Piggy (song)
Encyclopedia
"Piggy" is a song by American industrial rock
act Nine Inch Nails
, and the second track of The Downward Spiral
(1994). It was written by Trent Reznor
, co-produced by Flood, and recorded in "Le Pig", a reincarnation of the living room of 10050 Cielo Drive
.
"Piggy" is among the three songs on the album named after animal
s, the others being "March Of The Pigs" and "Reptile". The title of the song was also inspired by Charles Manson
, whose accompanying "family" murdered actress Sharon Tate
, wife of noted film director Roman Polanski
, in August 1969. The song is well-known for being Reznor's only live drumming performance, since he is a multi-instrumentalist
.
This title of "Le Pig" alludes to the message that was scrawled on the front door with Tate's blood by her murderers, simply "PIG", a reference to a The Beatles
song of the same name
. Effectively, Reznor was introduced to their self-titled 1968 album
by Rick Rubin
, which included "Piggies".
The frantic drumming on the outro is Reznor's only attempt at performing drum
s on the record, and one of the few "live" drum performances on the album. He had stated that the recording was from him testing the microphone
setup in studio, but he liked the sound too much not to include it.
with the emponymous character. The animal he owns is a pig
, who felt he "needed something new" despite minor injuries. The main character tries to give him a gift
, but he ignores this move, leaving him lonely. This goal of giving him that object failed due to the animal's poor relationship.
This is the first NIN song to use the line "nothing can stop me now", which concludes the lyrics. "Ruiner" and "Big Man with a Gun" also use the phrase. Even "La Mer", "We're in This Together
", and "Sunspots" include those lyrics.
Quiet and slow overall, the song's tempo
is set in 65 BPM, and played in the B# tuning. It is also the first track on the album to use "The Downward Spiral leitmotif
", albeit on the organ. (see The Downward Spiral leitmotif section)
' s accompanying remix album
, Further Down the Spiral
(1995). The subtitle is the "nothing can stop me now" lyric.
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
act 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...
, and the second track of The Downward Spiral
The Downward Spiral
The Downward Spiral is the second studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released March 8, 1994, on Interscope Records. It is a concept album detailing the destruction of a man, from the beginning of his "downward spiral" to his climactic attempt at suicide...
(1994). It was written by 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,...
, co-produced by Flood, and recorded in "Le Pig", a reincarnation of the living room of 10050 Cielo Drive
10050 Cielo Drive
The original home located at 10050 Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, California, has been occupied by many famous Hollywood figures, and was the scene of one of the Manson "family" murders. The house was designed by Robert Byrd in 1942 for French actress Michèle Morgan...
.
"Piggy" is among the three songs on the album named after animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s, the others being "March Of The Pigs" and "Reptile". The title of the song was also inspired by Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
, whose accompanying "family" murdered actress Sharon Tate
Sharon Tate
Sharon Marie Tate was an American actress. During the 1960s she played small television roles before appearing in several films. After receiving positive reviews for her comedic performances, she was hailed as one of Hollywood's promising newcomers and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for...
, wife of noted film director Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
, in August 1969. The song is well-known for being Reznor's only live drumming performance, since he is a multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
.
Recording
Reznor wrote the song after Broken (1992) was completed. It was initially a poem, but he magnified it into a composition. He later moved to the house where Tate's place of death was located at, on July 4, 1992, and invented a studio space there, calling it "Le Pig". When asked about the building where production on the song was done at, Reznor responded that he chose to record it there due to having found the house interesting. "I looked at a lot of places," Reznor said. "And this just happened to be the one I liked most."This title of "Le Pig" alludes to the message that was scrawled on the front door with Tate's blood by her murderers, simply "PIG", a reference to a The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
song of the same name
Piggies
"Piggies" is a Beatles song from their double-disc album The Beatles . It was written by George Harrison as social commentary on class and corporate greed.-Instrumentation:...
. Effectively, Reznor was introduced to their self-titled 1968 album
The Beatles (album)
The Beatles is the ninth official album by the English rock group The Beatles, a double album released in 1968. It is also commonly known as "The White Album" as it has no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed on its plain white sleeve.The album was written and recorded during a...
by Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
, which included "Piggies".
The frantic drumming on the outro is Reznor's only attempt at performing drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s on the record, and one of the few "live" drum performances on the album. He had stated that the recording was from him testing the microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
setup in studio, but he liked the sound too much not to include it.
Music and lyrics
"Piggy" deals with the protagonist's relationshipsInterpersonal relationship
An interpersonal relationship is an association between two or more people that may range from fleeting to enduring. This association may be based on limerence, love, solidarity, regular business interactions, or some other type of social commitment. Interpersonal relationships are formed in the...
with the emponymous character. The animal he owns is a pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
, who felt he "needed something new" despite minor injuries. The main character tries to give him a gift
Gift
A gift or a present is the transfer of something without the expectation of receiving something in return. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. In many human societies, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may contribute to...
, but he ignores this move, leaving him lonely. This goal of giving him that object failed due to the animal's poor relationship.
This is the first NIN song to use the line "nothing can stop me now", which concludes the lyrics. "Ruiner" and "Big Man with a Gun" also use the phrase. Even "La Mer", "We're in This Together
We're in This Together
"We're in This Together" is a 3-disc single by Nine Inch Nails for the song of the same name released in 1999. It is the fifteenth official Nine Inch Nails release and is a single for the album The Fragile....
", and "Sunspots" include those lyrics.
Quiet and slow overall, the song's tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
is set in 65 BPM, and played in the B# tuning. It is also the first track on the album to use "The Downward Spiral leitmotif
Leitmotif
A leitmotif , sometimes written leit-motif, is a musical term , referring to a recurring theme, associated with a particular person, place, or idea. It is closely related to the musical idea of idée fixe...
", albeit on the organ. (see The Downward Spiral leitmotif section)
Release and reception
"Piggy" was released as a promotional single on The Downward Spiral, on December 1994. The single was not labeled as a halo number, and has no music video created in promotion of the song. It reached the Top 20 on the 'Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, making the album fly upwards to number 62. "Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)," a remix of "Piggy," appears on The Downward SpiralRemix album
A remix album is an album consisting mostly of remixes or re-recorded versions of a music artists' earlier released material.One of the earliest remix albums was 1971's Aerial Pandemonium Ballet by Harry Nilsson, which was released by Nilsson after the successes of Everybody's Talkin and The Point!...
, Further Down the Spiral
Further Down the Spiral
Further Down the Spiral is a remix album by Nine Inch Nails, and was released on June 1, 1995. It is the tenth official Nine Inch Nails release and is the companion remix disc to The Downward Spiral...
(1995). The subtitle is the "nothing can stop me now" lyric.
External links
- "Piggy" at NinWiki.com