Difference between revisions of "The Fragile (song)"

Latest revision as of 04:42, 25 September 2022

Album:The Fragile (Left)

Length:4:35

Tempo:143 BPM

Versions:The Fragile
The Fragile (Instrumental)
The Fragile (Deconstructed)
The Fragile (Still)
The Fragile (Bridge School Benefit)

Live:Fragility v2.0
Performance 2007
Wave Goodbye Tour

"The Fragile" is the sixth track—and the title track—on the Left disc of the 1999 double album The Fragile.

Appearances

Halos

The Fragile
The Fragile: Deviations 1
And All That Could Have Been (Deluxe Edition)
Still

Seeds

Other

Bridge School Benefit Collection, Vol 4

Versions

The Fragile

This is the original album version as it appears on The Fragile. Opening with a distant e-bow guitar drone from the end of "We're In This Together," the first verse soon enters, characterized by live drums incorporating the use of a floor tom with a tambourine on top, a simple bassline, and Trent Reznor's soft vocals. The first chorus features merely the new bass riff and drum rhythm accompanied by sequenced synthesizer layers below Reznor's repetitions of the phrase, "I won't let you fall apart." The second verse returns bass riff and drum pattern return with new percussion loops underneath, soon giving way to the second chorus' loud guitars and shouted vocals. These all stop at the end of the phrase, interrupted by a staccato synthesizer melody that ushers in layers of strings, Mellotron, and out of tune percussion under Reznor's quiet, desperate vocals. This bridge continues as Reznor repeats "and picking," fading out quietly as distorted guitars bring in the return of the chorus progression and drums beneath a guitar solo playing the same melody as the piano progression in "The Frail." This leads into a final repetition of the chorus, all the instruments and vocals stopping suddenly at the end of the phrase and leading into "Just Like You Imagined."

The Fragile (Instrumental)

Running Time: 4:48

Released exclusively through Apple Music and later on The Fragile: Deviations 1.

The Fragile (Deconstructed)

Running Time: 6:10

This is a remix by Keith Hillebrandt which was featured as a website-only download for a limited time on nin.com during The Fragile era, along with versions of "No, You Don't" and "La Mer." When the track was posted to remix.nin.com, the description stated that according to Reznor, its structure was the inspiration for "The Frail."

The Fragile (Still)

Running Time: 5:12

This stripped-down version is on Still, which was originally packaged with the Deluxe Edition CD of And All That Could Have Been. It is performed mostly solo on a keyboard.

Song Credits

Performance: Trent Reznor, Jerome Dillon
Mix engineering: Alan Moulder
Engineering: Alan Moulder
Second Engineering: Leo Herrera
Programming: Keith Hillebrandt

The Fragile (Bridge School Benefit)

In 2006 Reznor played his only full solo performances at Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit. In this performance Reznor played piano but was backed by a string quartet. This version is similar to the Still version of the song. This version was released on the digital-only album The Bridge School Collection, Vol. 4.

Live

"The Fragile" was a setlist rarity up to 2009. It made its debut appearance at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, and appeared in encores four times on the Fragility tour. The song would remain very similar to the album version except somewhat louder.

"The Fragile" was not performed on the Live: With Teeth tour, but was performed by Trent Reznor solo at the 2006 Bridge School Benefit.

During the Performance 2007 tour, a modified Still version of the song was played for the song's few performances on the European spring leg.

The song returned to setlists during the NIN|JA 2009 tour, the only time it's been a setlist regular. Once again, it was performed similarly to the version on The Fragile.

"The Fragile" has not been performed since August 2009.

