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Sin (Nine Inch Nails song)
Encyclopedia
"Sin" is the third single
by Nine Inch Nails
from the album Pretty Hate Machine
. Released in October 1990, the song peaked at #35 in the UK Singles Chart
(see Nine Inch Nails discography
).
. It contains three remixes of "Sin" from Pretty Hate Machine and Nine Inch Nails' first cover song. Even though the front has a stylized graphic that simply says "5in" and it is generally referred to as "Sin" (including on the official NIN website), the spine of the US version refers to the album as "Sin Long, Dub & Short".
"Get Down, Make Love" is a cover of the Queen
song originally released on News of the World
. This version of "Get Down, Make Love" samples Dan O'Herlihy
from The Cabinet of Caligari
, as well as a brief snippet of "We Will Rock You
" in the final seconds.
A video was released, using the "(short)" remix of the song, which featured two girls dancing with each other at the beginning, cutting to a black-and-white footage of a woman, naked except for what looks like straps to spelunking gear and a halogen lamp, walking a wrist-bound Trent Reznor
with a bag over his head through what looks like an industrial warehouse complex and eventually to strap him into an Aerotrim
where she spins him throughout the video. These scenes are intercut with two young gay
lovers who eventually fight, a man and woman wearing ritualistic dressings and dancing, as well as visuals of a pierced phallus
and clitoris
, all reflecting the song's dark, sexual aspects.
The song itself quotes directly from Clive Barker's Books of Blood
.
The video never aired, but an edited version appears on Closure. The original video later became available through TVT
's website.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
from the album Pretty Hate Machine
Pretty Hate Machine
Pretty Hate Machine is the debut album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released October 20, 1989, on TVT Records. Pretty Hate Machine is compiled of reworked tracks from the Purest Feeling demo, as well as tracks recorded after its recording...
. Released in October 1990, the song peaked at #35 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(see Nine Inch Nails discography
Nine Inch Nails discography
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock band formed in 1988 by Trent Reznor. Nine Inch Nails has released eight major studio releases, as well as numerous remix albums, singles with extensive b-sides, music videos, and tour documentaries...
).
The single
"Sin" is the fourth official Nine Inch Nails release and the final single for the album Pretty Hate MachinePretty Hate Machine
Pretty Hate Machine is the debut album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released October 20, 1989, on TVT Records. Pretty Hate Machine is compiled of reworked tracks from the Purest Feeling demo, as well as tracks recorded after its recording...
. It contains three remixes of "Sin" from Pretty Hate Machine and Nine Inch Nails' first cover song. Even though the front has a stylized graphic that simply says "5in" and it is generally referred to as "Sin" (including on the official NIN website), the spine of the US version refers to the album as "Sin Long, Dub & Short".
"Get Down, Make Love" is a cover of the Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
song originally released on News of the World
News of the World (album)
News of the World is the sixth studio album by British rock group Queen, released in 1977. Containing hit songs "We Will Rock You", "We Are the Champions" and "Spread Your Wings", the album went 4x platinum in the US, 2x platinum in the UK, and achieved high certifications around the world as...
. This version of "Get Down, Make Love" samples Dan O'Herlihy
Dan O'Herlihy
Daniel O'Herlihy was an Oscar nominated Irish film actor.-Early life:O'Herlihy was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1919. His family moved to Dublin at a young age...
from The Cabinet of Caligari
The Cabinet of Caligari
The Cabinet of Caligari is a film by Roger Kay, starring Glynis Johns, Dan O'Herlihy, and Richard Davalos, and released by 20th Century Fox....
, as well as a brief snippet of "We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
" in the final seconds.
The video
Trent Reznor
Michael Trent Reznor is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and leader of industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. Reznor is also a member of How to Destroy Angels alongside his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross. He was previously associated with bands Option 30,...
with a bag over his head through what looks like an industrial warehouse complex and eventually to strap him into an Aerotrim
Aerotrim
An aerotrim is a gyroscope large enough to contain a human being, used for cardiovascular workout and equilibrioception training in pilots and astronauts. Aerotrims enjoyed worldwide popularity in gyms during the 1980s, but are now out of production outside of professional applications...
where she spins him throughout the video. These scenes are intercut with two young gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
lovers who eventually fight, a man and woman wearing ritualistic dressings and dancing, as well as visuals of a pierced phallus
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
and clitoris
Clitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
, all reflecting the song's dark, sexual aspects.
The song itself quotes directly from Clive Barker's Books of Blood
Books of Blood
Books of Blood are a series of horror fiction collections written by the British author Clive Barker.There are six books in total, each simply subtitled Volume 1 through to Volume 6, and were subsequently re-published in two omnibus editions containing three volumes each. Each volume contains four...
.
The video never aired, but an edited version appears on Closure. The original video later became available through TVT
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
's website.