QUESTION for you pigs: what do you make of how different his vocal performance is when he sings this live? Something I'm regretting editing out of my video was a point about this difference. There are a lot of elements that make Piggy sound unusual and one is the soft vocal delivery even during points of chaos and confusion. But live, he's practically shouting at piggy. Is he trying to convince himself that nothing can stop him now? Singing softly over loud instruments live is challenging anyway so it could have been somewhat logistical at first but it's significantly angrier and more powerful than in the studio. How do you all explain this tonal shift? Does the song hit you differently? I know it does for me. In Live: And All That Could Have Been, he starts out by saying "hey pig. Hey. Fucking" and then sings to us as if he's dirty and tormented, which makes way for yelling and screaming. Ok, go!

TRUE STORY ABOUT THE DRUM CHAOS: Trent mentioned in an interview once the reason for those drums at the end being the way they are was he was setting up the kit for Vrenna who was coming over, getting them miked and he couldn't hear it in his headphones. There was some problem with the connection, where he could sometimes hear it and sometimes not, but he was recording. So the reason the drum strikes are so random is because he's hitting the drums as hard as possible just so he can hear the sound at all through the cans. Then later, he had it as a placeholder for another drum track to be done later and then got so used to hearing it the way it is now, that he decided to just keep it. . - trevor.

I was taking a high-honors English class in high school in the mid-90's, and one of our assignments was to find an interesting song, bring it to school, and then read the lyrics out loud to the class, following up with an interpretation of what you think the song means. I picked something from Pearl Jam, but a girl in the class chose Piggy, and it was the first time I'd ever heard a NIN song. I was in complete awe of how it broke all the rules and still remained listenable and engaging, and I remember going out that weekend and buying as many Nine Inch Nails CDs as I could find. Piggy will always have a special place in my heart.

I love how Trent took the rules and threw them in a wood chipper and then made his own. The work of a true genius

The out of time senseless '' broken'' drumming is still one of the most interesting things I've ever heard in popular music. The way it trips all over itself and then comes back together almost regaining its composure, but then those cymbal crashes which makes me think of Animal from the Muppets, and total chaos and calamity again. It's in complete contrast to the clinical machine like percussions you pointed out on the previous track and gives it that much needed welcome human touch.

I love Nine inch nails and love anybody else who does. I hope Trent stumbles on this so you get an exclusive interview. He would definitely appreciate your analysis and obvious love of the music. Fingers crossed. 🤞

He leaves his breathing and inhales and exhales for effect for sure. Just exasperation, desperation, isolation. Constant conflict . Just love his use of everything at his disposal.

So, I'm severely bipolar. This song always really hit me. The "nothing can stop me now, 'cause I don't care anymore" bit in particular. You nailed it. There's nothing left to lose, and the empowerment that comes from that feeling. Fantastic analysis as always. Counting my blessings that I found this channel

IXI- please never stop these videos

I like this song because I have 6 guinea pigs

I was a teenager in the early and mid 90s, and this album was my world. Eventually I felt like I'd outgrown the first three records, but that was okay cause Trent's later output grew with me, so I always had some NIN that was relevant to where I was at. But lady, you're reigniting my love of this period of NIN. Thank you for this. I would love to see what you can do with some old Ministry.

Lmao the AHA moment was hilarious 7:14

For me Piggy is the most The Cure song Trent ever did. I sounds like Lullaby and "Close to me" Had a... Something... Like in this Cronenberg "The Fly" movie. I am still waiting for the mash up

I love that you dug into the production/arrangement elements almost as much as the theory for this one. There’s a lot that can go unnoticed with the density of NIN mixes. You touch on one of the NIN hallmarks: elision. Trent very often leaves out elements of chords and melodies that would give the listener an absolutely clear picture of what is happening, or even what he means. In this way, he opened the door for a lot of music much further down the line where a full chord voicing almost never happens, and one has to live in the gray.

I've been obsessing over these songs for decades, but I've always thought that such fascinating and detailed breakdowns of them were something I can never have.

ixi - You’re doing god’s work. Just wonderful. I’ve always felt that the buried sample tritone was breathing, almost like he’s trying to keep his shit together...and I always breathe along with it. Looking forward to your vid of Heresy.

It's very satisfying to hear this song analysed so rigorously! There were times when I listened to Piggy every evening.

That subliminal screaming reminds me more of some wild animals, the whole song feels like a louisiana swamp to me, thick bass like mushy earth, organ and tambourine remind me of crickets in the night. And the narrator himself like a wild beaten but menacing animal predator getting through this jungle or forest

this work you are doing analyzing Trent music is endless. What great videos you are doing.

