Wish (song)
Encyclopedia
"Wish" is the second promotional single
from Nine Inch Nails'
Broken. The most successful song from the EP, "Wish" cemented Trent Reznor's
image as a rage-fueled star to the public. "Wish" won the Best Metal Performance
in the 1993 Grammy Award
s. Reznor later joked that his epitaph
should read: "REZNOR: Died. Said 'fist fuck' and won a Grammy." "Wish" has been remixed twice on companion disc to the EP, Fixed, as "Wish (Remix)" and "Fist Fuck." Both remixes were performed by J. G. Thirlwell
.
, who also directed the music video for "March Of The Pigs
" and Broken's eponymous film. The video shows Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor
on vocals, Chris Vrenna on drums, Richard Patrick
on guitar and James Woolley
on keyboards) playing inside high, caged walls while hordes of angry men assault the exterior of the cage. The band is eventually accosted: Woolley is lifted off his feet by a suspended man, Vrenna is lifted off by a crane hook and Patrick is grabbed through the sides of the cage. The video ends with a brief scene of men breaking open the gate of the cage and storming into the cage with bats and clubs. MTV felt that the ending scene was too violent and alternate footage was used for network airplay.
A second video is a live video filmed by Simon Maxwell for Closure in 1995. The footage used is different from the original version.
DMD 1947". Each side of the record plays the same track listing:
PRCD 4893-2".
The song is used and heard on the debut trailer of the first-person shooter
by Electronic Arts
and People Can Fly
, Bulletstorm
.
The song is featured as a playable track in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
, although incorrectly listed with a 2002 release date.
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...
from 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...
Broken. The most successful song from the EP, "Wish" cemented Trent Reznor's
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,...
image as a rage-fueled star to the public. "Wish" won the Best Metal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards to recording artists for works containing quality performances in the heavy metal music genre...
in the 1993 Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s. Reznor later joked that his epitaph
Epitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
should read: "REZNOR: Died. Said 'fist fuck' and won a Grammy." "Wish" has been remixed twice on companion disc to the EP, Fixed, as "Wish (Remix)" and "Fist Fuck." Both remixes were performed by J. G. Thirlwell
J. G. Thirlwell
James George Thirlwell , aka Clint Ruin, aka Frank Want, aka Foetus, is an Australian vocalist, composer and record producer...
.
Music video
The music video for "Wish" was directed by Peter ChristophersonPeter Christopherson
Peter Martin Christopherson, a.k.a. Sleazy was a musician, video director and designer, and former member of the influential British design agency Hipgnosis....
, who also directed the music video for "March Of The Pigs
March of the Pigs
"March of the Pigs" is a song written by Trent Reznor of American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails. It was released in 1994 as the first single from The Downward Spiral , the second album by Nine Inch Nails.-The song:...
" and Broken's eponymous film. The video shows Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor
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,...
on vocals, Chris Vrenna on drums, Richard Patrick
Richard Patrick
Richard Patrick is an American rock musician. He is the frontman for the band Filter, a founding member of the supergroup Army of Anyone, and has served as a touring guitarist for Nine Inch Nails....
on guitar and James Woolley
James Woolley
James J. Woolley is a former keyboard and synthesizer player for industrial metal group Nine Inch Nails for the 1991 Lollapalooza Tour and the beginning part of the 1994 Self Destruct Tour...
on keyboards) playing inside high, caged walls while hordes of angry men assault the exterior of the cage. The band is eventually accosted: Woolley is lifted off his feet by a suspended man, Vrenna is lifted off by a crane hook and Patrick is grabbed through the sides of the cage. The video ends with a brief scene of men breaking open the gate of the cage and storming into the cage with bats and clubs. MTV felt that the ending scene was too violent and alternate footage was used for network airplay.
A second video is a live video filmed by Simon Maxwell for Closure in 1995. The footage used is different from the original version.
The single
"Wish" was never produced as a commercial single to be sold to the public. However, various promotional discs were distributed for airplay.12"
The four-track version was distributed as "Interscope RecordsInterscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
DMD 1947". Each side of the record plays the same track listing:
- "Wish" (Remix version by J. G. ThirlwellJ. G. ThirlwellJames George Thirlwell , aka Clint Ruin, aka Frank Want, aka Foetus, is an Australian vocalist, composer and record producer...
) – 9:08 - "Wish" (EP version) – 3:47
CD
The one-track version was distributed as "Interscope RecordsInterscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
PRCD 4893-2".
