The Perfect Drug (song)
The Perfect Drug (Meat Beat Manifesto)
The Perfect Drug (Plug)
The Perfect Drug (Nine Inch Nails)
The Perfect Drug (Spacetime Continuum)
The Perfect Drug (The Orb)
The Perfect Drug (Aphrodite)
"The Perfect Drug" was written and recorded for the Lost Highway Soundtrack in 1997.
Song Credits
- Writing and performance: Nine Inch Nails
- ©1996 Leaving Hope Music Inc/TVT Music (ASCAP) administered by Leaving Hope Music Inc., D. Lohner/Wish It Away (ASCAP), C. Clouser/Hypercube Music/Warner Tamerlane Music (BMI), C. Vrenna
- Production: Trent Reznor
- Mix: Alan Moulder
- Engineering: Dave "Rave" Ogilvie
- Assistance: Brian Pollack
Appearances
Halos
Seeds
Other
Video Games
- Rock Band (available for download)
Versions
The Perfect Drug
This is the original version that can be found on the Lost Highway soundtrack as well as some versions of The Perfect Drug Versions and the We're In This Together single. The versions on the We're In This Together and Into the Void singles are several seconds longer than the previous release, lacking the abrupt ending.
The Perfect Drug (Meat Beat Manifesto)
This remix is almost a dub mix: it is very light on lyrics and emphasizes the percussion beat of the song. The word "annihilate" is added at some points and leads this remix out of the breakdown and into the ending portion. "The only lyrics in this version are "And I want you" and "You are the perfect drug."
The Perfect Drug (Plug)
Incorporating dream-like synths and a danceable rhythm, this remix is notable for its synth rendition of the opening strains of the song. The last few lyrics of the first verse are used, "You are the perfect drug" is heard at the breakdown, and vocal instrumentation has been added. "Take me with you" is repeated at the end of this remix.
The Perfect Drug (Nine Inch Nails)
This remix begins with Reznor whispering "You are the perfect drug." The vocals are distorted a bit in this intro. A dance beat and wind are added over the vocals. The lyrics are then sung about a third of the way through, as the beat becomes heavier and the synths build in volume. By the middle of the song, the music becomes much louder as the lyric "Take me with you" is whispered over it. Vocal instrumentation, albeit distorted, is also incorporated into this remix. Perhaps the most notable aspect of this remix is the use of the "Closer" synth voice to replicate the melody at the end of the song.
The Perfect Drug (Spacetime Continuum)
Windchime-like instrumentation over a percussive beat and the whispered lyric "You are the perfect drug" open this remix. It then goes into a percolating beat, with a simple melody over a pulsing bass. This could be considered one of the "quieter" mixes of the song, as it is not as aggressive as the other remixes.
The Perfect Drug (The Orb)
This remix begins with the lyric "You are the perfect drug" heavily distorted as a swirling beat comes in over it. The word "drug" is also repeated at various points in this version. At about three minutes in, the lyric "Take me with you" is repeated as the mix goes into a pseudo-breakdown. At the breakdown, a bass line over percussion, leads into the song's finale.
The Perfect Drug (Aphrodite)
This remix is exclusive to the vinyl edition of The Perfect Drug Versions. It's set in a different key than the other remixes and has a fast, electronic beat. As with most of the other remixes, it is light on lyrics, consisting only of "can't keep control/can't keep track," "taking me," and "you are perfect." A CD-quality MP3 file of the track was uploaded by Reznor on remix.nin.com.
Live
"The Perfect Drug" has never been played live. It is widely speculated that the complex drum solo in the song is responsible for this, although it is probably not out of the range of current drummer Ilan Rubin. It is also likely that Reznor does not personally like the song very much, as he concedes it was produced quickly for the Lost Highway soundtrack.
Then-current drummer Jerome Dillon said the band has "never rule[d] out the possibility" of playing the song, in response to a fan's question posted on nin.com/access on 2005-07-19:
Music Video
Mark Romanek, who also directed "Closer," directed "The Perfect Drug" in 1997. It was one of the most expensive videos at the time as the costs of building a refrigerated set, renting period costumes, and securing use of Gustav Klimt's The Kiss painting were all factors in the almost $1 million cost.
The concept of the video is widely interpreted as Trent Reznor portraying a man mourning the death of a child and detaching himself from reality through absinthe. Charlie Clouser, Danny Lohner, and Chris Vrenna appear in the video, most notably playing string instruments at the beginning of the video. The aesthetics were heavily influenced by the illustrations of 20th-century artist Edward Gorey (1925–2000), the most obvious reference coming from the boy sitting on the cushion in front of the painting.
The entire video was filmed with a blue tint with the exception of the drum breakdown, which uses flashing green light instead, representing Reznor losing himself in the absinthe.
Lyrics
I got my head, but my head is unraveling
Can't keep control, can't keep track of where it's traveling
I got my heart but my heart's no good
And you're the only one that's understood
I come along but I don't know where you're taking me
I shouldn't go but you're wrenching, dragging, shaking me
Turn off the sun, pull the stars from the sky
The more I give to you, the more I die
And I want you
You are the perfect drug
The perfect drug
The perfect drug
You make me hard when I'm all soft inside
I see the truth when I'm all stupid-eyed
The arrow goes straight through my heart
Without you everything just falls apart
My blood wants to say hello to you
My fears want to get inside of you
My soul is so afraid to realize
How very little there is left of me
And I want you
You are the perfect drug
The perfect drug
The perfect drug
Take me, with you
Without you
Without you everything falls apart
Without you it's not as much fun to pick up the pieces