Lyrics

    She shines
    In a world full of ugliness
    She matters
    When everything is meaningless
    
    Fragile
    She doesn't see her beauty
    She tries to get away
    Sometimes
    It's just that nothing seems worth saving
    I can't watch her slip away
    
    I won't let you fall apart
    
    She reads the minds of all the people as they pass her by
    Hoping someone can see
    If I could fix myself I'd—
    But it's too late for me
    
    I won't let you fall apart
    
    We'll find the perfect place to go where we can run and hide
    We'll build a wall and we can keep them on the other side
    …But they keep waiting
    …And picking…
    
    It's something I have to do
    I was there, too
    Before everything else
    I was like you

External Links

"The Fragile" (Deconstructed) at archive.org

Previous track - "We're In This Together"

Track 6 from The Fragile Left (CD), Side B (Vinyl)

Next track - "Just Like You Imagined"

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 | album = ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]]'' (Left)
 | length = 4:35
-| versions = The Fragile<br>The Fragile (Version)<br>The Fragile (Still)
+| BPM = 143
-| live = [[Fragility]] through present
+| versions = The Fragile<br>The Fragile (Instrumental)<br>The Fragile (Deconstructed)<br>The Fragile (''[[Still]]'')<br>The Fragile ([[Bridge School Benefit]])
+| live = [[Fragility v2.0]]<br>[[Performance 2007]]<br>[[Wave Goodbye Tour]]
 }}'''"The Fragile"''' is the sixth track—and the title track—on the Left disc of the 1999 double album ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]].''
-==Interpretation==
-This song (with the possible exception of "[[We're In This Together]]," the track featured directly before it on ''The Fragile'') may be the closest [[Trent Reznor]] has ever come to recording what could be considered a "love song," with lyrics referring to a frail and insecure female whom he is determined not to let "fall apart." He sees in her what he was himself, and wishes to shelter her from the outside world before she goes through what he has. Notably, the solo in the song resembles the first section of "[[The Frail]]", a previous track on ''The Fragile''. This probably hints to the female's frail and insecure personality.
 ==Appearances==
 ===Halos===
-*''The Fragile'' (1999)
+*''The Fragile''
-*''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'' (Deluxe Edition CD; 2002)
+*''[[The Fragile: Deviations 1]]''
-*''[[Still]]'' (2002)
+*''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]] (Deluxe Edition)''
+*''[[Still]]''
+===Seeds===
+*''[[The Definitive NIN - Deep Cuts]]''
+*''[[The Definitive NIN - Quiet Tracks]]''
+===Other===
+*''Bridge School Benefit Collection, Vol 4''
 ==Versions==
 ===The Fragile===
-This is the original album version as it appears on ''The Fragile.''
+This is the original album version as it appears on ''The Fragile.'' Opening with a distant e-bow guitar drone from the end of "[[We're In This Together (song)|We're In This Together]]," the first verse soon enters, characterized by live drums incorporating the use of a floor tom with a tambourine on top, a simple bassline, and [[Trent Reznor]]'s soft vocals. The first chorus features merely the new bass riff and drum rhythm accompanied by sequenced synthesizer layers below Reznor's repetitions of the phrase, "I won't let you fall apart." The second verse returns bass riff and drum pattern return with new percussion loops underneath, soon giving way to the second chorus' loud guitars and shouted vocals. These all stop at the end of the phrase, interrupted by a staccato synthesizer melody that ushers in layers of strings, Mellotron, and out of tune percussion under Reznor's quiet, desperate vocals. This bridge continues as Reznor repeats "and picking," fading out quietly as distorted guitars bring in the return of the chorus progression and drums beneath a guitar solo playing the same melody as the piano progression in "[[The Frail]]." This leads into a final repetition of the chorus, all the instruments and vocals stopping suddenly at the end of the phrase and leading into "[[Just Like You Imagined]]."
-===The Fragile (Version)===
+===The Fragile (Instrumental)===
-This is a remix by [[Keith Hillebrandt]] which was featured as a website-only download for a limited time on NIN.com during ''The Fragile'' era, along with versions of "[[No, You Don't]]" and "[[La Mer]]."