I just discovered you last night. Glad to see you're only 3 months old and I haven't missed you much. Love your videos. And you are amazing with your analysys

I love your visual descriptions of the music- drum chaos- the man falling over himself, getting back up, shuffling around. so perfect! can't wait for heresy!

Never noticed the tambourine falling apart that's 😎 cool. Also I love the idea that the downward spiral theme starts at the end of piggy not closer and your pretty raindrop imagery for it. You have added even more to this song for me like the breathing not being cut out love these videos

To me, “*inhale*, Hey, pig.” is the single greatest introduction Trent has written. Coming with absolutely no transition from the nightmare storm of the Self Destruct outro, it’s about one second long and it says everything. And I like your perspective on the drum “solo”. To me though, it’s always represented something very specific: tearing away at a scab. The first few hits are shocking, tenuous, but oh so cathartic. And while sometimes that sick satisfaction will reappear as you continue digging at it, the pain and disgust you feel at what you are doing to yourself combined with the diminishing dopamine causes you duress. Until, at a certain point, you find a new, terrible rhythm to align yourself to as you knowingly continue wounding your own body. Because the descent has begun. Nothing can stop you now, because you don’t care anymore. The spiral awaits.

The bass line is so smooth . The odd organ fills in the blankets. This is one song I was surprised was a groove/laid-back rhythm.

I’ve always loved the “lost my shit because of you” line. I get a quick and powerful shot of tension I can feel. Sometimes I find myself clenching my fist at that moment.

10/10 analysis! Loving these sooo much. Keep it

Liked before I hit the play button 🖤💛✨

I love these videos. You're awesome. So very interesting to watch one of these videos about my favorite band. And directly to my right are several of NIN's records. Displayed on the wall and with easy access to listen to them.

your analyses are flipping amazing! I've heard this track so many times, but never noticed the crowd/scream surges. I always heard his breathing in between phrases but never focused on it, it really brings out a raw feeling and the tambourine losing its shit! wow

Phenomenal song, musically, thematically. Love the bassline You did a great job picking it apart! Since this is a lowkey song, for the most part, I was able to hear and understand exactly what you meant each time Thank you for your work once again!

At last! I've been waiting for this for so long! Thank you ixi.

My favorite, favorite, favorite part of this song is from the live version on And All That Could Have Been, when he goes up an octave and belts out "NOTHING. CAN STOP. ME." at the beginning of the outro. First time I heard that, it was like a shock to the system. O.O

Love these breakdowns. Just found your channel a few days ago and I've been working my way through them all. I think my favorite thing about The Downward Spiral as a whole is that it's manufactured chaos. So much of it sounds random, but Trent has always been meticulous about his work in a way that hardly anyone is these days. Everything that sounds like an accident is a deliberate choice, and the clash between intent and outcome adds another layer to the uncomfortable, personal violence of the album. Watching you break it down piece by piece has really helped someone who's only barely literate in musical theory like me understand it a little better.

It's so interesting to have this kind of deep dive into a work, thank you so much for doing it and for doing such a great job.

That organ sounds to me like the "motif" that appears around the whole album

Loved this video, and they keep getting better and better. I'm excited to see every track of "The downward spiral" 💛💛💛

You and Rick Beato are now my favorite 'tubers because of how y'all break down all these amazing songs from my youth. If someone ever starts doing the same for Tool's catalog, I'm just gonna become a recluse, doing nothing but sitting in my Ninja Turtle pajamas and watching breakdown videos all day.

The Downward Spiral is an album that just stays with me forever.

These are tremendous! Great work!

Sooo freakin RAD bro I luuuuuvv your channel! Great work you get an A+

I love when you isolate the tracks. Great vid. Thanks!

Gurl this channel is gold. Thank you

I always loved the juxtaposition of the warm groovy baseline and that kind of crecendoing synth that just pops in from "black and blue and broken bones...", it immediately goes from this warm, intimate tone to something akin to the soundtrack to a horror film. I'll be comfortable and then instantly on edge and it sets the tone for the whole song right off the bat. As always, great analysis, loving the stripped tracks, always manage to hear something I hadn't noticed before.

I'm loving the new format and editing of these videos, makes for super easy watching. Even though I mostly have no idea what these musical terms are I can't help but watch the whole way through cause it's so damn interesting. Can't wait for the rest of TDS!

These videos are just amazing, thanks.

. I look forward to seeing the next. Keep up the good work.

