Producer Opens Up About Johnny Cash's Haunting Rendition of "Hurt"

Mar 01, 2019 by apost team

The artists and musicians behind so many songs and records have a story to tell about each one. One of those songs was Johnny Cash‘s classic song “Hurt.” While Johnny left us so many years ago, the story behind that song has only become public in the last few months. Producer Rick Rubin is the one offering us the tale.

This noted producer for AC/DC, Metallica, and Led Zeppelin also noted how Trent Reznor, the singer for Nine Inch Nails, reacted when he hurt Johnny's version. It may not be what you would expect.

Do you remember when you heard Johnny's voice singing "Hurt" for the first time?

When Rick Rubin first heard Johnny's version, he was totally blown away. It was a "totally different song". It had a hopelessness to it that you don't expect from someone in their 60s and 70s. It's something you expect from a 20-year-old.

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"It's brutal."

How did Rick feel once Johnny had finished the song? He was over the moon excited. It wasn't so much the emotion of the song or even the fact that it was a very good version of it. It was the power the song conveyed.

Rubin shared Trent Reznor's reaction to the song. Once the song was done and committed, Rubin sent the lead singer of Nine Inch Nails a copy of the final version. Reznor didn't seem to like it much at first. However, after the video for the song came out, it became clearer to Reznor. He was too close to his version of the song and had trouble hearing someone else singing it.

Trent Reznor clearly went through a flood of different emotions. Rubin reflected on another songwriter hearing Cash's version before. Before releasing "Rawboat" on the 1996 Unchained album, he played Johnny's version of the song for Beck.

It was the first time this 22-year-old had ever heard someone else singing his lyrics. And it was the legendary Johnny Cash.

So, what do you think of Johnny's version of "Hurt"? Do you prefer his version or Reznor's? Please let us know your thoughts and let others see this video for themselves.