Copy of a
{{short description|Nine Inch Nails song}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Copy of a
| cover = CopyofANIN.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Nine Inch Nails
| album = Hesitation Marks
| released = {{Start date|2013|8|13}}
| recorded = 2012–13
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Electronic{{Cite web |url=http://loudwire.com/nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks-album-review/ |title=Nine Inch Nails, 'Hesitation Marks' – Album Review |last=Kaufman |first=Spencer |publisher=Loudwire |date=September 3, 2013 |accessdate=December 25, 2016}}|industrial|techno{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2013/08/nine-inch-nails-find-my-way-hesitation-marks/ |title=Nine Inch Nails Share Dark New Mantra 'Find My Way' |work=Spin |last=Martins |first=Chris |date=August 23, 2013 |accessdate=December 21, 2017}}}}
| length = 5:23
| label = {{hlist|Columbia|The Null Corporation}}
| writer = Trent Reznor
| producer = {{hlist|Alan Moulder|Trent Reznor|Atticus Ross}}
| prev_title = Came Back Haunted
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Everything
| next_year = 2013
}}
"Copy of a" is a song by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released as the second single from their eighth studio album, Hesitation Marks (2013). It was originally released as a free digital download on Amazon in the United States and the United Kingdom for a limited time starting on August 13, 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Copy-of-a/dp/B00ECJ2H4M |title=Copy of a: Nine Inch Nails: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814154203/http://www.amazon.com/Copy-of-a/dp/B00ECJ2H4M |archivedate=August 14, 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://pitchfork.com/news/51861-listen-nine-inch-nails-copy-of-a/ | title=Listen: Nine Inch Nails: "Copy of a" | publisher=Pitchfork | date=August 12, 2013 | accessdate=August 13, 2013 | author=Battan, Carrie}} On August 20, the song was made available on the iTunes Store.{{cite press release |url=http://thefunstar.com/releases/%E2%80%9Ceverything%E2%80%9D-the-new-single-from-nine-inch-nails-is-streaming-now-on-npr-music%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Call-songs-considered%E2%80%9D/ |title="Everything," the New Single from Nine Inch Nails, Is Streaming Now on NPR Music's "All Songs Considered" |agency=The Fun Star |publisher=Columbia Records |date=August 20, 2013 |accessdate=April 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408171648/http://thefunstar.com/releases/%E2%80%9Ceverything%E2%80%9D-the-new-single-from-nine-inch-nails-is-streaming-now-on-npr-music%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Call-songs-considered%E2%80%9D/ |archive-date=April 8, 2017 |url-status=dead }} It was also made available to those who had pre-ordered the album from Nine Inch Nails' official online store, together with "Came Back Haunted" in a zip file labeled "Hesitation Marks Singles".
The song was played live in concert for the first time about two weeks before the official studio track was released.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5646439/nine-inch-nails-releases-new-song-copy-of-a-listen-now | title=Nine Inch Nails Releases New Song 'Copy of a': Listen Now | magazine=Billboard | date=August 12, 2013 | accessdate=August 13, 2013 | author=Comer, M. Tye}}{{cite web | url=http://thequietus.com/articles/13066-nine-inch-nails-copy-of-a | title=LISTEN: Nine Inch Nails – Copy Of A | publisher=The Quietus | date=August 12, 2013 | accessdate=August 13, 2013 | author=Tuffrey, Laurie}}{{cite web | url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/08/listen-to-nine-inch-nails-new-single-copy-of-a/ | title=Listen to Nine Inch Nails' new single, "Copy of A" | publisher=Consequence of Sound | date=August 12, 2013 | accessdate=August 13, 2013}}
Composition
The song features the use of a Swarmatron, an analogue synthesizer which was most notably used by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for the soundtrack of the 2010 film The Social Network. Reznor's singing on the track uses both the minor and the acoustic scales.