So glad I found your channel. Trent has been my absolute favorite artist since I listened to PHM in a VW GTI in a parking lot in 1989. Something so unique, creative and deliberate. For you to share an even deeper understanding of the construction of his music both confirms and expands my love of his work.

You skipped Piggy for the longest time? Wow, so glad you went back and rediscovered it. This is the album that inspired to write music in 1994. It made me realize that you don’t need a band.

One of my all time favs. Great work on this one, I learned some new stuff!

These videos are amazing. Thank you!

Been loving you breakdowns...I can't wait to hear you take on The Becoming

I didn't realise how much I needed to see this. Great content. Thanks!

Nice job, and nice that you're using the surround mixes to catch production details. That vocal mix was definitely intact purposely; open and ungated, to introduce that kind of intimacy left by breaths and an open mic. Trent's usually a part of the mix or often does (did) some of the mixing himself, so I wouldn't be surprised if he did that vocal mix himself. Despite the fact that Trent often uses huge layers of vocal processing, he also often leaves his vocal for dry and unaffected, besides compression and rolling out some of the lower frequencies. The drums were mostly sampled, captured using a stereo Crown PZM mic to get that flat, open, ringing sound ("shitty and ringy" Trent has called it) while being tuned so that they were mostly impact and little tone (at the end there, that's obviously the same live kit, tuned the same way and played accidentally out of time by Trent, as you mentioned, and purposely left that way). It's a sound that's similar to the mid 60's - to early 70's-esque drum tone (the Motown sound's an interestingly similar example) that happened before rock drum production went to the "dead drum room" /"Steely Dan" sound that owned the 70's before returning in the 80's as the Phil Collins gated drum sound (which it also resembles somewhat).

And the quality and amount of work put into these videos. DAMN.

I was about to comment that Trent's doing the drumming on Piggy's outtro but you've already taken care of it. Good job, can't wait for next week.

Grew up with this album, love it. Your analysis is deep and well done. Thank you.

I remember How fascinated by all those small details I was when I discovered this master piece. Thank you for analysing them with such respect 🤘🏻

This was your best video. the change is style is great.

this was incredible. i had no idea! thank you so much

Just discovered this channel and I love it already. I'm so going to binge all the analysis at the next opportunity.

Another great journey down the spiral! The inhale that kicks off this song is everything to me. Thematically the self-realization; hearing yourself breathe makes this just so awesome, with the hypnotic rhythm. So good. So much to this song. Love this track.

NIN has been my favorite band for the past 25 years. I stumbled across your channel last night by chance, and I'm really glad I did! You've earned a new subscriber and I hope to see your channel continue to grow!

Damn, each video youve made has gotten better and more in depth, great job as always

I love your musical analysis. Great job dissecting this on such a deep level.

i love this album and i love your takes on it

I'm so happy to have found your channel. This is all so interesting. I hope you can continue down the spiral and analyze all songs in this amazing albun.

Your analysis is really excellent and has helped disclose elements of the music that I had not noticed, despite being a NIN fan since I was a kid (20 years ago, yikes!). I think your view of the Downward Spiral theme is spot on, and something I felt without ever articulating. One thing that could potentially enrich the song text analysis is the videos that accompany the songs. Watching them myself, the imagery might help to explain the intention around certain thematic elements in the music.

This is the greatest analysis that i ever seen in my whole life.

just getting to this one, another excellent job ixi! great imagery and painting scenes in the listeners head and ears, like the car horn. I never heard the tambourine getting out of whack before. I was wondering how exciting you'd make this one and it turned out so good!

The detail you go to is amazing. I dissect a lot of what I listen to, but to hear things like that tambourine falter, that I haven't picked up on after nigh on 30 years of adoring this album, is both satisfying and shocking. You're allowing me to completely enjoy this album over again, like I'm seeing a long lost relative and I'm realising new lines on their face, grey hairs, whilst they still have the same eyes and smile, etc. Seriously, this series is blowing me away.

Once I read an interview with someone working on this album (might've been Alan Moulder or Sean Beaven), saying that the whole vocal track was recorded by an SM58 held in Trent's hand who was crawling under the mixing console. Another proof that a great performance is all that matters.

Not sure how I didn't find your channel before today. So glad I did. NIN devotee since 1989. Thank you!

Blown away by your channel ixi!! This is such a cool NIN breakdown series that I'm sure a lot of people will really appreciate what your doing here, even Trent himself!! Really love your take and breakdown of his work!! Excellent YT channel, looking forward to Heresy!!! 😀🐀

It's nice to know that after two decades of listening to ever sound at every layer and in every corner of these albums that someone has taken it upon themselves to explain it to me how it works and why I like it so much. So thanks, I needed these!

