Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'

Subject: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: GUEST,ballpienhammer
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 02:32 PM

interpretations please: a swan song, perhaps? or a warning against
(his) addictions?

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 06:56 PM

I saw Johnny on TV about a month or two ago.(Larry King show) At first I didn't recognize the face as it had aged. It would seem that the last few years have not been kind. I know that he has had a lot of illness.
I haven't heard his new release but I hope it does well. In my youth he was my favourite. I still love to play those old Sun releases from the 1950's.
                   Sandy

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: SeanM
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 07:58 PM

I'm not quite sure *what* to make of it. In the song's original form (as written/performed by Nine Inch Nails), it's a rather unsettling and creepy meditation on obsession and depression.

I'm still not quite sure what to make of Mr. Cash's version. In my opinion, it sounds almost more like a boozehound's last gasp on realizing what they've done to themselves.

Thought provoking in any case.

M

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 09:13 PM

I haven't heard the new Cd yet, but I was talking to some friends about it the other day and they said it is terrible. Johnny has no voice left, is what they said.

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: Jim Colbert
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 12:40 PM

Terrible? I don't agree with that. I thought the new disc was pretty good, myself. Probably one of my five favorite Cash discs, and I've got a boatload. His voice has aged, naturally, but nowhere like, say, John Stewarts- these last few years have obviously been hard on him, but he's mostly sticking to a somewhat limited vocal range and to me, there is some powerful stuff on the disc. I think it's only heightened by the roughness and directness of his vocals. I liked this one better overall than the last two (but not quite as much as his first American Recording.)

And I thought the song Hurt is a perfect choice. I think the man's done a lot of things in his life he regrets, and it's taken its toll on his body and emotions and relationships. It's a dark song, but it's being delivered by a guy who'se known a lot of dark days.

But that's just my opinion.

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 05:16 AM

He didn't write the song, but I guess he's lived it. I don't think I've ever been so moved by a video. An artist knowing that the end of his run is not far away, but good Lord, what a powerful and devastating statement!

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: Max
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 01:15 PM

I think the video is awesome. You can see it online here: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=17603

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: Spartacus
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 04:10 PM

The video is amazing. I cried the first two times i saw that scene at the end when June is staring down at him from the stairs with that "you'll be gone soon" look in her eyes. I love Johnny Cash, and this is an amazing cover.

-Spartacus

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 04:28 PM

It's alright, for a cover of a NiN song that I don't even like. The goofy Jesus film, and sitting-at-the-table-spilling-wine, and shots of his wife looking pained parts of the video were a bit much, but the old footage of Cash was good stuff.

I prefer his cover of Nick Cave's "Mercy Seat," though. :)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 04:30 PM

The only time a singer's voice bothers me is if it gets in the way of rendering a song and I thought Cash did a pretty effective rendering in the video.

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 09:35 AM

I saw the video and remember thinking how good his voice sounded, probably because it suits the song so well. He seems to be getting better (and braver) with age.

BJ

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: alanabit
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 01:45 PM

I don't like country music usually and I can't stand the sugary Nashville/push my religious buttons stuff of which Cash was as guilty as anyone of doing for most of the time I have been aware of him. In contrast, I find the stark, unadorned honesty of his recent albums awesome. His versions of U2's "One" and Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man" deserved to save his reputation on their own. The new release moved me just as much. There was a time when I expected never to care about another Johnny Cash record again. If he does not have a lot of time left, he sure ain't wasting it. He is now one of a handful of artists whom I respect more at the end of his career than I did at other times.

Subject: Lyr Add: HURT (from Johnny Cash)
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 08:39 AM

HURT
Words and music by Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails)
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "American IV: The Man Comes Around" (2002)

I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel.
I focus on the pain, the only thing that's real.
The needle tears a hole, the old familiar sting.
Try to kill it all away, but I remember ev'rything.

CHORUS: What have I become, my sweetest friend?
Ev'ryone I know – goes away in the end.
And you could have it all, my empire of dirt.
I will let you down; I will make you hurt.

I wear this crown of thorns – upon my liar's chair,
Full of broken thoughts – I cannot repair.
Beneath the stains of time – the feelings disappear.
You are someone else; I am still right here. CHORUS

If I could start again, a million miles away,
I would keep myself; I would find a way.


I saw the video yesterday and it was very, VERY powerful. The power came from the fact that enough reality from Cash's life was woven in that it shocked me a little and make me really believe he was singing the truth. Do I think he's really this depressed? Nope, but the video made me believe it for a moment. Most people have those "empire of dirt" moments.

In a world where once-cutting edge popular musicians wind up doing parodies of themselves in Las Vegas or farther down the road at the Purgatory Bar & Grille, Cash is still becoming. He's not playing the role of Johhny Cash at someone else's garden party - he's the real Cash and it's HIS gig. I don't care much that he's not in as good physical shape as he once was, that his voice isn't that strong and his hands shake. The music doesn't get its magic from the physical, and the part of Johnny Cash where the music meets the heart and soul is stronger than ever.

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash-'Hurt'
From: Giac
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 08:59 AM

Well said, Jeri. He's not playing the Johnny Cash who was, he's movin' on.