Hurt

[sun_set_bravely]

I confess: I don't know much about Johnny Cash. I've never heard much of his music, and he entered my consciousness at all because of my LJ friends who are such big fans.

So when the video for "Hurt" came up again today in conversation, I thought I'd find it on the internet and watch it.



After seeing it, I wonder if Trent Reznor knew when he wrote the song that Johnny Cash would one day sing it? Because it sounds like it was written for the man. I think about words reaching their proper owner years after they were formed. Or the way words can deepen and mature so much when given to someone else.

I know only the surface of Johnny Cash's life, but the song and video strike me as achingly beautiful, and Right.

Comments

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

yes, it really is that good, isn't it? his substitution of "crown of thorns" for "crown of shit" worked all right, and as for the symbology in the video, it was overwhelming. i'd never been a fan of cash at all, but that one song made me take reconsider.

[hypo-style.livejournal.com]

I found the video amazing, beautiful in its wistfulness.

Romanek, the director, hit all the right notes, enhancing the meaning of the song. The scene of the on-rushing train, just as Cash is sings "what have I become?" and the piano comes in, makes me catch my breath every time, nearly makes my eyes well up.

I also thought the scenes of Johnny and June were moving, given that neither would live out the year. He aged so rapidly since his diagnosis...such a loss.

If you're curious to hear more, I highly recommend his latest album, though I can't think of any of his albums that don't resonate with me.

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

Yes -- the train moment is so wonderful, as the first moving shot of the video. It paces itself alongside the music so perfectly. It's like the director said, "What the hell? Let's just make this as dramatic as possible." And it worked.