johnny Cash once. I was DJing at a Holiday Inn where he was staying, but he declined an invitation from the hotel manager to come into the bar because he didn't drink anymore. I was literally just 15 feet from the front desk and had no idea he had entered the building until afterward.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Jun 17
I love Nine Inch Nails' original, but yeah, this one is better.
1 person likes this
@Essjayd (1567)
•
5 Jun 17
@teamfreak16 I do like the
Nine Inch Nails original as well
but in this case the cover was
amazing. Apparently Trent Reznor
wasn't too keen when first he heard
it but changed his mind when he
seen the video.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
5 Jun 17
heart-breaking beautiful viewing and listening. The original 9 Inch Nails version is good too
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Jun 17
I like Nine Inch Nails' version too. But this was perfect for Johnny Cash.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
5 Jun 17
This one is awesome, Although I am not a big fan of country music, I do like the old guys and Cash is one of those.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Jun 17
Hurt is a brilliant poignant interpretation by Cash and the video captures that. Maybe the greatest music video ever made.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Jun 17
I think a lot of people would agree with you on that. It very possibly is.
1 person likes this