- "Wish" (Radio edit) – 3:37
Covers
- SilversteinSilverstein (band)Silverstein is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 2000. Their band name is a reference to the famous children's author Shel Silverstein, whom the band had admired and read the stories of as children. They have released a total of five studio albums, three EP's, a...
covered the song in 2010 for their EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
TransitionsTransitions (Silverstein EP)Transitions is the third EP by Canadian post-hardcore band Silverstein. It's the band's first release with Hopeless Records since they left their longtime label, Victory Records. Transitions was released digitally through online media outlets on December 7, 2010...
. - The Dillinger Escape PlanThe Dillinger Escape PlanThe Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
covered the song on their Plagiarism (EP)Plagiarism (EP)-Personnel:* Ben Weinman – guitar, keyboards, producer, engineer* James Love - guitar * Liam Wilson – bass guitar* Greg Puciato – vocals...
and were asked to join Nine Inch Nails in performing the song during two stops of the 2009 Australian Soundwave Festival and later at Bonaroo 2009 and also on September 10, 2009 in Los Angeles which would be the last known Nine Inch Nails show. - The song can be found on German BeatsteaksBeatsteaksBeatsteaks are a punk rock band from Berlin, Germany, formed in 1995.- History :Peter Baumann, Stefan Hircher, Alexander Rosswaag and Bernd Kurtzke founded the Beatsteaks in 1995. Shortly after Arnim Teutoburg-Weiß joined the band as a singer and additional guitarist...
2002 Wohnzimmer EP - BehemothBehemoth (band)Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate....
also covered Wish by on their 2003 EP, ConjurationConjuration (album)Conjuration is the fourth EP by Polish blackened death metal band Behemoth. The first three tracks were recorded between June and September, 2002. The live songs were recorded at the Mystic Festival on October 13, 2001...
. - Linkin ParkLinkin ParkLinkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
performed the song live on their spring 2004 tour. It was also covered on that year's Projekt RevolutionProjekt RevolutionProjekt Revolution is a music festival hosted by Linkin Park, bringing artists of various genres of music together. Linkin Park started Projekt Revolution in the year 2002 with just one stage...
tour where one recording was later released on the Linkin Park Underground 4.0 fanclub CD. Vocalist, BenningtonChester BenningtonChester Charles Bennington is an American musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He is best known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Linkin Park....
is also able to maintain a full 16 second scream during the performance. - DreadnautDreadnautDreadnaut is a Canadian heavy metal group.Dreadnaut was formed in 2003 in Thompson, Manitoba and soon moved to the nearest urban center of Winnipeg, Manitoba, where they made their live debut at the The Zoo Cabaret...
covered the song in their 2008 album A Taste Of What's To ComeA Taste of What's to ComeA Taste of What's to Come is the second LP by Canadian band Dreadnaut released in 2008.-Track listing:- Personnel :* Steven Crooks – vocals* Robin Kimball – guitar* Chris Miller – drums* Randy Goshey – bass guitar...
. - STEMMStemmSTEMM is an American metal band hailing from Niagara Falls, New York. They are currently signed to Catch 22 Records. STEMM's first concert was opening for major label recording artist Sevendust.STEMM is endorsed by ESP Guitars, Jagermeister and Mesa Boogie....
covered the song on their 2008 album Blood ScentBlood ScentBlood Scent is STEMM's third full length album and first on new record label Catch 22 Records. It was released on November 11, 2008, almost exactly three years since their prior release, which was on November 15, 2005...
. - Brand NewBrand NewBrand New is an American rock band from Long Island, New York. Formed in 2000, the band currently consists of vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Jesse Lacey, guitarist/vocalist/lyricist Vincent Accardi, bassist Garrett Tierney, drummer Brian Lane, and guitarist/keyboardist Derrick Sherman.In the late...
covered the song live during their spring 2011 tour.
Appearance in other media
Was featured on an episode of "Beavis & Butthead". While most music videos are typically made fun of, the animated duo ultimately approved of "Wish".The song is used and heard on the debut trailer of the first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
and People Can Fly
People Can Fly
People Can Fly, Sp. z o.o. is a video game developer established in February 2002 by Adrian Chmielarz and based in Warsaw, Poland. Their first video game was Painkiller, but many of their members had already worked on various titles before this. Some members helped create 10 different titles since...
, Bulletstorm
Bulletstorm
Bulletstorm is a first-person shooter video game developed by People Can Fly and Epic Games, and is published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows...
.
The song is featured as a playable track in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is a music video game and the sixth main entry in the Guitar Hero series for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. The game was released September 24, 2010 in Europe, September 28, 2010 in North America and September 29, 2010 in Australia...
, although incorrectly listed with a 2002 release date.