+'''''Running Time: 4:48'''''
+Released exclusively through Apple Music and later on ''The Fragile: Deviations 1''.
+===The Fragile (Deconstructed)===
+'''''Running Time: 6:10'''''
+This is a remix by [[Keith Hillebrandt]] which was featured as a website-only download for a limited time on [[nin.com]] during ''The Fragile'' era, along with versions of "[[No, You Don't]]" and "[[La Mer]]." When the track was posted to [[remix.nin.com]], the description stated that according to Reznor, its structure was the inspiration for "The Frail."
 ===The Fragile (''Still'')===
-This stripped-down version is on ''Still,'' which was originally packaged with the Deluxe Edition CD of ''And All That Could Have Been'' and is curently available through NIN.com. It is performed mostly solo on an electric piano.
+'''''Running Time: 5:12'''''
+This stripped-down version is on ''Still,'' which was originally packaged with the Deluxe Edition CD of ''And All That Could Have Been''. It is performed mostly solo on a keyboard.
 ====Song Credits====
-*Performance: [[Trent Reznor]], [[Jerome Dillon]]
+*Performance: Trent Reznor, [[Jerome Dillon]]
 *Mix engineering: [[Alan Moulder]]
 *Engineering: Alan Moulder
 *Second Engineering: [[Leo Herrera]]
-*Programming: [[Keith Hillebrandt]]
+*Programming: Keith Hillebrandt
+===The Fragile (Bridge School Benefit)===
+In 2006 Reznor played his only full solo performances at Neil Young's [[Bridge School Benefit]]. In this performance Reznor played piano but was backed by a string quartet. This version is similar to the ''Still'' version of the song. This version was released on the digital-only album ''The Bridge School Collection, Vol. 4''.
 ==Live==
-When played during the [[Fragility]] tours and the ''1999 MTV Video Music Awards,'' the song would remain very similar to the album version except somewhat louder. During the [[Performance 2007]] tour, the ''Still'' version of the song was played.
+"The Fragile" was a setlist rarity up to 2009. It made its debut appearance at the [[1999/09/09 New York, NY|1999 MTV Video Music Awards]], and appeared in encores four times on the [[Fragility]] tour. The song would remain very similar to the album version except somewhat louder.
+"The Fragile" was not performed on the [[Live: With Teeth]] tour, but was performed by Trent Reznor solo at the 2006 Bridge School Benefit.
+During the [[Performance 2007]] tour, a modified ''Still'' version of the song was played for the song's few performances on the European spring leg.
+The song returned to setlists during the [[Wave Goodbye Tour|NIN|JA 2009]] tour, the only time it's been a setlist regular. Once again, it was performed similarly to the version on ''The Fragile''.
+"The Fragile" has not been performed since August 2009.
 == Lyrics ==
@@ Line 43: / Line 69: @@
       Fragile
-      She doesn’t see her beauty
+      She doesn't see her beauty
       She tries to get away
       Sometimes
-      It’s just that nothing seems worth saving
+      It's just that nothing seems worth saving
-      I can’t watch her slip away
+      I can't watch her slip away
-      I won’t let you fall apart
+      I won't let you fall apart
       She reads the minds of all the people as they pass her by
       Hoping someone can see
-      If I could fix myself I’d—
+      If I could fix myself I'd—
-      But it’s too late for me
+      But it's too late for me
-      I won’t let you fall apart
+      I won't let you fall apart
-      We’ll find the perfect place to go where we can run and hide
+      We'll find the perfect place to go where we can run and hide
-      I’ll build a wall and we can keep them on the other side
+      We'll build a wall and we can keep them on the other side
       …But they keep waiting
       …And picking…
-      It’s something I have to do
+      It's something I have to do
       I was there, too
       Before everything else
       I was like you
+==External Links==
+*[http://archive.org/details/remix-nin-com-audio-00123 "The Fragile" (Deconstructed) at archive.org]
+{{Succession box
+| title=[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]] Left (CD), Side B (Vinyl)
+| before=[[We're In This Together (song)|We're In This Together]]
+| after=[[Just Like You Imagined]]
+| track=6}}
 [[Category: NIN Songs]]