Closer to God

“Closer” is a song written by Trent Reznor and featured on the 1994 Nine Inch Nails album The Downward Spiral. In mid-1994, the song was released as the second single from the album. Most versions of the single are titled “Closer to God”, a rare example in music of a single’s title differing from the title of its A-side. (“Closer to God” is also the title of an alternate version of “Closer” featured on the single.) Labeled “Halo 9”, the single is the ninth official NIN release.

Several broadcasting stations felt the song was not appropriate to air when uncensored. A promotional single provided by the label to radio stations included both long and short vocal-censored-i.e.: silenced profanity-versions. In spite of the blunt and profane sexual content contained in the song’s lyrics, “Closer” became Nine Inch Nails’ biggest hit up to that time, cemented Reznor’s status as an industrial rock superstar, and remains arguably his best-known song. Heavily edited versions of the song and its equally explicit and provocative Mark Romanek-directed music video received substantial airplay on radio and MTV.