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{{song
 
{{song
 
| title = The Frail
 
| title = The Frail
−
| album = ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]]''
+
| album = ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]]'' (Left)
 
| length = 1:54
 
| length = 1:54
−
| versions = The Frail<br>The Frail (Version)<br>The Frail (''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'')
+
| BPM = 113, 123 (approx.)
−
| live = [[Fragility v1.0]] through present
+
| versions = The Frail<br>The Frail (Alternate Version)<br>The Frail (Version)<br>The Frail (''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'')
 +
| live = [[Fragility]] through present
 
}}'''"The Frail"''' is the third track on the Left disc of ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]].'' The track is an entirely [[:Category:NIN Instrumentals|instrumental]] piano piece (in G Minor) which builds up and prepares the listener for the following song, "[[The Wretched]]."
 
}}'''"The Frail"''' is the third track on the Left disc of ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]].'' The track is an entirely [[:Category:NIN Instrumentals|instrumental]] piano piece (in G Minor) which builds up and prepares the listener for the following song, "[[The Wretched]]."
 +
 +
Its use of a synthesized pad built from samples of [[Trent Reznor]]'s voice would later be echoed in another track from this era, "[[Leaving Hope]]."
  
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
 
===Halos===
 
===Halos===
 
*''The Fragile''
 
*''The Fragile''
 +
*''[[The Fragile: Deviations 1]]''
 
*''[[Things Falling Apart]]''
 
*''[[Things Falling Apart]]''
 
*''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'' (CD/DVD/VHS)
 
*''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'' (CD/DVD/VHS)
 +
 +
===Seeds===
 +
*''[[The Definitive NIN - Deep Cuts]]''
  
 
==Versions==
 
==Versions==
 
===The Frail===
 
===The Frail===
−
A very simplistic instrumental, The Frail is inspired from the guitar solo to "[[The Fragile (song)|The Fragile]]." A piano melody (consisting of half-notes) and background white noise (heard from the end of "[[The Day The World Went Away (song)|The Day The World Went Away]]") are the sole elements of this song. The melody and white noise slowly build to a synthesized vocal harmony, leading into "The Wretched."
+
A very simplistic instrumental in two parts, "The Frail" shares its progression with the guitar solo in "[[The Fragile (song)|The Fragile]]," and was inspired by the form of [[Keith Hillebrandt]]'s remix of that track (per its description when it was posted to [[remix.nin.com]]). This half-note progression and background chorus synthesizers that appear to be based on samples of Reznor's voice (heard from the end of "[[The Day The World Went Away (song)|The Day The World Went Away]]") are the sole elements of this song. The piece seems to have been recorded free of a specific tempo. A new, deeper progression and chorus pads seemingly based on (or in tribute to) [[David Bowie]]'s "[[Subterraneans]]" slowly build to a synthesized vocal harmony, leading into "The Wretched."
 +
 
 +
===The Frail (Alternate Version)===
 +
'''''Running Time: 1:46'''''
 +
 
 +
Released on ''The Fragile: Deviations 1''. Also known as "The Frail" (Alt) when it was originally released on Apple Music as part of ''The Fragile Instrumental''. This seems to be a different piano performance at an even slower tempo, and lacks any synthesizer layers.
  
 
===The Frail (Version)===
 
===The Frail (Version)===
 +
'''''Running Time: 2:47'''''
 +
 
Found on ''Things Falling Apart,'' this version contains distorted elements and string instruments, with the melody played on a violin rather than a piano.
 
Found on ''Things Falling Apart,'' this version contains distorted elements and string instruments, with the melody played on a violin rather than a piano.
  
 
====Song Credits====
 
====Song Credits====
−
*Manipulation: [[Benelli]]
+
*Manipulation: Benelli
−
*Production: Joshua Eustis, Turk Dietrich
+
*Production: [[Joshua Eustis]], Turk Dietrich
−
*Violin: Steve Hakel
+
*Violin: Steve Ha
−
*Cello: Mark Paradis
 
−
 
 
−
===The Frail (And All That Could Have Been)===
 
−
On this live version, [[Trent Reznor]] starts by playing the melody solo on a keyboard. There is some improvisation, setting it apart from the album version. As it builds, the other sound elements are incorporated. As on ''The Fragile,'' it provides a segue into "The Wretched."
 