Just discovered the channel, and whilst a lot of the deep music theory is going over my head, I still find the breakdown of the songs fascinating! Thank you!

So many great insights and interesting details! I learn something new every video, but I also add fascinating context to very familiar aspects of the songs, which I'd never pick up myself without someone with a very keen ear picking it up and pointing it out. Brilliant video as usual!

Your analyses are brilliant. You’re my new favorite KZfaq channel.

Just wanted to leave a comment saying that my friend and I really enjoy these NIN breakdowns. Really good videos, straight to the point and some real insight into the tracks.

I read somewhere, years ago, the sample (11:13) is of an 'L' track and the 'screaming' is actually an electric film camera forwarding to the next shot.

I'm going to watch all your videos they are great thanks

Great break down, this is so interesting! I imagine the broken drums as the protagonist losing the fight with the 'devil inside', allowing the evil slowly to take him over, where the new evil persona is stumbling into existence, finding it's footing while being born. Kinda like the visuals of the ending of The usual suspects.

Wow, what a perspective this brings in. Subbed and hyped for the 'we're in this together' breakdown whenever that comes up. My fav nin song.

Awesome song🔥🔥🔥

Just my own take on the meaning of the song. Piggy reminds me of the killing off a part of yourself. It's almost an introspection, a lamentation to someone who he used to be. On a side note, Piggy is the name of a character from William Golding's Lord of the Flies, representing logic and rationality who eventually is killed. To make room for Mr. Self Destruct, the protagonist needs to shed rationality to ensure that nothing can stop him.

Very nice, love this

The very 1st second of this video is a nice easter egg. Just wanted to let you know it did not go unnoticed and I appreciate the detail.

youre so good at this. 🍻

Can't wait for your wretched and perfect drug analysis! My 2 favourite tracks!.. 👍

Thank you for your analysis - very helpful

Found your channel today and love the amazing breakdowns and interpretations of NIN songs. Hearing a different perspective on these songs is wonderful. To me the screams in this song always sounded like they were coming from hell. Sort of like Mr. Self-Destruct is chaotic to represent him fighting to leave his demons behind, but Piggy is him giving in and everything slows down and he begins to hear how close he is to hell. Heresy then is a middle finger to god as god has damned him to this hell. Then each song from there continues his descent, acceptance of his circumstances, and so on through the album.

This is great I love that an actual like musically intelligent person is breaking down why nin is amazing

Love your work on these songs! I discovered this channel just today and subbed in no time. As music student ( and obviously big NIN fan) I'm starting the harmony things and your analysis are very useful. Thank you!.

I love trents drumming, As a drummer, Trent could probably play drums live on an album again and nobody would notice.

I’m really looking forward to when you’ve broken down all of TDS so I can binge it all in order.

Really enjoy the way you approach explaining music. You are a great teacher. A+

Such a beautifully crafted song and I relish in knowing that other people feel this song the same way I do. Thank you for sharing. It doesn’t go unnoticed.

That straight-eights version is bizarre. I'd love to hear the whole song done like that. It almost sounds like 80s new wave.

I'm so here for these breakdowns, I can't wait to get to his later work - Hesitation Marks is one of my favorite albums of his and while it maintains so much of his older style it changes and flips it in such interesting ways reflecting, perhaps, a new outlook on life in his older years. Would love for you to cover - if you haven't - his HTDA stuff with his wife, as well, would love to hear your perspective on them.

@10:50 it might be a sample from a movie. @11:34 It sounds like the same roar sample from Wish. @12:30 it does sound like amusement park screaming but used in this context may be irony. @13:54 sounds like rail brakes. All in all, it sounds like Trent is taking us on a slow ride to being made into bacon. It sounds like a perverse version of Darling Nicki. This is the first NIN song I ever heard. When I was a young teen in 1993 or maybe 1994 in rural WV, I managed to tune into a radio station on my boombox listening to headphones late at night to candlelight. It completely unsettled me. I had to know who it was. I think there was a dj announcing the artists and I remember distinctly the other song was Human Behavior by Björk and maybe “Bull in the Heather” by Sonic Youth and then the signal mysteriously dropped off and I couldn’t find it again. Later I surmised that it was probably the college radio station two hours away that somehow managed to bounce off the ionosphere just right to reach me at the right place and time but it completely changed my life. Later I bought all three of those records when we went on a family trip to the mall months later.

Wow I never noticed that tambourine thing, I do it too when I record tambourine but not intentionally like that...