Tag: Nine Inch Nails

Song of the Moment XCVII: Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”

Yes, you read the title right. And I promise you: there are no rickrolls here.

I definitely enjoyed listening to many Nine Inch Nails songs lately (notably “Every Day is Exactly the Same”, a previous Song of the Moment). But since last weekend, I needed to slowly step out of the darkness and enjoy more light. I enjoyed the light again by listening to upbeat songs ranging from “Walking on the Sun” by Smash Mouth to “Treasure” by Bruno Mars (my ultra-talented doppelgänger, according to many people).

But the most upbeat song that stood out for me is Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”, the most popular song not just in Mr. Astley’s catalog but also on the Internet. Many people have fallen into the rickroll trap, and I’m included on that list. But Internet history aside, I believe it’s one of the best pop songs ever, and I love the fact that the chorus is a written promise of total commitment. Who doesn’t want someone who will never give up on them? Those are the reasons it’s my Song of the Moment.

The music video of Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”.

Oh, there’s another reason “Never Gonna Give You Up” is my Song of the Moment: Foo Fighters, my all-time favorite band, performed the song with Astley himself in 2017. Seriously, it happened! Please watch the video below. (And don’t worry, it’s a real live performance, not a rickroll. It’s more of a rickgrohl.)

Not a rickroll… Foo Fighters and Rick Astley really performed “Never Gonna Give You Up”.

See? As I promised, no rickrolls.

See you in the next post!

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Song of the Moment XCV: Nine Inch Nails’ “Every Day Is Exactly the Same”

I admit that Daft Punk’s “Around the World” (a previous Song of the Moment) is still on my rotation this week. I mean, come on, it’s one of my favorite electronic dance songs. But this week, I also decided to listen more to the pioneers of industrial rock, Nine Inch Nails. I started my binge-listening with the essential playlist curated by Spotify.

After listening to half of the playlist, the song that stuck with me is “Every Day Is Exactly the Same” (a single from the Nine Inch Nails studio album With Teeth). I remembered listening to it multiple times in 2019 (one of the darkest times in my life), but it’s only recently that I truly understand the song’s lyrics on the dark side of monotonous routine and blind conformity. (Well, that’s my interpretation anyway.)

Every day is exactly the same
Every day is exactly the same
There is no love here and there is no pain
Every day is exactly the same

The chorus of Nine Inch Nails’ “Every Day Is Exactly the Same”

I’m a guy who loves listening to various music genres, so listening to “Every Day Is Exactly the Same” is a darkly refreshing break from the upbeat Daft Punk classic “Around the World”. That’s why it’s my Song of the Moment.

Nine Inch Nail’s “Every Day Is Exactly the Same”.

Now I’m going to try a different affogato tonight. See you in the next post.

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Header image: Clock image by Phantom Reader of Pixabay. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.

Updated on September 4, 2025.

Song of the Moment XXVII: Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” (A Nine Inch Nails Cover)

Yesterday I didn’t feel like writing, hence the lack of a blog post. I just wanted to work during the day and then have my walking/jogging session at night, and I did those things. I feel better after walking and jogging around my usual jogging path.

Today, I woke up earlier than usual to join my Mother in her meeting with a major client. After that, we had cheeseburgers for lunch at 8Cuts and went home. On our way home, I was groggy because I lacked sleep, so I took an afternoon nap.

And then I entered into a bad dream. Again. I can’t tell the details of my nightmare (what happened and who was in it), but all I can say right now is this: I have been fearful of the same nightmare for the past 5 years and counting, and it feels so real whenever I enter into it. I hate it so much. And to make it worse, I woke up with my nose bleeding like a faucet.

And then I remember Johnny Cash’s version of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt”. How appropriate.

What have I become
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end

Johnny Cash’s “Hurt”
The music video of Johnny Cash’s “Hurt”, a Nine Inch Nails cover.

That is all.

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Header image: CDD20 of Pixabay. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2024.