  
 
==Live==
 
==Live==
−
This song is frequently performed live, as on the album, leading into "The Wretched." Reznor has been known to improvise and expand upon the basic piano part in a live setting. More recently, Reznor has occasionally used this song as an intro to "[[The Good Soldier]]."
+
"The Frail" made its live debut on [[1999/11/14 Barcelona, Spain|November 14, 1999]]. This song is frequently performed, as on the album, leading into "The Wretched." Reznor has been known to improvise and expand upon the basic piano part in a live setting. More recently, Reznor has occasionally used this song as an intro to "[[The Good Soldier]]," "[[Closer]]," "[[Reptile]]," "[[La Mer]]," "[[Metal]]," and "[[Eraser]]." It was also partly incorporated as an outro to the 2018 live rendition of "Subterraneans".
  
−
[[Category:NIN Songs]][[Category:NIN Instrumentals]]
+
{{Succession box
 +
| title=[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]] Left (CD), Side A (Vinyl)
 +
| before=[[The Day The World Went Away (song)|The Day The World Went Away]]
 +
| after=[[The Wretched]]
 +
| track=3}}
 +
[[Category:NIN Songs]]
 +
[[Category:NIN Instrumentals]]
 +
[[Category:Know The Score]]

Latest revision as of 00:33, 23 March 2025

Album:The Fragile (Left)
Length:1:54
Tempo:113, 123 (approx.) BPM
Versions:The Frail
The Frail (Alternate Version)
The Frail (Version)
The Frail (And All That Could Have Been)
Live:Fragility through present

"The Frail" is the third track on the Left disc of The Fragile. The track is an entirely instrumental piano piece (in G Minor) which builds up and prepares the listener for the following song, "The Wretched."

Its use of a synthesized pad built from samples of Trent Reznor's voice would later be echoed in another track from this era, "Leaving Hope."

Contents

  • 1 Appearances
    • 1.1 Halos
    • 1.2 Seeds
  • 2 Versions
    • 2.1 The Frail
    • 2.2 The Frail (Alternate Version)
    • 2.3 The Frail (Version)
      • 2.3.1 Song Credits
  • 3 Live

Appearances

Halos

  • The Fragile
  • The Fragile: Deviations 1
  • Things Falling Apart
  • And All That Could Have Been (CD/DVD/VHS)

Seeds

  • The Definitive NIN - Deep Cuts

Versions

The Frail

A very simplistic instrumental in two parts, "The Frail" shares its progression with the guitar solo in "The Fragile," and was inspired by the form of Keith Hillebrandt's remix of that track (per its description when it was posted to remix.nin.com). This half-note progression and background chorus synthesizers that appear to be based on samples of Reznor's voice (heard from the end of "The Day The World Went Away") are the sole elements of this song. The piece seems to have been recorded free of a specific tempo. A new, deeper progression and chorus pads seemingly based on (or in tribute to) David Bowie's "Subterraneans" slowly build to a synthesized vocal harmony, leading into "The Wretched."

The Frail (Alternate Version)

Running Time: 1:46

Released on The Fragile: Deviations 1. Also known as "The Frail" (Alt) when it was originally released on Apple Music as part of The Fragile Instrumental. This seems to be a different piano performance at an even slower tempo, and lacks any synthesizer layers.

The Frail (Version)

Running Time: 2:47

Found on Things Falling Apart, this version contains distorted elements and string instruments, with the melody played on a violin rather than a piano.

Song Credits

  • Manipulation: Benelli
  • Production: Joshua Eustis, Turk Dietrich
  • Violin: Steve Ha

Live

"The Frail" made its live debut on November 14, 1999. This song is frequently performed, as on the album, leading into "The Wretched." Reznor has been known to improvise and expand upon the basic piano part in a live setting. More recently, Reznor has occasionally used this song as an intro to "The Good Soldier," "Closer," "Reptile," "La Mer," "Metal," and "Eraser." It was also partly incorporated as an outro to the 2018 live rendition of "Subterraneans".

Previous track - "The Day The World Went Away" Track 3 from The Fragile Left (CD), Side A (Vinyl) Next track - "The Wretched"
Retrieved from "https://www.nin.wiki/index.php?title=The_Frail&oldid=63905"
Last edited on 23 March 2025, at 00:33
  • This page was last edited on 23 March 2025, at 00:33.
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