Critical reception
When referring to the song, Marc Hogan of Spin magazine stated that "the concept of 'a copy of a copy' is somewhat quaint in a time when digital files can be copied limitlessly without any discernible drop in quality". He also described the drum machine in the song as "crisp" and the synths as "jittery", while noting the "overlapping vocals and smeared tendrils of fuzzy noise".{{cite web | url=https://www.spin.com/2013/08/nine-inch-nails-copy-of-a-stream/ | title=Hear Nine Inch Nails' Patiently Searing 'Copy of A' | work=Spin | date=August 12, 2013 | accessdate=August 13, 2013 | author=Hogan, Marc}} Andrew Trendell of Gigwise described the song as "an epic, sprawling and typically NIN number that features a gradual and repetitive trancey build-up with a dark intensity before an almighty rock crescendo". He also interpreted the song's lyrical theme as "a struggle for identity".{{cite web | url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/83486/listen-nine-inch-nails-unveil-new-single-copy-of-a | title=Listen: Nine Inch Nails unveil new single 'Copy Of A' | publisher=Gigwise | date=August 12, 2013 | accessdate=August 13, 2013 | author=Trendell, Andrew}} Triple M inferred from the song that Reznor "stays true to his roots while trying something different".{{cite web | url=http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/music/news/2013/8/video-nine-inch-nails-new-single-copy-of-a-from-album-hesitation-marks/ | title=NIN's Copy Of A | publisher=Triple M | date=August 13, 2013 | accessdate=August 13, 2013 | archive-date=January 7, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107161411/http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/music/news/2013/8/video-nine-inch-nails-new-single-copy-of-a-from-album-hesitation-marks/ | url-status=dead }} Similarly, Forrest Wickman of Slate magazine stated that "the song is an update on an old NIN sound", while speculating on the possible muse on the postmodern condition or Fight Club on the lyrics. He also praised the musical beats by Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder and the use of Swarmatron.{{cite web | url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/08/12/nine_inch_nails_new_single_a_copy_of_a_trent_reznor_muses_on_the_postmodern.html | title=Trent Reznor Muses on the Postmodern Condition in New Single | publisher=Slate | date=August 12, 2013 | accessdate=August 13, 2013 | author=Wickman, Forrest}} This Is Fake DIY also referred the song "as a punchy electronic piece, suitably harsh on the senses".{{cite web | url=http://diymag.com/archive/listen-nine-inch-nails-unveils-copy-of-a-track/ | title=Listen: Nine Inch Nails Unveils 'Copy Of A' Track | work=DIY | date=August 12, 2013 | accessdate=December 28, 2016 | author=Milton, Jamie}} Fact magazine described the song as "an urgently paced but slow-building chiller constructed from ice-cold techno arpeggiations and droning synths",{{cite web | url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/08/12/nine-inch-nails-unveil-copy-of-a-the-second-single-from-new-album-hesitation-marks/ | title=Nine Inch Nails unveil 'Copy Of A', the second single from the new album "Hesitation Marks" | work=Fact | date=August 12, 2013 | accessdate=August 13, 2013}} while Katie Hasty of Hitfix remarked positively on the track's mellow vocals. She also praised the effect of looping sampler and itchy beat, contrasting it with the features of the previous single, "Came Back Haunted".{{cite web | url=http://www.hitfix.com/immaculate-noise/nine-inch-nails-release-new-song-copy-of-a | title=Nine Inch Nails' release new song 'Copy of A' | work=Hitfix | date=August 12, 2013 | accessdate=August 13, 2013 | author=Hasty, Katie}}
In popular culture
"Copy of a" was featured in the soundtrack of the video game FIFA 14.
In 2014, humorist Freddy Scott wrote and performed a song about Reznor's musical style, "This Is A Trent Reznor Song", whose tune is based on "Copy of a"; Spin referred to it as "the copy that [...] 'Copy of A' never knew it always needed."{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/01/nine-inch-nails-trent-reznor-parody-stream/|title=Nine Inch Nails Parody 'This Is a Trent Reznor Song' Is Uncomfortably Dead-On|date=January 30, 2014|website=spin.com|accessdate=June 29, 2017}}
Personnel
- Trent Reznor – vocals, electronics, percussion, guitar, production
- Lindsey Buckingham – guitar
- Pino Palladino – bass
- Ilan Rubin – tom drum
- Atticus Ross – production
- Alan Moulder – production
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Nine Inch Nails |state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Nine Inch Nails songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Alan Moulder
Category:Song recordings produced by Atticus Ross