Which version of "Hurt" would you prefer?Nine Inch Nails vs. Johnny CashThe song "Hurt" written by Trent Reznor and originally performed by his band Nine Inch Nails is a melancholic, haunting song. The Nine Inch Nails version was recorded in 1994 and rerecorded and released by Johnny Cash in 2002. Each of the artists has a style, which some people argue is at opposite ends of the popular music spectrum; one is what is called “Industrial Rock”, the other is country. The musical genres, in fact, are different; However, the song "Hurt" transcends the boundaries between old and new, hard and soft, and above all the differences and similarities between these men. Nine Inch Nails are known for their industrial rock sound that combines synthesizers and percussion to produce sounds reminiscent of a steel yard in Pennsylvania. This is probably a testament to the fact that the band's lead singer, Trent Reznor, was born and raised near those steel deposits ("The Nine Inch Nails Wiki", 2012). Johnny Cash's version will appeal to those familiar with growing up in a tough time or not having much; people considered the oppressed. Growing up in a religious family in Arkansas seems ingrained in the way Cash performs the song. Johnny lived a hard life on a cotton farm ("Johnny Cash", 2012). Reznor and Cash both graduated from high school. Cash set his sights on the United States Air Force while Reznor decided to go to college to study manufacturing. Cash saw the world in 1950; he was assigned to Germany, specializing in Morse code used to spy on the Soviets. Johnny Cash was the first radio operator to pick up the news of Joseph Stalin's death (“Johnny Cash”, 2012). On the other hand, Reznor d...... middle of paper...... song represents every man almost equally as every man has a difficult and dark past. Each song, although different in the beginning, has many similarities in the outcome. So if Nine Inch Nails' industrial version doesn't appeal to you, perhaps Johnny Cash's country/gospel version is right for you. References “Hurt Lyrics”. (2012). Retrieved March 28, 2012, from http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/johnny-cash-lyrics/hurt-lyrics.html“Johnny Cash. Biography." (2012). Retrieved March 30, 2012, from http://www.biography.com/people/johnny-cash-9240610?page=5Sharples, K. Johnny Cash, 'Hurt' & Trent Reznor - A Review. (2011). Retrieved March 30, 2012, from http://www.stagepassnews.com/articles/vox/johnnycash_hurt.html“The Nine Inch Nails Wiki.” (2012). .ninwiki.com/Trent_Reznor#The_Early_Years